The Big Spin
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- For the skateboarding trick, see Big spin.
| The Big Spin (2000) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Running time | approx. 0:30 (per episode), 22 minutes without commercials |
| Creator(s) | California Lottery |
| Starring | Pat Finn, Maquiel Alejo |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| [[1] Official website] | |
The Big Spin is the California Lottery's television game show.
It currently has a fixed top prize of $3 million.
Contents |
[edit] Hosts
[edit] 1980s
The show started in September 1985 with Chuck Woolery for the 1st 3 months of the run, followed by Chain Reaction and Treasure Hunt host Geoff Edwards in 1986, who would hold the position until December 1994.
[edit] 1990s
In January 1995 comedian and magician Larry Anderson (brother of Night Court's Harry Anderson) took over as host, replaced by newsman Jack Gallagher in the fall of 1996, who remained with the show for the next 2 1/2 years.
[edit] 2000s
In January 1999, current host Pat Finn took over the show, which was briefly retitled Big Spin 2000.
In 1993, Maiquel Alejo (known as Maiquel Suarez until 1997) joined the show as co-host, in addition to serving as a translator for Spanish-speaking contestants. The announcer for the first 13 years was Rich Hardaway, then in 1999 was Jackie Taylor and since 2004 veteran game show announcer Randy West.
[edit] 10-Player Rounds
In these games, 10 players compete for a chance to go to The Big Wheel. One player would go on, the rest would get various denominations of money.
[edit] Winner's Circle
A simple game of chance. Ran from 1996-1999.
Ten players stood around a circular maze. A motorized ball was dropped in the center, moving randomly. The game ends when the ball falls through a hole. The player standing behind the hole went on to the Big Wheel round; the others won $1,500.
[edit] California Countdown
The first two-round elimination game. Ran from 1999-2000.
[edit] California Gold
A reworking of California Countdown. Ran from 2000-2003. The first format had gold dust from January 2000-March 2001. The 2nd format had gold nuggets that were taken out from a peg. The 2nd format lasted from March 2001-December 2003.
[edit] Aces High
The latest 10-player elimination round. Started in 2004.
[edit] First Round
There are a series of 20 cards on a conveyor belt, 10 of which are visible at any time. Each player stands behind one of the cards, which are either:
- One of two Aces
- The $4000 card
- One of two $2,000 cards
- One of five $1,750 cards
All players enter a vote of advancing the cards 1, 2, or 3 spaces. The cards are then moved to a starting position, determined by random draw. The cards then move the sum of each player's vote, from 10 to 30 spaces. The people who earn money cards win the amount on the card. The two people who get the Aces go on to round two.
[edit] Second Round
The two players who won the second round now compete for the chance to go to the Big Wheel. Each player had four card wheels, each with three cards: the Queen, the King, and the ace. The hand is randomly determined by spinning all four wheels, and the player pressing down on a card to stop them. The ranks, from highest to lowest, are as follows:
- Four of a Kind
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
After the first spin, the player with the lowest hand can spin any of his cards to try and get a better hand. If the player succeds as such, the other player has a chance to spin. If the hands are tied, a one-card tiebreaker occurs.
The loser gets $5,000; the winner goes to the Big Wheel (see below).
[edit] The Big Wheel
The final winner of Aces High, or a person who has "SPIN" three times on the scratcher, goes up to spin the "big wheel." Spinning disturbs a ball, which then bounces off pags along the circumference of the wheel. Whatever the ball rests in for at least five seconds is the amount won. The top prize in one spin is $1 million, however, if the first spin lands on a "triple" space, the amount won in the next spin is tripled.
[edit] Fantasy 5 Dream Machine
A Bagatelle-like game, introduced in 1995. At the start, the player pushes a button starting the first play, depositing a ball into the machine. The ball then bounces off pins and "spinners" to land in one of five spaces (from left to right):
- $30,000
- $10,000
- $40,000
- $25,000
- $20,000
On the next play, if the ball lands in the same space, the amount is negated. Maximum of five plays.
If all five spaces are filled at the end of the game, the total prize money is $150,000.
[edit] External links
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