Australian
Screen

Clip description

Tony Barber introduces ‘The Fame Game’, explaining to the contestants that a correct answer to the next question will earn the player a pick of the board for a prize or possible $25 score bonus. ‘I had a dream’, the first clue from a famous speech, is enough for contestant Grant to solve the puzzle. He is invited to pick a face from the ’Gallery of Greats’. Grant selects Gough Whitlam, to be rewarded with two pewter beer steins.

Curator’s notes

Tony Barber tries to build up the significance of this round by noting (twice) that he is about to ask a 'special question’ and then calling it 'most important’. This is because the potential bonus prize money of $25 is five times greater than the amount given for regular correct answers. So it’s a bit of an anti-climax when Grant picks the winner so quickly, after only two clues, and Barber seems disappointed that he didn’t get to finish reading out the clues.

The 'Gallery of Greats’ allows cross-promotion to a generous selection of stars from local and imported shows screening on the Nine Network. Nicholls injects some personality into reading a list of names by pronouncing Bert Newton with a French accent and impersonating Jeannie Little. The fact that Tony Barber gets to follow her with an explanation of who each person is only highlights how little the co-host is allowed to contribute on her own.

While throwing to the ad break at the end of the round, Barber slips up and prematurely names Grant as carry-over champion before smoothly covering his mistake. While Sale of the Century was pre-recorded before a studio audience, a host still very much needed to be able to think on their feet to cover mistakes like this, deal with unexpected player reactions and keep the show moving and entertaining for a home audience.