Run for the Money (pilot, 1987)

[@stevedesanctis6311]

Hello, all ... I'm Steve DeSanctis, the "champion" in this pilot. Thanks so much for posting this! How fun to see it up here, as (to my knowledge) it was never broadcast. We taped it at the ABC studios in Hollywood, and it was a single episode; it was made to appear I'd "won" on several "previous" shows, (although we did run through several takes). We were paid as actors; a group of 12 of us who'd worked with Reg Grundy Productions to develop the show were chosen as potential "contestants," and the group you see on the tape did two takes in full format. It was a lot of fun - and very competitive - and a real hoot to see myself 31 years younger!

[@paullarue2010]

I know ABC had this, that you were on. The show had alot of historical facts and information.

[@stevedesanctis6311]

ColeyD Studios Thanks for your kind words! it was a blast. I was on “Sale of the Century” from the same producers about two years before this was taped. I didn’t win the game the, but did come away with about $1600 in cash, prizes and lovely parting gifts. The production company asked former contestants they liked (and who had good TV “presence”) to work on developing new shows. We worked on “Run for the Money” for about 18 months before shooting the pilot. It was some nice side money, and a great insight on how game shows are created.

[@jvandiesel]

I love the idea behind the show just mad it didn't take off. Did you ever get the $20,000

[@UzumakiPlayroom]

Do you have a High Quality tape of this episode?

[@christophercotton9048]

I hope Buzzr will air this as part of their "Lost and Found" block week.

[@DXKramer]

Bill was such an underrated host. He did an amazing job on Card Sharks and Blockbusters.

[@andrewschroy6368]

And on Every Second Counts as well.

[@paullarue2010]

That buzzer sounds, was from "Family Feud". Those two ABC game shows, had the same buzzer.

[@Rlotpir1972]

The 'strike' buzzer. Should've been used in "The Price is Right" for "3 Strikes" when a contestant pulls a strike.

[@Rlotpir1972]

Plus the 1985 pilots "Concentration" and "Now You See It".

[@Dim4323]

Looks like the set of 90s going for gold

[@jocaalekx7340]

It does look like anthony going for gold was hosted by henry kelly

[@andrewschroy6368]

Which that type of set would also be used on Questions Pour un Champion in France when Julien Lepers hosted.

[@marcpower4167]

​@@jocaalekx7340 I think they actually taped this in England on their set. (Which would make sense to save a few bucks)

[@newstarcadefan]

It actually is a shame this didn't get picked up in America, but I can understand why though. The 80's game show market was just as saturated as the 70's was. At least this format didn't go to waste as Reg took it to the UK and used it as the format Going for Gold, which if anybody has seen on KZbin, is a long-lasting show, that I think Channel 5 brought back briefly.

[@csuzdigabor8479]

And don't forget France. That's the most popular version in the World. Questions pour un Champion is on air since 1988 on France 3 (earlier called FR3), five times a week, and in 2006 they added a sixth episode under the title "Questions pour un Super Champion" where previous winners compete. The show also airs on TV5Monde, so it is seen worldwide. And they regularly do the "Langue Française" tournaments, where the contestants are from all around the World. They also have an official KZbin Channel where they upload the games, each round in a separate video. It was hosted by Julien Lepers from 1988 to 2016 when he was fired (despite the good ratings, the channel cited "declining ratings" as a motive to fire Julien Lepers). Others say he was fired because he "wasn't trendy and young enough". It caused quite a stir-up in France. However, they did find a good new host to "replace" Julien Lepers. He's the former host of the noon news program 12/13, Samuel Étienne, so the show survived. They also revamped the set at this time, which lost its distinctive look, but became more high-tech, with bigger displays, etc.

[@marcpower4167]

They tried again with a format called American know-it-all hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, Wink posted it. 🙂

[@donp55]

How I'd Play it: Either in a tournament format or traditional returning champion format, that latter would have a $10k daily jackpot for 5 days, and double the total on day 6, retiring at $100k Round one (Beat the Buzzer) gives the three advancers $500 or $1000, depending on the budget, the fourth goes home with Lovely Parting Gifts (LPG). The two advancers for R2 (4 in a row) are guaranteed $2500, plus A Nice Prize, loser keeps​ their $500 + LPG. Winner of head to head is daily Champ with $10k and the Nice Prize. In tournament mode, there would be four different players Mon- Thurs, with Daily Champs returning Friday for a weekly Grand Prize of an additional $50K. All weekly champ would return on week 17 for Championship week with a grand prize of $500k-to$1M, depending on the budget (maybe even a car on top of that). Payouts would be the same as the regular week, but the final Friday R1 $2500, R2 $1000, and that big jackpot at the end, all in addition to previous winnings.

[@drewconway7135]

This game show lacks gimmicks. I'm sure some people will like that, but it's not my style. One of the things I always liked about Bill Rafferty (RIP) was that when he came to Los Angeles he didn't try to lose his New York accent. He did the best he could to make this dull format exciting.

[@davec5090]

I quite agree that the show lacks gimmicks. Comparing to the Going for Gold show series in the UK, this pilot lacks the competing element against different states aspect whereas Going for Gold pitted contestants from various European countries in hopes for one contestant to become the "European Quiz Champion". One small flaw from this pilot was perfected in the Going for Gold series; the "First Round Proper" had six points for a goal versus Run for the Money's pilot had a nine-point goal. Also, it seemed much better in the Going for Gold series for the contestant to choose the level of questioning in the first round (this helped to move the game along faster) versus the host doing a constant progressive point system while going back to a one-point question after a three-point question (i.e., 1-2-3-1-2-3, etc.).

[@wschmrdr]

No need. Works exactly as it does in France, only with the French version better paced (expected as such). Unless you consider risking your money to play again, and if you get up to 5 wins, getting the jackpot.

[@gameshowfreak2007]

which I think they should have carried over to this, $5,000 for the first win, $10,000 for the 2nd, $15,000 for the 3rd, $25,000 for the 4th, jackpot for the 5th (starts at $50K and grows by $500 every day its not won) lose and you forfeit half your winnings.

[@markwatson2741]

Before Bill Rafferty's death, he was one of the co-hosts of NBC's Real People.

[@stevedesanctis6311]

The pilot we shot was a slight bit different in format that the game we developed for 18 months prior to the taping. This was one of the last of the basic "question-and-answer" shows, and that might have been why it wasn't picked up. IIRC, many game shows after that had more gimmicks, over-the-top contestants, and a wider variety of prizes plus money.

[@jmlim7095]

Interestingly now, on that 'Presidents' question, I believe there is another one who has his name on the Walk of Fame.

[@stevedesanctis6311]

What's funny about that is I blanked when I was asked the question, and missed it. Fortunately, there was a technical glitch on set, and we re-shot that part of the program. On the second take, I got that question right!

[@DucNguyen0131]

The pilot was better than Bargain Hunters.

[@tyshaunmiles1973]

Was Bargain Hunters picked up over this? This is a better game for sure, but it being on ABC it likely wouldn't have lasted long.

[@good03boy]

@@tyshaunmiles1973 Bargain Hunters was picked up over this.

[@mitchellries256]

I didn't think Bargain Hunters was that bad but I easily would've picked this over that by a long shot.

[@paullarue2010]

G'Day, Mate.

[@rockland6674]

Following Bill Rafferty's player introduction, this is at least the fourth episode, not the pilot. I didn't know he had passed away. I always liked his hosting style.

[@devares2006]

rockland6674 2 years ago.

[@andrewschroy6368]

4 years, actually.

[@insertcolorherehawk3761]

This was the pilot because this show wasn't picked up for a second episode

[@stevedesanctis6311]

It was made to look like that way, so that the audience had a "champ" to root for, and to establish a little of what the game might be if it were picked up to series. Bill was great fun to work with. We had a genuine rapport, and he was very generous on camera with me during out shots together on both versions we taped that night.

[@spacemanmonster23]

If quizzard was a gameshow, sorta...

[@wschmrdr]

Really too bad this wasn't picked up in the USA, because it's a neat little show. Wonder if, with the resurgence of game shows, they'll try again...

[@namk19]

Eh ummm probably not

[@Niavy64]

They tried a second time in 2007 but it didn't air neither

[@witherblaze]

@@Niavy64 Mostly because it turned out worse than this first attempt. Neil Patrick Harris really didn't like hosting it, the end game felt tacky, and the tournament format felt cluttered.

[@Niavy64]

@@witherblaze I liked his hosting! I found him very into it, much better game master than Julien Lepers that was in the French show at that time. I've watched the French show for years during the 90's and 00's, I've even been a contestant on the last September 7th episode. New host man Samuel Étienne is a great man, I've had a wonderful time 😊

[@GaelFP]

was this shot in france? it's exactly the same set and visual effects than the french version that aired at the time (as well as the other pilot with neil patrick harris years later)

[@stevedesanctis6311]

We taped this at ABC Studios in Hollywood, but it's nice to know that that fantastic set made it onto TV in France!

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@stevedesanctis6311 And on Going for Gold on the BBC when Henry Kelly hosted.

[@cutemimi25]

Why didn't CBS, NBC, or ABC pick this up? They should've.

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

ABC initially, considering where it was taped.

[@cutemimi25]

​@@ClassicTVMan1981X CBS should've picked it up for their daytime schedule.

[@Leahyummy]

​@@cutemimi25I agree with you but i think CBS should put this as part of their nighttime schedule

[@cutemimi25]

​​@@LeahyummyI still think daytime, they need to kick The Talk off of CBS

[@Leahyummy]

@@cutemimi25 you don't like the talk?

[@digiblader1]

While it failed in the US to sell, at least it was more successful in the UK as the show "Going For Gold".. why is it game shows in the US like Blockbusters, Every Second Counts, Catch Phrase, etc have more success in the UK than in North America?

[@JoeyLamontagne]

It’s probably the audience. It’s like how Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right is huge here and it didn’t last too long in the UK

[@andrewschroy6368]

And over 30 years later, is still REALLY successful in France as Questions pour un Champion.

[@paullarue2010]

Wizard?

[@AeroZeppelin33]

Les américains et les jeux intelligents ça fait 2...

[@Scottwilkie18]

I guess this is what bill did before blockbusters

[@georgemaster9952]

Also during his Card Sharks gig as well!

[@bluebear1985]

This pilot was actually taped in England. It talks about it on a site discussing several pilots.

[@SP84Fanatic]

The Grundy shows had mostly the same look to them. This particular set aesthetic wasn't used on Going For Gold for several years (and this pilot predates Going for Gold). Based on the buzzers being soundalikes from Family Feud, many think this was taped at the ABC Television Center.

[@andrewschroy6280]

Whereas Questions pour un Champion had that style of set for many years up until the late 90s...

[@SP84Fanatic]

Steve De Sanctis, the champion in this pilot, commented below and confirmed that this pilot was indeed taped at the ABC Television Center.

[@paullarue2010]

I know Bill Rafferty hosted this show, before he hosted the CBS version of "Card Sharks".

[@jeremyenelson]

This definitely taped at ABC in the USA, but it wouldn’t surprise me if England taped their pilot here.