Remembering Debt

I always felt DEBT deserved a longer run. Certainly the concept was a good one...three rounds of differing Q&A...giving the champ a chance to have his/her credit card paid off up to a max of
$10,000. Unfortunately after a successful first season in syndication, Disney (owner of DEBT) was sued by Merv Griffin's company claiming a part of DEBT was too much like JEOPARDY.
Disney lost the suit and the necessary changes to DEBT made the show far less compelling as the original. Thus the show didn't survive after season two. That said, it was big with the millennials.
And of the 21 shows I either produced or hosted it was one of my favorites. Wink

[@robwargo]

Had a great time as a contestant on Debt -- won nearly $15,000!

[@wendyokoopa7048]

Congratulations I bet that paid off some debt.

[@Psychopulse75]

This could benefit from a revival.

[@sha11235]

Yeah, I remember this game. Reason I watched it: Mr. Wink Martindale. I think they did change a bit of the game over time, still it was interesting.

[@KiddBloo86]

Definitely needs to come back, Wink! I know you can help make it happen!

[@danielwestfall9578]

This was such a fun show and such a shame it was short lived. I was one of those males that switched to Lifetime for this show.

[@carltondean3005]

Debt remained an interesting game show even after the necessary changes.

[@friedchickenicedtea]

My mother and I loved Debt and always looked forward to it every night!

[@namk19]

I only wish this show could've lasted longer

[@Steventhe2nd]

i loved this show, i remember watching this after Supermarket Sweep

[@akampfer]

Debt was a great show. I use to watch all the time.

[@iamthamon1]

hey everyone aren't you forgetting something before the show end relaunched the career of a comedian who also hosted a game show

[@bmhedgehog2]

This and TTD are both my fav Wink hosted shows.

[@MelissaHash]

Maybe Buzzr could get the rights to both Debt & Supermarket Sweep! Wink, Debt was & still is, one of my many favorite Wink hosted game shows!

[@johnnyballenatl]

Melissa Hash Well, Buzzr has Supermarket Sweep (FremantleMedia now owns it); but Debt is the property of Disney, so no.

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@johnnyballenatl Perhaps Disney+ could get the rights to Debt...

[@johnnyballenatl]

@@andrewschroy6368 Um, Disney _owns_ Debt!

[@brothergaryii]

Every Monday-Friday @ 6:30 P.M., on Lifetime, 99% of the audience watched "Debt," it also debuted, just the day after Ray Combs (ex-host of Family Feud) had committed suicide, that also ended his comedy career. When I (along with everybody who were lifelong Wink Martindale fans) used to watch the show, the "I Am/You Are," format was too Jeopardyish as Merv Griffin sued Disney, that was one of the few problems the show had faced, however, in spite that, it helped renewed its second season, and the format was different that people were still watching it (with the majority of males, over females). After giving away almost $100,000 in cash, they were about to test it for syndication, when it failed. Hence, it didn't comeback, when it was still the highly-rated game show of all, and (as I said) only males watched it, which was absolutely no help for Lifetime. So, that was it!

[@TBONE_2004]

It makes me wish Debt would've made it to syndication. There was way too many possibilities going in 1999. Debt would've been paired up with Family Feud (Louie Anderson era) or Hollywood Squares. Or, in the CBS markets, it would've aired in an hour block before The Price is Right.

[@DrummingWriterTrekfan84]

Wink Martindale, Did you Create The Game show "Debt"?

[@michaelglickman1300]

Nope, according to the closing credits, the series was based on a concept by Sarah Jane West.

[@Gwendys_Nostalgia]

I remember when they had celebrity Debt. I think Susan Olsen and Gary Coleman were among the celebrities.

[@666Brago]

I'm really hoping for this show to get a modern day reboot. It's a lot like JEOPARDY! but you don't have to phrase it properly.

[@DragonKazooie89]

Debt needs to come back, especially with all of the Millennials with college loans nowadays.

[@johnnyballenatl]

truTV already did that awhile ago; it was called Paid Off. And Debt was going to return with new episodes on ABC in 1998; but after rookie show The View suddenly caught fire, and with 12:30pm ET being given back to the stations after Port Charles was canceled (so that some stations wish to expand their noon news to an hour), those plans were killed off.

[@BrakusJPS]

I was 21 years old when the show premiered, and only had student loan debt to my name at the time. This show would have been perfect. I still think this show could be very relevant today!

[@PIXPromosMore]

At the rate TV shows & Movies keep rebooting these days, it's Never too late to give "Debt" another try (As long as it's not too much like that OTHER show).

[@Gmaspoiledbrat]

TVTestKitchen If they do, they either should have Wink or Dave Ramsey host.

[@johnnyballenatl]

@@GmaspoiledbratOr John O’Hurley or Tom Bergeron (Wink’s in his 90s now).

[@Wheeloffortunefan999]

the judge in that lawsuit was an idiot, the only part of the show that was like "Jeopardy!" was the fact that players were supposed to start the responses with "You are" during season 1 (What i want to know was if that rule was actually enforced.) even if it was, it still seems kinda unfair and idiotic to sue over something so trivial.

[@SherlockSports]

Another Great video Winker and I am glad to see that you are back with more great videos

[@lanceseenarine9804]

I was in preschool at the time Debt aired. I never used to understand it, but it was a great show! Even though I was very young, I still enjoyed it. Such a shame it got cancelled and nowhere else, not even syndication, picked it up.

[@StephenMountenayHenhawke]

Gee if only this could come back! I need it up here in Canada

[@benjaminkellog7311]

Debt was one of my favorite shows as a kid. I didn't know the answers to half the questions you asked, Wink, but the atmosphere the show exuded kept me hooked. Y'know, even though near-bankruptcy wasn't exactly a laughing matter then or now, the show always felt like a fun party, one I couldn't wait to come back to every chance I could. Do you think a Debt revival could still work today? It seems to me like there's still a lot of people with money problems who could really clean up big on this show!

[@sha11235]

Wish you would do another show, Wink.

[@DaniRadioCat]

I wish GSN would acquire this show for reruns along with Supermarket Sweep ;)

[@tnawcwvictoria]

danikayser84 Or better yet, BUZZR or Me-TV or INSP GSN isn't what it use to be

[@michael57511]

I know GSN is not what it used to be and they got too much Family Feud with Steve Harvey all the time and i wish GSN or any other network would pick up Debt so that we can watch Debt.

[@scootover7]

No it isn't, you can only see so much of Steve Harvey Family Feud and some of their crappy originals.

[@bradyanderson6311]

@@michael57511 for a lost and found block.

[@johnnyballenatl]

Forget it; like I said, Debt is owned by Disney.

[@mtiller2006]

This was a fantastic show! Someone PLEASE bring it back!

[@LudoRex]

The theme was catchy, but everything else about the game seemed derivative.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

I would love it if ABC brought a revival of this game show to their Fun & Games programming block, only to come on after Supermarket Sweep and Press Your Luck...

[@colBoh]

It's an utter tragedy that this show was cancelled not because it was unpopular, but because the execs at Lifetime felt it was attracting the wrong kind of audience. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying, "this show needs to come back". You clearly were having the time of your life, Wink.

[@daviddavenport1485]

Please bring this show back!

[@WinkMartindaleGames]

I wish I could.

[@willmack5909]

Sadly this was too much like Jeopardy! just with a different gimmick and no returning champions. The other sad association I have with this program is it debuted on the same day that former Family Feud host Ray Combs died suddenly. That said, I did enjoy this program, it was like Jeopardy "light" with a fast-paced bonus game.

[@michael57511]

Wink, Can you see if Pluto TV will have its own Debt channel just like other game shows like Hollywood Squares Jeopardy wheel of fortune are you smarter than a 5th grader the barker era price is right and the Drew era price is right? This show needs to make a comeback.

[@blozier2006]

I had heard that, in spite of supposedly being the highest-rated program on Lifetime at that point (and being paired with Supermarket Sweep, that's saying something), the suits at Lifetime supposedly cancelled Debt for drawing too many male viewers! Any truth behind that?

[@iamthamon1]

I don't believe that one bit supermarket sweep had the same viewership

[@WarioBarker]

iamthamon1 Supermarket Sweep had also been in repeats since June '95, and was removed from the schedule at about the same time Debt was canned in '98.

[@TBONE_2004]

+Bryce Lozier It was also because Merv Griffin sued The Walt Disney Company for Debt being too much like Jeopardy!, which was not the case in Season 2, but you have Merv Griffin to thank for Debt's cancellation as well.

[@GardevoirBoy]

+THE OFFICIAL TBONE2004 So Merv Griffin felt jealous about Debt because the show looked no different from Jeopardy! Unfortunately, Merv Griffin won the case against Disney. As a result, The Walt Disney Company had no choice but to cancel Debt after 2 seasons.

[@peterfernandez9670]

Reruns ran until August 14, 1998

[@fullervisiondotnet]

The concept wasn't bad. What I think killed it was that opening round being a blatant Jeopardy! ripoff.

[@UrsusTheodorusdoesGameShows]

I figured that's why the first round changed drastically from one season to the next. That and "I am/You Are" format (where contestants had to respond with "You are" before giving the answer) were too similar to Jeopardy.

[@vietpir]

I remembered “Debt” as a what was supposed to be the game show to leave “Press Your Luck” behind

[@brandonh861]

I would like debt to do more episodes with winners in 1996 and 1997. Including more college week.

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

They should have had a tournament of champions and the winner has their house paid off.

[@JD2635]

KTVU in San Francisco carried the syndicated run of Debt at 1:30 PM weekdays when Pictionary got booted out of the 6:30 PM slot and moved to 1 PM but I really wish it did get the syndicated run that it should have.

[@marcomacias3960]

shoudn 't Wink just said ' I'm a phiminum that cause it ship to sink and my name is a Caribbean island geometric shape' for that titanic promo also I'm a wild and crazy comedian

[@milagrosperez6143]

I would like to add losing all their debt as consolation prize rather than getting zonked!

[@toddwacha5108]

I loved Debt, Wink! The concept was so different and exciting. I miss that show.

[@wendyokoopa7048]

I'm sorry I laughed way to hard at the title of this video you see I'm someone who'd would rather forget real debt.

[@RichCale]

I loved this show, and I wish we had it now.

[@jamesbonnen]

This is one of the few times Syndication did not work. Back then each station only had one station, it would've worked today.

[@estestim]

Hey look Brian Williams!

[@tnawcwvictoria]

ACME Crimenet Back when he was on Weekend Editions of NBC Nightly News Tom Brokaw was still the KING of NBC Nightly News on 5 Times a Week, I'm glad that Lester Holt got the job in 2015

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

Wink, we really would love to see this game show wih you as the host make a 2019 comeback or reboot!!!!!

[@aatb7]

I can tell you liked it - it looks like you enjoyed every minute of it! It’s a sin it didn’t stay on longer.

[@JeopardyandWheelFan]

I used to love watching that show! Every time I watched the opening, I thought I was watching a soap opera, lol!

[@QHMCQ]

This show was brilliant. I loved it. I remembered hearing that it was going into syndication but then it just vanished altogether. Wink's explanation above regarding Merv Griffin Productions is literally the first time I've ever gotten even a possible clue as to why that happened, so thank you, sir!

[@mauricesnell5886]

Loved this show when I was a kid. They need to bring "Debt" back to television!

[@denelson83]

We never saw "Debt" here in Canada, as the US "Lifetime" network has never been distributed up here, and no Canadian network picked up this show.

[@johnnyballenatl]

If you had one of those big satellite dishes, you would’ve been able to catch Debt in Canada.

[@joshuabellamyfl8]

Wink, I loved "Debt", too. I became exposed to the word 'debt' from it, as well as to negative numbers. I could see why Merv Griffin sued Disney. The "General Debt" round was very similar to "Jeopardy!" in season one, which Merv Griffin created. I'm a big "Jeopardy!" fan, too. I took the "Jeopardy!" test last April as I was interested in getting on the show.

[@michaelglickman1300]

+Joshua Bellamy I'm surprised that it was Merv Griffin who sued Disney. I thought it would have been Sony Pictures Entertainment, which had owned Merv Griffin Enterprises since 1992.

[@TBONE_2004]

Wink, I think it's without question you should work with Disney to try and get Debt back on TV for a revival. I also see it airing in syndication alongside Who Wants to be a Millionaire? with John O' Hurley hosting... or YOU! After all, you were "The Crown Prince of Credit", Wink! ;)

[@tsukune007]

+THE OFFICIAL TBONE2004 there is only person that can and should host debt and is Wink.

[@TBONE_2004]

I hope that would be the case!

[@iamthamon1]

Actually I am going to disagree a little bit believe it or not thanks to this game show it relaunched the career of a comic who also hosted a very successful game shows and that's Frank Nictario (sorry for the spelling) he should be hosting and the announcer should be Rolanda Watts who had great chops from a short lived revival game show

[@iamthamon1]

Actually I am going to disagree a little bit believe it or not thanks to this game show it relaunched the career of a comic who also hosted a very successful game shows and that's Frank Nictario (sorry for the spelling) he should be hosting and the announcer should be Rolanda Watts who had great chops from a short lived revival game show

[@mrbow50001]

Frank did do a great job at hosting Street Smarts, that's why it lasted 4 seasons

[@darrendoyle568]

I loved the show had one of the most easiest bonus rounds seemed just about everyone got the 10 questions in 60 seconds it was always a shock if someone didn’t make it

[@Markwah11]

Do you have any episodes of debt that people have not been already uploaded to KZbin.

[@vietpir]

I want to see all the episodes from that show

[@johnnyballenatl]

That Cable ACE would be the closest thing Debt ever got to a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show; Wink would've even gotten his first nomination -- and perhaps win -- for Host, but for some reason, Al Roker (for MSNBC's "Remember This?") beat him to it.

[@witherblaze]

:33 song please?

[@TBONE_2004]

Here's hoping we see the pilot episode one day, to see what the show looked like before the first episode.

[@TBONE_2004]

For some reason, on most of those promos, I can hear a voiceover saying "Weekdays at 3:30 after Wheel of Fortune, here on KTLA-5!"

[@johnnyballenatl]

Except that Wheel of Fortune in L.A. has been on KABC now since the early '90s (KCBS had the Debt reruns there, by the way)! But Debt was taped at KTLA though.

[@TBONE_2004]

How interesting! A Disney game show on CBS markets, predating the countless Millionaire reruns.

[@Chrisgrove813]

guess we can't get out of debt anymore! thanks a lot lifetime!