Caesars Challenge
Caesar's Challenge (or Caesars Challenge) was an American game show that aired on NBC daytime from 1993 to early 1994. It was the last daytime game show to air on NBC to date, and also the last new network daytime game show to date, leaving The Price Is Right as the sole remaining network daytime game show.
Ahmad Rashad hosted the show. Dan Doherty served as the show's assistant, dressed as a gladiator, originally rotating with Chad Brown and Zach Ruby, who served in the same capacity early on. Steve Day announced. The show was taped at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Front game format
Three contestants, one a returning champion, competed.
Three rounds were played, with the object in each round being to solve a jumbled word which was displayed on a 9-screen slot machine on the stage. Each word would be increased by one letter each round. Each of the words had a category (originally revealed to everybody, then to only the home viewers (it was only mentioned to everybody when the puzzle was over)). Rashad would ask the players a toss-up question based on said category. The player who buzzed in with the correct answer won money and got to place one of the letters in the word in its correct place, then would have a chance to guess. If they couldn't, play continued until one guessed the word. The bonus for guessing the word was determined by how many letters were unplaced. Two words were played in the first two rounds, and time allowed how many words would be played in the third round.
Scoring
| Rounds | Number of Letters in the Word | Score | Maximum Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 7 Letters | $100 (x Unplaced Letters) | $700 |
| Round 2 | 8 Letters | $200 (x Unplaced Letters) | $1,600 |
| Round 3 | 9 Letters | $300 (x Unplaced Letters) | $2,700 |
The lucky slot
Also, for every word, one letter could be placed into the "lucky slot." If the contestant guessed the word at that point correctly, they won a cash bonus which started at $500 and went up by that amount for every word it wasn't won, however, the jackpot did not carry over from one show to the next.
Speed-up round
If time was running out, a speed-up round was played. One at a time, the letters would be placed automatically, the lucky slot was out of play, and the first contestant to buzz in with the correct answer got the bonus. An incorrect answer locked that player out the rest of the way.
The player with the most money advanced to the bonus game. The one-day record for most money won in the main game was set by Neil Bines with $20,700. Neil solved every one of his words immediately after hitting the lucky slot (save for the speed-up round).
Bonus round
The bonus game for Caesars Challenge had two formats.
Format #1
A giant rotating squirrel cage with balls branded with letters would be lowered from the ceiling. One by one, the letters would come out of the cage, and gladiator Doherty would call them out as they came. Once a dictionary-certified word could be formed with nine of the letters, the cage stopped rotating and a booming voice said "Caesar says stop!".
The nine letters would then be placed on the slot machine, and based on how long the contestant had been on the show, they got letters placed in their correct spots (a first time champ would get one letter placed, two days earned two letters, etc.). The contestant would then have 10 seconds to try to solve the word. If the contestant did this, they won a car and retired as champion; otherwise, they returned on the next show. A champion could be on for a theoretical maximum of nine days, or until they were defeated or won the car.
Format #2
Towards the end of the run, the bonus game was changed. This time, the champion would face a board with 5 words, with 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 letters each. The word in play would have its letters placed one at a time automatically, and the contestant had to guess correctly to move on to the next word. Guessing all 5 words in 30 seconds won the car.
Starting w/the introduction of this bonus round, the appearance limit was changed; contestants now stayed on until they won a car, were defeated, or remained champion for a maximum of three consecutive shows, whichever came first.
Note: For several shows, the bonus board would be displayed on a monitor. Later it was superimposed on a blue screen.
At the end of every show during the closing credits, host Rashad and gladiator Doherty would go out into the studio audience to give them an opportunity to unscramble 5-letter words. Getting them right won casino tokens and gold covered chocolate medallions.
Winnings
- Tom Gauer was the biggest winner during the show's run. He won a total of $53,000 in cash and prizes, including a Chevrolet Blazer on his final day.