Win Ben Stein's Money

This show, as other user comments will tell you, is about three contestants who go up against Ben Stein to win $5000. In the first round, Ben asks the questions and the three contestants answer. If their answers are in the form of a question, Ben affixes a "Dunce" cap to their heads. At the ends of the first round, the lowest scorer is eliminated and the money (s)he won is returned to the pot. Ben then takes that contestant's place, leaving Jimmy or Nancy to ask the questions. As Ben promises, "From this point on, I have no knowledge of the questions to be asked." The game goes on. In the event of a tie in either round, there is a tie-breaker question. After both rounds are finished, the "Best of Ten Test of Knowledge" happens. It's just Ben and the highest-scorer. Ben's isolation booth is ritzy, decorated with a painting and a beautiful background. The challenger just sits on a stool in front of a cracked wall and a light bulb hanging from the ceiling. If Ben wins, the contestant keeps the money already won from Ben. If the contestant wins, money flies from the ceiling and Ben takes some from the safe, cheerfully cursing at his loss. If there is a tie, then the contestant keeps the money already won plus $1000. I still have a "Let me watch Ben Stein in peace" ticket given to me for Christmas by my sister. I miss Jimmy, especially since I saw him on David Letterman last summer.

This had to have been one of the funniest game shows of it's era. Ben Stein has to be one of the sharpest and funniest individuals to host a game show and during the era when Jimmy Kimmel was his co-host it was a classic. Unfortunately, after Kimmel departed the show the show went downhill from there. Nancy Pimental and Sal Iaconno didn't have the chemistry that Stein and Kimmel had and what a shame because this show was definitely the best thing that Comedy Central had on it's schedule.

Forget all that I Wanna Be a Millionaire junk, this is a real game show. The only thing those other shows got going for them is that they are giving away large amounts of money. If they had the same show but only with a smaller amount of money no one would watch. On Win Ben Stein's Money it's a lot more fun. They have cool names for all the categories and it's fun to see Ben Stein pretending to be annoyed when someone takes his money. Plus how often on a gameshow do you get to compete against the host.

I was once,many many many many moons ago,a "Jeopardy!" enthusiast. I could name off practically all the Tournament of Champions winners,watched the shows religiously and even tried out for the show,twice,both for the College Tournaments. Alas,no success. But I think what turned me off on that show was the fact that,among other reasons,the producers were far TOO willing to muck the formula of this show,adding in hokey,pointless Celebrity shows,gussying up the prize budget to make it look like something more like "The Price is Right" or "Wheel of Fortune" and worse still,making the returning champion format become indefinite (DAng You,Ken Jennings!!!). In short,to me,that show had traded in the integrity of being a sharp,intelligent quiz show in favor of ratings.

So around 1998,I found myself tuning in with much more enthusiasm to this Comedy Central offering. Going with the brash and bold premise of having the host,Ben Stein,put HIS money up for the prize,with he becoming one of the contestants after the first player is eliminated.Flanked by an irrepressible wiseacre(in seasons 1 thru 3,future talk show host and faux-misogynist Jimmy Kimmel,seasons 4 and 5 sexy little sprite Nancy Pimental,season 6,Jimmy's heavier,sardonic cousin SAl Iacanno),the show moved at a straight,quiz-to-question format and featured some seriously difficult questions,ranging in dollar amounts of $50(relatively easy;to me,QUITE easy) to $500(gnerally VERY tough),and the winner of the front-game had to have one more,ten question quiz format(reminiscent of quiz shows of yore like "21" or "The $64,000" Question,minus the scandal of course)head-to-head with Ben for all five grand.

Between the humor incorporated into naming the categories(which only went one question deep;one favorite was "The Wedding was so awful,at the reception they served Pacelbel") to the afore-mentioned wise-ass of Jimmy,Nancy,Sal or even Ben himself,I found this show both challenging and delightful. Half-hours flew by and even though the contestants rarely won a whole lot of dash,you'd better believe they earned every dollar of it. I'm not sure why the network decided to not keep this show running,but I'm glad that GSN has it and hope they keep it for a long,long time. Worth a look-see,whether familiar with it(As I was) or unfamiliar. Feel free to play along,too!

"Win Ben Stein's Money" was one of the best shows that aired on Comedy Central when "South Park" and "The Daily Show" were rather new. It was highly creative and almost always witty and funny. Ben Stein, best known as a character actor and commercial spokesperson with a monotone voice and tweed sweater, comes to life as both host and contestant. He and co-host Jimmy Kimmell had an excellent chemistry, and their exchanges of jokes and insults were among Comedy Central's finest moments. Very few of the questions were dumbed down for mass consumption, and the show's entertaining and quick pace made it a welcome contrast to the dull and ridiculous "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." The show did suffer a bit when Nancy Pimental took over as co-host, as she lacked Jimmy's chemistry (he later went on to co-host the insipid "Man Show"), but she was fairly competent as a comedian. Ben showed his true talent as an entertainer here, and it resulted in his short-lived spin-off, "Turn Ben Stein On." If your cable providers offer The Game Show Network, due yourselves a favor a catch a rerun of "Win Ben Stein's Money" if you're not too busy. You won't regret it.