"Win Ben Stein's Money" (1997) TV series 1997-2002

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Writers:

Ed Crasnick (writer)
Lou DiMaggio (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | unknown

Release Date:

30 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Game-Show

Plot:

Jeopardy-like game show featuring Ben Stein as both a host and a contestant. The second and third rounds...

Plot Keywords:

Quiz Show | Pun | Non Fiction | Character Name In Title

Awards:

7 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Ben Stein	...	Himself - Host / ... (44 episodes, 1997-2002)
Jimmy Kimmel	...	Guest Co-Host / ... (17 episodes, 1997-2002)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Buena Vista Television

Trivia:

'Stein, Ben' originally wanted the prize pot to be $10,000, but it wasn't clear at that time how often he would win. The powers that be chose a more conservative number, $5,000.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode with Jon Scieszka and other authors, during their introduction, there's one shot with the scores at the first break (instead of all zero).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Charmed: The Painted World (#2.3)" (1999)

A great game show but comedy central abused it

I used to watch this show when it was on after The Daily Show for many years. Late in the evening the show would follow the Daily Show at 7:30 and again at 11:30. I never really watched the Daily Show then but I always watched this. This was a hilarious show. Ben Stein, who had been a bit part actor for years finally got his own show and he got a game show.

What we did not know about this very recognizable face was he was an accomplished intellectual as well as a speechwriter for Richard Nixon. He is undoubtedly respectable and this show was perfect for him. He and co-host Jimmy Kimmel would take on three contestants. In the first round there would be five questions with funny titles leading into the questions.

One of the contestants would pick the title leading into the question. One of the three would buzz in after they figured out the question. After the question was picked another question would go in its place. After a very short first round the person was eliminated. The person with the lowest score was eliminated. In the first round question prizes were 50-100-150.

In the second round the two contestants competed with Ben himself while Jimmy Kimmel took over the hosting duties. The question values were 200-300-400-500 In the final round Stein would answer ten questions asked by Jimmy Kimmel and his final opponent would answer the same questions. Whoever would win would take away five thousand dollars of Ben Stein's actual money, his salary.

This was a great game show. I know Stein was a Republican but he was a good Republican. He was very funny and had a lot of great moments. His most famous contestant probably was the hippie Wampus, which is an Indian word for love. I loved the studio. It had all kinds of knick-knacks and it was fun. This game show did not falter at the opportunity to make fun of itself or other game shows.

I loved the special ‘Who Wants to Win Ben Steins Money.' That was inspired and funny. After Kimmel left I liked Nancy Pimental but I never got to see the third co-host. Comedy central moved the show in its final days to five O'clock, a time I couldn't watch it. I was in class. Anyways if this show was on at it's 7:30 time it would have stayed on. I hope Stein is able to do something else.

As for Kimmel he has his own show now but I could not stand the Man Show. Anyways this is a fine game show that will make you think and make you laugh. To add insult to injury the show was replaced by Beat the Geeks. And look where that show went. If you get a chance watch this show when it is on Comedy Central in reruns.