Amnesia (also known as Amne$ia) is an American television game show created and produced by Mark Burnett and hosted by comedian Dennis Miller in which contestants win money (up to $250,000) by answering questions about their own lives.
The series originally aired in the USA on NBC from 22 February to 11 April, 2008. It was officially cancelled by NBC on 11 April, 2008. There are eight hour-long episodes in the series.
Amnesia premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Friday 19 September 2008, at 22h00.
Repeats
Saturdays: 04h00, 10h00, 16h00
Synopsis
Amnesia is a high-energy, original comedy game show where contestants are challenged to answer a variety of questions from their own life for money.
Memories are tested and blasts from the past are revealed as contestants wrack their brains to answer some of the most challenging questions - with hilarious results.
Format
The game is played in five rounds.
You in 60 Seconds
Instead of standard welcome intros, Amnesia begins with a speed round. The contestant has 60 seconds to answer seven questions, winning $1,000 for each correct answer, for a maximum of $7,000.
There is no penalty for wrong answers, and the money won in this round is the contestant's to keep.
In the next three rounds the contestant is sent to a soundproof booth and a loved one is asked about various events they have shared with the player. The contestant then returns and is asked questions.
Occasionally, in lieu of a question, the contestant must complete a stunt to be credited with a correct answer (such as trying to place the names of five obscure body parts on a dummy within 30 seconds).
A frequent stunt is a blindfolded taste test of a familiar family recipe, with three imitation dishes.
Round 1: $5,000 for each correct answer (3 questions played)
Round 2: $10,000 for each correct answer (2 questions played)
Round 3: $20,000 for each correct answer (2 questions played)
Thus, contestants can end round 3 with up to $75,000 in their "memory bank."
Total Amnesia
Risk is introduced in the end game, so the player is given the option to stop or proceed before each question in this round. If they choose to proceed, contestants choose a question by picking one of their supporters, each holding an envelope that contains a question about their relationship.
Each question is worth money, as follows:
Question 1: $25,000
Question 2: $50,000
Question 3: $100,000
Note: Contestants do not need to have the full value of a question in their bank in order to attempt it (e.g., a player with $5,000 may still attempt the $100,000 question).
A correct answer to the question adds money to the player's bank, but a wrong answer will subtract that amount.
Before each question the player can choose to stop and take the money already won, but if at any time the bank falls to $0, the game is over and the player will go home with whatever they won in You in 60 Seconds.