Cash Explosion

Hosts

Bob Grossi (1987-1988) Paul Tapie (1988-2000, 2000-2004) Mike Armstrong (2000) Leilani Barrett (2004-2006) David McCreary (2007-Present)

Co-Hosts

Sharon Bicknell (1987-2004, 2007-2017) Michelle Duda (2004-2006) Cherie McClain (2007–2017) Alissa Henry (2017-Present)

Announcers

Tom Bush (1987) Jim Pitcock (1988-1989) John E. Douglas (1989-2006) Bob Becker (1998, sub)

Broadcast (Syndication, Ohio area)

Original Run: 2/7/1987 – 9/30/2006 Revival: 10/6/2007 – Present

Cash Explosion is a game show for the Ohio Lottery that is the longest-running lottery show.

Format 1 (1987-1989)

Seven players, each of whom entered a "Cash Explosion" ticket with three "ENTRY" symbols scratched off, competed in a race to reach the top of a seven tier pyramid. Each had a box of seven cards in front of them, numbered "-2" to "3". Each player drew a card, then moved up the pyramid by those number of spaces.

In every contestant's track was a randomly designated bonus square. Landing on it gave the player the option to leave the game and take a new car or stay in the game. Regardless of their decision, once two bonus squares had been revealed, all other bonus squares were voided; this was to avoid giving away seven cars.

The first person to land on the final square by exact count won $50,000. If any player returned to the start line at any point in the game, they were eliminated.

Can you make it to the top of the board & win $50,000?

Or on this one?

Or even on this one?

Player Dick drew a 1, advancing 1 space.

Player Betty drew a 2, advancing 2 spaces ahead.

Player Paul drew a 3, advancing 3 spaces.

Andy drew a minus two, sending him back to square one and out of the game.

WOW! A Bonus was found!

Goal has been reached here.

It also was reached here as well.

It was reached here also.

The losing contestants were each given $1,000. Those players could take the $1,000 or trade it away for one spin of a wheel containing various amounts of cash and/or prizes (later limited to only cash). The odds of spinning something worth more than $1,000 were high, so players often spun the wheel.

Toward the end of this format, each player was staked $1,000. For each legitimate move up or down the track, the player won/lost $50 (i.e., a "2" was worth $100 in addition to moving up the track 2 spaces; a "3" for $150; a "-2" for a loss of $100). Still later, moving up or down was worth $100 per move. Reaching the goal augmented the player's total to $50K, while the others could keep their cash or trade it away for a spin of the wheel.

The Wheel.

The First Wheel

Format 2 (1989-2006; 2007-2017)

Semi-Final Round

Four people compete in the Semi-Final Game. They originally faced a 24-space game board with six columns of four rows. The columns were labeled D-O-U-B-L-E and the rows, P-L-A-Y. On October 3, 2009, the board was increased to 36 spaces, and now consisted of nine columns of four rows. The rows are now labeled C-A-S-H, and the columns, E-X-P-L-O-S-I-O-N.

On a player's turn, the columns randomly flash. They press their button to stop the lights on a column, and pick one of the four rows in that column. They win whatever money is behind the space represented by that row/column combination, originally between $250 (later $1,000) and $3,200, later between $1,500 and $5,000.

There were originally three special spaces on the board. Two of them are marked "Double"; if picked, the contestant gets another turn, and whatever they land on next is doubled. (If that turn results in the other "Double" card being hit, they get a third turn, with whatever they land on being multiplied by four; in this event, a player could win as much as $12,800 on a single turn.) The third special square is the "Bonus" card, which not only contains a money amount, but a new car. Originally the contestant had to choose whether he/she wanted the car (dropping out of further play if they took it) or the money, but by 1993 contestants simply won the car. By 2001, the car was replaced by a $25,000 bonus; in either case, the bonus didn't count towards their score, the money behind it did.

In 1999, a second bonus prize was added to the board. This bonus prize was four years of prepaid tuition at any four year college or university in Ohio, along with extra cash thrown in to make the prize worth $20,000. This was later replaced with Ohio Lottery tickets attached to a dollar amount. In all cases, like the standard Bonus card, the value of these prizes was not added to the score, but the dollar amount attached to them was. The second bonus prize was dropped by 2001.

On October 3, 2009, the number of special spaces was increased from three to nine, as two $10,000 cash bonus squares were added, along with four more double squares. Every time a player hits a double square, as before, they get an extra turn, but now, each of the letters in E-X-P-L-O-S-I-O-N now conceal cash amounts; landing on one of those letters reveals a dollar amount that is doubled, from $4,000-$10,000. This ALSO prevents players from landing on a another double or bonus space. As part of the show's 25th Anniversary, from 2/25 to 8/18/2012, five additional $5,000 bonuses were added.

On June 28, 2014, a "Game Changer" effect was added to the 3rd round, thus raising the drama and turning the tide of the game for the players. The Game Changer is hidden in one of the columns for each of the players. 

After each player has three turns, the one in the lead wins the game, has their score doubled (bonuses do not count), and advances to the Championship Game. All other contestants leave with whatever they had won.

In the event of a tie for the lead after three rounds, a tiebreaker round is played. Originally, the tying players each picked a playing card from a set of eight, with the highest value card winning; these were later replaced by cash amounts from $100–$800, again with the highest amount winning. The later format has four amounts hidden behind the word "CASH".

A second Semi-Final Game is played with four new contestants and a new board, exactly as before.

Board 1.1

Board 1.2

Board 2 (It had some variations)

Board 3 (Cash Explosion Double Play Generation 1)

Board 3 (Cash Explosion Double Play Generation 2)

Board 4

Someone found a Game Changer!

Championship Round

Original format

The original Championship Round format was very much like The Price Is Right's Showcase Showdown. The two Semi-Final winners face off against the returning champion. The bonus round was played with a wheel (originally 3 wheels one for each player). One space was labeled "Double", while the others were numbered 1-9. To begin, a target number was selected randomly. Each contestant got a chance to spin the wheel, and could spin either once or twice. Landing on "Double" meant they could spin again, and whatever number they landed on was doubled. The person who came closest to that target number without going over was the winner. If there was a tie, the tying players each picked a playing card from a set of eight. The player with the highest card won.

Each player once spun their own wheel.

Later they all spun the same wheel.

Match 3/Cash Challenge

A new bonus round called "Match 3" was in place by 1994, debuting on Cash Explosion's seventh anniversary show. In the new bonus round, nine squares were put on a board (or six squares if a champion had retired undefeated the previous week). Behind each one was one of the contestant's names, and each name was used three times. The contestants took turns picking squares off the board, uncovering the names behind them. The person whose name was uncovered three times first won the game and the right to return the following week. Starting with the October 3, 2009 show, three cash bonuses totaling $25,000 (two $10,000 spaces and one $5,000 space) were added to the board. If a contestant selects a bonus space they win that amount of money and control passes to the next contestant in line. In 2012, as part of the show's 25th anniversary celebrations, the name of the bonus round was changed to the "Cash Challenge".

Vault

Sharon opens the vault for the Match 3/Cash Challenge game.

The Match 3/Cash Challenge Board Vault form.

Carol uncovers Perl's name.

Albert uncovers Carol's name.

Perl uncovers Albert's name.

Carol uncovers her name.

Perl uncovers his own name to win the Cash Challenge for $50,000.

The results of the Match 3/Cash Challenge. The winner's name shown 3 times has their lights lit up, the other names don't.

Cash Explosion Logo Board

Paul and Sharon stand beside the 2nd Match 3/Cash Challenge board which is in the form of the Cash Explosion Double Play Logo and is sleeker and smaller.

Paul and Sharon open the 2nd Match 3/Cash Challenge Board, Sharon grabs the left side, Paul grabs the right side.

The full board revealed.

Isaac reveals Richard's name

Richard reveals Doris' name

Doris reveals Isaac's name

Match 3 is now at a crucial moment as all 3 players have their names revealed twice. The next name revealed will be the winner.

Doris reveal her own name to win the Cash Challenge for $100,000.

The results of the Match 3/Cash Challenge. Just like before, the winner's name matched 3 times lights up, the other names don't.

2004-2017

Now we are going digital in the Cash Challenge.

Sid reveals Jack's name.

Robert uncovers Sid's name.

Jack uncovers Robert's name.

The Cash Challenge is at a crucial moment as all 3 players have their names revealed twice. The next name revealed will be the winner.

Jack wins the Cash Challenge.

The names and bonuses shown to the home audience before the Cash Challenge begins.

What a win! Notice that the players look through a table with a tv on it.

A view of the full game board.

From 1989 to 2009, a first-time champion's winnings were augmented to $50,000, while a two-time champion doubled their money to $100,000. A three-time champion doubled their money again and retired from the show with $200,000.

Beginning October 3, 2009, contestants no longer retire after winning their third game. First-time champions still win a total of $50,000, two-time winners $100,000, and three-time winners $200,000 (bonuses not included). However, a champion wins an additional $100,000 for every subsequent week they win thereafter. Champions can remain on the show until defeated, with no monetary limits or maximum number of appearances. Under this format, the highest amount awarded was $520,000, which was reached by Terri Waddell on the October 20, 2012 episode, when she was defeated during her record-breaking seventh appearance on the show.

From November 19, 2016 to May 27, 2017, bonus prizes were added to the board; usually merchandise such as cell phones or TV's.

Format 3 (2017-2022)

On September 2, 2017, the format was altered once again. This time, the eight players played one at a time, facing three rear-projection screens; one for the board, one for the score totals, and a "Bonus Board" holding the names of sixteen lottery games (including the namesake Cash Explosion). In front of them is a touchscreen of twenty numbers, hiding money, two doubles, and a "BONUS" space. The player would select three numbers, and receive the total of those numbers. If a double is found, the player would select a letter in the word "SPOTLIGHT", and earn double that amount. If a "BONUS" is revealed, the player would select the name of a game and be awarded the money behind it, from $10,000-$50,000, with one space worth $5,000 and an automatic trip to the Cash Challenge (referred to as the Instant Cash Challenge). The two high scorers at the end of the game have their totals doubled and move to the Cash Challenge. The Cash Challenge is played the same, though with the bonuses removed and more numbers added in case more players qualify. If the main game ends in a tie, a tiebreaker game is played where before the game, the players each pick a card numbered 1 through 50. The player with the highest number wins. 

Starting with the July 21st 2018 episode, the Instant Cash Challenge spaces were replaced by a mini game called Second Chance, a game changer where the 6 runners up get a Second Chance to go to the Cash Challenge. The 6 runners up face the words Second Chance in which the letters randomize. The players must hit a button to stop the letters. The letter they land on is locked in with their name. The player whose letter flashes and has the highest number from set of numbers gets $5,000 and a trip to the Cash Challenge. On the June 1st 2019 episode, the Second Chance was altered to have the runners up simply call out the letter of their choice. Later it was altered with a touchscreen similar to the main game to select their letters and lock in similar to the main game.

The Game Board

The Bonus Board with 16 Ohio Lottery games including the Namesake Cash Explosion...

..where you get to win $5,000 and an Instant Cash Challenge...

...or other cash bonuses, including a HUGE $50,000.

The Leaderboard

Double and Bonus Spaces

The player selecting numbers off the touchscreen.

The Player's numbers have been locked in.

It's The BONUS space!

It's the DOUBLE space!

The player about to select a letter in the word "Spotlight".

The player's amounts found...

..and result of their turn.

An occasional full screen view of the board with the amounts hidden...

...and revealed.

Classic Lotto gives this player $10,000.

Would you like an Instant Cash Challenge and $5,000 from Classic Lotto?

WOW! $15,000 from Classic Lotto.

Another magical $15,000 from Classic Lotto.

Pick 3 has s $10,000 Christmas present for this player.

This player bagged $15,000 from Pick 3.

Pick 3 gives this player $25,000.

Pick 5 gives this player $10,000.

Ez Play awards this player $10,000.

A REALLY BIG win in PowerBall with $50,000!

Another PowerBall win but with an Instant Cash Challenge and $5,000.

Another PowerBall Instant Cash Challenge and $5,000.

PowerBall gives this player $10,000.

Keno gives this player $15,000.

Keno gives this other player $15,000.

Keno gives this player an Instant Cash Challenge and $5,000.

Keno gives this player $10,000.

Keno gives this other player $10,000.

Keno gives this player $10,000 big time.

Here is another $10,000 bonus from Keno.

Rolling Cash 5 has an Instant Cash Challenge and $5,000.

Another Instant Challenge and $5,000 on Rolling Cash 5.

Rolling Cash 5 awarding this player a $10,000 bonus.

Rolling Cash 5 awards another player with $10,000.

There is yet another $10,000 Bonus from Rolling Cash 5!

This player has hit the jackpot BIG TIME with $50,000 on Rolling Cash 5!

Mega Millions gives this handicapped player $10,000.

Mega Millions gives this player a $15,000 Christmas present.

Mega Millions gives $25,000 to this player.

Mega Millions gives this player a MEGA BONUS of $50,000!

Mega Millions also gives this super excited contestant a MEGA BONUS of $50,000!

Here is another MEGA WIN with $50,000 from Mega Millions!

Mad Money awards this player $15,000.

Look what Mad Money has awarded this player: a VERY BIG bonus of $50,000!

Million Dollar Payday this player $10,000 on the road.

A $10,000 bonus off of $1,000,000 Cashword.

A $10,000 Bonus from $50, $100, or $500.

A bonus of $10,000 from Diamonds & Gold.

Another bonus of $10,000 from Diamonds & Gold.

The Namesake Cash Explosion gives $10,000 to this player with early graphics.

A $10,000 win on The Namesake Cash Explosion with the later graphic.

Another $10,000 win on The Namesake Cash Explosion.

Yet another $10,000 win on The Namesake Cash Explosion.

A really big $10,000 win from The Namesake Cash Explosion.

The Namesake Cash Explosion gives this a player a $10,000 Christmas present.

Here's a $10,000 Namesake Cash Explosion win with an updated Cash Explosion Logo.

Here is another Namesake Cash Explosion bonus of $10,000.

How about that? $15,000 from the Namesake Cash Explosion.

Another $15,000 from The Namesake Cash Explosion.

A $5,000 win plus Instant Cash Challenge on The Namesake Cash Explosion.

Another Instant Cash Challenge & $5,000 from The Namesake Cash Explosion.

Yet, another Instant Cash Challenge & $5,000 from The Namesake Cash Explosion.

This excited contestant won $25,000 from The Namesake Cash Explosion.

The Namesake Cash Explosion has given another player $25,000.

The Top 2 players with their scores doubled.

Tie breaker

The results of the tie breaker.

Say hello to Cash Explosion's newest game changer, the Second Chance!

The six runners up have made their selections.

The result of the Second Chance.

When Cash Explosion goes on the road, this Second Chance Board is used.

The six runners up have made their selections.

The result of the Second Chance.

3 player Cash Challenge.

4 player Cash Challenge.

5 player Cash Challenge. Got a full house there.

Board for the 3 player Cash Challenge.

Board for the 4 player Cash Challenge.

Board for the 5 player Cash Challenge.

Format 4 (2022-present)

On October 15, 2022, the format was overhauled. This time, the eight players played one at a time, facing one large screen. The main game board now features 22 hexagon tiles: hiding money, one double tiles, one triple tile, a bonus tile, a extra play tile, and an Ohio Lottery ticket jackpot (which is the Ohio Lottery logo). Like in Spotlight, the player selects three tiles on his/her podium. If a player finds a double or triple tile, he/she’s game board transforms into a multiplier board which the player selects one of nine money related terms (coins, bank, purse, safe, cash, gold, diamond, money tree, piggy bank). Whatever the amount is shown, it is doubled or tripled. If a player finds a bonus tile, he/she is shown the Ohio Lottery win station and selects one of sixteen most popular Ohio Lottery games (including the namesake Cash Explosion itself). Once the double/triple and bonus tiles are found, the game board returns to its normal configuration. If a player finds the Ohio Lottery Ticket Jackpot, he/she wins $1,000 worth of Ohio Lottery tickets from a randomly chosen instant game.

As usual, the two two winners advance to the Cash Challenge and have their winnings doubled. The Second Chance remains the same. The Cash Challenge remain slightly the same as the previous format except if one of the top two contestants has at least $40,000, the player has a chance to increase the winnings to $75,000.

New Game Board for Spotlight 2.0!

The results of the player's turn.

Say hello to Cash Explosion's new Bonus Board: The Win Station. Notice the display screen on the right represents the Ohio Lottery retailer of the week.

The Multiplier Board

The Ohio Lottery Ticket Jackpot of The Week has been hit.

The Leader Board for The Cash Challenge and The Leader Board for Second Chance.

Second Chance Game Changer

The Six Runners Up have locked in their choices...

...and the result.

The Cash Challenge Board.

Here’s Alissa and David showing the new special spaces!

This player has found a trip…trip…Triple!

That’s a Cash Challenge winner! Notice that computerized confetti instead of the old fashioned school bell is used to signify the winner. Notice that Alissa and David now host the Cash Challenge together.

Anniversary Specials

On 8/18/12, 8/26/17, and 8/13-21/22, Cash Explosion celebrated its 25th, 30th, and 35th Anniversaries with special episodes. The 25th Anniversary was an hour-long, with the first half being a standard show. The 30th Anniversary was filmed at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo and featured a $30,000 bonus on the front game board. Both specials featured 12 players who won a second-chance drawing of special anniversary tickets. Three semi-final games were played; the winners went to the Cash Challenge, and the winner had their score total bumped to $250,000/$300,000.

The 35th Anniversary show was taped at the Ohio State Fair.

Cash Explosion XL

From 6/3 to 8/19/17, in honor of the show's 30th Anniversary, the show was drastically revamped, abstractly echoing Make Me Famous, Make Me Rich. Three teams of twelve now played; while the front game itself stayed the same, each team member had a turn at the board. Each team member won the total earned (bonuses are won individually), the winning team then picked a letter in "CHALLENGE"; each letter had a number, high number wins. That person gets their front game score doubled and heads to the Cash Challenge, which is played the same.

The Cash Challenge Qualifier

The player who has the highest number goes to the Cash Challenge.

Galleries

Player Areas

The very first player post of Cash Explosion. Notice the Ca$h Explosion logo behind the players.

2nd post, solid background. They added the scoreboards to the podiums.

3rd player post. The other 3 podiums are gone.

A different version with a different style Ohio Lottery Logo.

4th player post. Almost looking like Jeopardy!. It went through through some changes including nameplate style...

...nameplate positions...

...logo styles...

..anniversary logos like Cash Explosion's 10th Anniversary...

..the 15th anniversary...

...and backdrop color.

Sometimes when Cash Explosion Double Play goes on the road, special backdrops are used.

These are from final days of generation 1.

These are from the early days of generation 2. Notice their resemblance to the 2nd post and 5th post.

A slight update in 2008 as the studio audience is now behind the players.

Going into the digital age.

25th anniversary version.

Updated for 2014.

The Cash Explosion XL podiums.

Everybody wants to be in the Spotlight.

The social distance friendly spotlight.

Cash Bonus Square

Spaces

$250

$250

$500

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

$1,200

$1,200

$1,200

$1,400

$1,400

$1,500

$1,500

$1,600

$1,600

$1,800

$1,800

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

$2,100

$2,200

$2,200

$2,300

$2,300

$2,300

$2,300

$2,400

$2,400

$2,400

$2,400

$2,500

$2,500

$2,500

$2,600

$2,600

$2,600

$2,700

$2,700

$2,700

$2,800

$2,800

$2,800

$2,800

$2,800

$2,900

$2,900

$2,900

$2,900

$3,000

$3,000

$3,000

$3,000

$3,000

$3,100

$3,100

$3,100

$3,100

$3,100

$3,200

$3,200

$3,200

$3,200

$3,200

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Double Card

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square

Bonus Square with car symbol

Bonus Square with car symbol

Bonus Square with car symbol

Bonus Square with College & Cash symbol

The Instant Tickets Bonus Square (It is really a cash space with a tag indicating a bonus of Instant Tickets)

Cash Bonus Square

Cash Bonus Square

The Cash Bonus Squares & Double Cards

First Cash Explosion Bonus Board

Second Cash Explosion Bonus Board

Entry Tickets

An example of a Classic Cash Explosion ticket from the 1980's with Entry Matched 3 times.

A Cash Explosion scratch off ticket with an example of Entry matched 3 times from the Ohio Lottery's website.

A Cash Explosion ticket with an example of the Play at Home symbol revealed on it during the time Play at Home was featured on Cash Explosion.

The first Cash Explosion ticket of the 2nd generation of Cash Explosion.

Same ticket as before with another example of Entry matched 3 times.

25th Silver Anniversary Edition

The very first $2 Cash Explosion Ticket. It is hot!

This ticket is electrifying!

30th Anniversary Edition

This ticket is part of a promotion called Cash Explosion Player Appreciation. We have a $1 dollar ticket like in the old days.....

....and the standard $2 ticket with a retro design and 3X More Entries.

The 3X More Entries on the retro design carries over to the new standard version.

A Holiday edition of the retro $1 ticket.

A newer CE $2 Ticket.

Here we go again with a newer retro $1 Cash Explosion ticket part of the Player Appreciation promotion.

If you thought on a Cash Explosion Ticket you had to match "Entry" 3 times to get on the show, think again. Cash Explosion Cashword is different game to let you be on the show.

The 35th Anniversary Edition of Cash Explosion

A new kind of Cash Explosion Ticket. Is this Cash Explosion or Battleship?

Cash Explosion 5x

Cash Explosion 10x

Cash Explosion 25x

Press Photos

Trivia

The show was replaced in October 2006 with Make Me Famous Make Me Rich, due to sagging ratings and drooping ticket sales. However, the replacement did even worse in ratings and ticket sales, leading the Ohio Lottery to announce that Cash Explosion would return in October 2007.

In March 2020, production of the show was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When production on the show resumed in May of that year, the format of the show was changed to feature contestants playing from their homes via video chat, with most of the games being played as usual.

The show is not limited to Ohioans; anyone from across the US is allowed to be contestants.

As of 2022, Cash Explosion is the only lottery game show left in the United States.

Lyrics

OPENING THEME:

Look it's me, on the TV screen.

I'm headin' uptown, goin' for the green,

on Cash Explosion Double Play.

Let the games begin, tonight I'm gonna win,

on Cash Explosion Double Play!

CLOSING:

Cash Explosion Double Play!

OPENING:

Look at me, I'm a celebrity.

Winning all that cash-bud, here on TV.

A star is born and ready to play.

Gonna gonna win the jackpot on

Ohio Lottery's Cash Explosion Double Play.

Come on and play, Cash Explosion Double Play!

CLOSING:

Come on and plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy....Cash Explosion Double Play!

2022-present:

Man and Woman: Gotta get on that sho-o-o-o-o-w!

HEY!

Man: ARE YOU READY-Y-Y-Y!

Gotta get on that show...

Got a feeling now is my time.

All the world’s gonna know…

when I get on that show!

CHORUS:

(HEY!) Are you ready!?

(YEAH!) Feeling lucky!

Want cash? Then you gotta get on the show!

One ticket!

One shot!

Take the challenge, let's see what you've got!

Music

Mike Jackson

Quotes

”Tonight’s winning numbers, and the winners of a spot on the (date) Cash Explosion play at home show, are coming your way live from our Cleveland studio. Good luck!” - Announcer

Links

Official Site

YouTube Videos

1989 Cash Explosion promo from WOWK in Huntington, WV (has Wheel of Fortune promo before it)
Clip of a 1987 Show
Contestant J.R.
Clip of an intro from 2002

Uncertain Placement

[1]

Full Episodes

February 1987
January 9, 1988
From 1989 (2nd Round & Bonus): Part 1, Part 2
June 15, 1991
June 22, 1991
November 5, 1994
11th Anniversary Episode from February 7, 1998
May 9, 1998
Final Episode of the first run from September 30, 2006
First Episode of the second run from November 6, 2007

Anniversary Shows

25th Anniversary Special
30th Anniversary Special