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Four strangers, one goal: to win a
head-to-head competition for the chance at $100,000! One wrong
answer could be their last! This is...
 SHOW:
Russian Roulette
AIR DATES: June 3, 2002 to June 13, 2003
CREATOR: Gunnar Wetterberg
PACKAGER: Gunnar Wetterberg
Productions; Game Show Network Originals
HOST: Mark L. Walberg
WATCH IT HERE:
YouTube
During a rather painful time of
unemployment in my life, I had to thank our cable company for
bringing in Game Show Network. To watch the game shows I grew
up with was nothing short of a God-send to get me through the tough
times. When the family moved and we switched to DirecTV, GSN
was also included so I was happy. I may not have it now
(neither Comcast near me nor YouTube TV have it) but I was just
grateful for when I did need it. And I was shocked to learn
that GSN made their OWN game shows. I mean, I may have HEARD
about it but it didn't really click for me. But they were
actually pretty good for the budget. And then, when I started
with these columns, it dawned on me: "Games Gone By..." was
practically MADE for GSN original shows. With VERY rare
exceptions, most of these game shows stay around for one or two
seasons, go into reruns for a while and then are relatively
forgotten. So, for those who didn't have GSN in the late 90s
and early 20-aughts (or who can't find "Game Show Central" on their
smart TV), this next group of GGBs are all from the cable
network that refuses to die (instead subsisting on MUCH longer-lasting
originals and "Family Feud" reruns). I'll start with one of the
first ones I thought was pretty cool: "Russian Roulette".
HOW WAS IT PLAYED?
MAIN GAME
Four contestants each stand on a trap door called a "Drop Zone".
They each start with $150 and must work to knock each other out in
three rounds of multiple choice questions. The last one
standing gets to play the bonus game.
One person at random is
designated the Challenger and is given a question. The
Challenger then decides which of the other contestants gets the
chance to answer it. The person selected is given multiple
choices for the answer and ten seconds to answer. If they are
correct, they earn money and become the Challenger for the next
question. If they are wrong, all their money goes to the
Challenger and they must play a game of "Russian Roulette".
With each question in a round, one "red Drop Zone" is added.
If a contestant gets the answer wrong, those number of Zones spin
around (like the chamber of a classic six-shooter). They start
spinning when the contestant pulls down a lever. It stays at
the starting clip until the contestant releases the handle or a few
seconds elapse. The Zones eventually slow down and stop.
If the contestant is standing on a red Zone when it stops, the trap
door beneath them opens, they - quite literally - drop out of the
game and the round ends. If the contestant is NOT above a red
Zone, the round continues with the contestant becoming the new
Challenger.
In the first round, each correct answer (from a
choice of three possible answers) is worth $150. In the second
(four possible answers), they are worth $200.
Each round
consists of about five or six questions; after the fifth question of
a round, the number of red Zones stays at five. If time runs
out before a contestant drops in the first two rounds, a "sudden
death" game of "Russian Roulette" is played. If one contestant
leads the others, they are safe from dropping and get to spin to see
which of the other three drop at random. If there is a tie for
the lead, ALL contestants are at risk and the host spins the Zones.
Either way, when a contestant drops, their money is split evenly
among the other contestants. At the start of the second and
third rounds, the contestant with the highest score becomes the
Challenger.
The third round is played different; the
Challenger is asked a question and is then given the choice of
either answering the question themselves or passing it to the
remaining contestant. If whoever gets the question answers it
right, they get $300 (Season 1) or $250 (Season 2) and become
Challenger for the next round. A wrong answer is treated the
same way as in previous rounds. If time runs out before a
contestant drops, the one in the lead is the champion and takes everything
the other contestant had while said other drops. In case of a
tie, the usual "sudden death" determines the champion. The
champion keeps everything earned in the main game.
BONUS GAME
In Season 1, the champion is given sixty seconds to answer five
"killer questions" the host gives. They can pass on any
question and come back to it if there's time. Every ten
seconds, a Drop Zone opens and, if time expires before all questions
are asked, the sixth Drop Zone opens, dropping the champion and
ending the game. A wrong answer at any point likewise ends the
game. A "dropped" champion receives an extra $500 for every
right answer given before the drop.
In Season 2, ten
multiple-choice questions - with the answers sounding similar - are
given in the same sixty-second period. If time expires or a
wrong answer is given, the game ends and the champion gets $300
extra per right answer.
If the champion answers all questions
before time runs out, they win $10,000. They then get the
chance to give up that $10,000 to play one last round of "Russian
Roulette" for $100,000. The number of red Zones will be equal the
number of Drop Zones that opened during the round. If the
champion decides to risk it, they spin the Zones and, if they don't
drop, they get $100,000 in addition to the money they won in the
main game. If they drop, they leave only with the main game
winnings.
WHAT WORKED?
The set isn't exactly what you'd see in "The Deer Hunter" but it
DOES give an ominous tone while still sticking to, what was back
then, low-budget. Just a round stage looking like a
six-shooter's chamber, bright spotlights via "Mastermind" and a smug
host just waiting to watch people go bye-bye. It serves its
purpose very well.
Speaking of, Mark L. Walberg seemed a
rather interesting choice as a host, being his only previous hosting
work was "Joe Millionaire". But he makes it work. He
comes off as both smug and friendly at the same time, if that's
possible. And he quite enjoys the drops as much as everyone
else in the studio.
WHAT DIDN'T WORK?
This was before "Who's Still Standing?" so the "drop contestants
through holes" deal was still if-ish at best...and there were a few
injuries. Yeah, they signed waivers, I'm sure, but didn't stop
some from trying to sue. PLUS the contestants in the first
season were told to "duck down" when they dropped because the "drop"
was only about 3 or 4 feet. Talk about "low-budget"...
The sound effects were...OK. I mean, the clicking as the Drop
Zones spun around was good enough...but I think it would've been
better if a gunshot was heard while a contestant dropped and a dull
"click" if the contestant "survived". Would've been more
authentic. And the rest of the effects weren't BAD...but the
mix just seemed a bit off to me.
WOULD IT WORK TODAY?
I dare say so. There had been countless rumors about Game
Show Network bringing it back and I'm sure a lot of fans would love
to see it again. I mean, hell, it's had versions in 25
countries (yes, INCLUDING Russia)! Who can say THAT about a
basic cable network show?! Bring it back!
NEXT TIME: Up all night...though not for partying
Chris Wolvie thinks anyone who didn't wear a mask this year was
REALLY playing Russian roulette! Follow him on Twitter @ChrisWolvie
and e-mail him at chriswolvie@yahoo.com.
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