For this entry, I'll be comparing the world's richest quiz, "Sale of the Century". To simplify things, I'll only be comparing the 1980s American version (1983 to 1989, to be exact) and the classic Australian version that ran from 1980 to 2001. However, I will briefly mention the British version, as it lasted for over a decade (1972 to 1983).
The basics of "Sale of the Century" are as follows--three contestants compete in a rapid-fire quiz (and it is fast, so fast that you might have trouble keeping up), interrupted at various points with a "Sale", where the contestants could use their cash to buy merchandise at special low prices (ex.: a $500 television for $6). At the end of the game, the player with the most cash could use his/her money to buy a bigger prize, such as a brand-new car.
Now, onto the main event. Oh, wrong show.
Note: I will not be including the "New Century" format changes for the Australian version just to simply things. I am also not including the "Winner's Big Money Game" from the American version.
Round One
All three players start with $20, and are asked questions worth $5. A right answer adds the money to the score, while a wrong answer deducts it from the score. Only one player may answer per question. After a number of questions, the player in the lead is offered a prize at a bargain price. Often, the host would lower the price or add some cash to sweeten the deal. On occasion, a "Sale Surprise" would pop up after the contestant decided whether or not to buy the prize.
After more questions, a "Who am I?" question is asked, where clues are given to the contestants and the first to identify the person/place/thing/event was given a choice of the "Fame Game" board--nine celebrities which hid assorted prizes, bonuses, plus a $10 cash card which would be added to their score. While the celebrities were only used in the American version for the first year, they were used during the entire Australian run. Also, in the Aussie version starting in 1988, a "home viewer" was placed in the center box and if chosen, the viewer would receive the board game and diamond pin that losing contestants also received for participating.
Round Two
Round two was played the same as round one, with the only difference being that a $15 cash card was added in the Fame Game.
In the Australian version, starting in 1989, a 30-second Speed Round was played after the second Fame Game.
Round Three
Round three was played the same as the prior two rounds, with a $25 cash card added in the Fame Game.
One thing I should point out is that originally, there was only one cash card, that being the $25. If that was chosen early, it basically rendered the following Fame Games useless. The Australian version added the additional cash cards in 1983, while the US version added the $10 and $15 a few months after their premiere. Australia also added a "Wild Card" ($1,000 or PICK AGAIN) for the third Fame Game in 1986.
Anyways, at certain points in their histories, the third instant bargain was replaced with a special game that allowed the leader to win a cash bonus.
United States Round 3 Special Game
In 1986, the "Instant Cash" game was added, with the player in the lead given a chance to sacrifice their lead (no matter how large it was) to buy one of three boxes--two of which had $100 in cash, and the third containing a cash jackpot of $1,000 (plus $1,000 for each day not won).
Australia Round 3 Special Game
In mid-1986, the "Cash Box" game replaced the Gift Shop (Australia's version of the Instant Bargain), which was played the same as the "Instant Cash" from the American version, only the Jackpot started at $2,000 (with $1,000 added for each day not won).
In 1989, this was replaced with the "Cash Card". Four Aces, one of each suit, were shown. The player in the lead was given a chance to play at a cost of $15. One card was a "Joker", which was a booby prize, one card had a prize, one card would give the $15 back to the player, and the remaining card was the "Cash Card", which started at $5,000 (plus $1,000 for each day not won).
If the leader decided not to play the game, the Cash Card was taken out of play, and the second-place contestant was given the chance to play at no cost for the three remaining cards. In the case of a tie, a "Who Am I?" question was played between the other two players, with a correct guess earning the player a free pick.
In 1993, the "Cash Card" game changed, with only the leader offered the chance to play, the Cash Card was worth a flat $5,000, and the Joker was replaced with "Take $5", which allowed the player to take $5 from one of his/her opponents.
The following year, the game changed again, this time replacing the cards with four one-reel slot machines, each with a suit of cards. The machines were rigged to land a certain element--$5000 cash, the prize, $15, or the Car symbol (more on that later; civilian format only).
In 2000, the "Take 5" returned to civilian episodes, replacing the prize. In celebrity episodes, the CAR symbol was replaced with a "Spin Again" space (since the four slot machines were replaced by a video monitor and a simulated four-reel slot machine).
Final Round
Originally, after the final Fame Game, three $5 questions were asked, with the player with the most money winning the game. This changed to the Speed Round (called Fast Money in Australia), where as many $5 questions were asked in a 60 second time limit, with the highest scorer winning the game. Fast Money began in Australia in 1983, and the Speed Round was implemented in the U.S. in 1984.
Shopping Format
The winner used his/her dollars earned in the main game to go shopping. Six prizes were available, with the sixth prize being the car (or on occasion, two cars). The player could choose to either buy a prize and leave the show, or continue on and hope to get more money for a bigger prize.
The original American version had the six prizes, plus a seventh level which awarded them all the prizes plus enough cash for the Lot to total exactly $95,000. (one player won during this period).
A few months later, a "Cash Jackpot" was added between the Car and the Lot (everything on stage). The Cash Jackpot started at $50,000 (plus $1,000 for every day not won). Most contestants during this era just left with the Cash Jackpot, with only one player winning the Lot.
In the syndicated version, the seventh level was replaced with all of the prizes, and the eighth level being the Lot (all of the prizes + Cash Jackpot). This led to more Lot winners.
The Australian version had seven prizes, with the seventh prize being the motorcar, followed by the Lot (originally worth $64,000, but was around $75,000 by 1982).
In mid-1982, the car was moved to level six, with the seventh level consisting of all six major prizes, and the Lot now including a Cash Jackpot, which started at $50,000 and increased by $2,000 each day until won. This often led to six-figure Cash Jackpots, with the highest being $508,000. (Yes, you read that right. Over half a million dollars!)
Winner's Board
The Winner's Board replaced Shopping in late 1984 on the NBC daytime version, on November 18, 1985 in the syndicated version, and in 1989 in the Australian version.
In the American version, the contestant faces a board with 20 spaces with 10 prizes available (including a car, $10,000 cash, and $3,000 cash). The player calls out numbers, and wins the first prize that he/she matches. Also on the board were two "WIN" cards, which automatically matched the next pick (this was the only way to win the Car and the Ten Grand). After all ten prizes were matched, the champion was given a choice--leave with all of the prizes, or try to win one more game. If the champ lost, all the major prizes were lost (which never happened, although we did have a few close calls), but if he/she won, a cash bonus of $50,000 was awarded.
In the Australian version, twelve spaces were used, with six prizes (including the car). Only one "WIN" space was on the board, that of course being needed to win the car. Unlike the American version, the major prizes in the Australian version were always at risk, with the champ being given the choice to leave the game after making a match. The seventh and final game added the Cash Jackpot ($50,000 + $2,000/day) if won.
Starting in mid-1992, the Car was taken off the board...unless the player earned $100 in the main game. In 1994, if a contestant earned $100 or they found the "CAR" symbol in the "Cash Card" game, they could play for the car. The eighth and final game was for the Lot.
In Conclusion
Despite being from America, I would have to say that the Australian version is the superior format. There were much more risks involved (especially with their version of the Winners Board), plus a lot more money was awarded (only one time by my count was over $100,000 in cash was won in the American version). Let me know what you think of it.
Next time, if I feel up to it, we'll do some Dealing.
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