I was watching “Twenty One”, one the latest in trendy TV quiz games. The winners were handed bundles and bundles of bills. The camera shot a close-up, and they looked like legitimate hundreds. But, wouldn’t you think the winners were actually issued checks back stage? Is this all for show?
“They’re coming to take me away ha-ha, ho-ho, hee-hee, to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time… :)” - Napoleon IV
I’d guess that the contestants could take the cash with them, but most opt for checks just because it’s more convenient.
Remember, too, there is a friendly representitive of the IRS waiting backstage to take his cut, cash of not.
“What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet.
Has the IRS ever actually done this or is this supposed to be taken metaphorically? I have heard of the proverbial IRS agent at casinos, game shows, etc. so many times that it come to sound as if people really conceive of an IRS agent hanging out back stage, waiting for the winner to get off camera. Wouldn’t it be easier / more appropriate for the game show producers to collect tax identification information from the contestant? After all, I would think that they report to the IRS the monies they pay out over a year. Anyone have the dope on how casinos manage it? Are the G-men hanging out by the slots constantly?
Once in a while you can get shown the light
in the strangest of places
if you look at it right…
I can only speak for the horse track, but I imagine that casinos, etc. are the same. The horse track actually does have an IRS rep. to collect tax on prizes over a certain $ amt.
Things are random only insofar as we don’t understand them.
Watch the credits carefully. They reveal that contestants are paid by check within 8 weeks of their appearance. This goes for Greed and Millionaire, too.
Chuck L.
“The intellectuals’ chief cause of anguish are one another’s works.”
Jacques Barzun
Cheers! CAL
You want brilliance BEFORE I’ve had my coffee!!!
This is a little of the topic, but how do you get those big checks they show on Publishers’ Clearinghouse Sweepstakes? Can you go to the bank and ask for those, or are those just for show and they get issued little checks that they can actually cash?
I’ve appeared on both Jeopardy and Win Ben Stein’s Money, and I was informed that contestants who win cash receive the cash approximately 90-120 days after the show’s air date, and contestants who win lovely parting gifts (like me) receive their prizes approximately 90 days after the air date. I imagine this is standard among all game shows. And keep in mind this is air date not tape date: I taped Ben Stein’s Money in December but my show has not aired yet so I have no idea when my prize will arrive.
“The analyst went barking up the wrong tree, of course. I never should have mentioned unicorns to a Freudian.” – Dottie (“Jumpers” by Tom Stoppard)
I’d love to know why there is such a delay between the taping and the check. I hope its not simply because the producers need to wait for the advertising money to come in. They can’t be on that tight a budget can they?
You can be sure that Alex, Regis, Maury, et al, would be quite upset if their paychecks were withheld for such a long time! Come on, they get nice and friendly with the contestants, who frequently offer genuine tales of woe when the host asks their plans for the bucks, and then they’re gonna have to wait another 3 months till they see any of it!
Not my idea of friendly.
Upon reading HeyHeyPaula’s comments, I’m gonna have to revise my last line to read:
I have a semi-related question for H.H.Paula. How does one go about attempting to get on Ben Stein’s show?
I sent an email to the show stating that I wanted to be a contestant. I got the email adddress through the show’s website. After a while I was called in for an audition - I live in Los Angeles and work as a temp so it was no hardship. I was called in to tape the following week but I could not do it the day they wanted me. But they liked me, so they called me again about six months later and I was able to go. The audition process consisted of a written (general knowledge, fill in the blank) test and a mock game, similar to the audition process for Jeopardy.
“The analyst went barking up the wrong tree, of course. I never should have mentioned unicorns to a Freudian.” – Dottie (“Jumpers” by Tom Stoppard)
If you win money they want to make sure you meet all the requirements.
Hey whats your rl first name/do you have any idea when you’re going to be on? Thats so cool.
I second David’s request to hear the name you gave on the show. Many of us here are followers of Ben Steins show and would have interest in a fellow posters appearance.
To the OP, my across the street neighbor won 10 grand in Vegas. He was escorted, cash in hand, to his car by casino security. They tailed him to the city limits and peeled off. His only contact with the IRS came by mail. He told me the letter was awaiting on his arrival home.