Spelling Bee is where contestants try to spell the word "CAR" using hexagon-shaped cards to win a car; they can also win a consolation cash prize.
Gameplay
- The centerpiece of Spelling Bee is a large board which conceals 30 cards: eleven each of "C" and "A" cards, six "R" cards and two which say "CAR." To win the car, a contestant must select cards that spell "CAR," either with all three letters or a "CAR" card.
- The contestant is given two free cards from the board at the start of the game, which are kept face-down; they can earn up to three more. Three small prizes are shown, one at a time, for which the contestant must guess the actual price. If their guess is within $10 (inclusive) of the actual price, they win that prize and another card from the board. Guessing the exact price of any of the small prizes automatically wins the three additional cards and all three small prizes, regardless of whether a previous prize has already been lost (as was the case on the January 8, 1999 playing).
- All cards chosen are kept face-down and each is worth $1,000 while it remains face-down, up to $5,000 for the maximum five cards (prior to the start of Season 36, each card was worth $500, up to $2,500 for the maximum five cards). The contestant is offered a chance to quit and take the cash value of the cards. If they decline, the cards are turned over one-by-one, with the contestant given the chance after each one to walk away with the cash value of the remaining face-down cards. If the revealed cards spell out "CAR" or a "CAR" card is revealed, the contestant wins the car; however, the contestant does not keep the value of remaining face-down cards if they win the car.
- If a contestant does NOT bid within $10 above or below the ARP of all three small prizes, however, the game is still not over. Since there are two "CAR" cards, as well as the fact that each card is $1,000 apiece, the contestant can still try to win the car by finding a "CAR" card or leave with $2,000.
History
- Until the end of Season 35 which happened to be under Bob Barker's tenure, the cards were worth $500 each (for a maximum of $2,500). The cards were increased to $1,000 each (for a maximum of $5,000) beginning in Season 36 under Drew Carey's tenure.
- Originally, the strips completely blended into the numbered slots, so there was no way to indicate what card(s) the contestant had picked off the board except for close-up camera shots. Beginning on October 29, 1992, red strips were added behind the number slots to make it obvious what numbers have been chosen. A frequency chart of cards was added to the base of the game board on February 7, 1994.
- On two occurrences, on March 14, 1997 and 2006, the electronics were broken; the prices of the small prizes were revealed on price tags.
- On January 8, 1999, a contestant named Amy Vitori played a perfect game, getting one "C," one "A," one "R" and both "CAR" cards; in addition, she won all three small prizes by correctly guessing the price of the fruit hammock after missing the prices of the rice cooker and the candle holder. However, Bob misheard Amy when she had chosen her fourth card. She asked for #26, but Bob placed #27-- which was an "A"-- in the fourth slot.
- On February 4, 1999, a contestant named Christine only had three cards. After she had two "A"s, she decided to bail out and take $500. However, after she did, she asked Bob to show her the one remaining card she had chosen. Bob declined at first, but wondered if Christine should've seen it after he looked himself. After a brief pause, he said to his dismay, "Ladies and gentlemen, she SHOULDN'T SEE IT!!!!" The card said "CAR." Christine and the audience were in total shock. Bob grimaced as he saw Christine blow the car.
- On May 23, 2014, a contestant had four cards and the contestant decided to take the $4,000. Her first three cards spelled out "CAR" and Drew Carey did not look behind the fourth card.
- On February 15, 2016, during that show's "Dream Car Week", Spelling Bee was played for a $120,265 Aston Martin GT. In addition, the money sides were raised from $1,000 to $5,000 apiece; for a maximum bet of $25,000. Contestant Francesca got all three small prizes right and therefore got the maximum five cards, went for the car, and got a "CAR" on the first card; the other cards were not exposed. (Pictures of this historic event are seen below.)
Foreign Versions
- On Mexico's "Atínale al Precio", the word "CAR" was replaced with the word "AUTO". The "A" was given for free and the contestant had to find the "U," "T" and "O" or one of two cards saying "AUTO." Each face-down card was worth M$2,000.
- The Netherlands "Cash en Carlo" changes the letters to "WIN," and adds four cards worth €1,000; there are 9 "W"'s, 9 "I"'s, 6 "N"'s, 2 "WIN"'s and 4 "€1,000" cards. Drawing a "€1,000" gives that amount to the contestant regardless of the outcome. Each face-down card was worth €200.
- On Vietnam's "Hãy chọn giá đúng," the contestant had to find the name of the prize using words on each card: beginning, middle and end or a card with the whole name on it. Each face-down card was worth VND300,000.
- On Colombia's "El precio es correcto", the word "CAR" was replaced with the word "CARRO", and adds four cards worth $300.000; there are 7 "C"'s and "A"'s, 8 "R"'s, 6 "O"'s, 2 "CARRO"'s, and 4 items playing.
Trivia
- Spelling Bee was played once on the primetime Price is Right. On top of that, the game was won.
- Spelling Bee perfect playing (both car cards and spelling CAR) happened twice.
- September 29, 2000 was the only known time a contestant got nothing but R's.
- Spelling Bee is the Million Dollar Game. To win the bonus, the contestant needs to spell "CAR" twice.
- The most number of times this game was played in any season was 32.
Gallery
Bob's Era
Amy's Perfect Spelling Bee Playing
This was the price of the candle holder but missed it by $12.
This was the price of the cooker but missed it by $20. But--
Amy redeemed the first 2 items by guessing the fruit hammock exactly right.
By guessing the fruit hammock exactly right, in addition to winning the fruit hammock, she redeems herself by winning the cooker and the candle holder.
She gets 5 cards, each worth $500. So she could elect to take $2,500 and stop, or go for the car. She elects to go for the car.
The first card had a "C" and when the 2nd card revealed, BOOM! She wins the car.
Who can do better than that? 2 cards that read the word "CAR" and finding the 3 letters that spell out the word "CAR".
Drew's Era
The cards have increased to $1,000 each, so a player can bail out with a max of $5,000 if they so choose.
Here's an up close look of how many "C"s, "A"s, "R"s and the 2 cards that reads out the word "CAR" there are in the game.
Spelling Bee for a $120,265 Aston Martin GT
This is the price of the 1st item.
This is the price of the 2nd item.
This is the price of the 3rd item.
And for this special playing, we've jacked up the stakes: $5,000 for each card, so this player could bail with $25,000 if she so desires. But she's gonna go for the car!
What?!!! The word "Car" is found!
There are streamers everywhere. This is one reason to celebrate. But she won't be celebrating for long when she hears from the taxman, as she has to pay a ton of taxes on that car!
Videos
Spelling Bee premiere (September 15, 1988)
5 Straight same letter playing Spelling Bee
A perfect playing footage of Spelling Bee (January 8, 1999)
Spelling Bee for a 1966 GTO (May 10, 2010)
Mega Jackpot from Dream Car Week (February 15, 2016)