50 Grand Slam

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50 Grand Slam was a short-lived game show from Ralph Andrews Productions that aired on NBC from October 4 to December 31, 1976, and attempted to bring the days of the big money quiz show to life.

1 Host and Announcer
2 Format
3 Notes
4 Episode Status

[edit] Host and Announcer

Tom Kennedy hosted the show, with John Harlan announcing position.

[edit] Format

Nine contestants competed on each show, with two competing at a time.

The two contestants competing in the game were put in isolation booths and each was read a four part-question in a random category. Whoever answered more parts of the question correctly won $200 and had the option to either quit with what they'd won or continue on to the next level, which was worth $500 for a win. If they tied, both won money and each got the option to play or continue.

The scale ($200 for one win, $500 for two wins) continued as such:

Three wins: $1000

Four wins: $2000

Five wins: $5000

Six wins: $10,000

Seven wins: $20,000

If a contestant managed to win on all eight levels, they won $50,000.

The category was in play until all nine contestants had played it or someone won $50,000.

[edit] Notes

50 Grand Slam premiered (and was cancelled) on the same day as Allen Ludden's show Stumpers!. Ludden appeared on the first episode of 50 Grand Slam to wish Kennedy luck.
During the show's brief run, a total of five players won the $50,000 top prize.
The bells and buzzers used on 50 Grand Slam were carried over to Card Sharks.
At the end of the final episode of 50 Grand Slam, Kennedy (clad in a tuxedo) reminded his viewers that this was the finale, and told them that he'd see them that Monday on Name That Tune, which only lasted a few months on NBC (his weekly syndicated version, which had only been on the air for two years at that point, continued until 1981).