WWTBAM Bored

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Why?

Is anyone we know on the show?

NellyLunatic1980 wrote:

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Why?

Is anyone we know on the show?

Nobody we know... but trust me, you need to tape this episode. You'll thank me later.

Catfish wrote:I saw this thread after the show aired. Tell me, tell me, tell me.

jacorbett70 wrote:A chance to try the new spoiler

Spoiler

This happened a lot sooner than I expected, giving the hoops the contestant must jump through to win $1M. The chances seemed slim giving there have been few $100K hits each year. I was thinking there might be another SyndiBAM millionaire first.

Strategy: This woman was ahead by an insurmountable amount, excepting a big $6K a letter hit by an opponent on the final puzzle. She took spins on the last two puzzles knowing that a bankrupt would take the $1M card away from her (she would have played for a top prize of 'only' $100K). Would the potential prize be worth taking wrong guesses at the puzzle each time your turn comes?

rebel2008 wrote:http://www.gameshownewsnet.com/extra/extra101508.html

An interview I did with Michelle Leowenstein.

Jason Block

TheConfessor wrote:

rebel2008 wrote:http://www.gameshownewsnet.com/extra/extra101508.html

An interview I did with Michelle Leowenstein.

Jason Block

I didn't know the million bucks was an annuity. It's interesting that they offered her the option of a lump sum of $660K. I don't know if there's any "official" site of top game show winners, but at face value, I think she'd be in the top 10 of all time. Her actual lump sum probably puts her somewhere in the top 30 or 40.

Bob78164 wrote:

TheConfessor wrote:

rebel2008 wrote:http://www.gameshownewsnet.com/extra/extra101508.html

An interview I did with Michelle Leowenstein.

Jason Block

I didn't know the million bucks was an annuity. It's interesting that they offered her the option of a lump sum of $660K. I don't know if there's any "official" site of top game show winners, but at face value, I think she'd be in the top 10 of all time. Her actual lump sum probably puts her somewhere in the top 30 or 40.

If the million is her only win, it's not enough to put her in the Top Ten. I believe that thguy currently sits at number 9. --Bob

TheConfessor wrote:

Bob78164 wrote:

TheConfessor wrote: I didn't know the million bucks was an annuity. It's interesting that they offered her the option of a lump sum of $660K. I don't know if there's any "official" site of top game show winners, but at face value, I think she'd be in the top 10 of all time. Her actual lump sum probably puts her somewhere in the top 30 or 40.

If the million is her only win, it's not enough to put her in the Top Ten. I believe that thguy currently sits at number 9. --Bob

She won more than a million, nominally. The "million" she won was a bonus, in addition to the amount she won against the other contestants, which was about $26K. So she is one of the few game show contestants who has won more than a million, ignoring the annuity, and I think she would rank just behind thguy. Wasn't his also an annuity?

TheConfessor wrote:I didn't know the million bucks was an annuity.

MarleysGh0st wrote:

TheConfessor wrote:I didn't know the million bucks was an annuity.

An annuity?

<grumble>®

rebel2008 wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:

TheConfessor wrote:I didn't know the million bucks was an annuity.

An annuity?

<grumble>®

Yes. The credits specifically state the 20 payment/ $660K lump sum option.

Jason

earendel wrote:

rebel2008 wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote: An annuity?

<grumble>®

Yes. The credits specifically state the 20 payment/ $660K lump sum option.

Jason

Given the state of the market, an annuity may not be such a bad idea at this time. Indeed I heard a report on NPR the other morning that a lottery winner decided to take the annuity rather than the lump sum, since investments seem to be so uncertain.

MarleysGh0st wrote:It's not a question of whether an annuity is a good investment (and just what bank or insurance company guarantees that annuity)--it's false advertising. If they want to pay an annuity, they should have to describe it as twenty payments of $50,000 a year or whatever. Is that too boring to waste air time on? Then suck it up and pay the full $1 million in cash!

gsabc wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:It's not a question of whether an annuity is a good investment (and just what bank or insurance company guarantees that annuity)--it's false advertising. If they want to pay an annuity, they should have to describe it as twenty payments of $50,000 a year or whatever. Is that too boring to waste air time on? Then suck it up and pay the full $1 million in cash!

In that case, TPTB at PowerBall and MegaMillions lottery headquarters are equally guilty, and for a longer time.

And yes, it would be boring to have the show's title be "Who Wants To Be A Six-Hundred-and-Sixty-Thousandaire?", or whatever the annuity's initial value would be ('BAM doesn't offer a one-time payment). Meredith doesn't even want to say "Is that your final answer?" She'd never get her mouth around that title.

goongas wrote:But on the other hand you have to hope the annuity company does not go under.

thguy65 wrote:

goongas wrote:But on the other hand you have to hope the annuity company does not go under.

My checks come directly from FOX, so as long as "American Idol" is around I think I'm good.