Rules Changes to Make a Show Easier

[Jeremy Nelson]

Over the years, we’ve seen shows make it harder for contestants to win the big money, but can you think of any instances where they made it easier? I can specifically name two- removing opposites as illegal clues on Password, and the five second increase in Fast Money (but I think that was partly due to asking longer questions). Can you guys think of any others?

[nowhammies10]

Push rule in the Money Cards.  Also changing one card anywhere on a line from CS '86.

[Kevin Prather]

Spotting players the RSTLNE and giving them four more. Even with the 5-second reduction, that's a big advantage.

I think I've heard others here say requiring Jeopardy players to wait until the whole clue has been read resulted in more accuracy.

[BrandonFG]

TPiR: Adding a second chance on Hole in One to make it Hole in One (or Two).

[jjman920]

I think TPIR could potentially have numerous changes it made to help contestants along the way (perhaps more in the way of range adjustments for inflation). Another change I thought of was changing the format of Gas Money from having to play "1 Chance Five Price Tags" to "1 Prize Danger Price."

[jage]

It didn't always apply, but Classic Concentration added 5 bonus car seconds as a prize.

[beatlefreak84]

The immediate first example I thought of was the original TJW with the Joker's Jackpot.  Originally, you had to win 5 games in a row to claim the Jackpot, but it was later shortened to 3.

Another:  On syndicated $ale, reducing the lot win from $830 to $750.

And still another:  GSN's Chain Reaction (Season 1) making the target numbers of correct answers to double and triple your team's winnings from 7 and 10 to 5 and 7, respectively.

One more for four (that rhymes!):  On Million Dollar Password, if a player made it to the $250,000 level, he/she could go for the million with no risk in Season 2, while he/she had to risk that money (well, all but $25,000) to do so in Season 1.

Anthony

P.S.  Thanks for the brief distraction from grading final papers! 

[BrandonFG]

Forgot one...Scrabble dropping the spelling rule.

[Neumms]

While the change to "Gas Money" has no affect whatsoever, TPIR made "3 Strikes" easier when they started putting only one strike chip in the bag at a time. (It still should be that way.)

In "Let 'Em Roll," they give you a free roll--at first, didn't one have to earn all three? They also built a taller platform for the player, making it easier to spill the dice down the ramp.

Password's Lightning Round became easier when with "Alphabetics" they started giving the initials.

The Jack Narz Concentration included games where players called three boxes in a turn.

[JasonA1]

In "Let 'Em Roll," they give you a free roll--at first, didn't one have to earn all three?

No, that's been there since the beginning. You might be thinking of Pass the Buck, which originally had 3 sets of grocery items and no free pick, plus 8 numbers on the board to boot (instead of the now-current 6).

-Jason

[jjman920]

While the change to "Gas Money" has no affect whatsoever

I'd disagree if only because once you picked a price in Gas Money that you thought was the price of the car, under the original rules, you were stuck with that choice. The current rules allow you to change your mind while playing the game if the audience or something else sways you a different way.

[splinkynip]

Some others that made it easierto win:

Dream House... originally seven wins to automatically win house, soon changed to five (then later to six).

Original Battlestars... bonus game at first picked three numbers to reveal of famous face. Later you got to choose an additional number of your choice to reveal.

Tic Tac Dough... Bonus Category and Double or Nothing made it easier to win the game.

Celebrity Bullseye... eventually question amount max went from $400 to $500.

Wheel of Fortune... $1,000 added to Par’s final spin.

[SuperMatch93]

$ale: adding the $10 and $15 money cards to the Fame Game.

[Mike Tennant]

MG/HS: Allowing a player to win HS on an opponent's error (not a change during the run of the show but certainly a change over the Marshall version).

[clemon79]

General observation: any rule change that applies to both players equally might make the game faster / higher scoring / etc., but does not make it easier to win.