TPiR Recap - 10/2/2013

[JayC]

Here's my take on Stack the Deck... if you're going to deliberately make it difficult all the time, may as well go the 3 Strikes route with it and play it for really nice cars ($30K and up), that way when it IS won, it's all the more exciting for us and rewarding for the contestant

I agree if they're going to keep the current format and rules.  If they want to play it for regular cars, add a free pick or take away 1 of the fake numbers.

[stardf29]

You know, I'll give the contestant a pass today on picking the first number. It definitely was a case where it could have been either $18K/$19K or $21K, and once it was revealed, the second number wasn't too bad. Still, I hope future contestants can consider that if they don't know the first number, picking the second number should clue you in to the first while also giving you a pass on what could be a tricky choice for the second number.

Still, Stacky is brutal. Can't argue against that.

[MrPlinko]

Prepare yourselves: Rant forthcoming.

I do not understand why Stack the Deck can't be set up appropriately. Does whoever is doing it just not have any grasp on what everyday people will be able to price? There is no reason the car price and the GP's need to be made that difficult. If you need the game to be lost, make the GP's hard, but it's just incredibly assy to have a car price of $21,463.

When your host is describing how hard the game is on-air - when it really does not have to be - I'd think a light bulb would go off for someone, somewhere. Drew can't seem to generate any excitement when a contestant's chances of winning are slim to none, and it happens with every single playing of Stack the Deck now.

Look at it this way: If you set up the GP's so that the contestant gets very few free numbers, but have a "gettable" car price, it's still a tough game for the contestant to win. BUT, every so often a savvy player can solve the puzzle, which then creates sort of a "comeback win" - which is always incredibly exciting. Remember this contestant from Season 39? See how exciting that was when she won the car with just one free number? That even featured a somewhat-assy car price ending in -59. It was a great moment! The way it's currently done, it looks the show is just being mean.

I must concede that this particular contestant was clearly clueless. Choosing the first number for free should get you kicked off the stage. 

When was our last Stack The Deck win?  They still want to make that game so hard!  I agree!  It is hard enough as it is!  If the powers that be can't give Stack the Deck a reasonable chance, to be won, than sadly, I would have to say retire the game.  I didn't even see today's show, but Drew does not have fun hosting it and a loss in this game is far too predictable!  It doesn't have to be this way!  Use GP's that are fair to price, or cars that are reasonable to price, preferably both!

Joe

[Richie]

Looking at the Secret X's setup...yeah the secret X was in the middle, but I personally think Mike wanted to make it harder.  That evil soda maker struck again...that damn thing doesn't look $200. 

[Mallory16]

Use GP's that are fair to price, or cars that are reasonable to price, preferably both!

The GPs were fair today, though.  Especially the floor cleaner, which screams $$$, while snack food does not scream $$$.  Mike was certainly trying to have that pair won.  Just doesn't always work out that way.  There are a lot of playings where the GPs are unreasonably hard, but this really wasn't one of them.

[Cartboy]

Nice wins on Any Number & Secret X!   Not too good other than that, IMHO.

How the heck is a showcase with a Chevy Sonic in it almost $32,000 in price!?

I agree if they're going to keep the current format and rules.  If they want to play it for regular cars, add a free pick or take away 1 of the fake numbers.

That, or give the first number in addition to being able to win 3 numbers.

[SteveGavazzi]

I'm really gonna miss the carpet when the episodes with it run out.

I forgot to mention it last week, but after nine years, they've undone a change that I never really understood why they made in the first place -- the backs of Secret "X"'s Xs are red again!

Incidentally, Secret "X" again?!

Stack the Deck was definitely winnable today.  I'm not sure how Brandon managed to get the only pair of groceries that was genuinely hard but miss the other two.

I liked how they did the trip reveals in the second showcase.  It reminded me of how they used to raise a trip skin to reveal another trip skin.

Looking at the Secret X's setup...yeah the secret X was in the middle, but I personally think Mike wanted to make it harder.

If he did, he didn't do a very good job of it -- that's the easiest way to get Secret "X" won.

[whinbaby]

The 7,885th episode (13th for Season 42)

Showcase #1

• Beachcomber:  $5,406
• Patio Heaters:  $1,598
• Outdoor Dinette:  $4,989
• Chevrolet Sonic:  $19,989

My bid:  $30,350 (Difference of $1,632)

Showcase #2

• Trip to Las Vegas:  $5,270
• Trip to New York:  $5,768
• Trip to London:  $9,749

My bid:  $22,000 (D'oh!)

Modeling Totals:  October 2, 2013 (OSAD 10/9)
Highs and lows among shows for the OSAD in previous years
High:  $97,776 (10/9/2006)
Low:  $14,190 (10/9/2001)

Rachel Reynolds
Total:  15/$40,595.00 (7/$15,757.00, 8/$24,838.00)
Cars:  0/$0.00 (0/$0.00, 0/$0.00)
Trips:  3/$19,214.00 (2/$11,038.00, 1/$8,176.00)
Cash Prizes:  0/$0.00 (0/$0.00, 0/$0.00)

Karla Mosley (not with a 'C')
Total:  14/$89,912.00 (9/$40,611.00, 5/$49,301.00)
Cars:  3/$60,106.00 (1/$18,654.00, 2/$41,452.00)
Trips:  1/$9,749.00 (1/$9,749.00, 0/$0.00)
Cash Prizes:  0/$0.00 (0/$0.00, 0/$0.00)

All Prizes
Total:  29/$129,564.21 (14/$53,223.00, 15/$76,341.21)
Cars:  3/$60,106.00 (1/$18,654.00, 2/$41,452.00)
Trips:  4/$28,963.00 (3/$20,787.00, 1/$8,176.00)
Cash Prizes:  0/$0.00 (0/$0.00, 0/$0.00)

Season to date
Rachel Reynolds (8 shows)
Total:  120/$487,425.00 (76/$222,378.00, 44/$265,047.00)
Cars:  11/$217,235.00 (3/$59,077.00, 8/$158,158.00)
Trips:  17/$130,744.00 (12/$90,304.00, 5/$40,440.00)
Cash Prizes:  1/$16,000.00 (0/$0.00, 1/$16,000.00)

All Prizes (8 shows)
Total:  232/$1,322,537.22 (141/$520,111.00, 91/$802,426.22)
Cars:  25/$497,224.00 (9/$175,794.00, 16/$321,430.00)
Trips:  27/$209,005.00 (18/$139,224.00, 9/$69,781.00)
Cash Prizes:  11/$317,500.00 (1/$15,400.00, 10/$302,100.00)

Career to date
Rachel Reynolds (1,213 shows)
Total:  11,421/$60,417,025.17 (7,108/$27,142,110.15, 4,313/$33,274,915.02)
Cars:  1,231/$27,809,665.00 (480/$10,354,162.00, 751/$17,455,503.00)
Trips:  1,004/$7,610,040.83 (527/$3,856,843.20, 477/$3,753,197.63)
Cash Prizes:  195/$2,260,227.00 (39/$397,198.00, 156/$1,863,029.00)

My viewing to date (2,374 shows)
Total:  61,909/$337,938,265.89 (38,535/$146,990,744.72, 23,374/$190,947,521.17)
Cars:  6,710/$144,581,292.51 (2,599/$54,708,122.51, 4,111/$89,873,170.00)
Trips:  4,980/$34,859,135.20 (2,563/$17,852,149.20, 2,417/$17,006,986.00)
Cash Prizes:  1,767/$38,215,982.00 (348/$6,242,690.00, 1,419/$31,973,292.00)