Opening Spiels[]
MAN (Wink): "Drowning in a sea of bills?" (crashing, bills shaking and dropping, and Wink pulls out the office worker) WOMAN: "Whoa! Wink!" 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!" (insert self-introductions of the contestants with the amount of debt and whatever reasons why). JULIE: "And now, starting at host, the crown prince of credit, the duke of Debt, Wink Martindale!"
NOTES:
- Wink will sometimes replace “contestants” with ”contesti” (pronounced “contes-taaaaaaan”).
- On special theme weeks, Julie will begin with “It's (insert theme week) on Debt!”
"It's Newlywed Week on Debt! So let's hear it for the father-in-law of finance, the best man of money, Wink Martindale!" - Julie Claire during Newlywed Week in Season 1
"Hey! It's College Week on Debt! And class is in session! So let's bring on the patron saint of student loans, the dean of Debt, Wink Martindale!" - Julie Claire during College Week in Season 1
"It's Wedding Week on Debt! So let's walk down the aisle with the best man of bill-paying, Wink Martindale!" - Julie Claire during Wedding Week in Season 2
"It's Baby Week on Debt! And now, starting at host, the proud papa of payoffs, the big daddy of Debt, Wink Martindale!" - Julie Claire during Baby Week in Season 2
REST OF SPIEL #1: "Thank you! Thanks everybody, and welcome to (the return of) [our show/Debt]. Well, the country's in debt, you're probably in debt, but most 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."
REST OF SPIEL #2: "Thank you very much! Hey! Welcome everybody! Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for a special newlywed edition of Debt. All the contestants on today's show, (insert three names), find themselves in debt due to/because of their weddings and/or honeymoon(s) (expenses). But/And by the end of the show, one of them will get a chance/be lucky enough to say "I don't" to (their) debt." - (during Newlywed Week in Season 1 and Wedding Week in Season 2)
REST OF SPIEL #3: "Yes! Welcome! Thank you very much, everybody and this is/welcome to a very special edition of Debt. Our contestants today, (insert three names), all find themselves in a financial hole thanks to student loans. And by the end of the show, one of them will have a chance to climb out of that hole and walk away with their loans paid off." - (during College Week in Season 1)
REST OF SPIEL #4: "Thank you! Thanks, everybody! Welcome! Welcome to Baby Week on Debt. All of our players today, (insert three names), are in debt due to a new addition to their family. One of them just might get those debts paid off by the end of this very show." - (during Baby Week in Season 2)
REST OF SPIEL #5: "Thank you! Yes! Thanks, everybody and welcome to Celebrity Week on Debt. Our three celebrities today are, (insert three names). All three of these celebrities are here to help their favorite charities pay off some bills and one of them just might have those debts paid off by the end of this very show." - (during Celebrity Week in Season 2)
REST OF SPIEL #6: "Thank you! Yes! Thank you! Thanks, everybody and welcome to Second Chance Week on Debt. If today's contestants look familiar to you, that's because they are. (insert three names) are some of our favorite losers from past shows. They're not actually losers, but they're still in debt. So out of the kindness of our heart, we're giving them a second chance to pay off their bills." - (during Second Chance Week in Season 2)
Catchphrases[]
General Debt[]
"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 at going home with... AUDIENCE: Nothing! ...you're so [good/perfect]/precisely! (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. And your average debt is/comes to (insert average debt). Two final reminders (before we start), 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. And your average debt is/comes to (insert average debt). Our opening question is worth one big [dollar/buck] (10 dimes/20 nickels/100 pennies), and the honor of [choosing/selecting] the first category. (insert question). (ding) (insert player's name) CONTESTANT: (answer) WINK: right for -$1 off 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 at 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)
"(explosion sound) You’ve hit our Debt-Onator! 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." - Season 1
- The value of each question in this category is doubled." - Season 2
- Wink explaining the Debt-Onator.
"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-Onator category in season 2)
"(fanfare sound) 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're eliminated, but you're not going/you won't go 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)
"We'll back to watch (insert player 1's name) and (insert player 2's name) to battle it out one on one in Round 2 after these messages." - Wink Martindale (at the start of the first commercial break)
Gambling Debt[]
"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), a difference (between the two players) of (insert amount). 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 question(s), 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 1's name). If you don't get this category, you'll be mathematically eliminated and (insert player 2's name) will be the winner/the game goes to (insert player 2's name). - Wink Martindale (if player 1 can't catch up)
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/the game goes to (insert player 1's name). - Wink Martindale (if player 2 can't catch up)
"He/She says "Prove It!" (insert player 1's name), (insert number) out of 5/all 5 right and you're still alive, anything short of (insert number), then (insert player 2's name) will win the game." - Wink Martindale (if player 1 must win to stay alive in Gambling Debt)
"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)
"He/She says "Prove It!" (insert player 2's name), (insert number) out of 5/all 5 right, and you win the Game, anything short of (insert number), then (insert player 1's name) is still alive in the game." - Wink Martindale (if player 2 wins the game or player 1 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 $1,500 and it will decided the winner for today's game which is... (insert category)." - Wink Martindale (on the final category 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. (insert question)." - Wink Martindale (on whoever wins the final category 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 sight! If you'd like to be a contestant on Debt and if you live in the LA area, call (213) 468-3300/(213) 520-2300!" - Julie Claire (explaining to viewers what they can do if they must be on the show)
Get Out of Debt[]
"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 and 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 pay 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'll 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)
"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/red. 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).
Bet Your 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)
"I'm gonna go/try for it." - Contestant (if the contestant decides to go for it.)
"Okay, [he's/she's] gonna go for it. 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)
"Audience, there's/there is/we've/we have a lot of money/ton of money/ large amount of money at stake/ on the line on this question. Very quiet, please/no assistance from you/ complete silence." - Wink Martindale (cautioning the audience not to say anything if contestant chose to go for it)
"I'm gonna [walk away/take the money and run]." - Contestant (if the contestant decides to walk away with his/her winnings.)
"Okay, he's/she's gonna walk away with (insert original debt or insert money earned in the first two rounds). But just for fun/out of curiosity, 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)
"Your favorite category/subject in the World of Pop Culture, (insert category). Good luck." - Wink Martindale (to recap the World of Pop Culture category before the question is asked)
"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 game board)
"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 failed to answer the Bet Your Debt question or after he/she chose to walk away with what he/she won or with his/her bills payed off)
"Well, (the bad news is that) you took a big gamble and you lost,...
- ...and to think, for a few minutes/30 seconds you were actually down to a zero balance. I thought you had it nailed/ I thought you nailed it. For getting all the way to the final round and having the guts to risk it all/but (the good news is, just) for being a great player, we'll give you a savings bond of $1,500 and our thanks for being with us." (if a contestant failed to win the second part of Get Out of Debt)
- ...but (the good news is that) nobody's a loser here on Debt, for being such a gutsy player, we'll give you a savings bond of $1,000 and our thanks for being with us." (if a contestant failed to win both parts of Get Out of Debt)
- Wink Martindale (when the winning player failed to answer the question in Bet Your Debt)
"(insert player's name), you have your debt of (original debt) paid 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 paid 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, (like [insert winning player's name],) and we'll do our best (once again)(, like we did [insert winning player's name]) to help get them out of..." Audience: "DEBT!" "...Yes! Wink Martindale, bye-bye, everybody." - Wink Martindale (1996-1998)
"If you are having credit problems, there is help. Many organizations offer free counseling services. To find an organization near you, check your local telephone directory under 'counseling services'." - Julie Claire (Public Service Announcement used on many episodes.)
End-of-Show Disclaimer[]
"Announced contestant debt is confirmed by each contestant as of their qualification date, may not be their total financial obligation & may be limited by the prize pool."