Bargain Hunters
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| Bargain Hunters | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game Show |
| Creator(s) | Merrill Heatter Productions |
| Starring | Peter Tomarken(host), Dean Goss (announcer) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 45 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes per episode |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | July 6, 1987 – September 4, 1987 |
Bargain Hunters was a game show on ABC in 1987, hosted by Peter Tomarken.
Contents |
[edit] Games
Each episode featured six contestants, with two playing one of the following games — Bargain Quiz, Bargain Trap and Bargain Busters — at a time. The three winners advanced to the Super Savers end game.
[edit] Bargain Quiz
Two players competed in this round. Tomarken would announce an item, and asked whether or not it would be a bargain at a certain price. (Example: Would 8 ounces of Beluga Caviar be a bargain at $350?) Players would buzz in to guess. Getting it right won a point, getting it wrong meant their opponent got a point. The first one to three points won the round and received a bonus prize.
[edit] Bargain Trap
Two new players competed. Five prizes were shown on stage, each with a price tag. Four were bargains, marked below their retail price. But one was marked above its actual value; this was called the “Trap”. Players went back and forth, picking items they believed were bargains. If one of them picked the trap, they automatically lost and their opponent won the round, along with whatever prizes they had picked.
If both players picked two bargains, leaving only the Trap, then a tiebreaker was played. Both players wrote down how much they thought was added to the actual price of the Trap. Whoever came closest won.
[edit] Bargain Busters
Two more new players competed. A prize was shown, and players had to pick the price from three choices. The prizes were all picked from stores across the country, and listed at a closeout price. (Tomarken would announce the store’s name and location before each item.) Each player locked in their choice, and a right answer won a point. The one with the most points after three prizes won the round, and received all three prizes shown.
If there was a tie after three prizes, a fourth was brought out. This time the players weren’t shown any choices; the two would have to write down what they believed the price was. Whoever came closest won.
[edit] End game: Super Savers
The three winners came onstage to play the final round. Seven prizes were shown, each with a price tag. All are bargains, some bigger than others.
Each player picks three prizes that they believe would save them the most money. The player who saves the most money is declared the winner, wins the three prizes they selected, and a grand prize (usually a trip, but a car was the grand prize at least once)
[edit] Miscellaneous
After every game a trumpet fanfare would sound, signifying a “Bargain Shopper” segment. Home viewers were offered an item at a bargain price, and could call a number to order it. (Usually, the item being offered was just seen in the previous game). The three items were shown again at the end of the show.
The show premiered on July 6, 1987; but the next episode didn't air until July 16, 1987 due to the network carrying the Iran-Contra hearings until the networks agreed to alternate carrying the hearings for the rest of the Summer.
Many cues from Bargain Hunters were later used on another Merrill Heatter game show; 1989's The Last Word.
