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Break the Bank (1985)

 Break the Bank (1985)
type
TVTItem
 Break the Bank (1985)
label
Break the Bank (1985)
 Break the Bank (1985)
page
BreakTheBank1985
 Break the Bank (1985)
comment
The third of three different Game Shows with this name, from Kline & Friendsnote a firm composed of former employees of Barry & Enright Productions that left after Jack Barry's passing in 1984; this included Barry's son Jonathan, set designer John C. Mula, composer Hal Hidey, and the namesake of the company, director/producer Richard S. Kline. This was their first game show, and their later productions included Strike It Rich, Win, Lose or Draw, 3rd Degree, the 1990 version of The Joker's Wild, Masters of the Maze, and the 1997 version of Pictionary was syndicated from 1985-86. Married couples played puzzles in this format, competing for time to play an elaborate Bonus Round. In this round, the winning couple participates in various timed stunts; completing a stunt won a punch card which could be used to help "Break the Bank" and win a jackpot of cash and prizes.It was Gene Rayburn's last series on broadcast TV; Joe Farago replaced him fourteen weeks into the run.
 Break the Bank (1985)
fetched
2023-06-09T06:28:17Z
 Break the Bank (1985)
parsed
2023-06-09T06:28:17Z
 Break the Bank (1985)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_13d7a65e
type
The Artifact
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_13d7a65e
comment
The Artifact: Once the stunts were ditched, just about half the set became this — the keypad on the Prize Vault door and the display on the host's podium weren't used (for the latter, they just covered up the display); the entire back half of the set (where the stunts were) was filled with examples of prizes, and the Number Jumbler monitor merely became a background fixture displaying a "starburst".
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_13d7a65e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_13d7a65e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_13d7a65e
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1467a30c
type
Unexpected Gameplay Change
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1467a30c
comment
Unexpected Gameplay Change: Under the first format, the focus shifted from solving word puzzles in the front game, to running around the Prize Vault and competing goofy mental/physical challenges in the bonus round.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1467a30c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1467a30c
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_1467a30c
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: "You want to find the one Bank Card that will break the Bank."
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_18d15922
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1dcd2d70
type
Obstacle Exposition
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1dcd2d70
comment
Obstacle Exposition: During the Stunt era, naturally.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1dcd2d70
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_1dcd2d70
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_1dcd2d70
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_26589ace
type
Show the Folks at Home
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_26589ace
comment
Show the Folks at Home: A hint for the subject of the front-game puzzles, using the "category reveal" sound from Tic-Tac-Dough.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_26589ace
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_26589ace
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_26589ace
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_42a62962
type
Title Scream
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_42a62962
comment
Title Scream: Done as a throw to commercial in the Farago era.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_42a62962
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_42a62962
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_42a62962
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_47696b0
type
Progressive Jackpot
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_47696b0
comment
Progressive Jackpot: The Bank itself, which started out at $20,000 in cash and prizes (including a brand-new car) and would increase every day in cash and prizes added (typically $500 and one or two prizes) until it was broken, at which point it would reset.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_47696b0
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_47696b0
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_47696b0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_49d59be9
type
Scenery Porn
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_49d59be9
comment
Scenery Porn: The set was actually pretty cool looking, especially the Bank itself.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_49d59be9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_49d59be9
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_49d59be9
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_68d43ebc
type
Game Show Host
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_68d43ebc
comment
Game Show Host: Gene Rayburn for the first 13 weeks (September 16 - December 13), followed by Joe Farago; repeats aired the week of December 16.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_68d43ebc
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_68d43ebc
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_68d43ebc
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_794cff5
type
Transatlantic Equivalent
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_794cff5
comment
Transatlantic Equivalent: A French version hosted by Michel Robbe, La Porte Magique ("The Magic Door"), aired in the late 1980s on the now-defunct LaCinq. This version used the Stunt format (complete with the 5-10-20-40-80-100 payouts and even the Number Jumbler) and a pretty similar set. Here's an intro (Bank is at F127,475 [€19,433]), and a full episode (Bank is at F135,390 [€20,640]).
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_794cff5
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_794cff5
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_794cff5
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_9014df71
type
Saying Sound Effects Out Loud
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_9014df71
comment
Saying Sound Effects Out Loud: In one episode, Rayburn randomly imitated the sound effects after they played, i.e. the "boing" effect used to input the seconds to open the Prize Vault, and the "code appears" sound effect when a card was inserted into the Bank.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_9014df71
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_9014df71
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_9014df71
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_95496a1d
type
The Announcer
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_95496a1d
comment
The Announcer: Voice-over artist Michael Hanks.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_95496a1d
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_95496a1d
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_95496a1d
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_98b1dc8f
type
Luck-Based Mission
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_98b1dc8f
comment
Luck-Based Mission: The bonus round, in both formats. Even more so during the Stunt era; if the "Break Bank" card was one of the five at the Number Jumbler, the couple had to pick the stunt paired with it, stop the display on any number other than zero, and bring back that card.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_98b1dc8f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_98b1dc8f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_98b1dc8f
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_a65288e2
type
Ascended Extra
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_a65288e2
comment
Ascended Extra: Before becoming host, Farago did Prize Vault stunts in several episodes (including the first episode).
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_a65288e2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_a65288e2
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_a65288e2
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b1fbb55b
type
Game Show Winnings Cap
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b1fbb55b
comment
Game Show Winnings Cap: During the Stunt era, couples could stay until reaching $75,000 or were defeated, with any winnings over that amount being donated to charity. Upon the inception of the Master Puzzle, couples retired upon breaking the Bank, with the same winnings limit in place. The credits noted that the $75,000 cap was "network policy", as the station the show aired on in New York was the flagship of CBS, WCBS-2; so it had to follow CBS' winnings cap at the time.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b1fbb55b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b1fbb55b
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_b1fbb55b
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b53d88da
type
Double Unlock
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b53d88da
comment
Double Unlock: In order to break the bank, a couple had to choose the one card that would do it and not quit the game before that card was scanned.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b53d88da
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_b53d88da
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_b53d88da
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_bad20f4e
type
Whammy
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_bad20f4e
comment
Whammy: As mentioned, during the Master Puzzle era, one of the Bank Cards (now lined up on a podium near the Bank itself) was actually a Bankrupt Card. If it was inserted into the Bank slot, it took away any prizes the contestants had already been awarded from any Bank Cards inserted that day. In addition, the Bankrupt Card remained in the Bank Card selection on every show, regardless of whether it had been inserted into the Bank slot. At least in theory, a couple could narrow down their choice of Bank Cards to the Bank-Breaking Card and the Bankrupt Card.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_bad20f4e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_bad20f4e
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_bad20f4e
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c3943bf3
type
Pilot
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c3943bf3
comment
Pilot: At least one was taped on September 17, 1984. In addition to the cosmetic differences, the front game had a different format. Questions were worth 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 seconds, respectively. Unusually, getting a question right augmented the total to the new amount instead of adding it to the current score. Solving the puzzle won $500, and both teams would bank whatever time they had at the time of the solve. Two more rounds were played, with the amount of seconds doubling each time; whoever had the most time at the end of the third round won the game.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c3943bf3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c3943bf3
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_c3943bf3
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c77e69fc
type
Confetti Drop
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c77e69fc
comment
Confetti Drop: Any time the Bank was broken.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c77e69fc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_c77e69fc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_c77e69fc
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_ca3a77a4
type
SuddenDeath
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_ca3a77a4
comment
Sudden Death: If a puzzle was unsolved after all its six clues had been shown, a seventh question was asked, the answer of which was also the puzzle answer. If both couples solved one puzzle, a third was played with no questions; the clues were revealed one at a time, and the first couple to solve it won the game and an additional 30 seconds.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_ca3a77a4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_ca3a77a4
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_ca3a77a4
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d3435454
type
Bonus Round
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d3435454
comment
Bonus Round: The Prize Vault: The couple took the time earned into the vault, where they attempted to complete a series of stunts utilizing both mental and physical skills. Completing a stunt earned a prize and a bank card, which they had to run through a scanner before time ran out in order to be able to keep the prize. After the time expired, the couple put each of the earned cards through a second scanner to find out whether it was the one that broke the bank. Before testing each card, the couple was offered a cash buyout to quit for the day. Any prizes they had won were theirs to keep, no matter what happened with the cards. Master Puzzle: The couple earned a bank card, then faced a randomizer that assigned between 1-3 bank cards to six clues, nine cards in all. Seeing a clue lost those cards; solving it kept the remainder. The couple then selected cards from a rack of 40 and scanned them to find out what they'd won. One card broke the bank, 38 awarded cash or prizes, and one was a "Bankrupt" card that took away all of the day's prizes. The couple could quit at any time and keep what they'd won, but didn't get anything for the unused cards.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d3435454
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d3435454
featureConfidence
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Break the Bank (1985) / int_d3435454
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d35193cc
type
Bonus Space
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d35193cc
comment
Bonus Space: The Number Jumbler in the Stunt era; choose a stunt, hear the noise, then rush over and hit a big button linked to a big octagonal monitor; whatever number it would stop on, between 0-5, meant you could get that number in additional Bank Cards.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d35193cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d35193cc
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_d35193cc
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d6f284a3
type
Anti-Frustration Features
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d6f284a3
comment
Anti-Frustration Features: Originally, the clock ran continuously through the entire Prize Vault round; during the seventh week, the rules were changed to stop the clock while the host explained the rules of each new stunt.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d6f284a3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_d6f284a3
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 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_d6f284a3
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_e90b789a
type
Lovely Assistant
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_e90b789a
comment
Lovely Assistant: Kandace Kuehl for the first three episodes, then 1983 Miss USA winner Julie Hayek.
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_e90b789a
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1.0
 Break the Bank (1985) / int_e90b789a
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 Break the Bank (1985)
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_e90b789a
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 Break the Bank (1985) / int_name
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Break the Bank (1985) / int_name
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Break the Bank (1985)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Bonus Round / int_812d4b9a
 BreakTheBank
seeAlso
Break the Bank (1985)
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Confetti Drop / int_812d4b9a
 FamilyGameNight
seeAlso
Break the Bank (1985)
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Game Show / int_812d4b9a
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Game Show Winnings Cap / int_812d4b9a
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Obstacle Exposition / int_812d4b9a
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Progressive Jackpot / int_812d4b9a
 Break the Bank (1985)
hasFeature
Time Keeps On Ticking / int_812d4b9a