You Don't Know Jack (game show)

Did You Know?

• The franchise began with CD-ROM-based trivia games for computers in 1996.
• Development started in 1997 but was halted for several years because Paul Reubens was uncertain about accepting a role outside his character Pee-Wee Herman.
• Tom Jicha of the South Florida Sun Sentinel gave the show a mixed review.

Format

The game show began with three contestants, but only two made it to the final "Jack Attack" round. The first round featured toss-up questions, typically paying $1,000, though early questions could be for less. Most were multiple choice, but some required an open-ended answer. Buzzing in first with a correct response earned the cash, and there was no penalty for guessing wrong. After a maximum of three questions, a "DisOrDat" segment appeared. Stevens offered two possible answers and read six facts; each fact had to be assigned to the first option, the second, or both. A correct pick added $1,000, while an incorrect one subtracted $1,000 and removed that fact from the game. Round Two started with toss-ups worth $2,000 each, then ended with a "$2,000,000 Question" instead of DisOrDat. That question’s value began at $2,000,000 but dropped quickly as Stevens read it, while a distraction played out—ninjas attacking, the card burning, or a dog wrestling for it. By the time he finished, the amount was usually under $200. Whoever answered correctly took the remaining cash; a wrong answer let opponents try to steal, but the value kept falling. Round Three had questions worth $3,000 each, with one always in the category "Things That Sound Dirty But Aren't."