Play2Win
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Play2Win was a live interactive game show that originally aired from 2-3am Eastern on stations owned by Tribune Broadcasting. It moved to the 3-4am timeslot on February 27, 2007; where it remained until the show ended on March 10, 2007.
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[edit] Show Information
The show originally aired on a weeklong trial basis as "Text2Win" on WPIX (Channel 11) in New York City in August 2006, and returned as a permanent series with its new name on October 17, 2006.
[edit] Production
While the show was broadcast live, it was not produced in the United States. Rather, it was produced in the Netherlands at 8-9 AM Netherlands local time[citation needed]. However, the hostesses continually used the term "tonight," even in reference to themselves. For example, in one episode, host Tara expresses a desire to stop for breakfast "on the way home from work tonight"; and on another it was said they "had a good morning".
Contestants had three ways to enter to play the game: through the show's website, text messaging, or a 900 number.
On the morning of March 10, 2007, Play2Win aired its final episode. During that final week, the show was syndicated to several Tribune stations across the country.
[edit] Airdates
The show went national on Chicago's Superstation WGN on October 24,2006, while also airing on WPIX in the New York City area. It was taken off the air nationally on January 19, 2007, became exclusive to WPIX in New York City only. On February 13, 2007 WPHL-TV in Philadelphia and WSFL-TV in Miami, Florida began airing the show.
The show was produced by 3CirclesMedia, and was somewhat similar to GSN's Playmania; however, Play2Win was more dependent on simple word puzzles, while Playmania has Family Feud-style surveys and more complicated puzzles. The hosts were simply known as Tara and Amber, with a woman named Elizabeth filling in on occasion (no surnames given).
[edit] Games
The Shuzzle
- Similar to a word scramble, a group of letters is shown that form a word or group of words. Contestants have to unscramble the letters in time.
Missing Word
- A list of three compound words or phrases with either a preceding or postceeding blank in which the Missing Word must be entered to complete the compound word or phrase. It is the same word in all three instantances.
Pyramid
- A pyramid of words in which a three-lettered word starts the upmost line and as you proceed downward, one letter is added to the previous word to create a new word. This continues to an eight-lettered word at the base. One word would be missing from the pyramid that the contestant must enter correctly.
Sure Shot
- The only physical puzzle. There is an actual board with 8 panels displaying an amount of money from $100 to $600. The contestant must give an answer from the following information. The host gives you a category and the first letter of the words that behind the money. If you say a word behind that money panel, you win said money.
Fair and Square
- A grid of letters forms several words, similar to a word search with a clue in the middle; there can be 3 or 4 words hidden, and the cash values go up as words are eliminated.
Letter Shake
- A group of letters is shown "floating" in a space onscreen. The letters, when unscrambled, form a word (similar to the Shuzzle) -- however, the letters rotate in attempt to confuse the viewer.
Word Snake
- A grid of 81 letters is shown (9x9), and contestants must find words hidden within the letters. Like the Square, the first letter of an answer may be highlighted, and also starting to be less common, the entire word is highlighted for a bit, thus giving the answer for a split second.
[edit] Trivia
- In November 2006, the show was featured on a segment of Best Week Ever on VH1.
- One shuzzle easily featured the answer "Monkey Bars" and the contestant selected answered "Monkey Bras". No money was won.
- The first two episodes of 2007 featured technical problems -- the 900 number was down on January 1st, and the text messaging system was down the next day.
- Due to the live aspect of the show, technical problems occur. Perhaps one of the strangest was host Tara forgetting to wear her microphone before coming on the air on one episode in early 2007. It took her a few moments to realize the error, before Amber scrambled to take over while Tara went off camera. She returned in the next game.
- In mid-January 2007, host Tara sent the show off to commercial. The commercial began then cut back to her making faces at the camera. She quickly noticed and stopped.
- On February 22, 2007, host Tara accidentally gave away the answers to the game, "Word Snake," when the show came back on air and she had the cards on the reverse side it was supposed to be on (the side that shows the cash prize). For the rest of the show, Tara continuously apologized to "Bernie." Contestants called in for the last two words on the board, and made a easy win.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official website of Play2Win
- WPIX-TV (CW 11)
- WSFL-TV (CW South Florida)
- WPHL-TV (myphl17)
- Superstation WGN
- 3CirclesMedia
- The world's first international Play2Win site with live streams of Play2Win The Netherlands, real-time chatrooms and games inspired by the show for fun!
- Everything you Ever Cared to Know about Play2Win!
- The text big thing: Games for insomniacs, Newsday, Aug. 13, 2006
- Text2Win: Anatomy of a Disaster, Game Show News Net, Aug. 15, 2006
