Beer Money is a sports "game show" where hosts go to bars, grills, and other such areas in particular locations to ask people questions about local teams in the hopes of giving them beer money. There are or were editions of the show based in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, New York City, San Francisco, and Vancouver. New York, Chicago, and San Francisco are the only ones still producing new episodes.
Basically, they pick people out from local bars, grills, and sometimes sport stadiums, and give them the chance to earn money in one of the following ways:
- Beer Money: The contestant is asked a series of three questions, each in an increasing order of difficulty and value ($10, $20, then $100). Money earned is cumulative, so a contestant can win up to $130. Before the $20 and $100 questions are asked, the contestant is given the choice to walk away with what they currently have. But if they choose to play the question, there's no backing out. An incorrect answer at any point means they walk away with nothing.
- Beer Run: A question with multiple answers is given, and the contestant is given 30 seconds to come up with as many correct answers for the question that they can. They earn $10 for each correct answer given in the time limit.
- Magic Number: A "magic number" is given, and the contestant is then given a series of questions, and for each one, they have to pick if the answer is above or below the magic number. Each correct answer is worth $10.
- Beers Batted In: This special game is played with four contestants. The first three contestants are asked a question. If they answer correctly, they get on base. Then the fourth contestant is asked a harder question. If they get it right when all three of the previous contestants are on base, they hit a "grand slam" and win $160 to split among all the contestants.
Tropes In Use
- All or Nothing: In Beer Money, once the contestant commits to answering a question, there's no turning back. They'll either get it right and win money, or get it wrong and lose any money they've already earned.
- Game Show Winnings Cap: By design, the most you can walk away with in the game is $130.
- Let's Just See What WOULD Have Happened: If the player decides to stop and keep the money they earned, particularly after the $20 question, the host will ask them the $100 question anyway just to see what would happen.
- Lifelines: The hosts are allowed to give hints to contestants for the $10 and $20 questions, but they are not allowed to help with the $100 question.
- Personnel
- Game Show Hosts: Each edition of the show has their own hosts, who often go to separate locales.
- Studio Audience: Of a sort. Since all these shows take place in bars, grills, etc., the other patrons count as the studio audience.
- Speed Round: Beer Run
- Unexpectedly Obscure Answer: While the $10 and $20 questions are usually based around recent sporting events or players, the $100 question often requires people to have been long-time fans to know the answers.
