Pass the Buck

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PASS THE BUCK

The Pass the Buck title shot.

Airdates: CBS April 1978 - June 1978
Host: Bill Cullen
Announcer: Bob Clayton
Producer: Bob Stewart Productions

Gameplay

Front Game

Two contestants that have been knocked out look on from the bullpen
Enlarge
Two contestants that have been knocked out look on from the bullpen
Four players compete. At the start of each round, the host gives a category. The category could be simple, such as, "Name any game played with a ball", or fairly complex, such as "Name a country whose name does not start with a vowel". Each player in turn then gives an answer that fits into the category, with each valid response adding $25 to the game's bank (which starts at $100 at the outset of each game). This continues until one player either gets stumped, gives an invalid answer, or duplicates an answer previously given. When this happens, the next player in line is given the opportunity to knock the endangered player out by giving another valid answer. If the second player fails to do so, however, he too becomes endangered, and the next player has the chance to knock them both out. In the event that all eligible players are unable to provide a valid answer, the question is deemed a "standoff" and nobody is eliminated. Players who get knocked out are sent to the "bullpen" to wait out the rest of the game. This process continues until one player is left; that person wins all the money in the bank and advances to the Fast Bucks bonus round.

End Game

A contestant tries to uncover the single answer on the top row
Enlarge
A contestant tries to uncover the single answer on the top row
The bonus round consists of a maximum of four categories. For the first category, four answers are hidden on the bottom row of the bonus board. The second category has three hidden answers, the third has two, and the fourth has one. Starting at the bottom, the player has 15 seconds to name as many items as he can think of that fit into the first category. If he mentions all four of the hidden answers, he wins $5000; if he names at least one, however, he is allowed to continue to the next level. This repeats until the player gets at least one answer in all four rows, or fails to get one hidden answer on a particular row. If successful, the player wins $5000 and returns to the game to play against three new challengers; otherwise, he gets $100 for each answer he managed to uncover, and the three players in the bullpen are allowed to return to their seats along with the game's winner.