Power of 10

infobox television
show_name = Power of 10


caption = "Power of 10" title card
format = Game Show
runtime = 60 minutes
starring = Drew Carey
creator = Michael Davies
executive_producer = Michael Davies Vincent Rubino
composer = Lewis Flinn
director = Mark Gentile
country = USA
network = CBS
language = English
first_aired = August 7, 2007
last_aired = January 23, 2008
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 16 (2 Unaired)
website = http://www.cbs.com/primetime/powerof10/
imdb_id = 1003042
tv_com_id = 72781

"Power of 10" was a CBS game show hosted by Drew Carey. The show ran from August 7, 2007 to April 7, 2008 and aired twice weekly during the late summer and early fall. Each game featured contestants predicting how a cross-section of Americans responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by CBS. The top prize is $10,000,000 (annuitized).

The series is produced by Embassy Row Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television and is taped at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City.

On September 10, 2007, CBS ordered six additional episodes of the show slated for mid-season to extend the first season to 18 episodes. The summer finale aired on Sunday, September 23, 2007, due to "Kid Nation" airing the following Wednesday. [ [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070910cbs02 Breaking News - CBS ORDERS SIX ADDITIONAL EPISODES OF "POWER OF 10" FOR MIDSEASON | TheFutonCritic.com ] ]

The show returned on January 2, airing on Wednesday nights. ["GAME SHOWS, POPULAR REALITY SERIES, NEWS MAGAZINES, THE SEASON PREMIERES OF TWO RETURNING SCRIPTED PROGRAMS, AND THE DEBUT OF A NEW COMEDY JOIN CBS'S PRIMETIME SCHEDULE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ", [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20071203cbs03] ] . However, on January 24, 2008, it was reported that CBS pulled the show from the schedule after four episodes, with a possible return in the summer. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979524.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 CBS revives primetime 'Price is Right' - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety ] ] This summer run never materialized, and by April 30, the show had been canceled in favor of "The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular", also hosted by Carey.

"Power of 10" was not included in CBS's 2008-09 schedule on May 13, 2008, confirming its cancellation.

Rules

In the first round, played similar to an early-1980s game show, "Play the Percentages", two contestants try to predict the results of poll questions, based on surveys similar to the ones used on "Family Feud" and "Card Sharks" (e.g. What percentage of Americans said they are afraid of circus clowns?) in a best-of-five elimination round. After the question is read, each contestant had 10 seconds to lock in an answer. If they did not lock in an answer the computer locked in the percentage they were currently on. The player who came closer to the actual percentage earned a point. The first player to earn three points won the round and went on to the money round to play for $10,000,000.

In the money round, the contestant was given similar questions, and placed a range, similar to "TPIR's" Range Game, on a scale from 0% to 100% that included the correct answer (for example, if the answer was 45%, then the contestant's range must have included 45%). The size of the range decreased as the money values increased (similar to the money ladder of "TPIR's" Grand Game):

*$1,000 question: 40-point range
*$10,000 question: 30-point range
*$100,000 question: 20-point range
*$1,000,000 question: 10-point range
*$10,000,000 question: Exact guess on the previous question (see below)

For the first three questions, the correct answer to the question was revealed once the contestant locked in an answer by pulling down a lever. For the $1,000,000 question, the correct answer was revealed only if the contestant's range missed the question.

If the contestant correctly answered the $1,000,000 question, the contestant was then given the chance to win $10,000,000 by picking the exact percentage (rounded to the nearest 1%) out of that 10% range (11 choices in all).

Contestants who missed either the $1,000 or $10,000 question won nothing (losing on the $10,000 question did not reduce a player's $1,000 bank into $100). From the $100,000 question, missing a question caused a contestant to lose "by the power of 10," meaning that their current winnings were divided by 10 (losing on the $100,000 question dropped their $10,000 bank to $1,000; losing on the $1,000,000 question reduced the $100,000 to $10,000; and losing at the $10,000,000 level meant the player went home with $100,000).

For each question, audience members made exact-percentage guesses in order to then show the contestant a full sample of the results for help in answering. Contestants also asked an in-studio relative or friend their opinion before locking in, and contestants adjusted their choice if necessary to elicit reactions from the audience or their friend/relative. Contestants stopped the game and took their money if they did not lock in an answer.

The show was known for its humorous and sometimes controversial questions. At the beginning of the show's run, the $1,000 question was intended to be full of humor and be blatantly obvious in one direction or another in how the range should be placedFact|date=January 2008. Since the first contestant got past the fourth question and others reached the $1 million question, the producers ended this tacticFact|date=January 2008. Two contestants then missed the first question as a result.

Drew Carey did not know the answers and sometimes helped contestants think through questions and offered his own opinions, unlike most game shows. He also made jokes and poked fun at the contestants' occupations and hobbies as well as himself during the questions.

Notable winnings

Jamie Sadler, a 19-year-old Upper Montclair, New Jersey pre-med student at the University of Florida, was the first contestant to earn the right to play for money on the game show, and won $1,000,000 (to be paid as a ten-year annuity). This made him the youngest person to ever win $1 million on a quiz show or game show (The second youngest was Joe Trela on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire). Sadler accomplished this distinction by giving a range of 23% to 33% for the question, "What percentage of women consider themselves feminists?" Though given the chance to win the $10,000,000 grand prize, he declined to lock in a guess for the exact percentage within that range. Instead, he quit the game, and kept his $1 million prize. Subsequently, with no risk involved, he informally guessed 24%. The correct answer was 29%.

This marks the first time CBS has ever awarded a $1 million prize on a game show, excluding reality shows. ["Sadler Becomes TV's Youngest Millionaire" posted by tvgameshows.net Issue 72 August 12-August 18, 2007 http://tvgameshows.net/coverstory.htm]

On the show, Carey claimed that neither he nor the show's producers believed anyone would reach the $10,000,000 question so early in the show's run. As a result, Carey claimed that they were unprepared for its actual occurrence, but that he would wing it. ["Power of 10 - 1st Millionaire," posted by CBS on YouTube 07 August 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG65S9nUfXk]

Also, CBS's "Big Brother 8" reality show contestants Daniele Donato and Amber Siyavus won the opportunity to appear on the show in a competition. Amber won in the opening round and made it to the $100,000 question, but was wrong and left with $1,000.

On the episode that aired on January 2, 2008, two contestants that made it to the money round and each won nothing in the same episode for the first time.

Nielsen Ratings

Episodes

As a summer series, "Power of 10" was a fairly successful series, usually finishing in the top 20 shows for the weeks in which it aired, buoyed by the recent announcement of Carey's assumption as host of "The Price Is Right." When the series returned in January 2008, CBS placed it against "American Idol", which proved to be very detrimental to the show's ratings.

International versions

ARG

ARM

Shant TV have picked up the rights to the show and plan to air it soon. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983225.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 Sony signs more 'Power of 10' deals - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety ] ]

AUS

The Nine Network in Australia acquired the domestic rights to the show and aired a local version on Monday nights from April 2008. [ [http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/power-of-10-220807.html Nine: Power Of 10 announcement ] ] The prize levels were $100, $1000, $10,000 and $100,000, while the top prize was only $1,000,000 (US$828,593). This was the first version of the show to air outside the United States. The host was "Today" weatherman Steven Jacobs. Due to very heavy competition from Channel Seven, it was subsequently cancelled after two episodes, the second of which rated only just over 500,000 viewers nationally.

BRA

In 2008, Rede Globo has picked up the rights to the show in Brazil and started airing on May 25th under the name of "Jogo dos 10" instead of "Potência de 10" that would have maintained the original paronomasia of the gameshow. Is aired as a segment of weekly show "Domingão do Faustão", hosted by Fausto Silva. The prize levels are R$50, R$500, R$5,000 and R$50,000, while the top prize is R$500,000 (US$269,912), the world's second lowest prize.

BUL

NOVA Television have picked up the rights to the show and plan to air it soon.

CHI

In 2008, Chilevision has picked up the rights to the show in Chile and started airing on April 22nd under the name of "El Poder del 10" instead of "La Potencia del 10" that would have maintained the original paronomasia of the gameshow title. Top prize in this version is CL$100,000,000 (US$185,332), the world's lowest prize. Game show hosted by Julián Elfenbein.

COL

RCN TV is developing a local version of the show called 'El Poder del 10' (Power of 10) with a COL$1,000,000,000 (US$474,441) grand prize. The Show was premiered on February, 4th, 2008 and is being aired 5 nights a week. This version is hosted by Colombian actor Diego Trujillo. [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/blogs/diablog/?p=190 DiabloG » El debut de Diego Trujillo en El poder del 10 ] ]

CRO

Nova TV have picked up the rights to the show and plan to air it soon.

DEN

TV 2 in Denmark are airing a Danish version called "Gi' mig 5" (literally Give me five), [ [http://gimig5.tv2.dk/ Gi' mig 5] , "tv2.dk"] on Tuesdays at 8pm CEST with a top prize of DKK5,000,000 (US$977,523), though initially it was reported to be DKK50,000,000 [US$9,775,230] ). [ [http://tvnyt.com/artikel/default.asp?id=15905 Avis: TV 2 parat med nyt gameshow] , "tvnyt.com"] The show will be hosted by Hans Pilgaard, a former host of 'Who wants to be a millionaire'. [ [http://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/filmogtv/tv/article965556.ece Pilgaard klar med største danske quizpræmie] "eb.dk"]

EST

FIN

MTV3 have picked up the rights to the show and plan to air it soon.

FRA

TF1 in France began its version of Power of 10, Jouez pour 5 fois plus in February 2008, hosted by Jean-Pierre Foucault with a top prize of €1,000,000 (US$1,459,204). The show uses a five-question money tree like the American original but the prizes are only multiplied by 5: €1,600, €8,000, €40,000, €200,000 and €1,000,000. Because of poor ratings, the show doesn't air anymore on the channel.

GER

On December 13, 2007, VOX announced to produce "Power of 10" for German Television in early 2008 with a top prize of €1,000,000. [ [http://quotenmeter.de/index.php?newsid=24037 Quotenmeter.de - Spielstunde: VOX adaptiert US-Show «Power of 10» ] ] As such, the prizes will go €100-€1,000-€10,000-€100,000-€1,000,000. The show premiered on April 21st, 2008 and it is hosted by comedian Dirk Bach. On April 30th, after airing 5 times in the first week, VOX announced the show will not return.

GRE

The show was picked up in Greece in October 2007 on the MEGA Channel. The show runs for half an hour 5 nights a week. The prizes go €10-€100-€1,000-€10,000-€100,000-€1,000,000, then the top prize is €10,000,000.

IND

Sony Entertainment Television has acquired the rights to the show and premiered it on 6th June 2008. The show is hosted by popular Bollywood actor Salman Khan and is titled "10 Ka Dum". (Dus Ka Dum). The top prize is 10 Crore (Rs100,000,000 [US$2,151,463] ). On the July 4th episode, actor Aamir Khan appeared on a celebrity edition for the show and was playing for a charity. The 1 Crore question was: What percentage of Indian men think they are more intelligent than women? Khan dialed in a range between 51% and 61%. The correct answer was in the range, thus he won 1 Crore. Khan didn't gamble for 10 Crore, but dialed in a guess of 57%. The exact percentage to the question was indeed 57%, so he would've won the jackpot of 10 Crore had he played on.

INA

ISR

The Israeli version of "Power of 10" (In Hebrew: תוצאות האמת, "Totz'ot ha'Emet") premiered in January 2008, produced by Reshet. The top prize is ₪10,000,000 (US$2,905,700). The contestant playing in the pilot episode won the second-largest prize of ₪1,000,000, mirroring the million-dollar win on the first edition of the American show; and despite being a pilot, Reshet honoured her prize.

MAS

Middle East & North Africa

The MBC channel are developing an Arabian version of the show. The top prize is SR10,000,000 (US$2,664,346). The presenter of the show will be well known George Kurdahi the presenter of "Who Will Win A Million" show. Its produced by MBC Lebanon and it will be filmed in MBC Cairo (Egypt) Studios. The show will start in Ramadan (september) 2008.

MEX

"El Poder del 10" was premiered at 9PM (10 et) at Channel 13 (Azteca Trece) on May 11th, 2008

NED

NZL

New Zealand's TV3 began screening episodes on August 13, 2008.About 120,000 viewers watched the first episode, only 9% of the available audience though the Beijing Olympics were on at the same time on TV One.

NOR

The show aired for the first time on 31 August 2008 on TVNorge with Hallvard Flatland as the host. After only three weeks it was taken off the air and put on hiatus. [cite news |first=Geir |last=Håkonsund |title=Hallvard tas av lufta |url=http://www.tv2underholdning.no/gkn/article2237320.ece |work=TV 2 |date=22 September 2008 |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2008-09-27 ]

PHI

Q (television network) acquired the rights of the show and aired the first episode on September 3, 2008.

POL

Polsat in Poland has picked up the rights to the format and aired the first episode on March, 29th 2008. The Polish title is "Strzał w 10". It is hosted by Cezary Pazura. The main prize is zł1,000,000 (about US$434,775). In the 6th episode, contestant Kinga Paprocka answered correctly at the second-to-last question ("What percentage of Polish women said it is better to be smart but ugly than pretty but stupid?") by selecting the range between 55% and 65%, thus winning zł100,000.Then in the final question she locked in the exact percentage of 62%, but eventually she lost zł90,000, because the correct answer was 58%.

ROU

RUS

The Russian version of "Power of 10" (In Russian: Магия 10-ти, "Magic of 10") premiered on January, 7th on Channel One and is hosted by ukrainian pop-singer Vera Brezhneva. The top prize is руб10,000,000 (US$399,016). On March, 10th, Ildar Zhindarev answered correct to a руб1,000,000 question, and he risked to play for руб10,000,000. He guessed 9% in interval of 7-17%. And correct answer was 10%.

SVK

flagicon|Slovenia Slovenia

RSA

M-Net have picked up the rights to the show and plan to air it starting in August 2008. The show will have a top prize of R10,000,000 (US$1,230,203). [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985787.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 M-Net finds 'Power' in South Africa - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety ] ]

KOR

ESP

Spanish TV are developing a local version of the show called 'Energía de 10' (Power of 10) with a €10,000,000 grand prize.

SWE

The show was picked up for Swedish television by Kanal 5. The show premiered in spring 2008, hosted by comedian Mikael Tornving.

TUR

GBR

Rumours claimed that the country's main commercial broadcaster ITV would buy the concept with a £5,000,000 top prize (US$9,196,708) to replace Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?; however, the rumour was quashed when it was announced Millionaire would return in 2008 and another new quiz, Duel, was commissioned in late 2007 to air early the following year. Had Power of 10 been commissioned, the prize ladder was anticipated as follows: £500, £5,000, £50,000, £500,000 and £5,000,000.

UKR

1+1 "100% Ukraine" show started on the 5th of September 2008.

VEN

Venevisión has planned to soonly air the show called "El poder de Ganar" (The power to Win) instead of The power of 10 and its going to be hosted by Leonardo Villalobos

Awards

"Power of 10" won the Best Game Show prize at the 2008 Rose d'Or ceremony. [cite web|title= Rose d'Or Winners 2008|url= http://www.rosedor.com/downloads/RdO_Winners_2008.pdf|publisher= Rose d'Or AG|date= 2008-05-06|accessdate= 2008-05-07|format= PDF]

References

External links

* [http://www.cbs.com/primetime/powerof10/ Official Site]
* [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070516cbs02 Press release announcing summer pick-up of "Power of 10"]
* [http://heelsrule1988.tripod.com/powerof10recaps.htm "Power of 10" recaps]
* [http://video.aol.com/video-category/power-of-10/3266 "Power of 10" full episodes]