Weakest Link (US game show)
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| Weakest Link | |
|---|---|
| Format | Game show |
| Starring | Anne Robinson (2001-2002) George Gray (2002-2003) |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes (2001-2002) 30 minutes (2002-2003) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC (2001-2002) Syndicated (2002-2003) |
| Original run | 2001 – 2003 |
The American version of the game show The Weakest Link aired on NBC from April 16, 2001 to July 14, 2002 (with several episodes left unaired until some appeared on PAX in 2002, with the remainder eventually airing on GSN). The show also aired in syndication from January 2002 through September 2003.
Reruns of both versions aired on PAX for a short period of time, but can currently be found on GSN.
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[edit] Hosts and announcers
Like the British version, Anne Robinson served as host for the NBC Weakest Link. George Gray, whose most notable hosting experience to that point had been on Extreme Gong, hosted the syndicated version.
The show's voiceover announcers were John Cramer (NBC) and Lisa Friedman (syndicated).
Both versions are currently airing on GSN. The NBC version is on weeknights at 7pm. The syndicated version is airing Weekdays at 4pm, Weekends at 3:30pm and 10pm. (All times ET.)
[edit] Front game format
The format was essentially the same as the European format. A team of contestants started the game and answered questions in rapid-fire fashion to try to reach a set cash target within an established time limit. Correct answers added money to the chain, while any incorrect answer and/or pass broke the chain and forced the team to start over. Any team member could bank the money the team had earned to that point before their question was asked, but once that was done the chain had to start over.
On the NBC version, the team size was eight, with the potential top prize being $1,000,000. In syndication, the top prize was $75,000, but in its second season that was raised to $100,000. Both syndicated seasons saw six players playing for the prize.
After every round, when time ran out, the team would be forced to eliminate one of the members by vote. The team member who got the most votes was declared the Weakest Link for that round (regardless of whether they were statistically the Weakest Link or not), and would be eliminated from the game. In case of a tie, the Strongest Link from the prior round would choose which of the tied players to eliminate.
Each round on the NBC Link was played for $125,000, with ten seconds being deducted from the clock at the beginning of each round (first round lasted 2:30). The syndicated Link played with $12,500/$25,000 in each round, with 15 seconds less time played each round (first round lasted 1:45). Each subsequent round began with the Strongest Link from the last round, or the second-Strongest Link if the Strongest Link was voted off.
When two players were left, they played one final question round for double stakes, meaning whatever they banked in that round would be worth double. On the syndicated Link, once the top prize was raised to $100,000, this final round was eliminated, with each round being played for $25,000.
[edit] Final round
The final round was a head-to-head showdown between the two remaining contestants for the entire prize money pot. The Strongest Link from the final round (or the second strongest from the preceding round during the final syndicated season if by chance the strongest had been voted off) was given the option of playing first or passing control to his/her teammate. The contestants were then asked a series of alternating questions, with a best of five (NBC) or three (syndication) format. Whoever answered the most questions correctly won the money earned up to that point, while the other would leave with nothing.
If both players were tied after all the questions were asked, a series of sudden death questions would be asked, with the first player to top their opponent winning the game.
[edit] Boards
Primetime
- $125,000
- $75,000
- $50,000
- $25,000
- $10,000
- $5,000
- $2,500
- $1,000
Daytime
Season 1
- $12,500
- $5,000
- $2,500
- $1,000
- $500
- $250
Season 2
- $25,000
- $5,000
- $2,500
- $1,000
- $500
- $250
[edit] Trivia
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- Part of the reason why the second season of Weakest Link failed was due to the clearance issues many stations had with the show. At the start of the 2002-2003 TV season, a syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire began airing on many of the same stations that Weakest Link had been airing on, in some cases in the same time slot that Link had previously occupied. The drop in ratings was enough to get Link cancelled. (Millionaire continues to air in syndication to this day.)
- The $125,000 target on the NBC Link was reached twice, albeit these episodes were aired on PAX, and in reruns on GSN. On the syndicated Link the $12,500 and $25,000 targets were reached and banked several times (on at least two occasions twice in a game).
- A pilot for a game show called "Cheaters" was taped on the set of the syndicated Weakest Link in 2002, though the game show never made it to the airwaves (This show eventually became Dirty Rotten Cheater).[1]
- The highest amount won on the network version was $189,500, on a Tournament of Losers Special. The lowest amount won was $22,500, on a Fear Factor Champions Special. For celebrity specials, the Star Trek special gained the highest jackpot, with $167,500 going to charity, won by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton after defeating Robert Picardo in the final round.
- The highest amount won on the daytime version was $53,000, and the lowest amount won was $500.
- As an opposite to 60 Minutes, The Weakest Link is the only television show in US history to have music playing all the time.
[edit] References
- ^ www.gsthemes.tekcities.com/partc.html
