1 vs. 100

A show where it's one person who answers questions in order to survive "The Mob" of 100.

Gameplay (NBC Version)
The game always opens with Saget saying "This game is simple. Either you will win . . . or they will win." After asking the contestant if he/she is ready and asking the mob if they are ready, Saget begins the game by saying, "It's time to play 1 vs. 100!" In later episodes, it was removed and after the introduction of the mobs, Saget would say "It's 1 vs. 100 [(name of special mobs)]!" (the brackets represents mobs on special editions) Contestants are given a question with three possible answers. After answering a question correctly, any player in the 100-person mob who failed to answer the question correctly is eliminated from play. The player's winnings increase for every ten members of the mob they eliminate (see table, right). If after any correct answer the entire 100-person mob has been eliminated, the contestant wins the grand prize of $1,000,000.

Once a player reaches a set prize limit (the exact amount is not known for certain, but no later than $50,000; in fact, this may happen even once the player has $1,000, but edited out for time), they are asked whether they want the Money (quit) or the Mob (continue playing at risk of losing the money). After every subsequent question, a player may either quit or continue, if he/she answers correctly. Saget gives the contestant two choices, "The money or the mob?" Whenever a contestant decides to take on the mob, Saget then announces, "It's 1 vs. ... !", followed by the number of mob members left after the last question (e.g. if there are 79 mob members left, Saget will say, "It's 1 vs. 79!"), and play continues as before. The player is not given any information about the next question unless 10 or fewer Mob members remain, or no helps are available. At this point, the player is given a Sneak Peek, where they can see the next question, but not the answers, before deciding whether or not to continue.

Contestants have three forms of assistance, or "helps," available to use at any point during the game:


 * Poll the Mob: Contestants pick one of the three answers. The number of mob players who chose that answer is revealed. Originally contestants could ask one of those players why he/she chose that answer, although the player was allowed to lie; in the final shows this was not offered.
 * Ask the Mob: One mob member who answered correctly and one who answered incorrectly are chosen at random. Each explains his/her decision to the contestant. Mob members must tell the truth as to which answer they chose, but do not have to tell the truth as to why they chose that answer. This automatically eliminates one wrong answer, thus leaving contestants with a 50-50 chance of picking the right answer. If all mob members answer incorrectly, the solo player will be permitted to talk to one mob member and then will be informed that their answer is incorrect. If all mob members answer correctly, the solo player isn’t told that and is given the option to lock the answer in. This can also occur if all the mob members answer incorrectly, but choose the same incorrect answer.
 * Trust the Mob: Contestants commit to choosing the answer chosen by the largest number of mob members. If there is a tie for two answers, the solo player has a choice to one of those two answers.

Contestants may use multiple helps on a single question, but may only use each help once during the game. It is possible (as shown in episodes 2 and 6) that a mob member may be picked for both the Poll the Mob and Ask the Mob, even on the same question. The solo player must make their decision on their answer within 10 minutes (after this time, the host will prompt for an answer, after which the solo player must answer within one minute). Mob members have only fifteen seconds (longer than most versions, which is usually six, as in the Australian version, where the time is unedited) to submit their choice, even though it's edited down when it's aired.

When a contestant answers incorrectly, he/she leaves with nothing; unlike other versions of the show, any Mob members who correctly answered that question split the contestant's earnings. (Mob members who answer incorrectly are eliminated, and win nothing.) The remaining Mob members can continue playing as long as they answer correctly, giving themselves more than one opportunity to win money. If everyone gets a question wrong, no one wins any money. No prize money is given away that game and all new people are brought in.

Starting on January 4, 2008, the prize structure was determined by the number of mob members that are eliminated. Therefore, every 10 mob members eliminated increases the amount for the solo player. Once the player has either used up all three helps or eliminated at least 50 mob members, he/she is allowed a "Sneak Peek" before each question for the rest of the game. Only the question is revealed, not the answer choices, and the player would then have to decide whether to continue play or leave the game with all money won to that point.

Programming history
When the show was in development, one of its working titles was Eliminator. Some of the rules that were tested would have made the game more complicated (e.g., there were ways for eliminated ‘mob’ members to be returned to the game). Elimination ladders were similar to the original Dutch version, winnings were determined based on the cumulative number of Mob members eliminated, and of the three "dodges," one "dodge" was a second chance (which would be used in the French version of the game). Among those who auditioned to be host were Alan Thicke, Billy Bush, Bronson Pinchot, and Jim Lampley.

Even after the show debuted, there was considerable reworking of the rules and format. For instance, the value of eliminated mob members was different during the show's initial run of five episodes:

Contestants were also able to stop after every question on the first five episodes, and the only two helps were "Poll the Mob" and "Ask the Mob," which had to be used in that order (and were just called "First Help" and "Second Help"). A massive lighting and graphic update was added on episode 6. Examples of this include yellow lighting when faced with the Money or Mob decision, flames bursting outwards in the mob when the contestant elects to go on, and purple electric plasma flowing inwards when the solo player chooses to use a help. A new ladder for winning money was also added, which was as follows:

In this money ladder, the contestant must answer the first three questions correctly, before deciding whether to take the money or play on. Then, for the $2,000 tier, the contestant must answer two more before deciding. All other tiers were as before, with the contestant offered to stay or go after each question.

The January 19 episode saw two players lose to the mob for the first time. The game on February 23 saw two players lose as well. Both of those players had all three helps left. Contestant Lou Siville became the first solo contestant to take the money rather than the mob after the first opportunity to quit. He left one help on the table. The March 16, 2007 episode included a special feature at the end of the game, where the contestant can bet all winnings on one more question, which must be answered without the use of helps or the involvement of the mob. If correct, the contestant's money is doubled. If incorrect, the contestant loses everything. If the contestant chooses not to play, then this special round is played for fun, to see what would happen. It is unclear if the "Double or Nothing" round will be implemented in future episodes. The contestant on the March 16, 2007 episode decided not to risk doubling her winnings to $306,000. She would have answered the question correctly. Notable records include the $343,000 won by Barry Lander on January 12, 2007, which was the most ever won by the solo contestant until Jason Luna became the show's first millionaire. The most money ever lost to the mob was $263,000 by Raul Torres (February 16, 2007). The most money ever won by an individual mob member was $62,600 by Dennis Cisterna III, and a waitress named Chloe, over three shows while facing four contestants (February 23, 2007). The most questions answered by a mob member was 49 by Ned Andrews (December 15, 2006 through January 19, 2007). The highest number of mob members defeated was 95 by poker player Annie Duke (February 9, 2007, the "Last Man Standing" episode). The total number of solo contestants currently stands at 33 (17 winners, 16 losers).

Season Two
The show's second season premiered on January 4, 2008, and two games were played. One put 100 men against a woman, the other was the reverse. On that show, Jason Luna, a 21-year old from San Diego, faced the 100-woman mob and had eliminated all but 15 members by the time the following question came up: All 15 women missed, but Jason Luna had answered the question correctly and won $1,000,000.

Music
by Groove Addicts & Anthony Phillips

Inventor
Based on the Dutch game show  Eenenheren versenagerht Einhunderwoortentortengen  or  Een Tegen 100  for short.

Trivia
Celebrities appeared as members of the mob. They include game show stars Bob Eubanks, Wink Martindale, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire champions, John Carpenter, Dr. Kevin Olmstead, Nancy Christy, Deal or No Deal models, Meghan Markle, Katie Cleary, and Marisa Petroro, and big-time Jeopardy! champion, Ken Jennings.

Plus professional poker player Annie Duke was also one of the mob members, in fact she was one of the longer-lived members. She was even brought back for a special game where she had to defeat the mob to win any money for her charity.

Link
Official Site