Family Feud's payout strutcure

[TimK2003]

[quote name=\'bandit_bobby\' post=\'147881\' date=\'Mar 12 2007, 03:16 PM\']
I have no idea how deep Debmar-Mercury's budget is. Is it just me, or do you think the top prize will go back to $10,000, because they are just an upstart company?
[/quote]


There....Fixed that for you!!

[Sodboy13]

Okay, at the risk of getting attacked with a Lesko jpeg or the wrath of Lemon, I've thought for several years now that both families should receive $5 a point at the end of the main game, and Fast Money should be bumped up to $10 a point.  The fact that money is no longer awarded in the main game means families who fail at Fast Money actually win less than they did 30 years ago, and that rubs me the wrong way.

As for the grand prize, $20,000 seems like a perfectly fair amount, especially since the potential to have 5 shots at it is there.

[TLEberle]

[quote name=\'Sodboy13\' post=\'147924\' date=\'Mar 12 2007, 08:31 PM\']Okay, at the risk of getting attacked with a Lesko jpeg or the wrath of Lemon, I've thought for several years now that both families should receive $5 a point at the end of the main game, and Fast Money should be bumped up to $10 a point.  The fact that money is no longer awarded in the main game means families who fail at Fast Money actually win less than they did 30 years ago, and that rubs me the wrong way.[/quote]Given that you've actually put some thought into your response, I think you'll be spared mockery, but I will pose this question to you, and the people who say that Fast Money's per-point award should be increased.

Why?

It's a consolation prize. If they want to win some money, maybe the family should think harder about who they have playing that game. Losing the bonus game should not be rewarded. Personally, I like what the Australian show does: you either win the jackpot, or get nothing.

I have less of a problem with awarding cash for the main game, but I also see no urgent need to make the change. Even if you spot the team $100 if they get shut-out or close to it, that's $20 a head. Whoopee.

What I think would be an interesting change is to have two families playing all week, keeping whatever money they win over the five shows. That would probably come with a halving of the FM jackpot, but I it would at least give the families a good shot to score some money.

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'147930\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 12:48 AM\']
It's a consolation prize. If they want to win some money, maybe the family should think harder about who they have playing that game. Losing the bonus game should not be rewarded. Personally, I like what the Australian show does: you either win the jackpot, or get nothing.
[/quote]
Personally, I feel that's why it's called a "bonus round". If I worked hard to win the game against my opponent, I feel there should be some sort of payoff, whether it's $895, or $20,000. Why should I go home with nothing just like my opponents? If they offered dollars in the race to 300, I'd be more understanding.

To me, it would just look awkward to see the day's "champions" get nothing for their effort. Sure, they should get the 200 points, but I wouldn't punish them for not doing so. I'm trying to rack my brains to find a show where the contestant not only a) wins no money in the front game, and b) could win $0 for losing the end game.

[Sodboy13]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147934\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 12:15 AM\']
I'm trying to rack my brains to find a show where the contestant not only a) wins no money in the front game, and b) could win $0 for losing the end game.
[/quote]

Well, off the top of my head, that was the scenario on Match Game '98.  And any game that finds itself with a parallel to MG '98 should not be flattered by the comparison, to put it mildly.

[TonicBH]

If there was something I'd change about the payout structure, that would be converting maingame points to dollars. But that's not major, I couldn't care less if some family walks away with $21,124 or $20,755.

$20,000 is still good, the reason why Bert's Family Feud does it because they have to go against the juggernaut known as "Deal or No Deal".

[Jeremy Nelson]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'147930\' date=\'Mar 12 2007, 11:48 PM\']
Personally, I like what the Australian show does: you either win the jackpot, or get nothing.[/quote]
Actually, this is my problem with Bert's Family Feud. (The only show I can think of where you can win the game, lose the bonus round, and have no money.) A team can win all 5 days and end up no better than the 5 families they defeated. The lowest scoring 5-day family as of today won $1,500, and that's only because they won 3 Bert's Bonuses.

$10 a point is the only change the show's payout structure needs.

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'Sodboy13\' post=\'147938\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 01:46 AM\']
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147934\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 12:15 AM\']
I'm trying to rack my brains to find a show where the contestant not only a) wins no money in the front game, and b) could win $0 for losing the end game.
[/quote]
Well, off the top of my head, that was the scenario on Match Game '98.  And any game that finds itself with a parallel to MG '98 should not be flattered by the comparison, to put it mildly.
[/quote]
In addition, I recall that happening at least once on the Doug Davidson-hosted New Price Is Right.

[TimK2003]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147934\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 01:15 AM\']
I'm trying to rack my brains to find a show where the contestant not only a) wins no money in the front game, and b) could win $0 for losing the end game.
[/quote]


Wouldn't the last (and worst) incarnation of Card Sharks qualify -- the money you won in the main game became the money you bet with in the Money Cards?

[Dbacksfan12]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147934\' date=\'Mar 12 2007, 11:15 PM\']
I'm trying to rack my brains to find a show where the contestant not only a) wins no money in the front game, and b) could win $0 for losing the end game.
[/quote]
Any version of Pyramid.

[Neumms]

[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'147950\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 09:30 AM\']
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'147934\' date=\'Mar 12 2007, 11:15 PM\']
I'm trying to rack my brains to find a show where the contestant not only a) wins no money in the front game, and b) could win $0 for losing the end game.
[/quote]
Any version of Pyramid.
[/quote]

Pretty hard to do on Pyramid, though. There's syndicated Match Game '79, too, where there was nothing for winning the game and one could get skunked in Super Match.

I think they should up the consolation prize to $10/point, too. A show ought to feel like a big deal--"Countdown" does by longevity rather than prize money--and tossing out $700 bucks to 5 people is very small potatoes. If a show feels cheap, it's not as fun to watch. Otherwise, I'll just play the home game.

[Jimmy Owen]

Forget money.  People will flock to the show just to be on TV. At most, give 'em a million S&H Green Stamps.

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147959\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 12:00 PM\']
Forget money.  People will flock to the show just to be on TV. At most, give 'em a million S&H Green Stamps.
[/quote]
Sure. One contestant on The Joker's Wild during the Joker's Jackpot era opted not to risk his $500 by playing on saying that "$500 will buy a lot of egg salad sandwiches".

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'147977\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 10:46 AM\']
Sure. One contestant on The Joker's Wild during the Joker's Jackpot era opted not to risk his $500 by playing on saying that "$500 will buy a lot of egg salad sandwiches".
[/quote]
I bet the smell in his house was unbearable after he got home.

[uncamark]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'147977\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 12:46 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'147959\' date=\'Mar 13 2007, 12:00 PM\']
Forget money.  People will flock to the show just to be on TV. At most, give 'em a million S&H Green Stamps.
[/quote]
Sure. One contestant on The Joker's Wild during the Joker's Jackpot era opted not to risk his $500 by playing on saying that "$500 will buy a lot of egg salad sandwiches".
[/quote]

And an older gentlemen playing end game 2 on "TJW" deduced that the Vivitar 35mm camera was "a fine camera" from the art card and Johnny Jacobs' description and didn't want any more prizes, thank you very much.  It does happen.