Duel combines tough trivia questions with poker in a glitzy, fairly fast-paced game with a rolling jackpot.
Host: Mike Greenberg
Executive Producers: Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun
Series Premiere: December 17, 2007
Network: ABC
Top Prize: Varies, according to an ongoing jackpot
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Duel combines general-knowledge trivia with high-stakes poker, requiring contestants to place wagers on how confident they are in answering questions. Based on a successful French game show, Duel takes elements from other games to create a unique format.
How 'Duel' Works:
The game starts off similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, with a pool of 20 potential contestants. After the first two contestants are chosen, they start off with 10 poker chips worth $5,000 each and must wager these chips as their duel progresses. At the end of a duel, the winner chooses their next opponent from those remaining in the original pool of 20.
Duels are played by placing the poker chips on potential answers to trivia questions. When a contestant gets an answer wrong, his or her chips are collected by the house and added to an ongoing jackpot. The winner of the duel banks the value of their remaining chips. Each episode features at least three duels, and on the final night of the round, the top four players face off to win the jackpot.
Should I Watch 'Duel'?:
Duel differs from traditional trivia-style game shows with its heavy focus on poker-style game play. Contestants will have the opportunity to bluff, calculate wagers, and take risks based on their confidence in having correct answers to the questions. The host, Mike Greenberg, is a prominent figure on ESPN, adding to the "sport" element of the show.
Contestants are all charismatic trivia buffs, with widely varying occupations and interests. Only a small amount of information is given about each contestant, making it tricky for duel winners to choose their next opponent.
Duel will premiere in a week-long event from December 17-23, 2007.
