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Winning Lines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Winning Lines is a National Lottery game show produced by Celador that premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 13 June 1999, originally hosted by Simon Mayo. From series 3 (June 9, 2001 onwards) Phillip Schofield presented instead of Mayo. The last edition was broadcast on October 16, 2004.
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Forty-nine contestants qualified for the main game, but only six would move on to round two. The host reads a question that can be answered by a number from 1 to 49. Anyone who thinks that their own number is the answer buzzes in. If the owner of that number buzzed, he or she moves on to round two. Anyone who buzzed but was wrong is eliminated. If the owner didn't buzz, but should have, he is out. This goes on for six questions to determine the winner.
The 'ones' digit from each of the winner's numbers are shown at the end of the show, and anyone who could make up their own phone number from those six digits could call the show and appear next week.
In series two onwards, this changed to the host asks the 49 contestants a question with a number for an answer. The contestants use keypads to enter their answers, and whoever is fastest moves on to the second round. Contestants do not have to play a question and wrong answers eliminates all those who give them. This continues until six have qualified for the next round. All of the remaining contestants are eliminated.
Each contestant carries their number from round one with them to round two. Schofield (or Mayo) asks questions that can be answered by one of the six numbers in play. Contestants buzz in to answer the question. A right answer means that the owner of that number is eliminated, unless the person who buzzed in had the number; in that case no one is eliminated. If the contestant is wrong, he or she is eliminated. This goes on until one contestant is remaining. The winner plays the Wonderwall for a grand prize trip.
The champion is asked as many questions as possible in three minutes, the answers to which appear on three projection screens. Each answer wins a better trip, and twenty correct answers wins a three-week-long around the world holiday.
Starting from January 8, 2000, the show also had a short run on CBS in the United States. It was hosted by Dick Clark (which turned out to be his last game show currently) and directed by James Yukich. It was produced by Stone Stanley Entertainment.
Host Clark asks the 49 contestants a question with a number for an answer. The contestants use keypads to enter their answers, and whoever is fastest moves on to the second round. Six questions are played in this way. The other 43 contestants are eliminated.
As in the British version, each contestant carries their number from round one with them to round two. Clark asks questions that can be answered by one of the six numbers in play. Contestants buzz in to answer the question. A right answer means that the owner of that number is eliminated, unless the person who buzzed in had the number; in that case no one is eliminated. If the contestant is wrong, he or she is eliminated. This goes on until one contestant is remaining. That contestant wins $2,500, the others win $1,000 each.
The winner has three minutes to answer as many questions as possible, using 49 answers as displayed on three projection screens. Each right answer earns more money as follows, with 20 right answers earning $1 million:
| Correct Answers | Prize |
|---|---|
| 20 | $1,000,000 |
| 19 | $500,000 |
| 18 | $400,000 |
| 17 | $300,000 |
| 16 | $200,000 |
| 15 | $100,000 |
| 14 | $90,000 |
| 13 | $80,000 |
| 12 | $70,000 |
| 11 | $60,000 |
| 10 | $50,000 |
| 9 | $40,000 |
| 8 | $30,000 |
| 7 | $25,000 |
| 6 | $20,000 |
| 5 | $15,000 |
| 4 | $10,000 |
| 3 | $7,500 |
| 2 | $5,000 |
| 1 | $2,500 |
Like the British version, the player has to call out number and answer, and has the right to freeze the monitor two times for fifteen uncounted seconds (called "Pit Stops"). A player could pass two questions. However, in a bit of drama which differentiated the US and UK versions, if an answer is wrong or unable to answer within 15 seconds, he/she will get a strike. Three strikes and he/she's out. When a player gave two wrong answers, or when less than fifteen seconds remained in the game, a "bailout" button glowed for a player to end the game and take all money won. However, he/she must bail out before time runs out or he/she will lose everything they've won. Even though if he/she has three strikes, he/she will also loses everything they've won. Instead of the three screens in the studio, people at home have a screen that continually scrolls from side-to-side and automatically jumps to the right place when a correct answer is given.
On the first show, Catherine Rahm won $500,000, after answering 19 questions correctly.
The US version offered an at-home game similar to the British version. The 'ones' digit from each of the round one winners' numbers and the 'ones' digit from the number of the final correct answer given during the Wonderwall were shown at the end of the show. Home viewers who could make up their own phone number from those seven digits were eligible to enter a drawing for $50,000 cash.
After dismal ratings, CBS canceled the show after ten episodes, one of which was unaired.