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JACKPOT!

VITAL STATS

Lifespan: January 1974 - September 1975, September 1985 - December 1988, September 1989 - March 1990
Hosts: Geoff Edwards, Mike Darrow
Announcers: Don Pardo, Wayne Powell, Ken Ryan, John Harris, John Harlan, Johnny Gilbert
Produced by: Bob Stewart Productions (1974-88), Bob Stewart/Sande Stewart Productions (1989-90)

Front Game Rules (1974-5 version)

Which one of these players has the Jackpot riddle? A total of sixteen players participated. One person was situated at a podium (dubbed the "Expert"), while the other 15 sat on the other side of the stage, each of them holding a riddle. The Expert picked a player, who announced the value of the riddle (from $5-$200), which was then added to the Jackpot. The player then read his/her riddle. If the Expert could solve it, s/he continued choosing players. Otherwise, the two switched places. 'For $135, this is my riddle...'
One of the 15 players had the "Jackpot" riddle, and when it was found, the Expert had the option of answering the Jackpot riddle immediately or pass it up for later and choose other players. If the Jackpot riddle was answered correctly, the value of the Jackpot was split between the expert and the one who had the riddle. If not, a new game started with the old Jackpot held over to the new game. When the Jackpot riddle was solved, the Expert returned to the podium.
Also, at the start of each game, a Target Number was determined between 5 and 995. The Target Number was then multiplied by a random number between 5 and 50 to determine the value of the Super Jackpot riddle, which was asked if the last three digits of the Jackpot matched the Target Number. (If the Target was 995 and the multiplier was 50, they pitched in the extra $250 to make the Super Jackpot worth $50,000.) Also, one player may have an instant Super Jackpot riddle (it occurred at least once every 10 shows), which gave the Expert an automatic chance at the Super Jackpot.

All sixteen players played for the whole week. If time ran out on Friday, the last riddle chosen would be deemed an instant Jackpot riddle.


Front Game Rules (1985-90 versions)

The gameplay was similar to the '70s version, with a few changes. Certain riddles were worth bonus prizes, double the Jackpot, an instant Target Match, or the right to return the next week. If a player could avoid the Jackpot riddle until the very last player, an extra $1000 was added to the Jackpot. When a Jackpot riddle was solved, the two switched places. Also, if a player could run the table and answer all 15 riddles in a row, s/he won a new car. Finally, there was no relation between the Target and the Super Jackpot; in fact, the SJ was determined before the Target. In the '89 version, one rule was changed: a riddle had to be answered correctly before its value would be added to the Jackpot.

Loogaroo Looks it Over

From what I've gathered, this show was a fairly popular one, but outside circumstances have kept the show from really succeeding. The riddles are kinda cheesy, but they add a good playalong aspect to the show. An element of unpredictability was added since you never really knew who had the Jackpot riddle, or if a Super Jackpot was lurking in the crowd. None of the runs truly perfected the game, as the 70s run posed no risk to go for the Jackpot. Future runs forced you to decide between giving up your seat to go for it or try building it up at the risk of getting stumped. Still, the 70s run also had the biggest payoff potential (although considering how the other two runs were either on cable or syndicated, that's not a big surprise). Geoff Edwards was a terrific host for Jackpot!, Mike Darrow less so.

Jackpot! ('70s version)

Gameplay: 2 pts.
Host: 3 pts.
Presentation: 2 pts.
Execution: 2 pts.
Total Score: 9 pts.

Jackpot! ('85-88 version)

Gameplay: 2 pts.
Host: 2 pts.
Presentation: 2 pts.
Execution: 1 pt.
Total Score: 7 pts.

Jackpot! ('89-90 version)

Gameplay: 2 pts.
Host: 3 pts.
Presentation: 2 pts.
Execution: 1 pt.
Total Score: 8 pts.



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