Sale of the Century

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Countries which have their own version

Sale of the Century (or $ale of the Century) is a television game show format that has screened in several countries in various incarnations since 1969. The show found its biggest success in Australia, where it aired weeknights from 1980 to 2001. A new version has aired in Australia since May 2005 and in the United States during the 2007-2008 television season in syndication under the title of Temptation.

The format is a general knowledge quiz, where contestants (usually three) earn money for correct answers, and occasionally have the chance to "buy" heavily-discounted prizes with their score money via "Instant Bargains" (also known as "The Gift Shop"). Long-running champions would compete to win enough money to buy larger prizes, such as trips or cars, at show's end; more successful ones could end up buying all the prizes on offer and/or a large cash jackpot. In 1973 the three contestant format was dropped and two married couples were used as contestants (could have been used to compete with Gambit which was televised on CBS during the same time slot). This two couple format was also used during the 1973-1974 night time syndicated version as well.

After its original run (1969-74) in the USA and during its successful run (1971-83) in the UK, the format was purchased by Australian TV mogul Reg Grundy, whose Grundy Television had produced a similarly formatted program called Temptation (as well as a primetime version called The Great Temptation) between 1971 and 1976. The Grundy version of Sale premiered on Nine Network on July 14, 1980 and became a massive success, spawning versions all across the world (including new versions in the United States and the United Kingdom). At its close in 2001 it was Australia's longest-running game show (a record since surpassed by Wheel of Fortune).

The game format varied in its details over the years and in various nations, however the core format which debuted in the 1980 Australian version, remained unchanged.

Versions throughout the world

• Sale of the Century made its debut in the United States on September 29, 1969, on NBC daytime. The series aired until July 13, 1973, then aired in a weekly syndicated version for one additional year. A new version of the show ran weekday mornings (again on NBC) from January 3, 1983 to March 24, 1989, with a concurrent version airing weeknights in syndication from January 1985 to September 1986. The original version was hosted by Jack Kelly and later by Joe Garagiola. Both of the 1980s versions were hosted by Jim Perry. A syndicated edition of Temptation premiered on September 10, 2007, and was televised through September 5, 2008. Rossi Morreale was the host. The announcers included Bill Wendell on the 1970s version, Jay Stewart and Don Morrow on the 1980s version, and former talk-show hostess Rolonda Watts.
• The United Kingdom version of Sale of the Century, produced by Anglia Television, was hosted by Nicholas Parsons. A 1988 remake presented by Peter Marshall aired on Sky TV, and Keith Chegwin hosted a Challenge version in 1997 and 1998. John Benson was UK's most famous of the show's announcers, thanks to his "From Norwich, it's the quiz of the week!" introduction.
• In Australia, Tony Barber hosted the original Temptation series and later hosted Sale of the Century from its 1980 debut until 1991, when Glenn Ridge took over for the rest of its run. The current Temptation is co-hosted by Ed Phillips and Livinia Nixon. The original 1980s version of "Temptation" had aired on the Seven Network, while the other versions have aired on the Nine Network. Pete Smith was the long-time announcer for every single episode from 1980-2001.
• In New Zealand Sale of the Century originally screened on TV2 and debuted in April 1989 the show later moved to ONE. The New Zealand version was hosted by Steve Parr and Judith Dobson (nee. Kirk). The show was cancelled in 1993 but over a year later the show was revived on rival network TV3 still hosted by Steve Parr but now with Julie White as co-host. The TV3 version was axed in early 1995 due to low ratings and not being able to compete with TV1 extending their news to an hour long making the top rating Holmes show a competing show. In 1990 a competition between New Zealand and Australian past Sale of the Century champions was held in New Zealand.
• In Turkey, the host of the show was actor Mehmet Aslantuğ. The show ran on Kanal D from 1995 to 1997 and later Star TV in 1998.
• A Hong Kong version debuted in 1982 ("Dat Sou But". "大手筆" in Chinese letter). It aired on ATV and the host was Wong Dic-Thung.
• The hosts for the German version (Hopp Oder Top) included Andreas Similia, Thomy Aigner and Hermann Toelcke, and has run on Tele 5 from 1990 to 1992 and a few months in 1993 on DSF.
• In Greece, the show's title translated as "The Boss Has Gone Crazy". It aired on the Star Channel.
• Paraguay had its own version ("La Venta del Siglo") from the mid-1990s until at least 1998. It aired on Canal 9 and the host was Nestor Porvilla.
• As of 2004, India has had a version called Super Sale, hosted by Sajid Khan, for the STAR One channel.
• As of 2006, South Africa has its own version of the show (called Temptation, just like the current Australian revival). It airs on M-Net, and the host is James Lennox while Bridget Masina is the hostess. M-Net also has a version airing out of Nigeria, where it follows a similar format, with contestants competing to win prizes of more than US$100,000 (about ₦13,000,000). It is hosted by Ikponmwosa "Ik" Osakioduwa and Oluwakemi "Kemi" Modupeola.
• In 1995, TF1 in France shot a pilot for a French version on the Aussie version's set (at the time). The host was Alexandre Dubin. Unfortunately, the pilot could not be sold.
• Just recently, SBT in Brazil relaunched its own version of Temptation, titled, Tentação, and hosted by Silvio Santos, making it only the second version of $otC to air in Latin America. The Program are showed on mid 90's (1993-2000).

Clips from the 80s US, Australian, Hong Kong, New Zealand, 1989 UK, German, Greek, and Paraguayan versions, as well as the French pilot, can be seen on the Australian version's 15th anniversary show from 1995. They have been uploaded onto YouTube for viewing.

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (September 2008)

• American Idol and X Factor judge Simon Cowell was once a contestant on the UK version of the show in 1989—his first TV appearance.

• David Sparks, who eventually hosted a remake of the show Crosswits, was once a male model on Sale of the Century in the 1980s.

• UK contestants in the initial round played for £1 per correct question.

• In 1996 on the Australian version, Steve Todorovic, won the hidden prize of a gold cutlery set. He has the record for losing after holding the biggest lead in the shows history ($40).

• Model Nikki Visser was a hostess on the show.

• Australian Rules Football star Christopher Anderson was once a contestant on the Australian version of the show in 1991 and won four nights in a row but lost on the fifth night by 5 dollars after leading by 35 dollars and buying 1000 dollars worth of children's books.

• Former New Zealand Prime Minister, David Lange screened on the Australian version of the show in 1990 a year after his resignation as Prime Minister. Lange did not compete on the New Zealand version due to his celebrity status so instead chose to compete in the Australian version.

References

• Twentieth Clears Show Based on Sale of the Century
• A then unknown Simon Cowell on Sale of the Century - YouTube

External links

• Museum of TV article on the show.
• Sale Of The Century at UKGameshows.com
• Aussie comprehensive fan site
• Info on German show in German incl. some pictures
• Funny Sale of the Century answers
• Sale of the Century (original 1969-1974 American version) at the Internet Movie Database
• Sale of the Century (second 1983-1989 American version) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Great Temptation (original 1970-1976 Australian version) at the Internet Movie Database
• Sale of the Century (1980-2001 Australian version) at the Internet Movie Database
• Sale of the Century (1995 15th Anniversary Special) at the Internet Movie Database
• Temptation (2005-Present Australian Version) at the Internet Movie Database
• Sale of the Century (1971-1985 UK version) at the Internet Movie Database
• Sale of the Century (1987-1994 New Zealand version) at the Internet Movie Database
• Sale Of The Century at the National Film and Sound Archive