Global InformationSale of the Century information
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
| Sale of the Century | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Al Howard |
| Presented by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Narrated by |
|
| Theme music composer | Ray Ellis & Marc Ellis (1983–89 version) |
| Opening theme | "Mercedes" (1983–89 version) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons |
|
| No. of episodes |
|
| Production | |
| Production locations |
|
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network |
|
| Release | September 29, 1969 – March 24, 1989 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
Sale of the Century (stylized as $ale of the Century) is an American television game show that originally debuted on September 29, 1969, on NBC daytime.[1] It was one of three NBC game shows to premiere on that date, the other two being the short-lived game shows Letters to Laugh-In and Name Droppers. The series aired until July 13, 1973, and a weekly syndicated series began that fall and ran for one season.
The rights to the show were purchased in 1980 by Australian TV mogul Reg Grundy, who produced a similar show called Great Temptation in the 1970s. Grundy subsequently launched an Australian version of Sale of the Century. Grundy's modified format was then used in a revived American Sale of the Century that aired on NBC from January 3, 1983 to March 24, 1989. It was one of three NBC game shows premiering on the same date, along with Hit Man and Just Men! (both of which aired for only 13 weeks), and—like its predecessor—spawned a syndicated edition that ran from January 7, 1985 to September 12, 1986. Grundy's format has also been adopted in other countries.
The game consists of contestants answering general knowledge questions. At certain points during the game, the player currently in the lead is offered an "Instant Bargain", a prize to keep regardless of the game's outcome, in exchange for a certain amount deducted from that contestant's score.
Actor Jack Kelly hosted the original series from 1969 to 1971, then decided to return to acting full-time. He was replaced by Joe Garagiola, who hosted the remainder of the daytime series plus the one season in syndication. Jim Perry then hosted both the NBC and syndicated 1980s versions. Al Howard was the executive producer of the initial 1969–1974 version, and for a short time was co-executive producer of the 1980s version with Robert Noah.
A short-lived revival of the series entitled Temptation, like the 2005 Australian revival, debuted in syndication on September 10, 2007, following a September 7 preview on MyNetworkTV. This series ran for one year.
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1997). The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television. Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 371. ISBN 978-0823083152. Retrieved 22 March 2020.