Paranoia (game show)
Paranoia is a game show that aired on the Fox Family channel from April to May 2000. The show was hosted by Peter Tomarken, and the first game show since the 1950s to be recorded live with contestants playing in the studio, by satellite, over the phone, and on the show's website.
| Paranoia | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Peter Usher |
| Presented by | Peter Tomarken |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Triage Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox Family |
| Original release | April 14 – May 7, 2000 |
Gameplay
An in-studio contestant competed against three satellite players across the U.S. by answering a series of 10 multiple-choice questions, each with four answers. The studio contestant began the game with $10,000 in cash.
Before the studio contestant answered each question, the three satellite players picked their answers. If the studio contestant responded correctly, his/her total remained intact; if not, he/she lost $1,000. In either case, the studio contestant then had to challenge at least one satellite contestant. Each correct answer won $1,000 for that satellite contestant, paid out of the studio contestant's total, while a miss earned one strike. Satellite contestants were eliminated upon earning two strikes, and kept any money they had earned (or $500 if they had earned none).
The studio contestant was given two cards, each of which could be used once: a "Swap Out" to replace one satellite contestant with an unknown alternate, at a cost of $1,000; and a "Knock Out" to eliminate one satellite contestant from the game, at a cost of $3,000. Near the end of the show's run, the money associated with using these cards was given to the affected satellite contestant. Any strikes earned by a swapped-out contestant carried over to the alternate.
Every game featured a $5,000 Interactive Jackpot, which was not affected by the studio or satellite contestants' performance. Five online players and five telephone players were chosen before each question at random; each correct answer won $50 for that player, deducted from the jackpot.
If the studio contestant ran out of money at any time, the game ended and he/she left with nothing. However, if the studio contestant either survived all 10 questions or eliminated all three satellite players, he/she won whatever money remained of both the original $10,000 cash and the Interactive Jackpot. The maximum front-game total was therefore $15,000.
Bonus round
While connected to a heart monitor that broadcast his/her heartbeat to the studio audience, the studio contestant chose one of 10 categories and had 15 seconds to answer an open-ended question asked by Tomarken. A correct answer multiplied the front-game winnings by whatever number was hidden behind the category; nine of the categories hid the number 10, while the tenth hid 100. There was no penalty for a wrong answer. The maximum possible grand prize was $1.5 million.
Interactive game
As described above, five each of online and phone players were randomly chosen before each question and could win $50 for a correct answer. In addition, Tomarken asked two more interactive questions during the show, one to an online player and the other to a phone player. A correct answer won a home computer and camera.