Contest scandals of the 80s

[rubytue]

I found the article fascinating. Only partially for the trump stuff, but just explaining things as to why contest rules are what they are today. Reminds me a bit if the principle that regulations exist because of the damage done without them. i remember my father always telling me those contests were scams and I shouldn’t waste my time, and @-aged me was all “but, it says right here…”

www.newyorker.com/news/american-chronicles/donald-trump-and-the-sweepstakes-scammers

Related, Maryland just had an audit of their lottery and it found shady shit. 
www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/audit-maryland-lottery-players-won-big-money-more-than-200-times-each

[msmerymac]

As a former game show contestant, I can say that the quiz show scandals of he 1950s have had a huge influence on how things are done on television today.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s_quiz_show_scandals

[picksthemusic]

This reminds me of the HBO documentary McMillions where there was a big scandal about who won and how they won. It was bonkers. It was fascinating how the FBI got the culprits.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 18, 2022 14:38:29 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

As a former game show contestant, I can say that the quiz show scandals of he 1950s have had a huge influence on how things are done on television today.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s_quiz_show_scandals

The movie quiz show left such a huge impact on me. 

[just]

Quiz (different from Quiz Show) is on AMC. It's a great miniseries about the coughing scandal of the British Who wants to be a Millionaire. STarring Matthew McFadyen (Succession) and Sian Clifford (Flea Bag)

Really interesting scandal: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ingram

[sofamonkey]

Aug 18, 2022 15:04:00 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

This reminds me of the HBO documentary McMillions where there was a big scandal about who won and how they won. It was bonkers. It was fascinating how the FBI got the culprits.

Oh, I loved this one! It was a little boring/dry in some parts, but really really good. The way people were able to be so manipulated by “friends” was bonkers too!!

[aliciabella]

Late again and didn't read the article but does anyone remember the Press Your Luck scandal? It was my favorite game show and a contestant found the algorithm of the boards and realized if he hit the stop button at a certain time he would always win.

It took weeks of him winning for anyone to realize but he really wasn't cheating, he just outsmarted him.

There was a documentary about it years ago but it was interesting.

[sent]

Aug 18, 2022 14:38:29 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

As a former game show contestant, I can say that the quiz show scandals of he 1950s have had a huge influence on how things are done on television today.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s_quiz_show_scandals

I love a good scandal and justice being served, but this article has me jaded. It's like the 50s and 60s were so boring, that stuff like game show scandals that were ultimately trying to increase television ratings was worthy of the Supreme Court's time. 

We are being manipulated all the time by social media now. I don't see the public or media outraged enough for the Supreme Court or Congress to bother to care. Unless some corporation is about to lose big money, then maybe they'll show up. 

ETA - and now I feel like anyone who wants to circumvent all the FCC rules and whatever can just go on over to YouTube or TikTok and start their own thing there. 

[picksthemusic]

Aug 18, 2022 16:08:24 GMT -5 just said:

Quiz (different from Quiz Show) is on AMC. It's a great miniseries about the coughing scandal of the British Who wants to be a Millionaire. STarring Matthew McFadyen (Succession) and Sian Clifford (Flea Bag)

Really interesting scandal: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ingram

You mean Mr. Darcy? I also loved him in The Enfield Haunting. So good.