# Worst Game Show Prizes! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529 "2013-08-06T20:46:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/21 "2013-08-07T00:14:32Z")
My aunt and uncle won a waterpik on a 1970s game show called _It’s Your Move_. They never used it. Nearly 40 years later, after uncle had died and aunt had moved to an assisted-care facility, it fell into my hands, still in its original box, still with the original receipt. I tried it a few times, liked it, then some long-unused gasket blew and spilled water all over the place and that was that. True story. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/22 "2013-08-07T00:37:32Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > A round trip flight and six night stay in a 3 star hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan! If memory serves, Jeopardy! was still giving away trips to Jakarta as second prize until _after_ the [1998 riots broke out](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_riots_of_May_1998). Hundreds of people were killed but luckily no Jeopardy contestants were among the dead as far as I ever learned. Thanks, Alex, but I think I’d rather have the Rice-a-Roni. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/23 "2013-08-07T00:49:16Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > A lifetime supply of Circus Peanuts! A single bag of them? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/24 "2013-08-07T03:10:22Z")
12 crates of Lee Press-On Nails 400 cans of Turtle Wax ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/25 "2013-08-07T03:13:15Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Remember how Wheel of Fortune winners used to have to go “shopping” with the value of their winnings, and there would always be something like a ceramic Dalmation for twenty-five bucks? You were almost guaranteed to get stuck with it. My friend’s Dad was on the Wheel of Fortune(he won a car). He also got to do the “shopping” thing and got a Batman and Robin painting. I never saw it. I assume they sold it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/26 "2013-08-07T03:41:13Z")
[Ceramic dalmatian](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vqD89Qvcn94/TLdl9xn9XvI/AAAAAAAAFrU/JYe4WBF8qgs/s400/wheel+of+fortune.jpg) Bob Harris, in his book “Prisoner of Trebekistan” mentions receiving box after box of the promotional prizes. Deodorant, air fresheners, all-purpose cleaners…they just kept coming for months. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/27 "2013-08-07T04:53:10Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > 400 cans of Turtle Wax I recall them saying, “A Lifetime Supply of Turtle Wax!” which would be about \*\*\*2 \*\*\*cans. One to open and use once, and one to not open 'cause you never want to do that again! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/28 "2013-08-07T06:24:07Z")
The UK game show, [Countdown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countdown_%28game_show%29), which is like a slightly more professional version of [Boggle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boggle), has a prize each week of an extremely ugly [teapot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Teapot_%28levelled%29.jpg). I am not too familiar with the show\*, but it seems to me that it’s the tradition that matters. \*Apart from when _8 Out Of 10 Cats_ does its crossover version, which is where I discovered the wondrous marvels that are Rachel Riley and Susie Dent ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/29 "2013-08-07T12:37:40Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > How about a date with [Bob Filner](http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/filner-elected-san-diego-mayor/11604). You think that would be bad? One unlucky Bachelorette on “The Dating Game” won a date with a [serial killer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Alcala#Dating_Game_appearance) (and an ugly one to boot!) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/30 "2013-08-07T12:44:55Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Remember how Wheel of Fortune winners used to have to go “shopping” with the value of their winnings, and there would always be something like a ceramic Dalmation for twenty-five bucks? You were almost guaranteed to get stuck with it. And the prices were always the outrageously inflated suggested list price. So, a Canon Sure Shot, selling in the mall for about $119 would set back the contestant $289.95 of their winnings. You could bank some of your money, too, but a bankrupt would take that away. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/31 "2013-08-07T14:07:45Z")
[100 Grand](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Grand_Bar)… as done in countless radio contests ---
**Author:** ![Nom\_de\_Plume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85f322/32.png) [@Nom\_de\_Plume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nom_de_Plume)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/32 "2013-08-07T15:03:55Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > While I’m pretty sure that nobody ever left with an actual lion or orangutan in their car, I did wonder if they could sue for the value of the animal. Apparently, they usually offered a cash prize, like $100 or so, instead of the Zonk, but according to Monty Hall ([Monty Hall Interview : Let's Make a Deal / Classic TV](http://www.tvparty.com/gamemonty2.html) ), they would have to give them whatever they showed them on stage: > [@](#): > > But you know the law in game shows - if you go on a show and you win a donkey, that’s your prize. You’re entitled to it. So if a person won one of our zonks, they could take it home. But in 99 percent of the cases, we would offer them something after the show - a washer and dryer or a color TV or something, instead of that very valuable zonk, and they would take it. In 1 percent of the cases, they didn’t. > > There was a time when a farmer won five calves and he wanted the calves. That cost me a fortune because when you rent them from the animal place, they’re expensive. And there were other cases like that. Like people won dogs; they would keep dogs. They wouldn’t keep cats. They would keep dogs. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/33 "2013-08-07T15:44:23Z")
I would think the prizes for Guy “Poochie” Fieri’s _Minute to Win it_, would be pretty lame. Show looks like the have the budget of a commericial. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/34 "2013-08-07T15:53:18Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > In any case, my answer is > > A live orangutan. > > A camping trip to Detroit. > > Gary Busey is your houseguest for 3 days. > > All the bananas you can carry. This would be a nightmare if it was all one prize package. You have go to camping in Detroit with a live orangutan and all the bananas you can carry, and while you are away, Gary Busey lives in your house. It’s the Showcase Showdown of the Damned. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/35 "2013-08-07T16:42:38Z")
$1,000,000 worth of bitcoins. Redeemable in 2015. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/36 "2013-08-07T17:18:07Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Ceramic dalmatian](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vqD89Qvcn94/TLdl9xn9XvI/AAAAAAAAFrU/JYe4WBF8qgs/s400/wheel+of+fortune.jpg) > > Bob Harris, in his book “Prisoner of Trebekistan” mentions receiving box after box of the promotional prizes. Deodorant, air fresheners, all-purpose cleaners…they just kept coming for months. Here’s the video. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ggePjCP8Y](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ggePjCP8Y) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/37 "2013-08-08T15:39:23Z")
I recall hearing a comedian saying the biggest middle finger a game show gives to its non-winning contestants is the home version of the game they just lost on. So they could relive sucking at the game over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529/38 "2013-08-09T01:51:17Z")
Funny how so many of us have the image of the porcelain dalmatian etched into our subconscious. I can even recall the pained grimace of some 80s contestant sheepishly asking for the monstrosity, and the remaining $2.50 on a gift certificate. I was on _Wheel of Fortune_ in 1993, just after the prize era - we got cash, thankfully. Though I did win a lovely biking trip to the UK, I think they tweaked the cash value of the trip a tad. My fellow contestants who were runners-up got the Harry and David fruit basket and the huge shipment of York Peppermint Patties (or was it Eskimo Pies?). At any rate, my buddy answered the door about a week after the show aired, and there was a _palette_ of frozen goodies on his porch. He called all of us over to help eat them. Our college week show re-aired later that fall. While I didn’t get a new wad of cash or another trip, my buddies did indeed receive second shipments of their prizes! On my second (and final) day on _Jeopardy!_, they sent me home with the _Jeopardy!_ game for the PC. I have a Mac. I don’t think I ever opened it (not to mention that I was traumatized from losing)… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-game-show-prizes/665529.md?page=1)