Welcome back to the Nerd Nest and another episode of 15 Minute Game Show Reviews. In this episode, we stay in the mid 1990s with another criminally short-lived cable game from that decade where Wink Martindale hosts three contestants competing to win enough money to pay off their bills(and maybe win it again) as they try to get out of…Debt.
Posted inGame Reviews
15 Minute Game Show Reviews: Debt
9:45 I had to find the specific episode to discovered what happened ?
I did like Debt, but I don’t know if I like how similar it was to Jep in the first round. All other parts of the game I really liked. Just need to get the format of the first round right to make it work. After the $1 tossup, maybe each contestant gets to select the category and gets to answer as many questions as they can answer. If they miss, an opponent can ring in and steal control. Whoever gets it right or the original contestant picks the next category and the process continues until a predetermined number is hit or time runs out. A Debtonator category would play for double the values of the questions. The rest of the show stays as is.
My Favorite Game Shows that Wink Martindale Hosted are TIC TAC DOUGH, HIGH ROLLERS, and TRIVIAL PURSUIT
I actually thought after all these years the black guy was a real security guard I didn’t know he was an actor because he look too tough
Contesti!? is that really a word!?
I liked Debt. I agree that this deserved a longer run.
One other change they made for the second season was the look of the piggy bank. The one they showed during season one looked like Hamm from "Toy Story".
Hello. That was another great review video. I was a contestant on “Debt” in 1996 (season 1). In fact, you have several clips from my episode in your video. I’m Jeff and I’m the one who was wearing the blue sweater and the khaki pants. I also won my game and doubled my winnings in the bonus round too. It was an awesome experience and Wink was a truly nice man and a very professional host. Thank you so much for showing some love to a game show that, for obvious reasons, has a special place in my heart. For what it’s worth, I agree that the show deserved a longer run than it got.
Wow! Great work on this review on Debt MartYtraM! And I agree with you on all of this!
I loved Debt! Wink was fantastic as usual and the show was solid! As for how I'd revive it…
The toss-up would be worth $50 and first selection. General Debt would be season 1 rules but the payouts would range from $200-$1000 with the Debtonator worth $2500. Gambling Debt payouts would now be $3000, $4000, $5000, $7500 and $15,000 off a player's debt. Bonus round rules remain unchanged. Debts can now range anywhere from $25,000-$75,000 for each player. 3rd place player gets $2,500, 2nd place $5,000 and winner gets $7,500 if they bomb out in the bonus round. As for host – I'm kinda leaning towards Jeff Sutphen. He was great on BrainSurge, really came into his own on 101 Ways US and I'd love to see him back on TV. Alternate option would either be Debt alum Frank Nicotero or Power Rangers Time Force Red Ranger Jason Faunt. As for announcer – I'd go Tara Strong. And for the Debt security guard – if Kurt wants to come back, he can. Otherwise I'd bring in another Power Rangers alum – either Shawn Cw Johnson from Lightspeed Rescue, Johnny Yong Bosch from Zeo or Jason Narvy, who played Skull from Mighty Morphin'-in Space.
I'd also add returning champions. Champions can stay on until they lose, pay off their entire debt without losing it in Bet Your Debt or until they win 5 in a row. 5 wins in a row pays off their debt automatically (no Bet Your Debt would be played) and awards a brand new car.
Jeopardy! Rip off