Play the Percentages

Hosted by Geoff Edwards, this game show ran in syndication from January 7, 1980-September 12, 1980. The game changed format several times over its short run, but all forms involved some variation on using questions with percentage answers or percentage statistics.

Related Topics:
Geoff Edwards - Game show - Syndication

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FORMAT ONE

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Two married couples competed. One player from each couple would hear a question, and be asked to estimate what percentage answered the question correctly. The polls were taken of groups of 300 people. Whoever was closest to the actual percentage, high or low, would score the actual percentage points. If both teams said the game percentage, the guesses are erased, and a re-vote is taken. The player who scored the points would have the chance to either answer the question WITHOUT conferring with his/her spouse, or challenge the opponent. The value of the question is detemined by how many people missed the question. EXAMPLE: If 40% knew the right answer, that meant 60% did not know it. A right answer added to points to the score. A successful challenge also added points. If the player with the initial control missed, the opponent may steal the points. Originally, a successful challenge also allowed the player to answer the question for the same amount of points. Play alternated until a couple reached 300 points. The first to reach 300 won the game at $300. Originally, if a player guessed the percentage exactly right, the team won the game automatically. Later, in addition to the game, a cash jackpot that started at $10,000 was won, and increased by $1,000 each time it wasn't won.

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BONUS ROUND-This took various formats.

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The couple started by giving a target percentage that was larger than zero. The host would then read a question and three possible answers. The couple then chose an answer. If anybody said the couple's guess, the team scored points. The team could quit and take $10 per point and end the game. If a couple chose an answer that was said by nobody (0%), the bonus round ended, and the couple lost all of the points. Reaching 100 points won $2,500 in cash. An exact percentage match won the game automatically and a cash jackpot worth $25,000. The jackpot in the bonus round was discontinued when the large percentage logo malfunctioned.

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In the second format, the couple were given a question and three possible answers. One of which was still said by nobody. The couple were given two chances at giving the top answer.

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In format 3, the question dealt with people's opinions. The question was read and six possible answers were listed. One of the six was said by nobody. Choosing answers that were said was worth $10/point. Reaching 100 points won $1,000 cash and a prize package worth at least $2,500. This format was carried over into the second format of the main game.

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FORMAT TWO

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Two solo players competed. Each had a category of preference, and a category that was always on the list was "Pot Luck". The values of the questions were in multiples of 10, and ranged from 10 to 100. The higher the value of the quesiton, the more people that missed the question. The categories were "spun", and one would be played. The challenger would then choose a point value for a question. A right answer added the points to his/her score. A wrong answer would enable the opponent to steal. Two questions were played per round. If "Pot Luck" came up, the question was a toss-up with the first player to buzz in given a chance to answer. 5 rounds are played. The first player to reach 250 points won the game and $500 and the chance at the Bonus Round. If there was no winner after five rounds, a winner is decided with a toss-up question. In the bonus round, the third format delt with the people's feelings. The champion of the main game (where the percentages were dealt with the people's knowledge) can bring his or her spouse up, but only for moral support--the champion was the only person that can answer the questions.

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NOTES:

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1. A couple/player who won five consecutive games won a new car.

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2. Geoff Edwards developed a humorous rapport with Judge Von Erik.

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