The Master (Australian Quiz Show)
Encyclopedia
The Master was an Australian quiz show
that aired on the Seven Network
on Wednesday 16 August 2006 and was cancelled after its premiere
episode. The remaining episodes aired over the non-ratings period in 2006 and 2007. Hosted by Mark Beretta
, the show had a potential prize of a million dollars.
It was produced by Grant Rule and Seven Melbourne
.
- who sat in a chair watching to find the contestants' weaknesses. The player who won earned the right to face The Master for his title and for the prize of one million dollars.
The five played against each other in a series of general knowledge rounds, winning $100 for each correct answer in general knowledge rounds and $200 in "Master's Choice" rounds (where Flood chose the category). Each round lasted for 90 seconds. If a contestant answered incorrectly, he or she was locked out from answering the next question. Players with the lowest score were gradually eliminated until three remained. If at the end of a round, two contestants were on the same score, The Master would choose which contestant to eliminate. After two contestants have been eliminated, there is a round where the three remaining contestants were each subjected to a round of questions on their "preferred category" called the "mean minute". In this round, correct answers worth $100 and incorrect answers result in a deduction of $200. After the "mean minute" round there is another general knowledge round and the contestant with the highest score at the end of that final round won the right to play against The Master. Each eliminated contestant took home what he or she earned in the general knowledge rounds.
The winner was given $50,000 to "bet" on their best-of-five questions game with The Master. The contestant could bet either $10,000, $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 or the entire $50,000. If the contestant risked any amount below $50,000, the master will choose the category of questions to be asked and if the contestant is successful they would win ten times the amount staked. If the contestant bet the entire $50,000 they selected the category of questions and played for $1 million and the chance to become the new Master. If they, however, risked the entire $50,000 and failed, they also lost all the money they had won in the previous rounds, walking away empty-handed. This meant that if a contestant risked less than $50,000, they played for either $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, or $400,000.
In the first episode, the first contestant to be eliminated from the show was customer service officer Ainsley Rayner. Having heard that she would be eliminated in this way she screamed "Damn you master!". The winner of the show was a contestant named Michelle who won $42,300, after betting $10,000 but lost in the best-of-five game and also winning $2,300 in the general knowledge rounds.
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
that aired on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
on Wednesday 16 August 2006 and was cancelled after its premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
episode. The remaining episodes aired over the non-ratings period in 2006 and 2007. Hosted by Mark Beretta
Mark Beretta
Mark Beretta is an Australian media personality. He is known by the common nickname of Beretts.-Early life and career:Beretta was born in Geelong, Victoria on 16 June 1966. He was educated at St. Joseph's College...
, the show had a potential prize of a million dollars.
It was produced by Grant Rule and Seven Melbourne
HSV-7
HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....
.
Format
Five players fought out a series of rounds involving general knowledge questions. This was both against each other and the clock, all under the eyes of "The Master" - Martin FloodMartin Flood
Martin Flood is an Australian quiz show contestant who competed in the show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and participated in the short-lived program The Master. Flood was an I.T. analyst for Westpac bank at the time of winning 'Millionaire'...
- who sat in a chair watching to find the contestants' weaknesses. The player who won earned the right to face The Master for his title and for the prize of one million dollars.
The five played against each other in a series of general knowledge rounds, winning $100 for each correct answer in general knowledge rounds and $200 in "Master's Choice" rounds (where Flood chose the category). Each round lasted for 90 seconds. If a contestant answered incorrectly, he or she was locked out from answering the next question. Players with the lowest score were gradually eliminated until three remained. If at the end of a round, two contestants were on the same score, The Master would choose which contestant to eliminate. After two contestants have been eliminated, there is a round where the three remaining contestants were each subjected to a round of questions on their "preferred category" called the "mean minute". In this round, correct answers worth $100 and incorrect answers result in a deduction of $200. After the "mean minute" round there is another general knowledge round and the contestant with the highest score at the end of that final round won the right to play against The Master. Each eliminated contestant took home what he or she earned in the general knowledge rounds.
The winner was given $50,000 to "bet" on their best-of-five questions game with The Master. The contestant could bet either $10,000, $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 or the entire $50,000. If the contestant risked any amount below $50,000, the master will choose the category of questions to be asked and if the contestant is successful they would win ten times the amount staked. If the contestant bet the entire $50,000 they selected the category of questions and played for $1 million and the chance to become the new Master. If they, however, risked the entire $50,000 and failed, they also lost all the money they had won in the previous rounds, walking away empty-handed. This meant that if a contestant risked less than $50,000, they played for either $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, or $400,000.
In the first episode, the first contestant to be eliminated from the show was customer service officer Ainsley Rayner. Having heard that she would be eliminated in this way she screamed "Damn you master!". The winner of the show was a contestant named Michelle who won $42,300, after betting $10,000 but lost in the best-of-five game and also winning $2,300 in the general knowledge rounds.