"Duel" is a game show that, as of this review, is currently airing on ABC. The program began in December 2007, initially conceived as a six night event on ABC. I was drawn to the program, in part, after reading that one of the contestants was from my local area. I tuned in and was quickly drawn to the show's interesting twist on the big money game show format. The show features contestants competing in a series of head-to-head "duels." In its initial conception, they played against each other both for money won in those matches, and for a spot on the "leaderboard," which could possibly earn them a chance to go for a big prize of around two million dollars. The other big twist was that although the questions were all multiple choice with four answers, contestants were given a set of ten "chips" to place on those answers. So with each question, they could place just one chip if they were certain of the answer, or as many as four to cover all if they had no idea. Contestants were given as much time as they wanted to answer, unless they were "Pressed" -- meaning that they had to lock in within seven seconds.
It seemed like a solid and fun format to me, but it also seemed like audiences didn't agree. The ratings for the program, for the most part, were abysmal. It only averaged around 6-7 million viewers per airing and weak overall ratings. Therefore, I was very surprised, but pleased when I heard the program would be coming back...
Unfortunately, I really don't like the new changes that have been made to the show. It's now airing in a weekly format and the amount that contestants can win has been dramatically lowered. They now play individual duels for fairly low amounts of money and if they choose to continue, they risk what they've already won. If they lose even once, everything is gone. Furthermore, if they make it all the way, the top prize that they can win is only $500,000. That's hardly high stakes compared to what some game shows that don't even require much knowledge or strategy have been offering these days. When you can watch a contestant win $1,000,000 with a random spin of the wheel on Price is Right, where's the excitement in $500,000? To top it off, the quality of the contestants has been spotty. Some of them have plunked down chips on obviously wrong answers, and most of them are on the show for such a short length of time that's it's hard to really care about what happens to them.
So it's goodbye for me to another game show that seemed like it had the potential for greatness. I'm hungry for great game shows, but they seem to be few and far between these days.moreless
Duel
ABC (ended 2008)
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Catwoman87531 User Score: 122EDITOR
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Show Summary
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Contestants selected from a contestant pool must face off in a series of duels. They are competing to win cash at the end of each game, but the ultimate objective is to win five duels and take home $500,000. Three contestants are randomly selected to have a shot at each match. The current champion then chooses his/her challenger, based only on the appearance of the challengers and small amounts of personal information given. Though contestants remain in the pool, some will never be chosen. In each game, players are given ten chips. They then face a series of multiple-choice (four answers each) trivia questions. A screen goes up so that opponent's actions cannot be seen. Players are allowed to place a chip on just one answer, or as many as all four, assuming they have enough chips remaining. The first question is worth $1000 and the questions rise in value until the last questions, which is worth $50,000. Contestants have as much time as they like to answer, unless they are Pressed. Each contestant is provided one Press per game, and when a player uses a Press, their opponent has seven seconds to lock in their answer or answers. If a player gets an answer wrong, they automatically lose the game. If at any time, both players get an answer wrong, they go into Sudden Death. In Sudden Death, the objective is to answer the question correctly using less chips than your opponent. Once you lose all your chips, your game is over. The winner of each match has an opportunity to double their round winnings. They have to answer one question in sixty seconds and get only one chip. They can not lose the winnings during this round. Contestants that choose to continue to duel risk their winnings, it is all or nothing. The first season of Duel aired as a six-night event on ABC. The difference was that there was a contestant pool and you competed to be in the top four. After two 90 minute episodes, the program settled into a sixty minute slot each night at 8 P.M. The program aired every night the week of 12-17 - 12-23, except Saturday. In the finale of the first season Duel on Sunday, December 23 at 8 P.M., four champions battled it out for the jackpot of nearly $1.5 million.moreless
| S 2 : Ep 10 | Episode 210 | Aired 7/25/08 | |
| S 2 : Ep 9 | Episode 209 | Aired 7/18/08 | |
| S 2 : Ep 8 | Episode 208 | Aired 7/11/08 | |
| S 2 : Ep 7 | Week 7 | Aired 7/4/08 | |
| S 2 : Ep 7 | Episode 207 | Aired 7/4/08 |
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Mike Greenberg
Host
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Jennifer Aguero
Chip Girl
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Olivia Fox
Chip Girl
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Duel = AWESOME!!!!!!
02/28/1017Reply
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The rules need to change a little, IMO.
06/27/0810Reply
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Duel Is Coming Back
03/25/082Reply
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I really wanted the used car salesman to win >_>
01/21/084Reply
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DVD, PC or some other website besides ABC
01/06/081Reply
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© 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. -
© 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
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© 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
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© 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
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