Quiz Show (1994)

Christopher McDonald: Jack Barry

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jack Barry : Eleven points will bring you to 21 and you will be our new champion! Because of a disagreement with his commanding general, Ulysses S. Grant was virtually placed under arrest for a brief time early in 1862. Who was the commanding general of the Union army at that time? Tough question.

  Charles Van Doren : Just so oddly familiar.

• Jack Barry : [prepping for the show]  My light okay? My nose doesn't look big?

  Stage worker : You look great Jack.

  Jack Barry : Last week I looked like a sun dial.

• Jack Barry : Herb Stemple, you lead at this point by 18 to 11. The category is movies, how many points do you wish to try for?

  Herbie Stemple : I'll try 3, three points.

  Jack Barry : Which would give you 21 points if you guess right and you will be the winner again.

  Jack Barry : [reads question]  Which motion picture won the Academy Award for 1955?

  Herbie Stemple : [feigning nervousness and thinking]  1955... Academy Award... Best Picture. Hmmm, you know... I don't remember.

• Announcer : Geritol. America's #1 tonic. Geritol, the fast-acting, high-potentcy tonic, that helps you feel... stronger... fast... presents the exciting quiz program..."Twenty-One." Brought to you by NBC, The National Broadcasting Company, broadcasting nationally coast to coast, from New York to Los Angeles, from Seattle to St. Petersburg... via a vast network of affiliates crisscrossing the country. Coming up next, "Twenty-One," starring master of ceremonies Jack Barry!

  [music cues build dramatically] 

  Announcer : Two players racing to score 21 points... each in a soundproof television studio, not knowing the other one's score... with $500 riding on each point... as they both play..."Twenty-One!"

  [lively theme music plays] 

  Announcer : And here's your host... Jack Barry!

  [the audience applauds as Jack runs on to the stage and stands behind his podium] 

  Jack Barry : [looking at us]  Good evening. I'm Jack Barry. Due to a series of ties, Herbert Stempel, our 29-year-old ex-G.I. college student, must play at $3,000 a point, which means that in a few brief minutes, he can either win as much as $100,000 - the most money won on television to date - or lose everything he's won in the last eight weeks.

  [as Jack continues to speak, Herbert and his opponent wait to be introduced] 

  Stempel's opponent : You nervous?

  Herbie Stemple : [chuckles as he clean's his glasses]  It's only money.

  Jack Barry : Isolated in their soundproof studios, neither player is aware of the other's score. I've been assured by our friends at the encyclopedia... that they've concocted some real brain-breakers this week, so we'll find out in the next 30 minutes... if the unstumpable Herbert Stempel can be stumped. Could I have the questions, please?

  [a drumroll plays as the questions are handed to Jack by a stagehand] 

  Jack Barry : Thank you, gentlemen. Remember the questions on "Twenty-One" are secured each week in a Manhattan bank vault 'til just before show time. So right now, let's meet Herbert Stempel and his challenger as Geritol, America's #1 tonic, presents "Twenty-One."

  [a fanfare plays and the audience applauds as Herbert and his opponent make their entrances]