Break the Bank

Break the Bank is a title that has been used for three entirely separate American game shows throughout television history.

1985-86

Break the Bank was revived in name once again in 1985, and once again the new show was completely unconnected to the ones that came before. It debuted September 16 in syndication with Gene Rayburn as host, but by December he had been replaced with Joe Farago. This version was the first game show produced by former Barry & Enright producer Richard S. Kline and his new company, Kline & Friends.

Related Topics:
1985 - September 16 - Gene Rayburn

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Originally, two couples competed for "seconds" which would be used in the bonus round. Six questions were asked, the answers to which were one-word clues to a master puzzle.

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Each correct answer was worth seconds as follows:

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:1st - 5 seconds

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:2nd - 10 seconds

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:3rd - 20 seconds

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:4th - 40 seconds

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:5th - 80 seconds

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:6th - 100 seconds

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In addition to the seconds, the couple with a correct answer gets to either take a chance at solving the puzzle or answer another question for more seconds. A correct solution to the puzzle wins the round, but an incorrect answer gives the opposing couple a chance to answer the next question unopposed. The first couple to solve two puzzles wins the game. If the game ends in a tie, one last round is played but without questions. Each clue to the puzzle is revealed one at a time until one couple buzzes in to solve it. The first couple to solve that puzzle wins the game and wins an extra 30 seconds.

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The winning couple then used those seconds to participate in various knowledge/skill-based stunts in the endgame's "Prize Vault." Each completed stunt earned a bonus prize, as well as a choice of up to five "Bank Cards" for each stunt. This process continued until all the seconds were used up. The couple then fed each of the Bank Cards they'd earned into an electronic reader to see if it contained the numerical code that would "break the bank", an accruing jackpot of cash and prizes that started at $20,000 and increased every day until won. Each day a couple returned to the Prize Vault, the number of possible Bank Cards was reduced.

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Not long after Farago took over as host, the format was adjusted somewhat. In the revised version, correct answers were worth money instead of seconds, and the game was played to $2,000.

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This is how the scoring works in this new format:

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:Round 1 - $100

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:Round 2 - $200

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:Round 3 & Beyond - $400 per solved puzzle

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Whomever reached $2,000 first wins. The winners kept the money won, earned one Bank Card to start with, and played a bonus puzzle to earn up to ten more. All forty Bank Cards were displayed on a stand in the Prize Vault, and could now each be worth a different prize or cash amount if they didn't break the bank. One card in the mix said "BANKRUPT", and if picked cost the couple all the money and/or prizes they'd built up to that point.

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The old Family Channel (now ABC Family) aired reruns of the Joe Farago episodes in 1987. Due to legal issues surrounding Gene Rayburn's dismissal from Break the Bank, his episodes have never reran and probably will never rerun.

Related Topics:
Family Channel - ABC Family

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