Sweepstakes (TV Series)

''Sweepstakes'', stylized as ''$weepstake$'', is an American anthology television series that aired in the United States on NBC during the 1978–-79 television season. It depicts the lives of people who hope to win a large amount of money in a sweepstakes and what happens after they win — or do not win — the money.

Synopsis

''$weepstake$'' is an anthology series that depicts the lives of people who buy tickets for a state-owned lottery hosted by a master of ceremonies, "the $weepstake$ M.C."McNeil, p. 808.Brooks and Marsh, p. 1003.Buck, Jerry, "''Sweepstakes′ New Twist on ''Millionaire''," Associated Press, in ''The Journal and Courier'' (Lafayette, Indiana), January 26, 1979, p. 15.
/ref> Each episode depicts a week in which 12 people became finalists in that week's lottery, and the first half of the episode introduces the three finalists who are destined to win either the $1 million jackpot or one of the two $1,000 consolation prizes, the issues in their lives, and their plans to use the $1 million jackpot if they win it. At the midpoint of each episode, the $weepstake$ M.C. hosts the lottery drawing and announces the winner of the jackpot and that the other two finalists the episode focuses on have won the consolation prizes. The second half of the episode then tells the story of the effect of the lottery on the three winners — how the jackpot winner spends his or her money and how the two consolation prize winners fare after their loss.

The only regular in the series is the $weepstake$ M.C.;''The Record'' (Hackensack, New Jersey), January 26, 1979, p. 18.
/ref> each episode otherwise has a cast consisting entirely of guest stars and has storylines unrelated to those of other episodes. Some of the stories told in ''$weepstake$'' are comedic in nature and others are dramatic. The most deserving finalist does not always win the jackpot.

Cast

* Edd Byrnes as The $weepstake$ M.C.

Production notes

''$weepstake$'' represented an update of the 1950s CBS anthology series '' The Millionaire'', in each episode of which an anonymous benefactor gave someone $1 million and the story of the effect of sudden wealth on their lives followed. ''$weepstake$'' differed from ''The Millionaire'' in that rather than depicting merely the impact of wealth on someone's life, episodes were constructed to allow viewers to pick their favorite finalist during the first half, see whether or not that finalist won the jackpot, and then see the result of either winning or losing on their lives.

Miller-Milkis Productions produced ''$weepstake$'' in association with Paramount Television. Robert Dozier served as executive producer.

Critical reception

An article published in the January 26, 1979, edition of ''The Record'' of Hackensack, New Jersey, described ''$weepstake$'' as an "unsophisticated anthology series" and added that on Friday evenings NBC's "string of intelligent shows is broken at 10 to 11," which was the time slot in which the network broadcast ''$weepstake$''.

Broadcast history

''$weepstake$'' premiered on NBC on January 26, 1979. NBC scheduled it as part of a slate of midseason replacement shows that debuted that evening to follow the successful ''Diff'rent Strokes'': In order, NBC's new Friday line-up consisted of ''Diff′rent Strokes'', '' Brothers and Sisters'', '' Turnabout'', ''Hello, Larry'', and ''$weepstake$''.Mid-Season 1979, Television Obscurities Accessed March 14, 2022
/ref> Other than ''Diff′rent Strokes'', the new line-up failed with audiences; out of 63 programs broadcast that week, ''Brothers and Sisters'' ranked 51st, ''Turnabout'' 50th, ''Hello, Larry'' 52nd, and ''$weepstake$'' 59th. ''$weepstake$'' continued to struggle in the ratings and was cancelled after just over two months on the air. Its ninth and final episode was broadcast on March 30, 1979. It aired at 10:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday throughout its run.

Episodes

SOURCESTelevision listing, ''The Age'' (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), November 29, 1979, p. 52.
/ref>

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

*Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (Sixth Edition)'', New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, .
* McNeil, Alex, ''Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, Fourth Edition'', New York: Penguin Books, 1996, , p. 404.

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0078556

''$weepstake$'' episode opening credits on February 2, 1979, on YouTube

''$weepstake$'' episode preview and opening credits on March 2, 1979, on YouTube

1979 American television series debuts
1979 American television series endings
1970s American anthology television series
American English-language television shows
NBC television dramas
Television series by CBS Studios
Television series about lotteries
Television shows set in the United States