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The topic of this page has a Wikia of its own: The Chase wikia.
Hosts
Bradley Walsh (FOX Pilot)
Brooke Burns (GSN)
Sara Haines (ABC)
"Chasers" (Multiple Versions)
Brad Rutter "The Buzzsaw" (FOX Pilot/ABC)
Mark Labbett "The Beast" (FOX Pilot/GSN/ABC (Season 2))
"Chasers" (ABC)
Ken Jennings "The Professor" (Seasons 1 & 2)
James Holzhauer "The High-Roller"
Victoria Groce "The Queen"
Brandon Blackwell "The Lightning Bolt"
Buzzy Cohen "The Stunner"
Announcers
Mark Thompson (FOX Pilot)
Shawn Parr (GSN)
Broadcast
Vlcsnap-2016-12-21-00h37m55s248
Unsold Pilot for FOX: 2012
The Chase
GSN: 8/6/2013 – 12/11/2015
Abcchase
ABC Primetime: 1/7/2021 - Present
Packager
ITV Studios America

The Chase is a game show based on the British format of the same name. Contestants compete against geniuses called "Chasers", for a chance to win hundreds of thousands (or maybe even millions) of dollars. This is not to be confused with Chase.

Gameplay[]

A team of three contestants attempted to amass as much money as possible to put into a team bank by answering general knowledge questions. The money earned would go into a team bank, but there was one person standing in their way: a quiz genius known as the "Chaser." The Chaser's job was to answer enough questions correctly to catch each contestant and send them out of the game with nothing.

To begin, each player came up one at a time and played a game called "Cash Builder." In this game, each was given one minute (1:00) to answer as many questions as possible with each correct answer worth a specific amount of money. The more correct answers given, the more money the players could add into the bank.

After the minute was up, the player's money was placed three steps down on an eight-step money board. The player could remain at this step and play for the money they had won, but if they so wished, they could be placed one step lower down the board for a smaller award, or one step further up the board for a larger award, with each award's value being set by the Chaser. The lower award could occasionally be a negative amount of money, which will deduct money from the final bank if the contestant took it and advanced.

If the player elected to play for the bigger offer, the Chaser was two (2) steps behind them and the player had to get six (6) questions right to reach the bank. If the player elected to remain where they were, the Chaser was three (3) steps behind them and the player had to get five (5) questions right to reach the bank. However, if the player elected to play for the smaller offer, the Chaser was four (4) steps behind them and the player had to answer four (4) questions right to reach the bank.

Once the player nominated their starting position, they had to answer questions correctly in order to reach the bottom of the board and bank their money. Both the player and The Chaser were given the same multiple choice question with three possible answers, then had to secretly press one of the three buttons on their keypad to lock in their answer. If the player and/or the Chaser was correct, they (both) moved one step down the board, but if they miss, or fail to answer within 5 seconds of the other person, they do not move at all. The Chaser's job was to catch up to the player and eliminate them from the game by capitalizing on the mistakes the player made before they could reach the bottom of the board. If this happened, the money would disappear by the red arrow, the set would turn red, and the chase was over - no more questions. This was repeated for all three players.

The players who successfully outran The Chaser proceeded to The Final Chase. If all three players were caught, then the team had to nominate one player to proceed to what was called a "Consolation Chase." If the Chaser lost, they each won the value of one Cash Builder question in the GSN version. In the ABC version, the consolation amount was decided upon by the Chaser.

The Final Chase[]

In the final round, all or the remaining players chose one of two question sets (labeled A or B) and answered as many quick-fire questions as possible from their chosen set in two minutes (2:00) to earn points and amass as many spaces as possible. The more questions answered correctly, the more the players increased their chances to avoid being caught. To start, they were given a head-start of one (1) space per remaining member of the team, for a maximum of three (3) potential spaces, or four (4) on the UK version.

If all three players were caught in the head-to-head rounds, the team would have their best player play a single-player Final Chase for a consolation prize that would be split evenly among the three contestants. The official name is Consolation Chase, but it is widely known as a Lazarus Chase throughout the community. On the GSN version, the team would be given a one-step head start, as if it was a normal single-player Final Chase. In the first season of the ABC revival, a zero-step head start would be given, but this was reversed at the start of the third season.

To answer a question, the player had to press his/her own buzzer and only that player could answer it. Upon buzzing in, an off-stage voice would say that person's name. But sometimes if the contestant was right and at the same time the other contestant pressed the button, it was counted as a wrong person answer, thus earning no step. Players were not allowed to confer or discuss questions in this stage. In the event there was only one player in the Final Chase, that player was not required to press the buzzer.

The Chaser was then given their own two-minute period to answer of quick-fire questions from the other set to attempt to catch the team, just like the red arrow from the eight-step money board. If The Chaser got any question wrong or couldn't answer it, the clock pauses temporarily and the question is thrown over to the players to confer. If they got the answer correct, the Chaser was pushed back one step and the clock was resumed. If the players answered the Chaser's question correctly while the Chaser was on zero steps, an extra step was added to the players' total. If The Chaser succeeded in catching the team, the clock would stop immediately and the team would leave with nothing ($0). And again, the team's money will go down from the Chaser, the set would turn red, and the chase was over - no more questions. However, if the team was not caught by the Chaser when the clock hit zero (0:00), the prize pot was split equally between the remaining team players. Should only one player make it to the Final Chase and win, then that player would get the full amount. If the player succeeded in the Consolation Chase, they would be allowed to split the consolation prize with their teammates ($15,000 in the GSN version, Chaser's choice in the first season of the ABC version, $60,000 in later seasons).

Additional Rules & Information[]

GSN Version[]

The Chaser was "The Beast" Mark Labbett, also a Chaser on the original British version. Each correct answer in the Cash Builder round was worth $5,000. Celebrity players had an extra $5,000 added on before the Cash Builder started, supposedly for charity (that money would be guaranteed if the celebrity contestant fails).

If facing a player that he did not want to play again in the Final Chase, usually those who got 10 or more questions right in their Cash Builder, the Beast would activate a "Super Offer". This super offer had the potential for much higher winnings, usually in the range of $150,000-$250,000. The offer is displayed as golden with black lettering, and the red lights around the set turn gold as well. The catch is that accepting the Super Offer would put the player just one step ahead of the Beast, which meant they would have to be "perfect" to stay in the game. If the player got the first question wrong and the Beast got it right, the player would be immediately caught, leaving them with $0.

ABC Version[]

The Chasers are "The Buzzsaw" (Brad Rutter), "The Professor" (Ken Jennings), and "The High-Roller" (James Holzhauer), as well as "The Beast" (Mark Labbett) in Season 2. Each correct answer in the Cash Builder round is worth $25,000 in the first season, and $10,000 in subsequent seasons.

Ratings[]

The Chase became one of the highest rated original programs in GSN's history. The series debuted to 511,000 total viewers during its premiere while maintaining 90% of its audience with 461,000 total viewers during the second episode airing that night. On January 28, 2014, The Chase set a new series high in terms of total viewers and adults 18–49, with 827,000 and 234,000 viewers respectively.

Season 1[]

The first season of The Chase premiered new episodes Tuesday nights at 9:00 P.M., except for episode 2 which aired immediately after the premiere of episode 1 at 10:00 P.M.

U.S. Nielsen ratings[]
Episode No. Air date Households
(Rating)
Viewers
1 August 6, 2013 0.3 511,000
2 August 6, 2013 0.3 461,000
3 August 13, 2013 0.3 397,000
4 August 20, 2013 0.2 401,000
5 August 27, 2013 0.3 506,000
6 September 3, 2013 0.3 509,000

Season 2[]

The second season of The Chase premiered new episodes Tuesday nights at 8:00 P.M.

U.S. Nielsen ratings[]
Episode No. Air date Households
(Rating)
Viewers
1 November 5, 2013 0.3 453,000
2 November 12, 2013 0.3 433,000
3 November 19, 2013 0.3 452,000
4 December 3, 2013 0.3 466,000
5 December 10, 2013 0.3 553,000
6 December 17, 2013 0.3 410,000
7 January 7, 2014 0.4 620,000
8 January 14, 2014 0.4 666,000
9 January 21, 2014 0.4 721,000
10 January 28, 2014 0.5 827,000
11 February 4, 2014 0.5 818,000

Season 3[]

The third season of The Chase premiered new episodes Tuesday nights at 8:00 P.M.

U.S. Nielsen ratings[]
Episode No. Air date Viewers
1 July 8, 2014 494,000
2 July 15, 2014 534,000
3 July 22, 2014 578,000
4 July 29, 2014 531,000
5 August 5, 2014 558,000
6 August 12, 2014 515,000
7 August 19, 2014 596,000
8 August 26, 2014 651,000
9 September 2, 2014 665,000
Episode No. Air date Viewers
10 November 11, 2014 610,000
11 November 18, 2014 645,000
12 December 2, 2014 560,000
13 December 9, 2014 743,000
14 December 16, 2014 434,000

Season 4[]

The fourth and final season of The Chase initially premiered new episodes Tuesday nights at 8:00 P.M.

U.S. Nielsen ratings[]
Episode No. Air date Viewers
1 January 27, 2015 749,000
2 February 3, 2015 598,000
3 February 10, 2015 667,000
4 February 17, 2015 646,000
5 February 24, 2015 600,000
6 March 3, 2015 613,000
7 March 10, 2015 620,000

Beginning Summer 2015, new episodes of The Chase premiered Thursday nights at 8:00 P.M.

Episode No. Air date Viewers
8 July 16, 2015 668,000
9 July 23, 2015 688,000
10 July 30, 2015 737,000
11 August 6, 2015 571,000
12 August 13, 2015 578,000
13 August 20, 2015 664,000
14 August 27, 2015 625,000
15 September 3, 2015 571,000

Beginning Fall 2015, new episodes of The Chase premiered Friday nights at 8:00 P.M.

Episode No. Air date Viewers
16 November 6, 2015 695,000
17 November 13, 2015 688,000
18 November 20, 2015 555,000
19 December 4, 2015 522,000
20 December 11, 2015 602,000

Ratings Sources[]

Rating[]

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Studio[]

Hollywood Center Studios

International Versions[]

The following list of countries that have previously aired their versions of The Chase includes:

Country Local Title Channel Host(s) Chaser(s) Premiere Year
Australia The Chase Australia Seven Network Andrew O'Keefe (2015-2021)
Larry Emdur (2021-present)
Anne Hegerty
Matt Parkinson
Issa Schultz
Brydon Coverdale
Mark Labbett (since Season 2 in 2016)
Shaun Wallace (guest chaser in 2018)
Cheryl Toh (guest chaser in 2019 and 2020)
2015
Bulgaria The Great Chase Nova Niki Kanchev Miglena Dragnova
Lyubomir Bratoev
Plamen Mladenov
Martin Ivanov
Radostina Tsvetanova (2023)
2022
China Tiaozhan Wenhua Dashi
Challenge the Culture Masters
Jiangxi Television Liu Wei Meng Man, Ji Lianhai, Kang Zhen, Li Bo 2014
Croatia Potjera
The Chase
HRT Tarik Filipovic (2013-2019)
Josko Lokas (2019-present)
Dean Kotiga, Mirko Miocic, and Morana Zibar 2013
Cyprus The Chase Alpha TV Cyprus Tasos Tryfonos Silia Ionnidou
Andreas Pitsillides
Marinos Cleanthous
George Pamporidis (Guest Chaser, 2020)
Louis Patsalidis (Guest Chaser, 2020)
Christiana Aristotelous (Guest Chaser; 2020)
Katerina Mina (Guest Chaser; 2022-)
2020
Czech Republic Na Lovu
On the Hunt
TV Nova Ondrej Sokol Dagmar Jandova
Jakub Kvasovsky
Jiri Martinek
Vaclav Slabyhoudek
Viktorie Mertova (2022-)
2021
Finland Jahti
Chase
MTV3 Mikko Leppilampi Eero Yitalo
Magnus Mali
Markus Leikola
2018
Germany Gefragt-gejagt
Asked - chased/hunted
NDR Fernsehen (2012-15)
Das Erste (2015-present)
Alexander Bommes Holger Waldenberg (2012, May 2015-April 2017)
Sebastian Jacoby (June 2013-present)
Sebastian Klussmann (June 2013-present)
Klaus Otto Nagorsnik (August 2014-present)
Grażnya Werner (January-April 2017)
Manuel Hobiger (May 2018-present)
Thomas Kinne (August 2018-present)
Adriane Rickel (September 2021-present)
2012
Greece The Chase Mega Channel Maria Bekatoru Vassilis Fasias
Panos Dimakis
Elias Alexiou
Maria Markou
Nikolas Pachis
2021
Israel המרדף
HaMirdaf/The Chase
KAN 11 Ido Rosenblum Itai Hermann
Ron Kofman (guest chaser in 2017 and 2018)
Nadav Jacobi (guest chaser in 2018)
Michal Sharon (2018-present)
2017
The Chase to Home Dudu Erez Itai Hermann 2020
Norway Jaget
Hunted
TV 2 Sturla Berg-Johansen Trine Aalbord
Jan Arild Breistein
2014
Russia Pogonya
Pursuit
Russia 1 Alexander Gurevich Alexander Ediger, Juriy Hashimov, Olga Uspanova, and Boris Burda 2012
Serbia Potraga
The Search
RTS Jovan Memedovic Milorad Milinkovic, Uros Duric, Milica Jokanovic, Zarko Stevnovic, Slobodan Nesovic, Maja Lalic 2013
Slovakia Na love
On the hunt
TV Markíza
VOYO.sk (6 June 2022)
Viktor Vincze Slavo Hlasny
Stefan Jurca
Denisa Zitnanska
2022
Spain El Cazador
The Hunter
La1 Ion Aramendi Erundino Alonso
Paz Herrera
Ruth de Andres
Lilit Manukyan
2020
Turkey Takip
Tracking
Kanal D Uraz Kaygilaroglu Muhsin Divan 2014
United Kingdom The Chase ITV Bradley Walsh Mark Labbett (2009-present)
Shaun Wallace (2009-present)
Anne Hegerty (2010-present)
Paul Sinha (2011-present)
Jenny Ryan (2015-present)
Darragh Ennis (2020-present)

Edmond Collins (2024, expected)

2009
  • Additional Note: In Australia, the Seven Network had once considered producing a local version of the show for the network and filmed a pilot using the original UK set but later decided not to proceed. Additionally, reruns of the UK version air weekday afternoons at 3PM due to good ratings. However, as of May 2015, it was rumored that the network might have a renewed interest in doing their own version of the show. The Australian version (formerly hosted by Andrew O'Keefe, now Larry Emdur) premiered on September 14, 2015.

Merchandise[]

A single mobile game was released for the iPhone and iPad by GSN in 2013.

Trivia[]

  • In 2012, a pilot for The Chase was originally going to be recorded on the UK set for FOX with Bradley Walsh from the original UK version as host along with former Jeopardy! champ Brad Rutter and Mark Labbett as the Chasers which unfortunately was never sold.
  • Before Brooke Burns, famed ESPN and ABC sportscaster Dan Patrick was the original choice to host the GSN version of The Chase before negotiations fell through at the last minute. More recently, Patrick was the host of Crackle's Sports Jeopardy! from 2014 until 2016.
  • This was the second American adaptation of a British game show hosted by Brooke Burns. Eleven years ago, her first was Dog Eat Dog that originally aired on NBC from 2002 until 2003.
  • Mark Labbett (a.k.a "The Beast") is not only a "chaser" in the U.S. version but also in the original U.K. version as well. Since 2016, Labbett is also a "chaser" in the Australian version. In addition, Anne Hegerty (a.k.a "The Governess") is also a "chaser" in both the U.K. and Australian versions as well.
  • Raj Dhuwalia beat The Beast and won $125,000 in season one of the show, making him the biggest winner in GSN history.
  • An August 15, 2013 recording for Season 2 featured The Beast's birthday that aired on November 5, 2013.
  • The episode from January 21, 2014, was the first taped episode from Season 1.
  • Reruns of the U.S. version along with its original British counterpart can also be seen daily on U.K.'s equivalent network to GSN, Challenge (also known as Challenge TV).
  • In 2015, Season 4 of the show aired alongside the revived game show Chain Reaction, hosted by Mike Catherwood.
  • As of 2021, contestants Muffy Muraco, Jonathan Corbblah and Arianna Haut are panelists on another GSN show, Master Minds, also hosted by Brooke Burns. Ken Jennings is also a frequent Master Minds panelist.
  • Many Jeopardy! graduates also participate in this program. Since it is a speed format that deals with trivia quizzes like Jeopardy!, the people in charge of Chaser are often composed of champions who have been active on Jeopardy! For reference, Jeopardy! has an element called the Daily Double, which sets it apart by not only knowledge but also luck.

Controversy[]

  • On March 24, 2021, the writers of the ABC version of The Chase went on strikes because producer ITV America has refused to abide by some of the terms of the collective bargaining agreement that covers the show. In a statement, ITV America countered that "We began good faith negotiations and proposed a package for the writers that includes generous, over scale pay increases and health benefits through the WGA."[1]
  • On April 5, 2021, both ITV and WGA[2]settled an agreement by reaching a deal to end two-week strike.

Additional Pages[]

References[]

Links[]

GSN Version
ABC Version

Video Links[]

YouTube[]

2nd Aired
Episode #3
Raj Wins Big

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