Debt/Catchphrases

Opening Spiel
MAN (Wink): Drowning in a sea of bills? (crashing, bills shaking and dropping, and Wink pulls out the office worker) WOMAN: Whoa! WINK: Then it's time to play Debt! (WOMAN SIGHS) WINK: The game show where three debt-laden Americans, just like you, compete to have us pay off all their bills and go home with nothing. WOMAN: Whoo! WINK: And now let's meet today's contestants/contesti: (insert self-introductions of the contestants with the amount of debt and whatever reasons why). JULIE: And now, starring that host, the crowned prince of credit, the duke of Debt, Wink Martindale!

REST OF SPIEL: Thank you! Thanks everybody, and welcome to the return of the game show/our show/Debt. Well, the country's in debt, you're probably in debt, but more importantly, our/these three players, (insert three names), have come to us with their real-life debt and one of them just might be lucky enough to get out of it by the end of the show.

Catchphrases
"So let's get this party started! Our first round is called General Debt, and here are today's categories: (insert five categories). This is an elimination round, only the two players with the least debt at the end of the round get to move on and have a chance of going home with... AUDIENCE: Nothing!  ...you're so good/perfect! (Insert player with the lowest debt), since you spent less than your opponents in the game of life, you'll get the honor of choosing/selecting the first category. But, to make things fair, we're gonna even you all out to the average Debt amount the day. The average debt is worth (insert average debt). Two final reminders, all the questions on Debt take the "I am/You are" format, and you will be penalized for an incorrect answer." - Wink Martindale (at the start of General Debt in Season 1)

"Before we get going, let's make things fair, we're gonna even you all out to the average Debt amount the day. The average debt is worth (insert average debt). Our opening question is worth one big dollar and the honor of choosing/selecting the first category. (insert question). (ding) (insert player's name) CONTESTANT: (answer) WINK: right for -$1 of your debt. Let's take a look at today's categories for general debt: (insert five categories). This is an elimination round, only the two players with the least debt at the end of the round get to move on and have a chance of going home with... AUDIENCE: Nothing!  ...you're so good/perfect! /Let's get this party started!" - Wink Martindale (at the start of General Debt in Season 2)

"(contestant), since you've answered our opening question correctly, you'll get the honor of choosing/selecting our first category." - Wink Martindale (when the player answered the opening question correctly gets to pick the first category of General Debt)

"I'll take (insert category) for minus (insert debt amount)." - Debt Contestant (when choosing a category and debt amount in season 1)

"I'll take (insert category)." - Debt Contestant (when choosing a category in season 2)

"And you've hit our Debtonator. This is the most difficult question in today's board in the opinion of our producers. And because of that, it's worth $500 for whoever gets it right." - Wink Martindale (when a contestant picks a Debt-O-Nator in Season 1)

"Whoa! You've hit our Debtonator. This is the most difficult category in today's board in the opinion of our producers. And because of that, the value of each question in this category is doubled." - Wink Martindale (when a contestant picks a Debt-O-Nator in Season 2)

"Less than two minutes remaining in General Debt." - Wink Martindale (when there's less than two minutes remaining in General Debt)

"For -$50/-$100/-$150/-$200/-$250, (insert question)." - Wink Martindale (when he ask a question from one of the 4 regular categories in season 2)

"For -$100/-$200/-$300/-$400/-$500, (insert question)." - Wink Martindale (when he ask a question from the Debt-O-Nator category in season 2)

"That's the end of general debt and I'm sorry to say that you (insert player's name with the biggest debt) have the highest score and unfortunately, in our game, that means you are eliminated, but you will not home empty-handed, Julie, What do we have for (insert player's name)" - Wink Martindale (at the end of general debt)

"Well, (insert player's name), to help you get back on the road to financial recovery/you may have come in last place, but you're first to get a prize, Here's our very own Debt piggy bank, along with a $200 savings bond (insert funny thing related to why that player is in debt)" - Julie Claire (after Wink asks her to give something the first player that's eliminated in season 1)

"We're gonna help you get back on the road to financial recovery by giving you one of our very own Debt piggy banks, along with a $200 savings bond." - Julie Claire (after Wink asks her to give something the first player that's eliminated in season 2)

"We'll back to watch (insert player 1's name) and (insert player 2's name) battle it out for the chance to have us pay off all their debts after these messages" - Wink Martindale (at the start of the first commercial break)

"And now, let's get deeper into debt with Wink Martindale!" - Julie Claire (at the end of the first commercial break)

"Welcome back, everybody, we're down to our two players now, (insert player 1's name) is in the lead with (insert player 1's total), (insert player 2's name) has (insert player 2's total). At the end of this round, one of you, the one/the player with the least debt remaining will have a chance to have us paying your entire original debt. But, first, we're gonna play Gambling Debt. In this round, I'll show you a category, and then you'll wager between yourselves to see who can answer the most questions correctly out of five. Category values naturally increased throughout the round. $300 will be at stake in our first category, which is... (insert category)." - Wink Martindale (at the start of Gambling Debt)

"And (insert player's name with the highest debt), since you're behind, you'll start the bidding" - Wink Martindale (when the player with most debt will begin the bidding in Gambling Debt)

"I can answer 1/2/3/4/5 questions, Wink." - Debt contestant (at the start of bidding on each catergory for Gambling Debt)

"Prove It!" - Debt contestant (when said Prove It)

"He/She says "Prove It", (insert players name) (insert number) out of 5/all 5 right and will give you the money." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant must answer less than or exactly 5 questions correctly in Gambling Debt)

"Let's move on to our $400 category which is... (insert category)." - Wink Martindale (on the second category in Gambling Debt)

"Let's move on to our $500 category which is... (insert category)." - Wink Martindale (on the third category in Gambling Debt)

"This is our $750 category which is... (insert category)." - Wink Martindale (on the fourth category of Gambling Debt)

This is a must win situation for you, (insert player 2's name)! If you don't get this category, you'll be mathematically eliminated and (insert player 1's name) will be the winner! - Wink Martindale (if a player can't catch up)

"He/She says "Prove It!" (insert player 2's name), (insert number) out of 5/all 5 right, and you're still alive, anything short of (insert number), then (insert player 1's name), will win the game." - Wink Martindale (if player 2 must win to stay alive in Gambling Debt)

"He/She says "Prove It!" (insert player 1's name), (insert number) out of 5/all 5 right, and you win the Game, anything short of (insert number), then (insert player 2's name) is still alive in the game." - Wink Martindale (if player 1 wins the game or player 2 is still alive in Gambling Debt)

"You're much alive in the game!" - Wink Martindale (when the player is still alive in Gambling Debt)

"This is our final category worth $1500 and which is... (insert category)." - Wink Martindale (on the final catergory in Gambling Debt)

"He/She says "Prove It!" (insert player 1's name), (insert number) out of 5/all 5 right and you win win the game, anything short of (insert number), then (insert player 2's name) will win. 1 (insert question)." - Wink Martindale (on whoever wins the final catergory of Gambling Debt)

"Right, you win the game." - Wink Martindale (when the player answer the final Gambling Debt question correctly to win the game)

"No, (insert correct answer), (insert winning player's name) wins the game." - Wink Martindale (when the player answer the final Gambling Debt question incorrectly forcing his/her opponent automatically won the game)

"(insert correct answer), (insert winning player's name) wins the game." - Wink Martindale (when the player failed to answer the final Gambling Debt question forcing his/her opponent automatically won the game)

"Congratulations to you, (insert winning player's name)! That means you're going to the final round for the chance to have us pay off everything you owe/your entire debt amount and you (insert loser's name) will go home with this, Julie!" - Wink Martindale (at the end of gambling debt)

"Well, (insert loser's name). Sorry! We're not gonna pay off your bills, but we are gonna give you one of our Debt piggy banks, along with a $500 savings bond, spend it wisely!/don't spend it all in one place!/ (insert funny thing related to why that player is in debt)" - Julie Claire (after Wink asks her to give something the runner up that's eliminated in season 1)

"Sorry! We're not gonna pay off your bills, but we are gonna give you one of our Debt piggy banks, along with a $500 savings bond, don't spend it all in one place!" - Julie Claire (after Wink asks her to give something the runner up that's eliminated in season 2)

"We'll be back to see if (insert winner) can move out of the red and into the black/find financial freedom/go to a zero balance after this commercial timeout!" Wink Martindale (at the start of the second commercial break)

"Bills got you down? Well, there's help in site! If you'd like to be a contestant on Debt and if you live in the LA area, call (213) 468-3300!" - Julie Claire (explaining to viewers what they can do if they must be on the show)

"And we're back to see if (insert winner's name) can get out of debt with the help of our main man Wink!/ride the road to financial freedom with the help of the Winkster!" - Julie Claire (at the end of the second commercial break)

"It's time to see if Wink Martindale can help another contestant get out of debt!" - Julie Claire (at the end of the second commercial break from season 2)

"Welcome back to Debt everybody! (Insert player) played his/her first two rounds, blew/eliminated his/her opponents knocked (insert money they earned in the first two rounds) off of his/her debt. Now you've earned the right to have us to pay off the entire original debt of (insert original debt), in a round we appropriately called Get Out of Debt. If you can answer 10 (of these/my) questions in 60 seconds, your debt of (insert original debt) will be completely eradicated/wiped out." - Wink Martindale (before the start of the Get Out of Debt)

"Let's take a look at your category, (insert category). We'll set your expiration date at 60 seconds, (ding) and your time starts now." - Wink Martindale (at the start of Get out of Debt)

"Congratulations, to you, (insert player's name)! You're officially out of debt!" - Wink Martindale (if a contestant won the first part of Get Out of Debt and in Season 2 "Paid" appears at the Debt Screen)

"We're gonna pay you the entire original debt of (insert original debt). It's decision time, because we're gonna give you the opportunity to Bet Your Debt. When we selected/picked you to be a player on this show/Debt, you told us your specialty category in the World of Pop Culture was (insert category). Before the show, we prepared/wrote one question about (insert category), and if you answer this question correctly, we'll not only paying off your debt of (insert original debt), we will give you the same amount of cash in this briefcase (by Mr. Clean, our Debt Security Guard.). However, if you go for it and miss, you lose everything. It's a big risk, but a big payoff. We'll give you some time to think about it as we take our final commercial break." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant won the first part of Get Out of Debt)

"Well, you didn't make it down to zero, but all is not lost. In the first two rounds you reduced your debt by (insert money they earned in the first two rounds), that's yours to keep, unless you decide to Bet Your Debt. When we selected/picked you to be a player on this show/Debt, you told us your specialty category in the World of Pop Culture was (insert category). So before the show, we prepared/wrote one question about (insert category), and if you answer this question correctly, we'll double your current total of (insert money they earned in the first two rounds). However, if you go for it and miss, you'll be back (original debt) in the hole. So you can walk away what you've won, or risk it all. We'll be back to see what you wanna do after this commercial break!" - Wink Martindale (if a contestant failed to win the first part of Get Out of Debt).

"It's time for another big money moment on Debt!" - Julie Claire (at the end of the last commercial break)

"Welcome back to Debt everybody! Alrighty, you had time to think about this choice, because if you go for it, this question will be worth (insert double the current winnings). What do you wanna do? risk it all or walk away with what you won so far/risk it all and go for the big payoff or stop now and walk away with you bills paid off?" Wink Martindale (explaining about bet your Debt)

"You'll have 10 seconds to answer the question once I've asked it. OK?" - Wink Martindale (if the contestant choose to go for it)

'Let's see what would've happened if you went for it!" - Wink Martindale - (if a contestant choose to walk away with his/her winnings)

"YOU WIN" - Wink Martindale (if a player answers the bet your debt question correctly)

"You've just won (insert double the current winnings)! Congratulations, to you!" - Wink Martindale - (if a contestant won both parts of Get out of Debt, and the game board says "WINNER" along with spinning happy faces and in Season 2 "WINNER" appears in both game board and the Debt screen. The Fireworks will set off after a huge win in the Gameboard)

"You've just won (insert double the money they earned in the first two rounds)! Congratulations, to you!" - Wink Martindale - (if a contestant won the second part of Get out of Debt, and the game board says "WINNER" along with spinning happy faces and in Season 2 "WINNER" appears in both game board and the Debt screen)

"No, (insert correct answer), that's that we were looking for." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant answers the bet your Debt question incorrectly or after he/she chose to walk away with what he/she won or with his/her bills payed off)

"(insert correct answer), that's what we were looking for." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant falied to answer the bet your Debt question of after he/she chose to walk away with what he/she won or with his/her bills payed off)

"Well, you took a big gamble and you lost, but for being a great player, we'll give you a savings bond of $1500 and our thanks for being with us." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant failed to win the second part of Get out of Debt)

"Well, you took a big gamble and you lost, but nobody's a loser here on Debt, for being a gutsy player, we'll give you a savings bond of $1000 and our thanks for being with us." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant failed to win both parts of Get out of Debt)

"(insert player's name), you have your debt of (original debt) payed off and our thanks for being with us." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant won the first part of Get out of Debt, but chose to walk away with his/her bills payed off)

"Well, (insert player's name) you made the decision to walk away, and you'll leave us with (insert money earned in the first two rounds) and our thanks for being with us." - Wink Martindale (if a contestant failed to win the first part of Get out of Debt and chose to walk away with the money earned in the first two rounds)

Tagline
"That's all the time we have left, everybody. We'll be back next time with three more big spenders, and we'll do our best to help get them out of... Audience: DEBT! ...Yes! Wink Martindale, Bye-Bye, everybody." - Wink Martindale (1996-1998)