Gameshow Marathon (American game show)

Gameshow Marathon
Presented by	Ricki Lake
Starring	Lance Bass Paige Davis Tim Meadows Kathy Najimy Leslie Nielsen Brande Roderick Panelists: Adam Carolla Adrianne Curry George Foreman Kathy Griffin Bruce Vilanch Betty White
Narrated by	Rich Fields
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	7
Production
Production locations	CBS Television City Hollywood, California
Running time	approx. 40–44 minutes
Production companies	FremantleMedia North America Granada America
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	May 31 (2006-05-31) – June 29, 2006 (2006-06-29)

Gameshow Marathon is an American television program which aired on CBS from May 31 to June 29, 2006. It is based on the United Kingdom series Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon which aired on ITV in 2005. It also aired in Canada on CTV.

The show features contestants competing in some of television's most historically popular game shows, in a single-elimination format until an ultimate winner is found. Both the UK and US versions featured celebrity contestants.

The US version was produced by FremantleMedia North America and Granada America and was hosted by Ricki Lake and announced by Rich Fields. In the US, the series only aired for a single season, while in the UK a second season aired in 2007, this time entitled Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon and hosted by Vernon Kay. This program was recorded at Stage 46, CBS Television City in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Premise

The seven-part game show tournament featured celebrity contestants Lance Bass, Paige Davis, Tim Meadows, Kathy Najimy, Leslie Nielsen, and Brande Roderick. The six played The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal (the only show which had not previously aired on CBS at that time), Beat the Clock, Press Your Luck, Card Sharks, Match Game, and Family Feud to progress in the tournament. The series used replicas of each show's original set, or in the case of The Price Is Right, actual props from the series currently airing. Each installment began with a narration of the format of the particular show featured on that episode coupled with montages of clips from each program's history.

Tournament format

The format of each individual show was largely unchanged. All six celebrity contestants participated in the first game, The Price Is Right. The Showcase winner from this episode claimed the first of four seats in "Finalists' Row". The remaining contestants after each game was played then participated in the next game (five for Let's Make a Deal, four for Beat the Clock, three for Press Your Luck) to win one of the remaining seats. After the fourth game, the remaining two contestants were eliminated.

The four contestants in "Finalists' Row" were then paired in a competition to play the fifth and sixth games (Card Sharks and Match Game). The winners of those two games then proceeded to the "championship game", Family Feud.

For the finals, each celebrity assembled a five-person team of family and friends to play Family Feud, with the charity of the winning "family" receiving $100,000.

Brande Roderick was the showcase winner on the episode featuring The Price Is Right. Lance Bass became the next semifinalist from Let's Make a Deal, and Paige Davis won the Beat the Clock installment. Kathy Najimy won the last semifinal slot on Press Your Luck, and Tim Meadows and Leslie Nielsen were eliminated at the end of that episode. Roderick defeated Davis in Card Sharks, and Najimy defeated Bass in Match Game. Najimy and her family then beat Roderick and her family on Family Feud to capture the top prize.

The Match Game installment also featured Adam Carolla, Adrianne Curry, George Foreman, Kathy Griffin, Bruce Vilanch, and Betty White (in her traditional seat) as the panel. The six also appeared as audience members during the Price is Right episode (but did not play).

The "Barker's Beauties" from The Price Is Right also played a role in some of the installments. Gilbert Gottfried appeared on the Let's Make a Deal episode in a Zonk and in the Big Deal prize.

Home Viewers' Sweepstakes (US)

CBS is also sponsoring a Home Viewers' Sweepstakes in conjunction with series co-sponsor Harrah's Entertainment. During the first-run airing of each game episode, a multiple-choice trivia question will be asked relating to that episode's game. Viewers can submit their choice of what they think is the correct of the three given answers either by (a) text messaging their choice via their cell phone, or (b) registering on the CBS.com website and using the online entry form. Those entrants who answer correctly will be put into a random draw pot, from which the winner will be chosen. For the first six episodes, said winner wins the same prizes won by that evening's winning celebrity player, plus a "Harrah's VIP Vacation Package" trip. (Each of these prize packages is worth at least US$50,000.) The winner of the seventh night's drawing wins a flat US$50,000 cash, but no trip.

Winners of the sweepstakes are featured in the "Prize Delivery" segments, where Todd Newton introduces a semi-trailer truck, emblazoned with the Game Show Marathon logo, delivering the prizes won by the lucky winners.

Further details on the rules of this sweepstakes can be found here.

In addition, CTV may also be sponsoring a similar contest. It is mentioned on their webpage for the show, but no additional details of it are on their website. In the episode telecasts on CTV, the same home viewer sweepstakes promotions that air on CBS are aired during the show, despite the rules of the contest declaring Canadians to be ineligible for the contest.

Charities

The celebrities' charities are as follows:

• Paige Davis: Donate Life (an organ donation charity)
• Kathy Najimy: Girls' Best Friend (supports & empowers teen girls in their endeavors)
• Tim Meadows: The Chris Farley Foundation (educates youth on the negative aspects of drugs and alcohol)
• Lance Bass: Habitat for Humanity (specifically, to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina)
• Brande Roderick: City of Hope
• Leslie Nielsen: Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, Arizona

Episode Summaries

Template:Spoiler Episodes will air at 8:00PM EST/PST on CBS and CTV. All monetary amounts given below are in United States dollars.

Game 1: The Price Is Right

A short history of The Price Is Right was shown, going back to its original Bill Cullen-era airings and the 1972 start of The New Price Is Right with Bob Barker at the helm. The '70s nighttime, Tom Kennedy, and Doug Davidson nighttime versions were not shown, as broadcasts of the former are banned by Barker and neither of the latter two lasted more than one season..

As in the regular show, the players were chosen from the studio audience, although it was strictly the scheduled celebrities who would participate. In addition, the Match Game panelists were also in the audience, and everyone in the audience were given the stick-on name tags. While most of the players wore their name tags in the traditional "over-the-heart" location, Kathy Najimy chose to stick hers on her stomach. Announcer Rich Fields' opening line was modified for the series: "Here it comes! From Television City, TV's most exciting hour of fantastic prizes! For the first episode of Gameshow Marathon, let's play The Price Is Right!"

The game was played in a modified 30-minute format as follows: Three rounds of the Contestants' Row "One-Bid" game were played, each followed by a pricing game. The three players to make it "up on stage" then played a single Showcase Showdown, with the two highest-scoring players going on to the Showcase. Except for the use of the Big Wheel (introduced in 1975 when the show converted to a hour), this followed the format the show used for the first three years on the air (1972-1975). The winner of the Showcase earned chair #1 in "Finalists' Row".

Round 1

Paige Davis, Kathy Najimy, Tim Meadows & Lance Bass were the "first four contestants". Bidding went in that order, as per standard rules.

Item up for Bids (IUFB): FuntekUSA's "Spaceball" Trampoline Set

Bids: PD-$800 / KN-$1500 / TM-$1100 / LB-$1201

Actual Retail Price: $2695 / Winner: Kathy Najimy

Pricing Game 1

HOLE IN ONE for a Cadillac XLR worth $77,295 (features not mentioned; according to Cadillac's website, all XLRs come with the same features).

A commercial break was inserted between the reveal of the grand prize and that of the pricing game. Ricki showed Kathy a golf ball, and then asked the audience what game they were about to play; the audience immediately shouted in unison: "HOLE IN ONE!" The music used for the game reveal was a shortened version of the song "Dig We Must". (This song is normally used whenever a contestant has spun a total of $1.00 on the Big Wheel, and also at the end of the second Showcase Showdown.)

Grocery Items Used:

• DETERGENT: Bottle of Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent (2-Quart Bottle presumed)
• CANDY: Standard 5-Flavor Roll of LifeSavers Candies
• SUPPLEMENT: 150-count bottle of CitraCal Calcuim Supplement Caplets
• PAIN RELIEVER: Standard size tube of Thera-Gesic Ointment
• SALSA: Jar of Santa Fe Salsa
• CLEANER: Bottle of concentrated Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner

Order chosen by Kathy: CANDY / SALSA / CLEANER / DETERGENT / PAIN RELIEVER / SUPPLEMENT

Prices: 85¢ / $2.69 / $5.39 / $8.99 / $3.99 / (Price of the Supplement was not given)

Kathy's putt from the fourth line went too far right; the car was not won.

NOTE: Unlike its current "Hole in One or Two" format, and possibly due to time constraints, the aired episode showed Kathy was only allowed one attempt to putt rather than two. However, according to someone who attended the taping, Kathy was actually given two putts (she missed both), but the second was edited out for reasons unknown.

Total Winnings: $2695

Round 2

Brande Roderick was called to fill Kathy's space in Contestants' Row; in keeping with standard rules, bidding this round went Brande-Tim-Lance-Paige.

IUFB: Ridgeway "221 Baker Street" Grandfather Clock

Bids: BR-$3000 / TM-$3500 / LB-$3800 / PD-$4000

Actual Retail Price: $4725 / Winner: Paige Davis

Pricing Game 2

PLINKO for up to $100,000 (played with $20,000 center slot).

As per standard, Paige was given one Plinko chip, and tried to determine the correct number in each of four items' prices.

• First Item: Basketball-Shaped Slow Cooker : 72 / Chose: 2 / RIGHT: $12
• Second Item: Presto Salad Shooter : 26 / Chose: 2 / WRONG: $46
• Third Item: 250-piece Poker Chip Set : 30 / Chose: 0 / RIGHT: $50
• Fourth item: Dell "DJ Diddy" MP3 Player : 59 / Chose: 9 / RIGHT: $99

NOTE: Since Paige got this one right, each non-celebrity audience member won an MP3 player.

Paige won four chips total to take to the Plinko board. The slots were in this layout:

$100 / $500 / $1000 / -0- / $20,000 / -0- / $1000 / $500 / $100

NOTE: This is the standard "Primetime Special" layout used for the game.

• First Chip: Left-hand $100 Slot
• Second Chip: Right-hand $500 Slot
• Third Chip: Right-hand $1000 Slot
• Fourth Chip: Left-Hand $500 Slot

Total Small Prizes Won: $161 Total Money Won: $2100

Total Winnings: $6986

Round 3

The show continued to Round 3 without commercial interruption.

Leslie Nielsen was called to fill Paige's spot. Bidding went Leslie-Brande-Tim-Lance.

IUFB: Adelta Bubble Chair from HighBrowFurniture.com

Bids: LN-$500 / BR-$2600 / TM-$1500 / LB-$501

Actual Retail Price: $2795 / Winner: Brande Roderick

Pricing Game 3

RACE GAME for four prizes.

Given Prices: $1125 / $1408 / $2999 / $6495

Prizes:

• Roland HBI-7 Digital Piano
• Broyhill Sofa
• Cotton Candy machine/Cart
• Bowflex "Treadclimber" TC-5300 3-In-1 Fitness Machine

First Matches: Piano: $6495 / Sofa: $2999 / Cart: $1125 / Fitness: $1409 / 1 Right with 34 seconds left

Second Matches: Piano: $2999 / Sofa: $6495 / Cart: $1409 / Fitness: $1125 / 1 Right with 10 seconds left

Third Matches: Piano: $6495 / Sofa: $2999 / Cart: $1409 / Fitness: $1125 / 2 Right with time elapsed

Actual Prices: Piano: $6495 / Sofa: $1125 / Cart: $1409 / Fitness: $2999 / Wins Piano and Cart

Total Prize Value: $7904

Total Winnings: $10,699

Round 4: The Showcase Showdown

Since Leslie, Tim and Lance did not play a pricing game, they sat in the very front of the audience, and were shown eating cotton candy from the cart featured in Race Game. All three would participate in the next show, Let's Make a Deal.

Spinning Order: Kathy, Paige, Brande (in order of winnings, lowest to highest)

Kathy's Spins: 35¢ + 20¢ = 55¢

Paige's Spins: 5¢ + 5¢ = 10¢

Brande's Spin: 55¢ (passed on second spin) = 55¢

With a tie of 55¢, Kathy and Brande win the Showdown. (No "spin-off" was played, as the two highest scorers proceeded.) In contrast with TPIR tradition, no commercial breaks were aired; instead, the show immediately segued to the Showcase round, with the song "Dig We Must" playing in the background. When the Showdown started, the podiums for the Showcase had already been set up.

NOTE: The rules for an eliminating one of three players in the Showcase Showdown may have been based on the rules in the Endless Games 2nd Edition home version.

Also, in recreating the 1970's look of the show, a graphic of a second pointer outlined in green (when this graphic was used on TPIR, the arrow was red, with a black background from 1975-95), pointing to the same space as the arrow on the Wheel, and showing the spinner's face was used. The practice was discontinued on the actual show around 1995, after which point the shot of the wheel simply took up the entire screen.

Round 5: The Showcase

With the most total winnings, Brande gets the "top winner" podium spot and "bid or pass" option for the first showcase package; Kathy gets the "runner-up" podium spot. There was no indication that the Double Showcase rule, stating that the winner would win both showcases if his difference was $250 or less, was in play.

Showcase #1: "All About What's In and What's Out"

• OW Lee Heated Patio Set
• Bull "Powercue" Barbecue Grill
• Jacuzzi J-365 Hot Tub
• Sea-Doo Sportster Boat with trailer
• Trip to Australia (2-person 6-night trip)

Brande kept Showcase #1, and bid $25,000.

Showcase #2: "Time Machine Showcase"

• For the 1950's: Wurlitzer 100-CD Jukebox
• For the 1980's: Namco Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga "Anniversary Reunion" Video Game Console
• For the 1960's: A restored 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe (with V8 engine, automatic transmission, remote side-view mirrors, and 8-track tape player with original in-the-door speakers)
• Back to 2006: A new 2006 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Premium ("retro-styled" with standard equipment plus automatic transmission, interior upgrade package, front-side airbags & enhanced audio system)

Kathy bid $81,000.

NOTE: Fields ended the presentation of each Showcase with the line, "you can win this showcase for a home viewer if the price is right," in reference to a special rule stating that whoever won each of the first six episodes would have his/her prizes awarded to a randomly selected viewer who provided the correct answer to a trivia question related to the night's featured show.

Price Reveals:

• Brande bid $25,000. Actual Retail Price: $43,668. Difference: $18,668.
• Kathy bid $81,000. Actual Retail Price: $62,160. Kathy had OVERBID (by $18,840).

Brande wins a total prize package of $54,366, and the first semi-finalist slot in "Finalists' Row".

TRIVIA QUESTION

What was the price of a Chevrolet Camaro on The Price Is Right in 1972?

• (1) $3,621
• (2) $5,295
• (3) $6,750

CORRECT ANSWER: (1) $3,621

Game 2: Let's Make a Deal

A short history of LMAD was shown prior to the start of gameplay. Most of the clips focused on the 1963-1977 version of the show, with little mention of the later incarnations.

No major modifications were made in the game format, except perhaps stretching the game to fill the hour by doing four deals (the original show usually averaged three deals per show). As advertised, some of the current Barker's Beauties acted as on-stage models. Although the music cues during the game were similar to those heard on LMAD, the actual theme music from the original show was not used.

In addition, first qualifier Brande Roderick was shown in "Finalists' Row" in a cavegirl's costume, complete with plastic club. Kathy Najimy was in the audience in costume (as either a genie or possibly a gypsy), but for some reason was not chosen to participate in a deal; word was that she did participate in a deal, but when she only won a minuscule amount of money amounting to less than $10 (as opposed to winning a larger prize or getting zonked), her deal was edited out of the show. [1]

Round 1

Lance Bass, dressed as a banana, was the first player. He was offered as many checks as he could get from "Ricki's Money Machine" (brought down on a tray by Ricki's "assistant" Rusty, a rather strapping young man in a '70s-style shirt, white pants and white shoes) without hitting a check stamped BANKRUPT. He pulled three checks for $3000, $2000 and $5000 before stopping. However, the "machine" also had checks for $500, $1500 and an additional $5000, then the BANKRUPT check for a possible total of $17,000.

Ricki then offered Lance a chance to trade the $10,000 in checks for one of two curtains. He was given hints that Curtain #1 hid something to do with the OUTDOORS, and Curtain #2 hid something to do with the INDOORS. After a commercial break, Lance decided to trade the checks for Curtain #1. Curtain #2 was opened to reveal a "celebrity Zonk", comedian Gilbert Gottfried in a bathtub full of suds. Curtain #1 revealed a Lincoln Navigator 4x2, worth $50,990.

Total Winnings: $50,990

Round 2

Leslie Nielsen, dressed in a doctor's coat and cowboy hat (with a brief stint of wearing "Groucho" glasses) was given a package of Aspercreme Back & Body Patches worth $8.99 and was shown four other grocery items on a tray, once again delivered by Rusty:

• Viactiv Chocolate Multi-Vitamin Chews (standard container)
• Bayer Low Dose 81mg Aspirin (300 count)
• Glad ForceFlex Trash Bags (38 count)
• Garlique Garlic Tablets (30 count)

He was told he had to pick one of these four items that was ALSO $8.99 to win a pair of Yamaha motorcycles worth $33,160. His item of choice was the Viactiv Multi-Vitamin Chews. He was then offered a Vespa LX-50 Scooter worth $3,199 to call off the deal, which he passed on. Ricki then revealed the prices of the other three items:

• Glad ForceFlex Trash Bags: $6.49
• Bayer Low Dose 81mg Aspirin: $11.97
• Garlique Garlic Tablets: $8.99

She then mentioned that she did NOT say there was only ONE item worth $8.99. Leslie was then offered the chance to go with his choice of the Viactiv, or take the scooter and $10,000 cash, for a total trade-off of $13,199. Worried he might not have the right item, Leslie took the "sure thing". Ricki then revealed the price of the Viactiv WAS $8.99, and he would have won the motorcycles.

Total Winnings: $13,199

Round 3

Paige Davis, dressed as Little Bo Peep, was given a tin of Altoids Mints (worth $1.50). Ricki then offered to trade the mints for what was behind Curtain #2. Paige chose to keep the mints (over an apparent battle with nausea), giving up a Jeep Wrangler SE 4x4 worth $19,135.

She was then offered what was behind Curtain #3, which was partially revealed to show a year's supply of Turtle Wax worth $50. She still kept the mints, and passed on another car, a Dodge Charger worth $22,995, for a total package of $23,045.

Finally, Paige was offered a chance to trade for Curtain #1, with the hint that it hid something to do with GROUND TRANSPORTATION. Once again, she kept the mints, passing on a Cadillac CTS V6 VVT worth $35,080.

So after passing on THREE cars in a row, Ricki opened the mints and revealed a check inside the tin for $3500 cash. This is a recreation of a famous deal that was also previously recreated on the 2003 revival.

Total Winnings: $3,501.50 (incl. the Altoids)

Round 4

Ricki's next choice for player was Tim Meadows, dressed as a police officer. Ricki then picked two other audience members to assist with the deal; Laura (dressed in 1960's hippie clothing and a huge afro wig) and Heather (dressed in a cat suit).

Ricki gave each player $2000 and offered each player a choice of four boxes at $1000 each. Any or all of the players could buy a given box as desired, but since each player only had $2000, each of them was limited to buying a maximum of two boxes.

Laura took Box #1, but Tim and Heather passed. So Laura won a Dell XPS M-170 Notebook Computer worth $2353.

Laura passed on Box #2, as did Tim, but Heather bought it, winning a DVD of Gilbert Gottfried's stand up called DIRTY JOKES, worth $14.99.

When Box #3 was offered, Laura passed, Tim bought, and Heather passed. So Tim won a pair of his and her Rolex watches worth $7250.

Each player now had a prize and $1000 left. Box #4 was a giant-sized box and offered to all 3 players. Laura bought the box, while Tim passed and Heather bought it. So Laura and Heather both won a Heartland Appliances refrigerator worth $6130, plus they both won 2 ice-cream cakes a month for a year from ColdStone Creamery, worth $840, for a total of $6,970.

Total Contestant Winnings: Laura: $9323 / Tim: $8250 (incl. the leftover $1000 cash) / Heather: $6984.99

Ricki had Laura and Heather sit down, but gave Tim a chance to trade the watches and his remaining $1000 for either Curtain #1 or a small box brought down by Rusty. He traded for the curtain. The box revealed a sign saying "EVERYTHING IN THIS DEAL: $16,587.99". The curtain revealed Gilbert Gottfried dressed in a Blue Boy-style outfit and sitting in a giant high chair, thus Tim got ZONKED. In that same segment, Gottfried joked "Can we hurry it up here, I'm having a picnic with Michael Jackson!"

Total Winnings: $0

Round 5: "The Big Deal"

The Big Deal of the night was worth over $87,000.

Lance, as the night's top winner so far, was offered the opportunity to trade away the Navigator for the Big Deal. He passed.

Leslie was next, and traded the scooter and cash for a door.

Paige was the third person offered to trade her Altoids and the $3500, and did so.

Leslie chose Door #1, and Paige Door #2.

The first door revealed was #1, showing that Leslie won a Noritake china & glassware set worth $1352.50 and a Broyhill Dining Room Set worth $6975, for a total of $8327.50.

Door #2 was next, showing a set of Ricardo of Beverly Hills Luggage worth $940, Night Owl Optics binoculars valued at $799, and an African Safari (11-day Nairobi National Park photo-safari) worth $14,800, for a total of $16,539.

The Big Deal was behind Door #3, starting with a Clarion car video system worth $1299.99 and a Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible (with Gilbert Gottfried (still in his Zonk costume) sitting in the driver's seat and shouting the famous Jay Leno line: "What the hell were you thinking?!") worth $85,745, for a total of $87,044.99.

Since Lance was still the top winner of the night (as both chosen Big Deals were of lesser value than the Navigator), Lance won the second spot in "Finalists' Row", and the Navigator was the grand prize for Episode 2's Trivia Question.

TRIVIA QUESTION

In the classic 1972 clip shown for the question, was the Big Deal (worth $10,989) behind:

• (1) Door #1
• (2) Door #2
• (3) Door #3

CORRECT ANSWER: (3) Door #3

Game 3: Beat the Clock

Like the first two episodes, a short history of the original 1950s BTC with host Bud Collyer was shown (with no mention of the later versions), along with different stunts, some of which would be attempted by the remaining four contestants: Paige, Tim, Kathy and Leslie. However, unlike the TPIR and LMAD episodes, Fields also presented a series of facts about BTC, such as when two contestants had to tie a rope around the waist of Jackie Gleason. Since Brande Roderick and Lance Bass won the first two episodes, they had claimed the first two seats in "Finalists' Row," thus exempting them from participation in this and the PYL episodes.

Each of the remaining four contestants brought along a partner to assist them in performing the featured stunts. Kathy brought her husband Dan, Leslie's partner was Sal (forming the show's only all-male group), and Paige and Tim brought along two "good friends of theirs."

Round 1

STUNT: A couple had to bounce across the floor in a playpen and collect two bottles. They could not leave the playpen, nor let any part of their bodies touch the floor.

PARTICIPANTS: Tim and Paige

Tim went first, and completed the stunt in 29 seconds. Paige did this in less time and won the round.

Round 2

STUNT: A couple had to put bottle caps on bottles filled with dry ice. Any caps that popped off the bottles (due to the pressure the water produced from mixing in with the ice) were deducted from the couple's total, and if the couple could put five caps in place at the same time, they beat the clock.

PARTICIPANTS: Leslie and Kathy

Leslie went first, but he failed to beat the clock. Kathy went next, and she managed to get five caps in place (before one of the closed caps exploded the next second), thus making her the winner of the stunt and facing Paige in the next round.

Round 3

STUNT: Using a fishing net without its netting (the host had deliberately removed the netting after demonstrating the stunt), a couple had to guide a balloon filled with helium across the floor and into a large plastic container.

PARTICIPANTS: Paige and Kathy

Kathy went first, and completed the stunt in 48 seconds. Paige did this in less time and won the round, as well as the third seat in "Finalists' Row."

Round 4

STUNT: A contestant had to place a hat on his head without using his hands. A rope was a attached to the top of the hat. This rope went through a series of three pulleys, and the other end of the rope was attached to a belt that the contestant wore. As the contestant walked toward the hat, the hat would raise up into the air, above the reach of the contestant. However, he could kick the hat in order to get it closer to his head. If he could successfully get the hat completely on his head, he beat the clock.

PARTICIPANT: Paige

Since Paige was the last remaining contestant of the episode, she had a chance to win the grand prize: a Chrysler Crossfire Convertible. She succeeded.

TRIVIA QUESTION

In the classic clip shown for the question, did the couple complete the stunt in:

• (1) 22 seconds
• (2) 37 seconds
• (3) 59 seconds

CORRECT ANSWER: (3) 59 seconds

Game 4: Press Your Luck

Like in previous episodes, Rich Fields gave a brief history of PYL at the beginning of the show, and included clips of the infamous Michael Larson episodes where he won $110,237 in cash and prizes. Rich Fields incorrectly mentioned the year Press Your Luck debuted (the show premiered in 1983, not 1981). They did not cover or show clips of Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck or the show's original incarnation, Second Chance, however.

Rich Fields' game-opening spiel was the standard PYL opening from 1985-on: "Tonight, we bring back PRESS YOUR LUCK! These three players are after B-I-G BUCKS! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From CBS Television City in Hollywood, it's time to PRESS YOUR LUCK!"

The set was a fairly accurate recreation of the original PYL set, save for a black background behind the players during the Question Rounds instead of the blue used in the series. Additionally, the PYL logo in the center of the board was not backlit like the original. Instead, the three words were sequentially highlighted by spotlights. Leslie was in first position, Kathy in the center seat, and Tim on the end.

Round 1: Question Round 1

As in the original game, four questions were asked per question round. Correct buzz-in answers earned 3 spins and correct multiple choice answers earned 1 spin. Players could buzz in at any time during the reading of the question.

After Tim announced "I'm not wearing pants", Ricki asked:

Question 1

According to Webster's Dictionary, what part of the body are you having reshaped if you've gone in for rhinoplasty?

BUZZ-IN: Kathy: "Your nose."

ANSWERS GIVEN: NOSE / EARS / BREASTS

Leslie's guess: NOSE

Tim's guess: NOSE

CORRECT ANSWER: NOSE

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: 1 / KATHY: 3 / TIM: 1

Question 2

What type of fruit is also the first name of Gwyneth Paltrow and...

BUZZ-IN: Tim: "Apple."

Ricki finished the question: What type of fruit is also the first name of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's first baby?

ANSWERS GIVEN: APPLE / FIG / BERRY

Leslie's guess: APPLE

Kathy's guess: APPLE ("Although I LOVE the name Fig for a child...")

CORRECT ANSWER: APPLE (Full name is Apple Blythe Alison Martin, born on May 14, 2004)

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: (+1) 2 / KATHY: (+1) 4 / TIM: (+3) 4

Question 3

According to an Irish legend, what are tourists asked to do to the Blarney Stone for...

BUZZ-IN: Tim: "Kiss it?"

Ricki finished the question: According to an Irish legend, what are tourists asked to do to the Blarney Stone for good luck?

ANSWERS GIVEN: KISS IT / LICK IT / KICK IT

Leslie's guess: KISS IT

Kathy's guess: ("Oh, LICK IT sounds SO dirty!...") KISS IT

CORRECT ANSWER: KISS IT

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: (+1) 3 / KATHY: (+1) 5 / TIM: (+3) 7

Question 4

According to TV Guide, who is the greatest cartoon character of all time?

BUZZ-IN: Leslie: "Mickey Mouse."

ANSWERS GIVEN: "MICKEY MOUSE / BUGS BUNNY / FRED FLINTSTONE

Kathy's guess: BUGS BUNNY

Tim's guess: MICKEY MOUSE

CORRECT ANSWER: BUGS BUNNY (Mickey was #19; Fred shared the #6 slot with Barney Rubble)

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: (0) 3 / KATHY: (+1) 6 / TIM: (0) 7

PRIZE DELIVERY Segment

Todd Newton presented Marie Spese of Plainfield, Illinois with a bouquet of roses and her prize from the playing of Let's Make a Deal, the Lincoln Navigator 4x2, worth $50,990. In addition, she won a VIP trip for 2 to her choice of any of six Harrah's properties on the Las Vegas Strip.

Round 2: "Big Board" Round 1

Before playing their spins, Ricki asked each of the stars to remind us of their charities.

The "Big Board" gameboard was virtually identical to the original, although the typestyles used for the money amounts were relatively inconsistent in size and shape. The big difference was the overall money amounts, especially the Big Bucks prizes. In Round 1, the lowest money amount on the board was $470, and the top prizes were $3000 + ONE SPIN, $4000 + ONE SPIN and $5000 + ONE SPIN -- the same top prizes as in a regular Round 2 in classic PYL (normally, these would have been $1000, $1250, and $1500 -- no bonus spins were on the top dollar values). In addition to the cash, many regular prizes seen in rotation on classic PYL episodes, like a Flokati Rug, various trips and cruises, and even a new car were seen, with their values changed to current 2006 prices. A total of over $50,000 in cash & prizes were on the board.

As with standard play, Leslie went first (having the least spins), Kathy next and Tim last (having earned the most spins).

• SPIN 1 FOR LESLIE: A WHAMMY The "cut scene" was the classic "Movie Star" clip: "Now that I'm a star, I need makeup. Make-up!!" [Smacked in the face with a powderpuff.] With no money in his bank, he only earned a Whammy on his scoreboard. TOTAL: $0 + 1 WHAMMY & 2 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 2 FOR LESLIE: $1250 CASH TOTAL: $1250 + 1 WHAMMY & 1 SPIN / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 3 FOR LESLIE: $1250 CASH TOTAL: $2500 + 1 WHAMMY & 0 SPINS

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $2500 + 1 WHAMMY / KATHY: $0 / TIM: $0

• SPIN 1 FOR KATHY: FLOKATI RUG, worth $1799 TOTAL: $1799 & 5 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 2 FOR KATHY: $2000 CASH TOTAL: $3799 & 4 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 3 FOR KATHY: $2000 CASH TOTAL: $5799 & 3 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 4 FOR KATHY: A WHAMMY The "Surfing Whammy" stole Kathy's bank. "It's a wipeout!" TOTAL: $0 + 1 WHAMMY & 2 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 5 FOR KATHY: $530 CASH TOTAL: $530 + 1 WHAMMY & 1 SPIN / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 6 FOR KATHY: $470 CASH TOTAL: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY & 0 SPINS

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $2500 + 1 WHAMMY / KATHY: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $0

• SPIN 1 FOR TIM: A WHAMMY The "TNT Whammy" blew away Tim's bank, empty as it was. TOTAL: $0 + 1 WHAMMY & 6 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 2 FOR TIM: $1000 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY & STILL 6 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 3 FOR TIM: A TRIP TO LAS VEGAS worth $2500 TOTAL: $3500 + 1 WHAMMY & 5 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 4 FOR TIM: $1200 CASH TOTAL: $4700 + 1 WHAMMY & 4 SPINS / PRESSED ON (Despite being urged from his "pros in the corner" to pass)
• SPIN 5 FOR TIM: $530 CASH TOTAL: $5230 + 1 WHAMMY & 3 SPINS / PASSED SPINS TO LESLIE

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $2500 + 1 WHAMMY & 3 PASSED SPINS / KATHY: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $5230 + 1 WHAMMY

• SPIN 1 FOR LESLIE: A WHAMMY The "Tarzan Whammy" took Leslie's bank and gave him a second Whammy. The remaining two Passed spins were moved to Leslie's EARNED column, and Ricki gave him the "getting a third Whammy in Round 1" warning. TOTAL: $0 + 2 WHAMMYS & 2 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 2 FOR LESLIE: BIG BUCKS, moves to $4000 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $4000 + 2 WHAMMYS & STILL 2 SPINS / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 3 FOR LESLIE: A WHAMMY The "Weightlifter Whammy" crashed through Leslie's score, dropping it back to zero and earning him a THIRD whammy. Ricki warned him that one more Whammy would knock him out of the game. TOTAL: $0 + 3 WHAMMYS & 1 SPIN / PASSED SPIN TO TIM

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 3 WHAMMYS / KATHY: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $5230 + 1 WHAMMY & 1 PASSED SPIN

• SPIN 1 FOR TIM: $800 CASH TOTAL: $6030 + 1 WHAMMY & 0 SPINS

TOTALS AT END OF ROUND: LESLIE: $0 + 3 WHAMMYS / KATHY: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $6030 + 1 WHAMMY

Round 3: Question Round 2

Four more questions were asked for spins to be used in Round 4. After asking the occupants of Finalists' Row who they thought would win, Paige Davis said "Well, it's probably not going to be Leslie." Lance Bass, on the other hand, kept cheering for "the underdog" Leslie as gameplay flowed into the next question:

Question 1

According to the World Almanac, what is the tradition gift for a 25th wedding anniversary?

BUZZ-IN: Leslie: "Silver."

ANSWERS GIVEN: SILVER / GOLD / PLATINUM

Kathy's guess: SILVER

Tim's guess: SILVER

CORRECT ANSWER: SILVER

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: 3 / KATHY: 1 / TIM: 1

Question 2

Which Brady Bunch character had her nose broken...

BUZZ-IN: Kathy: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" (A play on sister Jan's constant complaints about her older sister.)

Ricki finished the question: ...had her nose broken when she was hit by a football?

ANSWERS GIVEN: MARCIA / JAN / CINDY

Leslie's guess: MARCIA

Tim's guess: MARCIA (He claimed never to have seen the show, but it's hard to tell if he was serious.)

CORRECT ANSWER: MARCIA

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: (+1) 4 / KATHY: (+3) 4 / TIM: (+1) 2

Question 3

Who is the only guy to be named People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" twice?

BUZZ-IN: NONE

ANSWERS GIVEN: GEORGE CLOONEY / BRAD PITT / MATT DAMON

Leslie's guess: BRAD PITT

Kathy's guess: BRAD PITT

Tim's guess: ("Tim Meadows?" Ricki: "You'd have MY vote!) BRAD PITT

CORRECT ANSWER: BRAD PITT (in 1995 and 2000; George in 1997; Matt has never been chosen)

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: (+1) 5 / KATHY: (+1) 5 / TIM: (+1) 3

Question 4

According to CNN, the most common phobia is arachnophobia...

BUZZ-IN: Tim: "Spiders."

Ricki finished the question: ...arachnophobia, the fear of what eight-legged creatures?

ANSWERS GIVEN: SPIDER / OCTOPUS / CENTIPEDE

Leslie's guess: SPIDER

Tim's guess: SPIDER

CORRECT ANSWER: SPIDER

SPINS EARNED: LESLIE: (+1) 6 / KATHY: (+1) 6 / TIM: (+3) 6

Round 4: "Big Board" Round 2

Ricki told the players there was over $150,000 in cash and prizes on the board for this final round. This was mainly reflected in the top money square, which now sported slides for $6000 + ONE SPIN, $8000 + ONE SPIN and $10,000 + ONE SPIN (double their normal amounts) and no money amounts less than $1500. Some of the prizes Ricki listed as on the board were a diamond necklace, a trip to Paris and a "brand new Car!"

TOTALS GOING INTO THE ROUND: LESLIE: $0 + 3 WHAMMYS & 6 SPINS / KATHY: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY & 6 SPINS / TIM: $6030 + 1 WHAMMY & 6 SPINS

With $6030 in his bank, Tim would be the last to spin, but with $0 and 3 Whammys, Leslie was first.

• SPIN 1 FOR LESLIE: $2500 CASH TOTAL: $2500 + 3 WHAMMYS & 5 SPINS
• SPIN 2 FOR LESLIE: A FOURTH WHAMMY The "Cruise Ship Whammy" bid Leslie "Hasta luego, arrivederci, bon voyage, that means goodbye!" With four Whammys, Leslie was out of the game and eliminated from the tournament. However, he did stay at his podium seat to watch Kathy and Tim.

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 4 WHAMMYS--OUT OF THE GAME / KATHY: $1000 + 1 WHAMMY & 6 SPINS / TIM: $6030 + 1 WHAMMY & 6 SPINS

• SPIN 1 FOR KATHY: An ALASKAN CRUISE worth $9050 TOTAL: $10,050 + 1 WHAMMY & 5 SPINS (Now leading Tim by $4020) / PASSED SPINS TO TIM

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 4 WHAMMYS--OUT OF THE GAME / KATHY: $10,050 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $6030 + 1 WHAMMY, 5 PASSED SPINS & 6 EARNED SPINS

• SPIN 1 FOR TIM: $3000 CASH TOTAL: $9030 + 1 WHAMMY, 4 PASSED SPINS & 6 EARNED SPINS / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 2 FOR TIM: $3000 CASH TOTAL: $12,030 + 1 WHAMMY, 3 PASSED SPINS & 6 EARNED SPINS (Now leading Kathy by $1980) / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 3 FOR TIM: WHIRLPOOL APPLIANCES Package worth $5765 TOTAL: $17,795 + 1 WHAMMY, 2 PASSED SPINS & 6 EARNED SPINS / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 4 FOR TIM: GO BACK TWO SPACES to $8000 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $25,795 + 1 WHAMMY, 1 PASSED SPIN & 7 EARNED SPINS / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 5 FOR TIM: ADVANCE TWO SPACES to $5000 CASH TOTAL: $30,795 + 1 WHAMMY & 7 EARNED SPINS (Leading Kathy by $20,745) / PASSED SPINS TO KATHY

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 4 WHAMMYS--OUT OF THE GAME / KATHY: $10,050 + 1 WHAMMY & 7 PASSED SPINS / TIM: $30,795 + 1 WHAMMY

• SPIN 1 FOR KATHY: A TRIP TO PARIS worth $4500 TOTAL: $14,550 + 1 WHAMMY & 6 PASSED SPINS / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 2 FOR KATHY: $3000 CASH TOTAL: $17,550 + 1 WHAMMY & 5 PASSED SPINS / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 3 FOR KATHY: $3500 CASH TOTAL: $21,050 + 1 WHAMMY & 4 PASSED SPINS / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 4 FOR KATHY: $4000 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $25,050 + 1 WHAMMY, 3 PASSED SPINS & 1 EARNED SPIN / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 5 FOR KATHY: $8000 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $33,050 + 1 WHAMMY, 2 PASSED SPINS & 2 EARNED SPINS (Now leading Tim by $2255) / HAD TO CONTINUE

After a final commercial break, Kathy continued playing, with 2 spins each still in her PASSED and EARNED columns:

• SPIN 6 FOR KATHY: $1500 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $34,550 + 1 WHAMMY, 1 PASSED SPIN & 3 EARNED SPINS (Now leading Tim by $3755) / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 7 FOR KATHY: $1750 CASH TOTAL: $36,300 + 1 WHAMMY & 3 EARNED SPINS (Leading Tim by $5505) / PRESSED ON
• SPIN 8 FOR KATHY: A TELESCOPE worth $2074 TOTAL: $38,374 + 1 WHAMMY & 2 EARNED SPINS (Leading Tim by $7579) / PASSED SPINS (and a kiss) TO TIM

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 4 WHAMMYS--OUT OF THE GAME / KATHY: $38,374 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $30,795 + 1 WHAMMY & 2 PASSED SPINS

• SPIN 1 FOR TIM: $10000 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $40,795 + 1 WHAMMY, 1 PASSED SPIN & 1 EARNED SPIN (Now leading Kathy by $2421) / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 2 FOR TIM: $1500 + ONE SPIN TOTAL: $42,295 + 1 WHAMMY & 2 EARNED SPINS (Now leading Kathy by $3921) / PASSED SPINS TO KATHY

RUNNING TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 4 WHAMMYS--OUT OF THE GAME / KATHY: $38,374 + 1 WHAMMY & 2 PASSED SPINS / TIM: $42,295 + 1 WHAMMY

• SPIN 1 FOR KATHY: MOVE ONE SPACE to either $1750 + ONE SPIN or $3000; Kathy chose the $3000. TOTAL: $41,374 + 1 WHAMMY & 1 PASSED SPIN (Still trailing Tim by $921) / HAD TO CONTINUE
• SPIN 2 FOR KATHY: A DINETTE SET worth $4893!!!

FINAL TOTALS: LESLIE: $0 + 4 WHAMMYS--OUT OF THE GAME / KATHY: $46,267 + 1 WHAMMY / TIM: $42,295 + 1 WHAMMY

In a game that went to the wire, Kathy Najimy earned the fourth and final seat in Finalists' Row. Ricki bid farewell to Leslie and Tim.

After Kathy claimed her rightful place in the next round, Rich Fields went over the prize package she earned for a home viewer:

• Meade Instruments LX-90 GPS Telescope worth $2074
• Carsons of High Point Dinette Set valued at $4893
• Trip to Paris, France (6-night Luxury Stay) worth $4500
• Trip to Juneau, Alaska & 6-night Alaskan Cruise worth $9050
• Plus $25,750 in cash brought the grand total to $46,267

Ricki then announced the pairings for the semi-final games: Brande vs. Paige in Card Sharks, and Lance vs. Kathy in Match Game, with the winners of those games going to the final, Family Feud.

At the end of the show, a tribute to original Press Your Luck host Peter Tomarken was aired before the credits. He and his wife were killed in a plane crash on March 13, 2006, shortly after this episode had been taped.

TRIVIA QUESTION

The classic clip used was from late 1984, the infamous "Spin Battle" between Kathy and Lori. Each ultimately landed on an extra spin with one passed spin, and consequently passed that spin back and forth. With Peter noting that, "There's almost $50,000 between the two of you," Kathy was forced to take a passed spin while riding an unbelieveable $31,408. After agonizing for at least ten seconds, "No whammies, please!", she finally hit the button. "No whammies, No whammies, No whammies, NOW!"

In the classic clip shown for the question, did the player land on:

• (1) A Whammy
• (2) Big Bucks
• (3) Sailboat

CORRECT ANSWER: (1) A Whammy

Game 5: Card Sharks

• Paige Davis and Brande Roderick faced off, with the winner going to the Family Feud finale against the Match Game winner.

Prior to the game, a mini-documentary about Card Sharks was presented, featuring some of the survey questions from the show and the rules of the game. Most of the clips were from the Jim Perry era (1978-1982), with some clips from the Bob Eubanks/Bill Rafferty era (1986-1989). Only Perry was mentioned as host and was visible in these clips; however, Rafferty's voice could be heard for a second or two in one of the clips from his version of the show.

The gameplay itself was similar to the Perry/Eubanks eras, but with three full rounds played, with $1000 to the winner of the first game, $2000 to the winner of the 2nd game, and $3000 to the winner of the third game.

The champion after three rounds advanced to the "Money Cards" round, also played according to the original series' rules, but with $1000 given to start each row, and three switch cards available, one per row, much like the CBS versions. Potential winnings were $144,000.

After the "Money Cards" round was an extra bonus round created for Game Show Marathon, in which a survey question is asked, and the contestant determines if the answer is either higher or lower than 5. If the contestant is right, the at-home player wins a BMW Z4, in addition to the cash won. This round was based on the CBS versions, where at the end, the host would ask a question about the ten special guests in the audience and the contestant would move a marker over to the actual number of guests.

Brande won the front game over Paige, two games to one, winning $4000. In the "Money Cards", whe won an additional $6000, totalling $10,000 in cash. In the extra bonus round, Brande won the car for the home viewer, worth over $40,000, and advances to Family Feud.

In addition to the game, two Prize Delivery segments were shown, featuring winners from Schertz, Texas (Press Your Luck) and Newton, North Carolina (Beat The Clock).

NOTE: A more detailed summary of the episode is forthcoming.

TRIVIA QUESTION

In the 1980 classic clip shown for the question, Sally's first card was an 8 of spades. Sally called "higher". Her next card was:

• (1) Lower
• (2) Higher
• (3) The Same

CORRECT ANSWER: (2) Higher

Game 6: Match Game

The episode began with a look back at the 1970s, showcasing the show's well-known panelists, the characters (such as "Dumb Dora" and "Old Man Periwinkle"), and the rules of the game. There was no mention of any of the other versions of the show, nor were any clips from the 1978-79 season on shown (when the "Star Wheel" was instituted into the bonus round.)

We then proceeded to a replica of the Match Game '73 set, complete with a lighted "Match Game 73" sign and orange spinner for the intro. The panel consisted of George Foreman, Kathy Griffin, Bruce Vilanch, Adrianne Curry, Adam Carolla and Betty White. Betty White, incidentally, was the only one in the group who actually appeared on the 1970s version. Ricki Lake used the same long, skinny microphone made famous by Gene Rayburn.

In the game, Lance Bass and Kathy Najimy competed, with the winner going to the Family Feud finale against Brande Roderick.

Round 1

Kathy Najimy chose question A: Dumb Dora was so dumb (how dumb was she) she showed up for a baby shower wearing nothing but a <BLANK>.

Kathy Najimy: Towel

After a commercial break, Todd Newton's Prize Delivery awarded the Card Sharks prize to Steve Kozar of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Then the celebrity panel was introduced and polled.
Hat/Diaper/Cap/G-String/Shower Cap/Shower Cap

Lance Bass question B: I heard Paris Hilton wants to be a contestant on the next Survivor but I can't imagine her going 39 days without <BLANKING>.

Lance: Bathing

Panel: Shopping/Shopping/Shaving/Sextaping/Text Messaging/Reading

Score tied at zero.

Round 2

Lance Bass choses Question A Lorraine said: "It's weird being married to a dentist. Right before we make love, he says <BLANK>"

Lance: Brush Your Teeth

After the first presentation of the night's contest question and a commercial break, the panel is polled.
Panel: Brush Your Teeth/Open Wide/Where's the Cavity/Get rid of the floss/Open Wide/Rinse
Lance matched George Foreman and leads 1 to 0.

Kathy Najimy gets Question B This year, Hollywood is hosting the first Plastic Surgery Awards. They're planning on giving the Lifetime Achievement Award to <BLANK>

Kathy: Joan Rivers

Panel: Joan Rivers/Joan Rivers/Joan Rivers/Joan Rivers/Joan Rivers/Phyllis Diller
Kathy matched all stars except Betty White and leads 5 to 1.

Round 3

Kathy chose Question B. I went to a wedding where an exotic dancer got married. The ceremony was lots of fun because all the bridesmaids were wearing <BLANK>
Following the rules of the 1970s version, only the stars not yet matched by a contestant play the question.

Kathy: Tassels

Betty White: Belly Studs
Score remains 5 to 1. Lance needs 4 to match stars to tie and 5 to win.

After a commercial break, the contest is repeated and then Lance is read Question A.
Snoop Dog is hosting a new MTV Wedding Show. It's called "Pimp My <BLANK>"

Lance: Bride

Again, following the 1970s rules, George Foreman sits out the round
Panel: Bride/Bride/Broad/Ho*/Bride

• At this point, Kathy wins the game 5 to 3 as it is mathematically impossible for Lance to tie her.

Super Match

At the end of the main game, Kathy Najimy won, matching 5 stars to 3, and advances to The Feud.

She then played Super Match; two rounds were played, similar to Match Game PM.

The first Super Match:

<BLANK> Market

Three stars are asked for help:

• Kathy Griffin: Super Market
• Bruce Vilanch: Bull Market
• Betty White: Flea Market

Kathy Najimy chooses Super Market
Revealing the board:

• $100: Black
• $250: Stock
• $500: Super

The second Super Match:

PURPLE <BLANK>

• Adrianne Curry: Purple Haze
• Adam Corolla: Purple Rose of Cairo
• Betty White: Purple Rain

Kathy Najimy chooses Purple Rain
The board:

• $100: Heart
• $250: Haze
• $500: Rain

Total money won: $1000.

Head To Head

After a commercial, the head to head match is played. They play according to pre-1977 rules, where the contestant selects a star to play.

Kathy chooses George Foreman to fill in:

<BLANK> Kong

Both chose King, winning the $50,000 for an at-home contestant.

TRIVIA QUESTION

In the classic 1973 Super Match, the top answer to the following question: WATCH YOUR <BLANK>.

• (1) Step
• (2) Language
• (3) Weight

CORRECT ANSWER: (1) Step

Game 7: Family Feud

• Brande Roderick and Kathy Najimy faced off against each other in the final game of the series on June 29, 2006.

The show began with clips of Kathy's and Brande's past performances on Family Feud -- Kathy's family as civilians on Richard Dawson's Feud in 1981; and Brande as part of the Baywatch Hawaii cast on Louie Anderson's Feud in 1998. This was followed by Rich Fields' brief overview of the show, including rules and clips from the Richard Dawson 1976-1985 series (including the pilot, and especially a moment involving the "September" pregnancy). Clips from the Ray Combs, Dawson 1994-1995, and the current Anderson / Richard Karn version were not featured (other than Brande's clip). Though Fields acknowledged that the show has been on for 30 years, he didn't mention the gaps between 1985 and 1988 (the year Combs' version debuted) or 1995 and 1999.

The show used a replica of the original 1976 set, but the oval at the end of each family's podium read "Gameshow Marathon" instead of "Family Feud." The board was computerized in the style of the original 1976 board (the crew responsible also worked at Game Show Presentation Software and have created several computer games based on both this Feud and the Family Feud Challenge).

During the game, the families competed to earn 300 points to win the game and $100,000 for their charities. Here were the results of each round of play:

ROUND 1

• Question: "Name a dessert you put whipped cream on."
• Correct answers (and number of people who gave the answer when surveyed):
  • Jell-o (36)
  • Pie (26)
  • Ice cream (16)
  • Fruit (9)
  • Strawberry Shortcake (5) (not guessed)
  • Pudding (3)
• Winning family: Najimy, for 90 points (after failed steal)
• Score: Najimy 90; Roderick 0

ROUND 2

• Question: "Name someone an actor thanks in his Academy Award speech."
• Correct answers:
  • Parents (29)
  • Spouse/Mate (17)
  • Producer (16)
  • God (11)
  • Director (10)
  • Fans (8)
  • Agent/Manager (4)
• Winning family: Roderick, for 84 points (gave all correct answers after accumulating 2 strikes)
• Score: Najimy 90; Roderick 84

ROUND 3

• Question: "Name something that women have that might be fake."
• Correct answers:
  • Breasts (45)
  • Jewelry (20)
  • Hair (14)
  • Nails (9)
  • Eyelashes (7)
• Winning family: Najimy, for 95 points (gave all correct answers after accumulating 2 strikes)
• Score: Najimy 185; Roderick 84

ROUND 4 (Double point value)

• Question: "Name something that a person might cheat on."
• Correct answers:
  • Test (52)
  • Spouse/Mate (22)
  • Taxes (13)
  • Diet (8) (answered on steal)
  • Game (4)
• Winning family: Najimy, for 182 points (made a successful steal)
• Score: Najimy 367; Roderick 84

Kathy Najimy won the tournament and won $100,000 for her charity; and her family advanced to the "Fast Money" bonus round, to earn $50,000 for a lucky viewer (no trip this time). The Fast Money round used the current 20/25-second format, instead of the original 15/20-second limit that the CBS show did in 1976.

Kathy's husband Dan played first, scoring 123 points. Kathy played second, and needed only three of her five answers to reach the 200-point target and win the $50,000 for the home viewer.

Fast Money

Question	Dan's answer	Score	Kathy's answer	Score
"Name a sport you need a ball to play."	Football	13	Basketball	25
"Name an occasion when you send someone flowers."	Birthday	33	Anniversary	10
"Name something people rent."	Movies	30	Apartment	44
"Name an office supply that employees often steal."	Paper	8	Paper clips	xx
"Name a place you have to be quiet."	Church	39	Library	xx
Total		123		202

In addition, Todd Newton made a "Prize Delivery" to the Meyer family of Austin, Texas, who won $50,000 and the Vegas trip after correctly answering the previous week's Match Game question.

TRIVIA QUESTION

In the classic 1976 episode, the question was: "Give a word a person politely uses instead of cursing." Was the top answer:

• (1) Dang
• (2) Darn
• (3) Shoot

CORRECT ANSWER: (2) Darn

Rule changes

For The Price Is Right, the top prize for Plinko was $100,000 and featured the same layout as seen in prime time episodes with a $20,000 slot in the center. Three games were played on the episode, and the two highest-scoring contestants in the Showcase Showdown advanced to the Showcase. The winning showcase (and any prizes won by that celebrity previously) went to a viewer watching at home.

Let's Make a Deal was played exactly as it was during the Monty Hall era in which the celebrities and some actual audience members taking part in the deals and they were wearing costumes, and it ended with the Big Deal, worth over $87,000. The celebrity who won the most advanced to Finalists' Row and their prizes were awarded to a home viewer.

Beat the Clock was played in a tournament format. Two of the celebrities played a stunt as a team with a time limit of 60 seconds. The other two celebrities played the same stunt, trying to beat the first team's time. The two celebrities on the winning team then faced off in another stunt. The winner of the second stunt played one final stunt alone and if it was completed successfully within the 60 second time limit, a home viewer wins a car in addition to the other prizes earned by the winning celebrity.

The game board for Press Your Luck had top amounts of $3,000, $4,000 and $5,000 + One Spin in round one, and those values doubled in round two. The winning celebrity's cash and prizes went to a home viewer.

Contestants playing Card Sharks received $1,000 for winning round one and $2,000 for round two. Instead of using the tiebreaker round featured on the NBC and CBS/1986 syndicated versions, a complete round with five cards and four questions was played as round three for $3,000. The contestant who won the most money won the game. The Money Cards offered a top prize of $144,000. $1,000 was given at the start of that round, and another $1,000 was given on the second level. Minimum bets were $50 on each card until the Big Bet, where a bet equal to at least half the current score must be wagered. Like the 1986 version of the show, the contestant could change one card per line by choosing one of three spare cards, doubles resulted in pushes. Like the 1986 version of the show, a car game was added, however, it did not resemble either version used during that period. In this car game, the contestant had to correctly determine whether the number of cheerleaders that answered "yes" to a question was higher or lower than five, and a card taken from the blue deck was used for the actual answer.

In Match Game, two contestants each tried to match the celebrities as on the original series. The winner after Round 3 moved on to the Super Match for a chance to win up to $50,000 for a home viewer. Two audience matches were played with $500, $250, and $100 as the possible payouts, and the contestant had a chance to multiply the total won from the audience matches by 50 by matching one celebrity in the Head-to-Head match.

The finale featured Family Feud, with teams competing to score 300 points first. The points doubled in round four and tripled in round five and beyond. In Fast Money, the first contestant had 20 seconds to answer the questions and the other received 25 seconds. A home viewer won $50,000 if the two contestants in Fast Money were able to reach or exceed 200 points.

The home viewer contest allowed viewers to win the cash and prizes won by the celebrity. It consisted of the showing of a classic clip pertaining to that day's show, with a corresponding question that had three multiple choice answers. A winner was selected from those entries that had the correct answer, and the prizes were delivered to the winner in a special segment during the next day's episode hosted by Todd Newton (who was famous for hosting Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck and Family Game Night).

External links

• Variety article on Game Show Marathon details
• Game Show Marathon details at planetricki.com
• Gameshow Marathon at IMDb