1 Vs. 100 (Australian Game Show) - Launch and Preshow Controversy

Launch and Preshow Controversy

The Australian version of the show was officially launched on 18 January. The Nine Network approved a season of 15 episodes. The first show was scheduled to be shot on Friday, 19 January and air from Monday, 29 January. However, controversy began before the cameras started rolling.

The controversy started amongst confirmed and potential contestants, when taping of the first episode was delayed less than 12 hours before it was scheduled to start. The given reason was a problem caused by Melbourne's power blackouts three days earlier. However, speculation is that producer Michael Healy was asked a question at the Thursday night launch party, which was assessed as incorrect, despite the fact that he was right. Producers were not willing to chance problems at their first taping, hence inconveniencing the players, many of whom had taken time off work to attend the show. It is believed that around 30 contestants turned up to the taping on Friday, unaware that they were not required.

When taping did get under way on Sunday 21 January, a contestant in the first episode answered a question incorrectly: What is the unit of time equivalent to 60 seconds? Due to a technical glitch relating to the Mob, the question had to be asked again as if the question had never occurred (since the Mob must be asked the question first before the contestant gives his answer). The second time around, the contestant gave the correct answer, robbing the Mob of a chance at just over $100,000. This procedure would be different than in the US version, where a question would be replaced, and a disclaimer would run stating "because of a production problem, a question was replaced". (This question would eventually be asked as a home viewer question during the second episode).

A season of 15 episodes has been approved for production and the first show was shot on 20 January 2007. A total of 33 episodes were produced for season one. The sound stage for the show is located at Central City Studios on sound stage 3.

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