Here is a PSA about the characters explaining about Debt, Lifetime Channel's Third and Last TV Game from 1996-1998
This section is also outside the main IC for the guild.
PSA OOC Time:
In Progress Visits:
Completed Visits: NA
PSA Setting: Ford Simulator 3 Showroom
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2026 9:21 am
Dr. Julian Cross IFT Scientist (Ph.D Sector 4) "Innovation is 1% Perceptive and 99% Inspiration."
*Introduction* Why hello, I'm Dr. Julian Cross from the Mermaid Princess RP Guild. You know in today's financing and accounting, things can get hairy when it comes to Computer and Console Replacement or Repairs along with complications such as Travel Expenses and more...
Since 1990 & growing during the 1990s, people have ended up in debt with Credit Card Bills, Student Loans, Bank Loans and more. So as a result, Lifetime Channel put together a Game Show as a Countermeasure these massive spending bills and that in this game, the player can leave completely debt-free called "Debt!"
*Gameplay - Round 1 Version 1* 3 Players bring their real life debt in order to get it paid off, but since this was the 1990s, their debt can total more than $10,000 due to Cable TV Budgeting...
The First Round was called General Debt as 5 categories were shown with scaling difficulty payouts from Easy to Hard. The Player with the highest Debt starts the game but first to ensure fair player all the player's debt are estimated by average debt amount. Finally, the answers had to be given in an "I Am, You Are" Format on the show.
For Example: "I am the Nation of Wind in Genshin Impact and this is where it all begins for the Traveler's Journey to prove that Family is Forever..." (Answer: You are Monsdstat.)
If the player was right, their debt would be reduced by that amount but if they're wrong, the amount was added to the debt. One question was labeled as the Debtinator as its the hardest worth $500 of the debt. The gameplay continues until the board is cleared or time runs out. After which the player in 3rd place is eliminated from gameplay and take home a Debt Piggy Bank (Hamm from Toy Story Cameo) along with a Cash Prize
This was changed later due a Disney Cease & Desist Order Legal Reasons by Season 2 for Copying Jeopardy's Question Format
*Gameplay - Round 2 Version 1* Round 2 was called Gambling Debt as each category is worth a different amount but ranging from $300, $400, $500, $750 and $1,500 where both players bid on how many they can answer as a player can challenge them to answer. Should the player complete the bid, they score and if not, the opponent scores. After all 5 questions are used up or until time runs out in which the second place player is eliminated from gameplay. The winner moves to the Bonus Round and the Second place player gets $500
Gameplay Round 3 - Endgame The Last Round is called Get Out of Debt... A Player need to answer 10 questions correctly and if successful, their Debt is paid in full. If not, the Debt is reduced by the total won in 2 Rounds. At the point, the player is given the option to double their debt in the form of one final question in a player's signature category of their choosing. If correct, they win the cash prize based on the debt amount out of the negatives. If not, then the debt stays with them. In some cases, the final question could double the total won after the two rounds either way would gain them $1,000 in cash.
4. Gameplay Changes Version 2 Because the General Debt Round copy pasted Jeopardy's Answer Question formatting, Merv Griffin sued Beuna Vista Television and Lifetime Network as it was too similar too Jeopardy. To deal with this, in Round 1, a Toss Up Question was asked for $1 off the player's Debt. After a correct answer, the player gained control of the round. 5 Categories were present but all 5 questions were asked in order from Easiest to Hardest. The Detonator was present but it was considered the hardest category on the board but the value of the questions was doubled as a result.
5. Host and Setting The Residing Host was Wink Martindale... He was more than a host as he was taking on the cooperate dollars to help unfortunate people to pay off their bills. Wink is the Knight in Armor of TV Games but its never easy as its to test people of General Knowledge and only when deemed worthy they can be Debt Free but then tempt them by something they're good at.
Speaking of which, a selfless act such as this can date back as early to a 1971 movie I know where another selfless upstart changed the world and shows that honesty pays out in the end even in the smallest of hearts but strong in spirit. But the problem is finding that Trustworthy Factor by narrowing down those who are lucky enough to compete from a select few and only person would succeed or fail in a Selfless Act Trial.
In Debt's case, what better way for a TV Game Set to hide such a Selfless Act Tone while masking its Identify? A Bank set would be a perfect idea to camouflage true colors.
The Show's logo got changed after Lifetime Network and Buena Vista Television got sued yet again as the show's title copied the 1990s VISA Credit Card logo.
*Overall* Overall, Debt was Lifetime Network's 3rd TV Game right there with Supermarket Sweep and Shop Til You Drop. However, even though Supermarket Sweep and Shop Til You Drop lasted until the Mid 2000s, Debt only lasted for 1996-1998 but this game's honesty cloaked in a format where finding a Trustworthy Factor in one of 3 players shows that one person's selfless act can make a difference in a big world and if proven worthy, that person could get a happy ending in a Debt-Free Life.
*Game Lab Configuration* Setting up this game in the Game Lab should not be a problem as the Jeopardy Clone format will be done with a few minor changes... = Answer must be in the Form of a Question... = Daytime Debt Values plus Average Estimation at the Game Start = 1 Debtinator in Round 1 and 2 Debitnators in Round 2 = Debtinator Questions are worth half the Debt Lost if correct or Gained if incorrect = No Player Eliminations in Rounds 1-2 = Player who is in Last Place goes first in Round 2 just to name a few.
