1 vs. 100

1 vs. 100 is a primetime game show where it's one person who answers questions in order to survive "The Mob" of 100. Based on the Dutch format called Een tegen 100 ("1 tegen 100").

Gameplay
The game always started by the host saying, "It's 1 vs. 100!"; as the game progressed, the host would say, "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, the host will say, "It's 1 vs. 79!").

A multiple-choice question with three possible answers is revealed. The Mob is given 15 seconds, to lock in their answer before "The One" is given the opportunity to answer the question. He/she signified his/her answer by pressing one of three buttons that correspond to those answers. If the One is correct, all Mob members that answered the question incorrectly are eliminated from further play, bringing the "The One" closer to winning the game. The amount of money in the contestant's bank also increases by an amount based on the number of mob members eliminated in that question. If the contestant eliminates all 100 mob members, he/she wins the grand cash prize. However, if "The One" is incorrect, the game ends and he/she leaves with nothing, and the remaining members of the Mob split the losing contestant's winnings. But if everybody misses, nobody wins, no money is awarded, and 100 new people came in to play.

To prevent the (next to) latter from happening, once a player reaches a set prize limit, they are asked whether they want the Money (leave the game with the accumulated money) or the Mob (continue playing at risk of losing the money). After every subsequent question, a player may either quit or continue, only if he/she answers correctly.

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.

As for the Mob, it's members will stay on the show as long as they can answer correctly. So they can stay on for multiple games, giving them multiple chances to win the money.

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.

NBC Version
The game always opens with Saget saying, "This game is simple. Either you win . . . or they 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 represent mobs on special editions.)

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
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. Here's the way the money ladder went:

On the second season premiere show, two games were played. One put 100 men against a woman; the other was the reverse. On that show, Jason Luda, 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 Luda had answered the question correctly and won $1,000,000.

Christmas episode
A special Christmas episode aired on December 25, 2006 which featured Christmas-related questions and a Mob with members representing "The 12 Days of Christmas", including:


 * Twelve members of the University of Southern California Marching Band drumline (drummers drumming)
 * Eleven plumbers (pipers piping)
 * Ten male ballet dancers (lords a-leaping)
 * Nine female go-go dancers (ladies dancing)
 * Eight farmer's wives (maids a-milking)
 * Seven members of the Cal State Northridge water polo team (swans a-swimming)
 * Six pregnant mothers-to-be (geese a-laying)
 * Five boxers (golden rings)
 * Four bird callers (calling birds)
 * Three French chefs (French hens)
 * Two dove hunters (turtle doves)
 * Danny Bonaduce (a Partridge in a pear tree)

Santa Claus took a chair, and the remaining 20 contestants consisted of five "Santa's elves" and returning contestants, including Annie Duke, who missed on a question early in this episode and was eliminated after four shows, having correctly answered 37 consecutive questions.

The You vs. 100 at home game would have been worth $25,000 to the lucky winners in the Eastern US, plus the Mountain and Pacific time zones, but because the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys football game ran late and the Christmas episode of Deal or No Deal also ran past its scheduled time in both the Eastern and Central time zones, the contest was not held at all. 1 vs. 100 was joined in progress in the Eastern and Central zones following Deal or No Deal, while the entire show aired in the Western U.S. The $25,000 giveaway was rescheduled for January 19, 2007, during a regular episode. The next time that a game show was joined in progress on the network would be on August 31, 2010, when Minute to Win It was joined in progress in the Eastern and Central time zones following a Presidential address.

1 vs. 100 kids
The first game on the February 2, 2007 episode consisted of one hundred children. Five members left standing received $18,800 each.

Last Man Standing
Former top mob members, including Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings, Nancy Christy, Kevin Olmstead, and Annie Duke among others were in the mob for a "last man standing" game where the winner got a guaranteed $250,000. The rules were a little different, in that there were no helps, no money for each question, and one person, in this case, Annie Duke, was randomly selected to be the "one". Thus, this game was actually 1 vs. 99. Also, she did not have the opportunity to walk away from the game (this rule is also used on many foreign versions of the show).

Duke and Jennings were two of the final five aiming for the prize. The question was "Who has been married the most times? - King Henry VIII, Larry King, or 'The King of Pop', Michael Jackson." Duke, Jennings, and two of the other remaining contestants incorrectly guessed King Henry VIII. Ultimately, the winner was entertainment lawyer and former actor Larry Zerner, as he was the only one who answered Larry King.

The Most Hated Mob in America
The February 16, 2007 episode featured a mob made up of the nation's supposedly most hated people, including 23 meter maids, 22 IRS agents, 20 telemarketers and 16 DMV employees. Casey Smith left 29 people in the mob, opting to take his $142,000 winnings.

Battle of the Sexes
On January 4, 2008, the first night of the current prize structure, one woman played against a mob of 100 men and vice versa. The woman, Katherine Kazorla lost $50,000 to the mob, while the man, Jason Luda, became the show's first millionaire.

GSN Repeats and Revival
GSN began airing reruns of the show on June 6, 2009, with one or more episodes shown every day. With the popularity of those shows and the Xbox live video game, in August 2010 GSN announced a casting call and that the network would be producing new episodes.

The initial order of 40 half-hour episodes began airing weekdays on November 15, 2010. In the new version, hosted by Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba, the mob is pre-taped and members participate via webcam. The mob is digitally inserted into the program, and mob members may appear on multiple episodes. Contestants will win the top prize of $50,000 by eliminating all 100 mob members during their appearance and have two helps available: Poll the Mob and Trust the Mob.

Here's what the GSN money ladder looks like:

On January 2010, Here's what the GSN money ladder looks like:

International Versions
The following are a list of countries that did their versions of 1 vs.100:

Arabia

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belarus

Belgium (Dutch language only)

Brazil

Bulgaria

China

Colombia

Croatia

Czech Republic

Denmark

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Israel

Italy

Lithuania

Netherlands (country that originated the program)

Norway

Philippines

Portugal

Russia

Serbia

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

United Kingdom

Vietnam

Catchphrases
"The game is simple: either you're gonna win (pointing at the contestant) or they're gonna win (pointing to the mob)!" - Bob Saget

"If you get just one answer wrong, you will leave with nothing and the remaining members of the mob will split your money." - Bob Saget

"(insert contestant's name), are you ready?/Mob, are you ready?" - Bob Saget

"It's 1 vs. 100!" - Bob Saget

"It's 1 vs (insert any number but 100)!" - Bob Saget

"(insert number) [Remaining] Mob Members, please answer now!" - Bob Saget (from early episodes)

"Mob, please answer now!" - Bob Saget (from later episodes)

"Do you want the money...or Do you want the mob?" - Bob Saget

"He/She wants the mob!" - Bob Saget

"This game is simple: either you win or they win." - Carrie Ann Inaba

"For every 10 mob members you eliminate you move one step on our money ladder. If you knock out all 100 mob members, you win $50,000/$100,000! - Carrie Ann Inaba

"But if you get just 1 answer wrong, you leave with nothing and the remaining mob members will split your money." - Carrie Ann Inaba

"It's 1 vs. 100."- Carrie Ann Inaba

"It's 1 vs. (insert any number but 100)."- Carrie Ann Inaba

"Mob, lock it in!" - Carrie Ann Inaba

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. Oscar the Grouch was, so far, the only Muppet contestant.
 * 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.
 * Some of the show's music cues (excluding the theme music) were later used on 20Q.

Music
Groove Addicts & Anthony Phillips

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

Additional Page
1 vs 100/Merchandise

Links
NBC site (via Internet Archive)

GSN site

YouTube Video
Jason Luda the sole millionaire on the NBC version