The eternal debate...

[14gameshows]

Hmm, that makes it two game shows (SP and Body Language) in where the first puzzle makes no difference in the outcome of the game.

I would prefer the $500 a word for the end game.  I don't think that it's MMS.  I mean 9 words x $500 = $4500 is not bad.  I think it's kind of a reward for getting to the bonus round.  However though, if I were forced to change it, then I would go for $250 a word, which is ok, but not making any thrills IMO although it will make it more special to win the jackpot of at least $10,000.  Think of it, your partner gave an illegal clue, you get all the other 9 words right, you win $2250 and the jackpot goes up another $5000.

However with this scenario, (front game winnings of $2500 "using my method" plus $2250), that's only $4750...kinda sad don't you think???  On the other hand, $2500 plus $4500 equals, $7000. Which is not bad by today's standards.  

$250 would be fine had it been in the late 80s/early 90s.  I think $500 is perfect.
Now if I gave the proposal for $1000 a word, that is MMS (without a cure).  Kinda like H2, 5th season Bonus game where each key landed you $1000, which was too much.  

Talking about focus groups, I would try to make this show as classy as Wheel & Jeopardy or in prime access syndication and market this to the big three networks o&os.  It bothers me that the public only wants sexed-up (dit-dit-dit-dit, not a word!)  shows just to keep their attention.

You can have a great game show and not water it down with profanity or sexual oriented material.

[TLEberle]

If you're worrying about how many points each word is worth, or how much the Password Puzzles are, then you're in the wrong business.

Once you've figured out that the GAME is solid, then you can tweak all those other things like points, and time and what have you.  The rest will follow.  If the game is no fun, people won't care that you're dumbly giving away $500 a word in Alphabetics, or that the jackpot now stands at $573,000, except maybe for the players.

I think the time that Wheel and Jeopardy were "classy" is long gone, if they ever wore.

(I would be happy to get on Password, and leave the stage that day with $4,750 on the way to my account.  Hell, I would be fine winning a hundred bucks.)

In the end, it's silly to quibble over small things like this, especially when the chances that Password will return in any form on something other than a Mensa network, or NPR, is almost nil.

[14gameshows]

TLEberle,
     You make a great point.  The fact that you have a solid game is all that really matters, heck you can play for points and a dishwasher and you have a great game.  Even though in MG'98 the top prize was $5000, I still found the show enjoyable....even if someone won only $1000.  Money amounts shouldn't matter except if you are making the budget for the show.


Has there been any talks about bringing back Password?

[SplitSecond]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'May 12 2005, 10:31 AM\']In the end, it's silly to quibble over small things like this, especially when the chances that Password will return in any form on something other than a Mensa network, or NPR, is almost nil.
[/quote]
And even then, it'd be a tough pitch to the many NPR stations that already air this:

http://www.wgbh.org/radio/saysyou/

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'14gameshows\' date=\'May 12 2005, 06:36 AM\']Puzzles-- First puzzle is worth $500, second is worth $1000, third is worth $1500, and fourth is worth $2000.  It takes $2500 to win the game to go to Alphabetics. 

End Game (Alphabetics)  Jackpot starts off at $10,000 and grows $5000 more each time not won.  $500 a word will be offered if you don't get all ten.
[/quote]
Wow. We haven't had a post from someone with NO FREAKIN' CONCEPT OF A PRIZE BUDGET in quite some time.

In other news, the Cashword starts at five large a day and doubles each day it isn't won.

[Dbacksfan12]

[quote name=\'14gameshows\' date=\'May 12 2005, 11:59 AM\']I would prefer the $500 a word for the end game.  I don't think that it's MMS.  I mean 9 words x $500 = $4500 is not bad.  I think it's kind of a reward for getting to the bonus round.
[/quote]
So you are giving a "loser" 45% of the top prize?  On P+, they got 18%, on Super Password, it could be less than that.

[tvwxman]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'May 12 2005, 01:06 PM\']
In other news, the Cashword starts at five large a day and doubles each day it isn't won.

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[/quote]

5 large what? Pizzas? Ooohhh, we could get a sponsorship! Little Caesar's Password! Sponsored by Pizza Hut!

[DrBear]

[quote name=\'tvwxman\' date=\'May 12 2005, 01:35 PM\']5 large what? Pizzas? Ooohhh, we could get a sponsorship! Little Caesar's Password! Sponsored by Pizza Hut!

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[/quote]
Papa.... (Murphy's or John's?)

It's worth noting here that I once, after one too many brews, suggested setting Password in a TGI Friday's and calling it "TGI Password," keeping score with the little flip cards they use to plug the drink specials.

[calliaume]

[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'May 12 2005, 02:41 PM\']It's worth noting here that I once, after one too many brews, suggested setting Password in a TGI Friday's and calling it "TGI Password," keeping score with the little flip cards they use to plug the drink specials.

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[/quote]
I like TG I've Got a Secret better, myself.

"Do you perform a service?"
"For the right price, I can perform any service, baby."
"Bzzt!  Drink!  That's two drinks down and eight to go!"

[JMFabiano]

[quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 12 2005, 10:40 AM\']
[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'May 12 2005, 04:51 AM\']
Someone mentioned a SP drinking game... let's do that!

SUPER PASSWORD

One drink if
Bert says "shall we?", "moving right along"
Gene Wood whispers the password
Rich Jeffries is announcing
Bert announces he knows the puzzle, one more drink if he writes it down on a piece of paper
Bert says "on the board we have", and "you didn't need..."
[/quote]

Earliest episodes: If in the end game, he describes the letters as the "initials letters of the password."  As the show went on, I'd say tap a keg when Bert actually calls the words "passwords."

When he points out the check, "signed by Mark Goodson," during Ca$hword.  

Two drinks if
Bert accidentally reveals the password
The puzzleboard screws up in some fashion, one more drink if Tom, the puzzleboard operator, pops up.
Bert accidentally reveals the solution to the puzzle

Three drinks if
Gene appears on camera
The game is so long, the "end game" is not played that day

PASSWORD PLUS
ALLEN LUDDEN

One drink if
Allen gets flustered over a questionable clue
Allen gestures with his arm upon revealing the password
The camera gets a close up of Allen's face (according to Chris C, a must for Ludden)
Allen leans against the podium
Allen mentions Betty White[/quote]

How could you forget:
If...
Allen asks "Have you got it at home?"
Addresses viewers who missed the last program, "If you weren't here last time, where were you?" (and such)
Reads a password from the home viewers

Two drinks if
Allen mentions his stomach pain
Allen sings
Says "Hi Doll"

Three drinks if
Allen loses it over a silly clue

TOM KENNEDY

One drink if
Tom mentions Allen or Betty
Tom says to the contestant "Tell us the (contestant's name) story"
Tom laughs

Tom calls the first password of a game a "$X00 puzzle" or otherwise mixes up the words "password" and "puzzle."  
Mentions the complete name of the show in the course of the game(s).  
Refers to an illegal clue as a "disqualification"
Newer one: builds up a possible match-winning puzzle ("If you're right/if it is ANSWER, you have won the game..."  I remember him doing this for all the possible wins in the 1982 episodes)  
Asks the audience to show by applause if they know the answer to the puzzle.  

Two drinks if
Tom loses it so badly that he can barely get through the show

Tap a keg if:
Tom reads a password from a home viewer

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[/quote]

Drink yourself blind and with a totalled liver if:
Tom ever introduced Alphabetics by saying, "[NAME], I'd like to introduce you to ten of the most putrid passwords ever to stand between a contestant and his/her money, and HERE...THEY...ARE!"  ;-)

And is there anything drinking gameworthy of Bill Cullen's four weeks?  Jack Narz's half-an-episode?

[Robert Hutchinson]

[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' date=\'May 11 2005, 11:15 PM\']Then, too, there was Burt's "And tomorrow's 'Super Password' will be worth..." even though it was quite possible there'd be another endgame during the same episode.[/quote]

. . . quite possible? With Bert moving the game along?

Two drinks:

Bert insists on being part of something funny that happens spontaneously.

[sshuffield70]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'May 12 2005, 01:06 PM\'][quote name=\'14gameshows\' date=\'May 12 2005, 06:36 AM\']Puzzles-- First puzzle is worth $500, second is worth $1000, third is worth $1500, and fourth is worth $2000.  It takes $2500 to win the game to go to Alphabetics. 

End Game (Alphabetics)  Jackpot starts off at $10,000 and grows $5000 more each time not won.  $500 a word will be offered if you don't get all ten.
[/quote]
Wow. We haven't had a post from someone with NO FREAKIN' CONCEPT OF A PRIZE BUDGET in quite some time.

In other news, the Cashword starts at five large a day and doubles each day it isn't won.

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[/quote]

Well, Chris, I've probably come the closest than most of the ones I've seen.  Some of these are a bit ridiculous.  You might want to scroll back in this thread somewhere near the beginning and dissect mine and see if it's any better.  It's not perfect (I don't think there's a perfect Password format), but I thought the scoring would make it more challenging to play.  The $20,000 figure (the biggest number quoted) is no different than the current "Feud".

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' date=\'May 12 2005, 04:17 PM\']The $20,000 figure (the biggest number quoted) is no different than the current "Feud".
[/quote]
Except that 20K is split five ways.

[sshuffield70]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'May 12 2005, 06:31 PM\'][quote name=\'sshuffield70\' date=\'May 12 2005, 04:17 PM\']The $20,000 figure (the biggest number quoted) is no different than the current "Feud".
[/quote]
Except that 20K is split five ways.

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[/quote]

Well, the 20 can be changed to a more amenable number.  I just didn't want to leave it at 5.  10 perhaps?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' date=\'May 12 2005, 06:19 PM\']Well, the 20 can be changed to a more amenable number.  I just didn't want to leave it at 5.  10 perhaps?
[/quote]
10K seems reasonable. If it's good enough for Dick Clark in the Pyramid, it's good enough for me.