Friday night was National Bingo Night in the spring of 2007. That was the night that millions of Americans stayed home, or gathered at bingo parties with their friends, to
play bingo along with the popular television show National Bingo Night.
Millions Played Interactive Bingo on National Bingo Night
Each hour-long episode of National Bingo Night comprised three bingo games played by a studio contestant, the studio audience, and the home audience. The members of the studio audience were given red, white and blue bingo cards for the three
bingo games. The viewers at home could also participate by printing out official bingo cards from the television network's website. Each
bingo card had a serial number, so the home viewers were full participants in these interactive bingo games and were eligible to win real cash prizes. In fact, millions of people participated in these interactive bingo games.
In many ways, National Bingo Night was similar to a standard game of 75-ball bingo. Numbered balls were selected, one at a time, by the show's host, Ed Sanders. Players in the studio audience, or viewers at home playing interactively, would search their bingo cards for the called number and mark it if it appeared. A winning bingo card was achieved with a horizontal row, a vertical column, or a diagonal line.
What made National Bingo Night different from a regular American bingo game was that the studio contestant did not receive a bingo card. Instead, the studio contestant had to perform a series of zany and entertaining stunts. If the contestant completed her stunts before an audience member got bingo, the contestant won $50,000. If not, the audience member who got the bingo would win $5,000, and the studio contestant got nothing. Interactive television viewers who achieved bingo also won by entering the serial number of their
winning bingo cards online.
Lots of Cash and Prizes Were Won on National Bingo Night
Part of the appeal of National Bingo Night was the chance to win lots of cash or other prizes. Every week, the show gave away one $50,000 cash jackpot, one $10,000 Kmart gift card, and one 7-night Royal Caribbean Cruise. Other prizes were also awarded, including gift certificates and trips to major sporting events. And remember, downloading and printing the bingo card and participating in the interactive bingo games was free, so these were really amazing prizes for a free game.
Australian National Bingo Night
Another version of National Bingo Night was broadcast on Australian television. The Australian version, hosted by television personality Tim Campbell along with co-host Renee Bargh, is similar to the American National Bingo Night, except that the prizes are a bit smaller. But Australia is a smaller country than the US, so this is to be expected.
Will National Bingo Night Return?
Friday night was National Bingo Night in the US for a brief but glorious six-week run in May and June 2007. There were reports that it would return in the fall, but they did not materialize. Now there are petitions circulating, both on line and off, as loyal National Bingo Night players campaign for the return of their show. It is hoped that the petitions will have an impact on the executives of the television network, and that Friday night will once again be National Bingo Night.
