Pass the Buck (pricing game)

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The "Pass the Buck" board

Pass the Buck is a pricing game on the American television game show The Price Is Right. Debuting on October 4, 2001, it is played for a car and a cash prize of up to $8,000 (or up to $9,000 without winning the car); and uses grocery items.

1 Gameplay
2 Rules changes
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Gameplay

This game is played in two parts. In the first part, the contestant is shown two sets of two grocery items, one at a time. One of the items in each group displays the correct price, while the other is discounted $1. "Passing the buck" to the undermarked item earns the contestant a pick from six numbers on the Pass the Buck board.

Up to two picks could be earned from the board, to go along with one pick the contestant is given at the beginning of the game.

In the game's second part, the contestant is shown the Pass the Buck board, which contains six numbers. One of the numbers conceals a picture of a car; three have cash values of $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000; and two bear the words "Lose Everything."

The contestant makes his pick, and host Bob Barker reveals its contents. At this point, one of two things can happen:

If the number reveals the car or any cash amount, he is given the option of stopping immediately and keeping what he has won or risking it all on the next pick (assuming he has any additional picks remaining).

If the number reveals a "Lose Everything," the contestant loses any prizes uncovered up to that point. If the contestant has any picks remaining, he may still use them to try to win additional prizes.

The game ends following the last pick or if the contestant decides to stop and keep his current winnings (and thus not use any remaining choices).

[edit] Rules changes

When the game premiered on October 4, 2001, it was played with an eight-number board. All three picks needed to be earned (and three sets of two grocery items were used). The board hid the car, four cash values ($1,000; $2,000; $3,000; and $5,000), and three "Lose Everything" spaces. This format was scrapped and replaced by the regular rules after about three months.

[edit] Trivia

Years before Pass the Buck was created, CBS aired a game show called Pass the Buck that was hosted by Bill Cullen. This is a mere coincidence; the pricing game has nothing at all to do with the game show.