Quiznation (US game show)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The correct title of this article is quiznation (US game show). The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

quiznation

Genre	Game show
Starring	Shandi Finnessey Mel Peachey
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	18 (as of April 1, 2007)
Production
Running time	2 hours (including commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel	GSN
Original run	February 23, 2007 – present
Links
Official website

quiznation is a live interactive game show on GSN. The official host is Shandi Finnessey, but Mel Peachey is now filling in while Shandi competes on Dancing with the Stars. Featured in the two-hour program are interactive games where the viewers can win cash prizes. The show airs from 12 midnight - 2 a.m. Eastern every Friday night through Sunday night (technically early Saturday through early Monday morning in the Eastern Time zone). The program is nearly identical to the original PlayMania.

1 Format
2 Programming history
3 Games
4 Other features
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Format

On quiznation, the contestants are home viewers. American residents 18 or older may enter the contest by text messaging a request, calling the premium-rate phone number, or using the network's website. Potential contestants may enter up to ten times per phone number on each show.

After a few moments, a contestant is notified whether or not their entry is chosen (at random) to proceed to another random selection process. If an entry is selected in the second phase, the contestant will be called on his or her home or mobile phone, depending on the method of entry. The contestant will then come on-air and be given a chance to play if the game lasts long enough. After a game is completed, the queue is cleared and a new entry is required. A $.99 fee applies for each text message entry or premium rate phone call, along with standard text messaging rates added to the former. Entries on the website are free. Regardless of the method of entry, each entry has an equal chance of being selected. An entry does not necessarily guarantee an opportunity to appear on the show. Residents of certain states may be ineligible to play various entry methods.^[1]

[edit] Programming history

On February 20, 2007, PlayMania, the original GSN interactive game show, broke off into two separate programs, quiznation and 100 Winners. Collectively, the programs are known as the PlayMania Block.

On March 10, 2007, Jessica York filled in for Finnessey, who was preparing to compete on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. The next week, the spot was filled in by Mel Peachey, host of 100 Winners, on March 17 and 18. Finnessey will host at least every Friday, even during the competition. ^[2]

[edit] Games

quiznation features various minigames that are played throughout the program, many from the original PlayMania. The rewards for the games are usually cash prizes ranging from $100 - $500 in cash, sometimes reaching as much as $1,000. There are a few methods quiznation employs to speed up a game or increase incentives for a game:

Hints may be given by the host or the graphics operator to viewers
Multiple guesses may be allowed
The host may also increase the prize amount as an incentive, or alternatively, a certain number of callers set by the host will be playing for extra incentives.
To provide a sixth answer to the polling games, Finnessey/Peachey sometimes utilizes the "play-along pad" (a whiteboard) to record her personal answer to the game. The person who guesses that answer generally receives $50 - $75 in addition to any prize they may win in the main game.

These games are played in rotation on quiznation.

Game	Instructions
Alphabuck$	Similar to Hangman, this game allows players to attempt to guess a letter that is in the puzzle of a given category. If the player has letters in the puzzle, he/she will earn a small prize per letter. If any of their letters is in the puzzle, he/she has an opportunity to guess the puzzle and a correct guess wins a larger prize.
Anagram	A word, name or phrase with the letters mixed up will be given related to a specified category. The contestant must identify what the unscrambled phrase is.
Catch Phrase	A rebus based on a popular, everyday phrase is given. (e.g., MEREPEAT would be "repeat after me", because the word "repeat" comes after the word "me.") The caller must identify what the "decoded" phrase is.
Category Game	Three items or names, all on ends of a triangle, are listed. The contestant must identify what all of the items have in common in the most specific manner.
Crossword	Similar to a crossword puzzle, Crosswords features four horizontal words with one letter in each word replaced with a question mark. Vertically, the letters behind the question marks make an actual word. The contestant must identify (and spell) the hidden word. The portion needed to be filled in may appear to be multiple words; however, the host has an envelope containing the chosen word.
Find the Missing Letters	A four or five-letter word is given with two consecutive letters replaced by a question mark. The contestant must identify (and spell) the displayed word. The portion revealed may appear to be multiple words; however, the host has an envelope containing the chosen word.
MemoryBank*	Based on the classic game of Memory, twenty-four squares are on the screen. Different money values are behind the squares, with at least two squares each sharing the same amount. The contestant must choose two squares. If the amounts behind the squares chosen match, he/she wins that amount.
Missing Link	Three words will be given which have a common word preceding (or succeeding) it to make a common word or phrase. The player must complete the phrases.
Movie Quotes/T.V. Quotes/Ad Slogans	Three quotes, each from a famous American film, television program or advertising campaign are listed, each with a cash prize beside it. The contestant must guess which quote they are attempting for and where they think it comes from.
Name the Celebrity	A pixelated photograph of a celebrity is shown. The contestant must identify who the celebrity is.
Series Game	Three different series (which may be specially ordered numbers, letters, etc.) are shown, each with a cash value attached to it. The caller chooses one of the orders and must identify the next value.
Sound It Out*	A mondegreen is given that is either a title of a movie, TV program, book or song. The contestant must figure out the real phrase.
Things You Find...	The quiznation crew picks three items one would commonly find in a designated location. The contestant must identify one of the items that would be found.
Top 5	A category is given that was also surveyed to Los Angeles residents and GSN.com users. (e.g., "Top 5 Elton John Hits") The top five answers to the survey or fact-proven data are hidden, and it is the contestant's job to reveal one of them. Once all of the answers have been revealed, the game ends. A variation on a Top 5 is the quiznation 5. The difference is that the quiznation crew picks the five things on the list.
Vanity Plate*	In the same vein as Bumper Stumpers, a vanity license plate is shown and a clue is given to whom it would belong. The contestant must identify what the phrase on the plate is.
What's Missing?	A common symbol or image is shown, with an obvious part left absent or replaced with a question mark. The contestant must identify what would commonly be found on the image.

*Game added since the start of quiznation

[edit] Other features

quiznation also involves e-mails sent by viewers. The host reads e-mails from viewers while taking a break from talking to the audience during games. Each episode has a requested theme for e-mails. The tone of the e-mails varies widely, from serious to silly. Pictures may also be requested to be included.