The American version of 1 vs. 100 is broadcast by NBC. As in other formats, a single player (the 1) goes up against 100 other contestants (the "Mob"). The 1 gains money for every 10 Mob members eliminated, but loses all winnings with an incorrect answer at any point. The host is actor-comedian Bob Saget, and the top prize is $1,000,000 US. The show premiered on NBC October 13, 2006 at 9:00 PM. On October 20, 2006, it was reported that NBC ordered 10 additional episodes of 1 vs. 100, citing the show's encouraging ratings performance. The show returned with these new episodes on December 1, 2006. At the television critics' winter meetings in Pasadena, California in January 2007, the network announced that 12 more episodes would be added.
1 vs. 100 airs on Fridays at 8:00 PM Eastern. As of March 16, 2007, the show went on a temporary break in order to accommodate Identity, another NBC game show. The show returned to NBC with repeats of the series on May 25, 2007. In May, NBC announced that 1 vs. 100 would return for its second season in Fall 2007 with an eight episode run in the same time slot. The Singing Bee was originally scheduled to air after the initial run of 1 vs. 100, but its premiere was moved up to July to compete with FOX's new game show Don't Forget the Lyrics!. In July, NBC announced some fall scheduling updates that included The Singing Bee being moved to Tuesdays and Deal or No Deal being moved from Monday to Friday at 8PM, replacing 1 vs. 100.
1 vs. 100 returned for its second season on Friday January 4th, 2008. , with a new set and money ladder system of obtaining prize money. Also, a video screen is now displayed in the center of the mob area, where each question is displayed, as well as occasional pre-taped questions asked by celebrities. Several personalities, including Ross Matthews and Oscar the Grouch (of Sesame Street fame) are fixtures in the mob.
On January 4, 2008, 1 vs. 100 recorded its first ever millionaire -- 21-year-old Jason Luna from San Diego, California.
1 vs. 100 is an Australian game show based on the American version of the same name and the original Dutch version created by Endemol. The game pits one person against 100 others for a chance to win one million dollars. The program is hosted by former Nine Network CEO and personality Eddie McGuire.
The Australian version of the show premiered on January 29, 2007 at 8:30pm on the Nine Network and is recorded in the Melbourne Docklands Central City Studios.
The format of the Australian show is based on series 2 of the US show (those US shows that aired after 1 December 2006). The prize ladder is half the value of the US ladder (in Australian Dollars), with a single million dollar jackpot for eliminating all 100 players.
A second season of the show has been announced and will air during 2008.
The Philippine version of 1 vs. 100 was first aired on ABS-CBN on August 25, 2007. It is hosted by veteran Filipino quiz host Edu Manzano, from Pilipinas, Game KNB?, and Weakest Link. A single player (The One) goes up against 100 other contestants (The Mob). The One gains money for each mob member eliminated, but if the One answers incorrectly at any point of the game, the game ends and he or she leaves with nothing. The grand prize of the show is P2,000,000.
The program is the fourth franchise the network acquired from its creator Endemol and it is also the most expensive, due to the studio's sheer size to accommodate the Mob.
Host Bob Saget poses questions to both a lone player and a mob of 100 opponents. Each correct answer from the player knocks out any mob members who got it wrong and increases the prize money. If he can eliminate the entire field of 100, he wins $1 million; otherwise, he can quit after any right answer or risk losing everything to the mob if he misses a question. Written by Alan Back (ajback@yahoo.com)
