The Mad Dash
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mad Dash is a television game show created by Sidney M. Cohen. It first appeared in 1978 on Canada's CTV network and proved to be a family favourite based on Canada's BBM ratings. It was also shown in parts of the northern United States, a fact Mr. Cohen noted on a 1979 episode. Pierre Lalonde was the MC, and Nick Hollinrake was the announcer for the show, which was taped at the studios of CFCF in Montreal. Two episodes can be seen on GameTV Canada Mondays at 7:00 to 8:00 PM EST, repeated the following Monday at 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Only twelve episodes have so far aired on Game TV Canada.
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[edit] The Board and Rules
It featured a huge game board with contestants landing on squares that could reward or penalize their team. The show featured questions and stunts, making it one of the most memorable game show series produced in Canada. This classic series is included in the collection of Canadian icons in the 2006 feature film "Souvenir of Canada" based on the book by Douglas Coupland.
One player from each team of two proceeds to the START square. Their teammates attempt to ring in on a multiple choice question. The one who answers right, rolls the die that will move their teammate forward. The die is similar to a standard die, but one of the sides uses a $ instead of "6". The $ would give the team $10. If they roll the $ three times in a row, they would get a $50 bonus. The first teammate to reach the WIN square would win the cash and prizes they earned. If they didn't win any cash or prizes, they would be rewarded with a free roll of the die where the number would be mulitplied by $10. If the roll is a $ the team wins $100. The money is given to the players directly after the win.
If a team rolls a number higher than the number of spaces needed to land on WIN, they must go back the extra spaces after touching the WIN square.
[edit] Notable spaces
Breakaway - The player rolls the number which would be the number of seconds the teammate on the board can run towards the WIN after the sound of the bell.
Dice Game - The player rolls with two dice. If it results in two $ symbols, the team gets $100 and another chance to roll.
Card Game - The player draws from a deck of cards. Numbered cards will be the number of steps forward the player on the board can go. If the player draws a face card, the player rolls back. An ace is accepted as going forward one space.
Double Money - The team doubles their money that they have earned in the game. If they have no money, it would only be a free space.
Free Roll - Team gets one more roll. The space is one square away from the WIN, but a two could give them one extra roll.
Happy Birthday - The player spins two wheels. One wheel has five money amounts and an insurance policy. The other has all the months of the year. If the first wheel stops on insurance policy, it will prevent that team from going broke. If the second wheel stops on the player's month of birth, the money will be doubled except for insurance policy.
Go Broke - Team loses all their cash winnings in the game.
Return Prizes - Team loses all their prizes in the game.
Insurance Policy - Player picks up insurance to protect them when landing on a bad square (e.g. Go Broke, Return Prizes)
Roll Forward - Team rolls again going forward.
Roll Back - Team rolls again, but the player on the board has to go back that many squares on that roll.
Roll Over - Player rolls again, but for their opponent's player on the board.
Change Places - Both players on the board switch places. The player that switches with their opponents square, will get what's on that square their opponent was standing on.
Miss Turn - Team's opponent gets a free roll.
Dash - A True Or False question asked to the player on the Dash square. If they get it correct, they get to roll again and move forward, if not, they have to roll again and move back.
Back To Start - The player on the board must walk back to the START square.
Pot Of Gold - If a player lands on that special square, they win a series of prizes for the team to keep, win or lose. The square later changes into a various prize afterwards.
Thin Ice - A True Or False question is asked to the player on the Thin Ice square. If they get it correct, they get to pick a prize from the opposing team's board. If they get it incorrect, the opponents pick a prize from their board. If a correct answer is given and the opponents have no prizes, the team having given the correct answer can 'buy' squares for $10 each, up to $50 (five squares). That team moves forward the number of squares they've bought.
Mini-game space - Landing on this space gives the player an opportunity to play a mini-game that requires luck and/or skill for additional cash, such as "Bean Bag" or "Shooting Star", which varies on each show.
If a player lands on a prize that they already have on the board, they receive a free roll.
[edit] Mini Dash
Played to fill remaining time at the end of the show, it features an audience member called up onstage to try and answer questions, with 2 out of 3 correct answers needed in order to win a prize. There are versions where a choice of 5 envelopes could have a player win the prize instantly from one envelope, three with questions and the last envelope as a loss.
[edit] Other versions
The Mad Dash has also been produced internationally. The most successful new version was produced for Polish television (Duety do Mety, literally translated to "Duos to finish line") in 2002.
[edit] Notable contestants
Roy Callendar, a multiple winner of the Mr. Universe & Mr. World bodybuilding titles, was once a contestant.
