[quote name=\'golden-road\' date=\'Nov 23 2004, 06:44 AM\']On SS, how did the producers prepare the Bonus Round (where to hide the clues, the $5000, etc). [/quote]
The locations for the clues and the cash are determined in advance, and the appropriate clues are written for each bonus round. All that work is done in the production offices that, like on most game shows, are not adjacent to the studio to prevent contestants from accidentally finding themselves in the same room as the material.
The first time the bonus round information and clues are brought to the studio is in time to give it to the prop department for placement in the market just before that bonus round is to be played. During that process the contestants are kept isolated in their green room. With all game shows, the contestants are always directly supervised by a staffer from the contestant department.
Whenever I watch the show tape I am reminded of an incident on the similar "Honeymoon Race" as described to me by that show's producer, Ray Horl. With the final seconds counting down, a contestant was racing to get his team's shopping cart to the checkout before the sweep was over. He ran the cart to the line right on the bell, and continued outside the front door of the market, where he fell to the ground in the parking lot in the throws of a massive heart attack!
Now THAT was reality television way before its time!!
Randy
tvrandywest.com
