Play For A Billion

[Sitcomwriter]

This was the stupidest, most boring piece of crap I have ever seen in my life.The guy didn't even win the billion! :mad:.

[musicradio77]

I saw it a little bit last night, no one wins a billion. What's wrong with that?

[jhc2010]

The show was a 30 minute show over 2 hours

[musicradio77]

When is Pepsi's "Play for a Billion" coming back? Is it on a weekday or this week.

[TV Favorites]

It was just a one shot deal...for now anyway.

[Harper49]

One deal? But i'm sure it'll possibly do it again in future I believe.

[TV Favorites]

There are plans for another "Play for a Billion", but details and airing info aren't set yet.

[musicradio77]

Here's an article from tvgameshows.net:

ABC Takes Over "Pepsi Play For a Billion"

Whenever Drew Carey returns as host is up in the air but "Pepsi Play for a Billion" returns for a second fall kickoff special, moving this year from the WB to ABC.

The official "Pepsi Play for a Billion" Sweepstakes opens Sunday. The special, which guarantees a $1 million winner and gives one contestant a shot at $1 billion, airs September 12th on ABC. Michael Davies is executive producer.

As part of the early promotion, Aaron's 499 (Talladega) champion Jeff Gordon will drive a special "Play for a Billion" car at the Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup race at Daytona July 3rd. Pepsi is a lead sponsor for Gordon's racing team.

Gordon may appear on this special. His Richmond race that weekend will be on the night before the ABC special.

Some tweaks are expected to last year's format: 1,000 people were flown to Orlando after finding specially marked Pepsi bottles. en competed in a game of chicken with the winner earning $1 million payoff and playing for the $1 billion at show's end.

"Play for a Billion" website:
http://billionsweeps.yahoo.com

[TV Favorites]

Damon Wayans from My Wife and Kids will host the show this year.

[Harper49]

Damon Wayans... Thank god! Will the rules be the same or will it just change some of it?

[musicradio77]

Here is another article from tvgameshows.net:

TOM BERGERON NAMED TO HOST PEPSI'S "PLAY FOR A BILLION" QUIZ

"America's Funniest Home Videos" and former "Hollywood Squares" host Tom Bergeron has tapped to host the game portion of Sunday night's Pepsi's "Play for a Billion" on ABC.

Bergeron will join previously-announced Damon Wayans, who will serve as the program's overall host. The singing group Destiny's Child will also appear.

The chimpanzee Mr. Moneybags, who appeared on the special last September on the WB, returns. A total of 200 contestants, selected from the online and in-store Pepsi game this summer, will compete for a guaranteed $1 million and possible chance at a $1 billion annuity. Among the rules:

* Prior to the show, each 200 contestants will select five unique, six-digit numbers.

* Mr. Moneybags will help determine the random six-digit billion dollar number. The seven finalists with numbers closest to the winning number will be brought on stage to play the final elimination game.

* During the round of the final elimination game, players arre offered a gauranteed cash prize to walk away with and give up their chance to "Play for a Billion". Contestants taking the gauranteed cash must surrender their number to the last player standing at the end of the game.

* If no one takes the cash offer in the predetermined time limit for each round, the person with the number furthest away from the billion dollar is eliminated and walks away with nothing.

* At the end of the game, the last player standing holds his/her number plus all surrendered numbers, wins a gauranteed one million dollars and will soon find out if he/she is also a billionaire.

Last year's Pepsi was the highest-rated special of the season on the WB.

Let's go back to our tvgameshows.net archives with an article from one year ago.:

ONLY A MILLION

Before Sunday night, Richard Bay was just your average 42-year-old West Virginia high school teacher who happened to have earned a free trip to Orlando.

He is now network's television's newest millionaire, the first ever on the WB, yet he fell short of the ultimate prize in TV history on the inaugural Pepsi's "Play for a Billion".

Bay's bid turn his million into a unpredected $1 billion (a 1,000-1 longslot) fell two numbers short on a six-digit lottery style number. Bay's number: 228238. The winning Pepsi $1 billion number 178238.

Peter King of CBS Radio News, in Orlando to report on the game, told TVgameshows.net plans were scrapped to do a show live as originallly planned. "The taping started around 3:15 in the afternoon and just barely finished by the 8:00 air time. They had a lot of glitches," said King.

Bay won a showdown of ten contestants out of 1,000 flown to Orlando based on lucky numbers inside Pepsi bottle caps over the summer. The last player standing (Bay) was gauranteed $1 million.

In a pure game of chance, host Drew Carey offered $20,000 to the first player to buzz in to take cash. If no contestant did in 20 seconds, one player was elimated with nothing and $10,000 was added to the pot. At $20K and $30K, no one took the bait and contestants Joseph Gold of Plano, Tx. and Warren Graves of St. Paul were out of the game.

From the $40,000-$90,000 levels, players (listed below) took the money. The final showdown was between Bay and fellow high school teacher, 24-year-old Thomas Kerner of Dickerson Md. With 30 seconds to decided, Kerner raised his arms as if he had no intention of taking $100,000. Bad decision. bay's name was in Carey's envelope to become a millionaire.

The devout Christian hugged Carey and then embraced his wife. "This just tops everything. You can't put it in words," he told King after the show. As for his near-miss to becoming a billionaire (in a 40-year annuity), Bay added: "It was so close! I was thinking this is really in God's hands and I really look at it this way----if he felt like I needed (the money), then I would have gotten it."

Bay intends to start a charitable foundation in honor of his mother, who died of cancer. The foundation will ensure money wwill be earmarked for people in specific need, not those looking for a handout. "I don't mind giving a hand up," he told King. "I do mind giving a handout."

King and only four other media outlets covered the taping onsite. Family members of the contestants were allowed to watch via closed circuit but after Bay won the $1 million, they were all ushered out of the adjoining area and told they would learn whether he won the $1 billion at a contest wrap party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando.

The other cash winners (three new cars and vacation trips were given away to other bottle cap winners earlier in the show): Debb Pofal, Neeley, Ne., $40,000; Catherine Carl, Buffalo, $50,000; Elaine Regner, Winthrop, Mn., $60,000; Bryan Wilson, Washington Courthouse, Oh., $70,000; Brandt Griner, Saratoga Springs, NY, $80,000; Dean Church, Forsbee, Al., $90,000

From the tvgameshows.net archives - 9/16/03

[Harper49]

What?! Tom Bergeron is hosting?! Ahhhh, what a pitty and Damon won't host!!!!!!

[Pavan]

Originally posted by Harper49
What?! Tom Bergeron is hosting?! Ahhhh, what a pitty and Damon won't host!!!!!!

Damon Wayans IS hosting. Tom Bergeron will be a co-host.

[Harper49]

I mean Damon IS hosting with co-host Tom Bergeron I made a mistake.

[Harper49]

This year, Jon didn't win the billion either!!!!!!!