Strike It Rich (1986 game show)

Infobox_television
show_name = (The All-New) Strike it Rich


caption =
format = Game Show
picture_format = NTSC
runtime = 30 Minutes
creator =
starring = Joe Garagiola
country = USA
rating=TV-G
network = SYN
first_aired = 1986
last_aired = 1987
num_episodes =|

Strike it Rich was an American game show that aired in syndication during the 1986-87 television season. It was hosted by Joe Garagiola and Theresa Ring (with Bob Hilton as announcer). It had no connection with the 1950s series of the same name.

Two couples competed each day to win cash and prizes by navigating across an archway of TV monitors on a stage. They earned the right to progress by answering trivia questions, and they risked losing their prizes along the way by uncovering the "Bandit".

Although the show had limited success in America, it became a hit in the UK, where it was originally known as "Strike It Lucky".

The Main Game

On a team's turn, they are given a category with five possible answers. Then the team must decide how many answers they should give (either one, two or three) for control of their respective seven monitored archway. If the team members complete their contract, they win a chance to move across the archway. Otherwise, the opposing team gets to complete the contract.

Next, the team with the completed contract gets to move and reveal as many monitors as there are answers. Starting at the first screen, they reveal each of their screens that they have earned, one at a time. Each monitor hides a prize, while one of them hides a bandit. Each time the team in control reveals a prize, they win that prize. Then that team can decide to either bank the prize(s) and pass control to their opposing team, or they can reveal the next monitor. Deciding to keep playing is a risk because if at anytime they reveal the bandit, they lose all the prizes earned so far, and control goes to the opponents. However, if the team can make their required number of moves without hitting the bandit, they get to either bank their prizes and pass control to their opponent, or keep their turn and play another category (risking the prizes that are not banked).

If the couple can get past all seven monitors, they are then asked "The Strike it Rich Question". That couple must answer the question correctly in order to win the game, otherwise the game continues. The first couple to make it across their archway and answer "The Strike it Rich Question" wins the game. Then the winning team goes on to play the bonus game, where even more prizes can be won.

The Bonus Game

The bonus game begins by having the winning couple decide which grand prize they wish to play for. In the beginning of the run, they could play for $5,000, or a $20,000 classic roadster. Later on, the other option was changed to a regular $15,000+ car and $5,000. Once they chose what to play for, one member of the winning team takes the top row of monitors, while the other takes the bottom row of monitors. On each pair of monitors, one hides a dollar sign, and the other hides the bandit, which serves as a strike. The couple decides which screen to reveal, either top or bottom. If the winning couple chooses to play for $5,000, they must reveal five dollar signs before getting three strikes (bandits). If the team chooses to play for a car (and $5,000 later on in the run), they must find six dollar signs before finding two bandits. If they are unable to win their chosen bonus prize, they still win $100 for each dollar sign that is found.

Notes

The original title was going to be "Arch Rivals". The name was changed with the intention of linking it to the 1950s game show of the same name] .

"Strike It Rich" was Joe Garagiola's first game show assignment in eight years, and was also his last.

When the bandit is revealed it usually laughs. The sound of the bandit's laugh was made by baseball player Boog PowellFact|date=October 2007.

External links

* [http://illustriousgameshowpage.com/sir.html Chuck Donegan's Strike it Rich rule page]