The official website for the French-Canadian
Twenty One is online!
TVA official websiteHere's a translation, with comments later.
GUY MONGRAIN HOSTS THE NEW TV GAME SHOW TWENTY ONE
The game show TWENTY ONE allows 2 contestants, isolated in their soundproof booth, to earn points by answering category-based, multiple-choice questions offering four (4) possible answers. Players must pick a difficulty level according to the number of points to be earned, from 1 to 11. Question 1 is the easiest, question 11 the hardest. The player closest to 21 at the end of a game is declared the WINNER and gets the cash amount tied to this game. A WINNER may play up to seven (7) consecutive game and earn the following awards:
- Game #1: $250
- Game #2: $500
- Game #3: $1,500
- Game #4: $3,500
- Game #5: $5,500
- Game #6: $12,500
- Game #7: $20,000
- For a possible total of $43,750.
3 ROUNDS PER GAMEAfter 3 rounds, if no player has reached 21 points, the player with the highest point total wins the game. Each player is allowed 3 strikes per game. Every wrong answer gives a player one strike. After 3 strikes, the player is automatically eliminated. Two (2) complete games may be played in a single show.
STOPPING THE GAMEAfter 2 rounds, players get the option to stop the game. If one of them decides to do so, they feel they are closest to 21. If a player asks to stop the game and the scores are tied, a tie breaker is played.
TIE BREAKERThe tie breaker is used to select a winner when players' scores are tied at the end of a game. In that case, the host will ask a question (without choice of answers) and the first player to buzz in and answer correctly wins the game. If both players answer incorrectly, a second question will be played. A player who buzzes in before the question is fully read must answer immediately.
BONUS GAMEAfter every game, the WINNER may increase their winnings by playing, on their own, the bonus game. Up to 6 "true or false" questions will be asked in a category determined by the producers. The first question is worth $100, the second $200, up to $600 for the last question. Questions become progressively harder. The player may stop at any time because, if they answer incorrectly, they lose any money won during the BONUS GAME, but get to keey any money earned before the BONUS GAME. Bonus game awards are cumulative; sweeping the board is worth $2,100.
After having attempted to increase their winnings by playing the BONUS GAME, the WINNER begins a new regular game against a new opponent. The WINNER starts out with their accumulated winnings, while the opponent begins at game #1 with $250 at stake.
SOUNDPROOF BOOTHS AND SECRECY OF THE GAMEThe soundproof booths are the focal point of the game and, since they isolate each player, they represent an essential strategic element. They are designed to ensure maximum secrecy when needed.
Headphones:
During the game, both contestants wear a set of headphones through which they'll hear a mixture of sounds -- music, soundtracks and sound effects. Each contestant will only hear the parts of the game which concern them.
THE "SECOND CHANCE" LIFELINEOnce per game, each player may call upon a predetermined person to help them answer a question. If the player answers correctly after receiving this help, they'll earn the question's point value. If the player answers incorrectly after receiving this help, they'll get 2 strikes. "Second chances" are sequestered in offstage booths and have no access to the taping. They also wear headphones and can only hear portions of the game which concern the player they may assist. When "second chances" are called upon, they will be brought to the set by a hostess.
On
TWENTY ONE, a player may earn a maximum of $58,450.
TWENTY ONE is a smart and entertaining game show with a proven track record in the United States. The daily show will air on TVA Monday to Friday at 6:30 PM starting September 6, 2004.
HOSTED BYGuy Mongrain
Produced byProductions Casablanca
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSYou must be aged 18 years or older and be a resident of Québec. The following cannot apply to be a contestant on Twenty One: employees of Productions Casablanca Inc., employees, agents or representatives of Groupe TVA Inc. and Quebecor Media Inc. and its subsidiaries, along with the people they live with.
APPLICATION FORMSAvailable starting June 21.
..........Whoa.
I have to admit, I was so uninterested in this game show before today! The sequestered question/answer format meant I could use very few of the skills which usually give me an advantage: extensive strategic planning, buzzer speed, and so on. I actually felt
dirty for considering being on a show I didn't like that much, just for a few dubious reasons:
- Guy Mongrain hosted the first game show I'd ever played on, Charivari; it would've been a thrill to "complete the circle" and work with him once more;
- The money involved; and
- the ironic fact that, if I were selected to be on TWENTY ONE, it would be my... twenty-first game show appearance!
However, while typing all this (and yes, seeing the money involved), I started feeling the building tension and suspense that is at the heart of Twenty One! I'm now a convert. Bring on the application form!
..........You'll notice only minor changes with the 2000 NBC version: 3 rounds per game instead of 4, and different awards of course. Still, starting with the fourth game, the stakes become big for a Québec game show!
Does my memory fail me, or were strikes
cumulative from one game to the next in the 200 version? If so, having strikes disappear at the end of each game is a
major improvement, making it much more likely that bright contestants will have a shot at the big money.
All in all, I feel thoroughly positive about this new game show! Wish me luck!
