''Take a Chance'' is an American

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...

that aired live on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

on Sunday night from October 1, 1950, to December 24, 1950. The show was hosted by film actor

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which l ...

Format

Contestants were chosen from the studio audience and given $5. The contestant was then asked a series of four questions. If the first question was answered correctly, they kept the $5. Other correct answers were worth other winnings. The contestant could quit whenever they no longer wanted to "Take a Chance". If all four questions were answered correctly, the contestant got a chance at the jackpot question worth $1,000 and 1,000 bars of Sweetheart soap.

Production

Richard Lewis was the producer, and Grey Lockwood was the director. Bob Shepherd was the announcer. Nescafé coffee sponsored the program, which was broadcast from New York at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays.

Critical response

Art Cullison wrote in the ''

Akron Beacon Journal The ''Akron Beacon Journal'' is a morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, United States. Owned by Gannett, it is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper's coverage focuses on local news. The Beacon J ...

'' that ''Take a Chance'' was canceled "due to lack of an audience and heavy costs." He added that the show "got off to a slow start this fall and never was able to regain the lost ground." He also noted, "Ameche seems to have fallen considerably in popularity." The trade publication ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' called ''Take a Chance'' "just another in a seemingly unending string of audience participationers breaking into television, and an exceedingly slow-paced one at that." The review of the premiere episode said that the program's format was similar to the one used on '' Break the Bank'', but the latter had at least five contestants in each 30-minute episode, whereas ''Take a Chance'' had two contestants. Additionally, the review said that Ameche "seemed to lack the quizmaster's requisites of sprightly ad libbing and rapid-fire delivery."

References

External links

''Take a Chance'' on IMDb
1950 American television series debuts 1950 American television series endings 1950s American game shows NBC original programming American live television series {{US-game-show-stub