Watch 500 Questions

500 Questions was a dramatic game show aired on ABC for the first time in May 2015. Hosted by Richard Quest, Dan Harris, and Steve Bahnaman, the show involved the world's smartest people competing for a grand prize of $500,000. The concept of this show was unique because it contained no multiple choice questions or lifelines, and the contestants could answer only one question at a time.

Each of the episodes began with six contestants, all of whom were experts in their field. The contestants were given 500 questions in categories ranging from pop culture to politics, sports to history, and more. They had to answer as many questions as possible correctly, within a time limit of 60 seconds. If the contestants answered three questions correctly in a row, they earned a bonus of 1,000 points. However, the contestants were eliminated from the show if they answered three questions incorrectly in a row or failed to answer any question correctly within the given time limit.

The show was divided into three stages. In the first round, the contestants had to answer as many questions as possible, and the one who managed to answer the most questions correctly moved on to the second round. In the second round, the contestant was pitted against the previous day's champion and had to answer as many questions as possible to stay in the game. The winner of this round moved on to the final round where they had to answer 25 questions correctly to win the grand prize.

The grand prize was an attractive $500,000, but the contestants had to take a real gamble to get there. After every five questions answered correctly, the contestant had to decide whether to continue or stop playing. If they decided to continue, the number of questions they had answered correctly would be saved, but if they answered a question incorrectly in this round, they would lose the saved number of questions.

In addition to the contestants, the show featured a few celebrities and experts in various categories who were grilled with tough quizzes. Celebrities such as Ken Jennings (known for his 74 winning streaks on Jeopardy) appeared on the show as experts in their field. Also, some of the best minds in the world such as mathematician Michael Schneider, and champion poker player Annie Duke, were invited to participate in the show.

The show was unique in that it offered neither a time-out nor any form of assistance to the contestants. Each question had a time limit of 60 seconds, and if the answer was not deemed correct by the producers, it was immediately revealed as such. In this way, 500 Questions was a show that tested not just the contestants' knowledge and intelligence but also their temperament, consistency, and tenacity, all of which were necessary factors for contestants aiming to win.

500 Questions, above anything else, was fast-paced and action-packed. The show lasted for seven nights, with each episode having a cliffhanger ending, something that quickly got the audience anticipating the next night's episode. Besides being fun to watch, the show promoted knowledge enhancement, and sometimes, viewers could learn something new from just watching the show.

The show was well-produced with instrumental background music that heightened the tension of the competition. Richard Quest, Dan Harris, and Steve Bahnaman were perfect choices for hosting the show. They had an excellent job of coordinating the flow of the show and keeping the audience engaged throughout the show.

In conclusion, 500 Questions encompassed a different format and style from normal game shows, something that made it stand out. The show was a pure test of knowledge and intelligence, without the assistance of any lifeline or multiple choice questions. It entertained the audience while also stimulating learning and knowledge enhancement. Although the show only lasted for one season, it was a must-watch experience, and the audience could find it refreshing compared to the overwhelming dominance of reality shows.