Supermarket Sweep
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- For more information on the British version of Supermarket Sweep, see Dale's Supermarket Sweep.
| Supermarket Sweep | |
|---|---|
| Image:Supermarketsweep.gif | |
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Al Howard |
| Directed by | Lloyd Gross (1965-1967) Peter Molnár (1965-1967) Chris Darley (1990-2003) |
| Presented by | Bill Malone (1965-1967) David Ruprecht (1990-2003) |
| Narrated by | Johnny Olson (1965-1966) Gene Wood (1966-1967) Johnny Gilbert (1990-June 2000) Randy West (September 2000-2003) |
| Theme music composer | Christopher Rhyne |
| Country of origin | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Mark Goodson and Bill Todman (1965-1967) Al Howard (1990-1995; 2000-2003) |
| Producer(s) | Goodson-Todman Productions (1965-1967) Al Howard Productions (1990-1995; 2000-2003) |
| Associate Producer(s) | Desilu Studios (1965-1967) |
| Location(s) | Food Fair (1965-1967) Valencia Studios (1990-1995; 2000-2001) NBC Studios (2001-2003) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC (1965-1967) Lifetime (1990-1995) PAX (2000-2004) |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Dale's Supermarket Sweep |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Supermarket Sweep was a television game show which aired in the United States. The premise of the show was based on supermarkets, groceries, and a final shopping spree through a supermarket. The original version of the show was broadcast on ABC (1965-1967), with revivals airing on Lifetime (1990-1995) and later PAX TV (2000-2004).
The ABC version of Supermarket Sweep was broadcast from various Food Fair supermarkets, mostly in the New York tri-state area. For the Lifetime version, a mock supermarket was set up in a television studio at the Valencia Studios. The supermarket was originally modeled after a Hughes Market, until September 1993, when it was remodeled after a Unified Western Market until the end of the series. The PAX version was staged in the same studios and using the same set as the Lifetime version had when it ended. At the beginning of the new season in September 2001, the show moved to NBC studios.
The host for the 1965 ABC version was Bill Malone. The announcers were Johnny Olson from 1965 to 1966, and Gene Wood from 1966 to 1967. The host for the Lifetime and PAX versions was David Ruprecht. The announcer was Johnny Gilbert throughout the Lifetime era and the first half of the 2000-2001 season, and Randy West for the rest of the show's run from 2000 to 2004.
Contents |
[edit] Broadcast history
Supermarket Sweep originated on ABC and aired from September 6, 1965 to November 10, 1967. The show was revived by Lifetime on February 5, 1990, and ran until May 26, 1995. It was again revived by PAX on April 3, 2000, and ran there until Early 2004. PAX reaired the episodes from the final Lifetime season (1994-1995) from April 1999 to March 31, 2000. GSN reaired from the ABC season (1965-1967) from December 5, 1994 to November 22, 1996.
[edit] Gameplay (ABC version)
Two teams, usually married couples, competed. Each team began with a base time of one minute. In the first part of the game, the teams were shown a grocery item and asked to guess its retail price. The team who came closest won the item and an additional 10 seconds to their time. Six items were played.
In the second part of the game, one contestant from each team went on a shopping spree through the market, using the time accumulated in the first half of the game; the two contestants ran the sweeps separately. After each contestant had run their sweep, the total value of the groceries in each player's cart was determined. The team with the higher total won the right to return to the show and play in the next game. Both teams kept the groceries they had picked up.
[edit] Gameplay (Lifetime/PAX version)
The gameplay of the Lifetime/PAX version of Supermarket Sweep consisted of three segments: the question round, the Big Sweep and the Bonus Round. The game was played between three teams of two related individuals, such as a parent and child, spouses, siblings or best friends. Team members wore sweatshirts of the same color. The show gave the appearance that pairs were chosen to be contestant based on who in the audience held the pre-distributed grocery items that the announcer called for at the beginning of the show.
[edit] Question round
At the beginning of the game, all three teams started with a base time of 90 seconds; the questions answered added time to their clocks. The round was divided into three sub-rounds; in the first two sub-rounds, one teammate from each team answered a variety of questions and/or played one of several games that involved pricing everyday grocery items, with the teammates switching between sub-rounds. The third sub-round was a Round Robin game, in which the teammates rotated after each question.
[edit] Question types
Players were asked a series of questions, usually with specific brand grocery items as the answers; each question was worth 10 seconds. Each round, the questions would follow a specific format, which varied between rounds and shows. Formats used included:
- Guessing which item a series of interesting facts described.
- Guessing which item went with a particular slogan.
- Determining the brand name of a product, the picture of which had the brand name edited out.
- Selecting one or more answers to a series of questions from a bank of five or six possible choices.
- Filling in blanks to reveal a product's name; contestants were either given clues and/or letters that were progressively added.
- 50/50 guesses - selecting the correct answer earned 10 seconds; selecting the wrong one gave the other two teams 10 seconds.
- Animal Sounds - Given 5 animals as answer choices, contestants answered by making the correct animal's sound.
- Twisted - Guessing a product's name from synonyms and/or antonyms that replaced each word - for example, "Cow's Ear" might be a clue for Bull's Eye Barbecue Sauce.
[edit] Pricing games
During each sub-round, different games were played involving everyday groceries. These games varied from day to day and generally involved the following objectives:
- Selecting which of three items: was priced above or below a certain amount; was not a given price; was on sale; was incorrectly priced; or was the most expensive.
- Determining how much of one item could be bought for a certain amount of money.
- County Fair - Tested players' sense of knowledge of a particular gadget.
- Higher or Lower - Guessing whether a product sold for an amount higher or lower than the price given (a variation also included the possibility of the shown price being correct).
If a player was correct, he/she earned 10 seconds for his/her team; however, if all three players were right, 20 seconds (30 in the "On Sale" game, and for all games after September 1994) were added to all three teams' times.
[edit] Special games
- 30-Second Shootout - at the beginning of the second sub-round of the question round, both contestants on a team played an individual game, which could bank the team 30 seconds of sweep time; each team took turns playing the game individually. The format usually consisted of a contestant guessing a series of words using clues given by his or her partner (a la The $25,000 Pyramid and Password). The first letter of each correct answer was a letter in the name of a grocery product, which the guesser then had to determine to earn the sweep time. Each team had 30 seconds to achieve this (40 in the Lifetime era), and if a word was accidentally blurted out by the clue-giver, that disqualified the team automatically. An additional rule was that once a clue was used on one of the words in the list, it could not be used again. On some episodes an alternative format was used with a picture of a product shown. Each clue changed the product's picture.
- Snack Attack Movie Game - Three 10 second questions about movies were asked to the players. The player who answered the last of these correctly earned the right to take a taste test of a food item in the market (he/she could have as much as he/she wanted); correctly identifying the item earned that team a $50 bonus for the Big Sweep. If he/she guessed right on a second chance, that team earned $25.
[edit] Round Robin game
The final sub-round, teammates switched after each question. The contestants were shown a scrambled name, and three clues were given for 10 seconds each. If no one answered correctly after the last clue was given, all three clues were repeated quickly. On some episodes an alternative format was used with five clues given and no scrambled name. The Round Robin originally consisted of four questions, but was lengthened to six in 1992.
[edit] Mini-sweep
Beginning in September 1991, the mini-sweep was introduced. At the beginning of a sub-round, a toss-up question was asked with a particular product as the answer. The team that correctly answered it earned ten seconds, as well as a chance for one team member to run into the market to retrieve the product, which was marked with the show's logo. If the product was returned in 30 seconds or less, the team won $50 toward their Sweep total. Approximately a year after its debut, the mini-sweep bonus was doubled to $100 if the product was brought back within 20 seconds or less.
When the mini-sweep was first introduced, only one was played per show (at the beginning of the first question round). After 3 seasons, a second mini-sweep was added (it was later used only during special weeks in the PAX version).
[edit] Big Sweep
The "Big Sweep" was the chance for the teams to run throughout the store and grab whatever they could off the supermarket shelves. The clock was set the highest time earned by any of the three teams. The "runner" for that team was sent out into the market, with the other runners being allowed to enter when their time remained on the clock. During the Big Sweep, the show's announcer would provide the "play-by-play".
Once time had run out, the products were scanned while the show took a commercial break. After the break, the grand total of each team's efforts was revealed. The team with the highest grand total, including bonuses from the question round, won cash in the amount of their sweep total, and a change to play in the Bonus Sweep.
The runner could bring their cart back to the team's register at any time, at which point it would be emptied while the runner took an empty cart. Items in the runner's cart when the bell rang would be included in their total, and they did not need to return to the register at the end of the sweep.
The three main rules for the Big Sweep were:
- Teams could only take up to five of each item;
- Any items that were dropped and/or knocked over had to be put back on the shelf or in one's cart;
- Only one member of each team could be in the store at a time. The other team member was required to remain at the checkout counter to unload the groceries onto the checkout counter.
The product limit, which was absent in the original ABC version of the show, was written to prevent a team from overloading its cart with expensive items, such as poultry, laundry detergent or over-the-counter drugs. Teams could also be penalized money, although this was uncommon. A team was penalized $25 for every item they dropped and did not pick up; in addition, penalties could be incurred for running into cameramen or other show personnel.
In the show's first season on Lifetime (the 1990-91 season), costumed characters such as Frankenstein, a gorilla, or "Mr. Yuck", ran through the aisles during the Sweep; if he came near a contestant or vice versa, the contestant had to turn around and go the other direction. The characters were dropped in 1991.
[edit] Bonuses
Many bonuses were available during the Big Sweep at different times during the show's run. Each contestant could take only one of each type of bonus (also known as "Big Moneymakers"). Some of these included:
- Bonus Specials - Value: $50 to $200 (later up to $300): Stuffed animals, inflated balloons of products, or cardboard promotional signs for products with bonus tags attached to them were scattered throughout the market. The runner must get the item back to the checkouts and over the red line (without destroying it) before time expires. An opponent could steal the item from a contestant if it was left unprotected before getting it to the checkouts. These over-sized products and/or signs could be worth $50, $100 or $200. In September 1993, a fourth bonus worth $250 (dubbed the "Super Bonus") was added to the market; during certain special weeks (starting in 1993), a $300 bonus (the "Super Super Bonus") was added, replacing the $50 bonus. This is the only bonus feature to appear in every episode.
- Bonus Specials - Value: $50 to $200 (later up to $300): Stuffed animals, inflated balloons of products, or cardboard promotional signs for products with bonus tags attached to them were scattered throughout the market. The runner must get the item back to the checkouts and over the red line (without destroying it) before time expires. An opponent could steal the item from a contestant if it was left unprotected before getting it to the checkouts. These over-sized products and/or signs could be worth $50, $100 or $200. In September 1993, a fourth bonus worth $250 (dubbed the "Super Bonus") was added to the market; during certain special weeks (starting in 1993), a $300 bonus (the "Super Super Bonus") was added, replacing the $50 bonus. This is the only bonus feature to appear in every episode.
- Coffee - Value: $100 (later $200): Runners were required to grind a pound of Millstone Coffee or Maxwell House coffee.
- Candy - Value: $100: Runners were required to gather $1.00 worth of Brach's Candy, give or take $0.02.
- Mystery Product - Value: $250 ($300 if item is a movie): Runners must find a product using clues displayed on three television monitors in the store. This bonus was later changed to use two monitors from September 2001 through May 2003. Another variation included "Splitting the Name," with one half of a product's name on each of two monitors.
- Manager's Special or Red Tag Special - Value: $200: During the sweep, the host would announce the Manager's Special of the day via the store's loudspeaker. The contestant had to run to a bin filled with canned goods and find the specially-marked item. An unmarked item awarded no bonus, even if it was the correct product.
- Soda Cans - Value: $100 (later $150): Runners must find a bag of 10 soda cans and have their partner either stack them in a pyramid or run them through a recycling machine.
- Super Sandwich - Value: $200: The host would specify a sandwich to make before the big sweep. Runners were required to make the sandwich, wrap it in foil and seal it in a bag. An alternative format required runners to retrieve the bread from the International Bread Center.
- Sweep Swipe - Value: $50-250: A limited supply of items (two cases of candy, three boxes of detergent, etc.) were placed in front of three tables, one for each team. Runners could move the items (from the floor or from another team's table), one at a time, onto their own table. For each item in one's possession at the end of the bell, the team received a bonus (either $50 or $100 per item).
- Cracker Jackpot or Jolly Time Is Money - Value: $100 (later $250): Runners had to tear through boxes of Cracker Jack or Jolly Time Popcorn in order to find a token with the shopping cart logo on it.
- Bonus Envelope - Value: $200: Halfway through the sweep, the host would read a clue to a specific product. After hearing the clue, the partners at the checkout counter would find their teammate and give them the clue. Runners had to find the product and take the bonus envelope located next to it. A variation was played with movie titles at the video stand.
- Giant Box of Laundry Detergent - Value: $25-$100: A large box of laundry detergent was located at the back of the store with four colored envelopes on it. The runner picked one of the envelopes, and the money was added to the team's total.
- Balloon Pop - Value: $150 (later $200): Three shopping carts or large garbage bags filled with balloons were located in one of the back corners of the supermarket. Runners could bring back one cart or bag to the checkouts for their partners to pop. Partners must pop all balloons before time expired.
- Instant Coupon Machines - A contestant could win bonus money by getting a coupon and locating the associated product on a shelf nearby.
- Double and Triple Coupons - Certain items had double- or triple-value coupons located on or near the actual item that would multiply its value accordingly.
[edit] Bonus sweep
The winning team was given 60 seconds to find three products in the market. They were given a clue to the first product, after which the time started. The second clue was found on the first item, and the third clue on the second item. If the team found the third product, they won $5,000. Teams had to find all three items and return with them to win the money. If they found the final item before one of the other items, they were reminded to find all three items. If the team was unsuccessful, the team still won $200 for each item found.
Clues had several formats in the series. Some clues were two-line rhyme which described the product, with its brand name as the final missing word in the rhyme. Other clues referred to a play on words of the product's title. On occasion, clues would lead to a movie in the movie rack, a fruit or vegetable in the produce section, a flower in a special kiosk located at the front of the market that was used only during the bonus round, or a greeting card near the magazine rack.
[edit] Tournaments
During both runs of the show, special tournaments were held periodically, as well as other individual shows in which former teams were invited back for a chance to win more money.
[edit] Twin Car Giveaway
From September 5-30, 1994, at the beginning of the show's last season on Lifetime, a month-long Twin Car Giveaway tournament was held. During the first three weeks of the tournament, a standard game was played each day. The twelve teams with the highest Big Sweep totals from these episodes returned for the fourth week, in which games were played with no Bonus Sweep. The six teams with the highest Big Sweep totals during that week returned for the Friday show to play for a pair of Geo Trackers. On the Friday show, three teams first played an eight-question Round Robin game, where each correct answer was worth $50 towards their sweep total. Each team then had a flat three minutes in the Big Sweep. This process was repeated for the other three teams. At the end of the show, the team with the highest Big Sweep total won the two cars.
[edit] Other tournaments and specials
Occasionally, former teams were invited back to play for additional money. These consisted largely of "Sweeps of Champions", which gave previous winners a chance to go on another sweep for the opportunity to play for a second chance at $5,000; and "Second Chance" episodes, which allowed previous winners who missed the $5,000 to come back for a second chance at that amount. On a few early "Sweeps of Champions", former players were invited back for a chance at $10,000.
When the show moved to PAX in April of 2000, several themed week-long tournaments were held, such as "Family Week" and "Tournament of Heroes Week". These tournaments usually consisted of four standard episodes on Monday through Thursday, with the three teams scoring the highest in the Big Sweep returning on the Friday show to play for the grand prize (usually cash or a trip).
[edit] International versions
[edit] Canadian version
A syndicated Canadian version of the show, later aired on Global TV, was produced between 1992 and 1995, with Tino Monté as host and Dave King as announcer. The supermarket in this version was much smaller than in the US version, and did not contain the specialty racks such as videos, cards or flowers. The question rounds each began with a mini-sweep.
For the Big Sweep, only The Shopping List bonus was used in every episode. The Manager's Special was also sometimes used. While the five-per-item rule appeared to be in play (contestants would frequently take five of most items), the announcer rarely mentioned either the rules of the sweep, or the value of the products.
Originally, the bonus round had the winners looking for $5,000 as the US show, but later on, the winning team chose a scroll representing one of the letters in the show's title, containing a cash amount or a prize. Also, they used returning champions.
[edit] Other versions
A British version of Supermarket Sweep was produced between 1992 and 2001 and aired during the day with Dale Winton as host and Bobby Bragg as announcer and it was produced by Fremantle Media for Carlton on ITV. The show was revived in 2007 and filming for 60 new episodes began in January 2007 at the Maidstone Studios, this time produced by talkbackTHAMES. The rules were the same as the American show, except they were looking for £2000. The original show was taped at Central's Lenton Lane studios in Nottingham, and the setup was a little different from the US show. The new version has a slightly different set from the original, and it has a new theme tune. The grand prize has also been upped to £5000. UK Fun House announcer Gary King has also replaced Bobby Bragg as announcer.
An Australian version of the show was produced by Grundy, airing on the Nine Network between 1992 and 1994 with Ian Turpie as host. Col Mooney and Alan Glover served as announcers. The supermarket on this show was originally a Coles Supermarket, but this was later changed to a generic supermarket. Like the US show, the winners searched the supermarket to look for $5000. The latter set was identical to the US show, as with most Grundy-produced game shows in Australia at the time.
Brazil had two versions of the program: the first was produced by Band between 1990 and 1993, and the last, by Record on the 21st century, as a part of the TV show Note e Anote. Both versions were named "Supermarket", and hosted by Ricardo Corte Real.
Spain also had its version in the early nineties. The programme was titled Supermercado (Supermarket) and was hosted by Enrique Simon. The rules were identical to the original with the only difference being the currency used was the now defunct Peseta. The programme aired every midday (at approx. 1325hrs) on commercial television station Antena 3TV.
[edit] External links
- The Supermarket Sweep Fan Page
- David Ruprecht's Web site, contains info on the show
- Supermarket Sweep (1965–1967) at the Internet Movie Database
- Supermarket Sweep (1990–2003) at the Internet Movie Database
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