After Tuesday's episode I checked the contest rules and residents of Alaska and Hawaii were NOT eligible for the prize. Checked again tonight and that has now changed.

Unfortunately us Canadians are still not eligible but maybe if enough of us write in this could change too!

• RE: ABC has changed eligibility rules,MOTinAlaska, 02:53 AM, 09-20-02
  • RE: ABC has changed eligibility rules,psycguy, 10:43 AM, 09-20-02
• Likely Explanation...,sleeeve, 03:05 AM, 09-20-02
  • RE: Likely Explanation...,cuzmaydak, 03:15 AM, 09-20-02
  • Re: Likely Explanation,psycguy, 11:03 AM, 09-20-02

Gee, maybe cuz we who live in Alaska and those in Hawaii are US citizens too, and we watch ABC.... now, how about it if we all shut our TVs off.... maybe ABC would drop in the ratings????

Mot,
My post is not that it is unfair that Alaska and Hawaii have been included in the contest (I always found it weird that these states have been excluded from most contests).

My point is that
a) ABC has changed the rules since Tuesday and I was wondering if anyone had heard why they changed the rules - it's not like it took them until Thursday to realize that people who live in Alaska and Hawaii are US citizens too - clearly the intended to exclude those 2 states and then changed their minds.

b) A number of posters on different boards are not American but have also been watching ABC and expressed interest in playing for the money. So if ABC changed their minds to include Alaska and Hawaii (most likely as someone else in this thread has pointed out due to some type of backlash - either phone calls or letters from upset viewers), then perhaps they could be persuaded to include non-US citizens as well.

LAST EDITED ON 09-20-02 AT 03:11 AM (EST)

One of the problems that has plagued ABC executives with this show is making it appealing and fair to both timezones... since people on the East Coast have a three-hour time advantage in viewing the episodes, the producers were trying to figure out how to make sure that people on the West Coast had an equal chance to play.

I would speculate that the original plan was to allow the public to try to "win" the prize during primetime on a night soon after the final episode... since there is a three-hour time-zone gap from East Coast to West, they could easily air the final announcement coast-to-coast at, say, 11pm EST, 10pm CST, 9pm MST, and 8pm PST...

The problem is that, since ABC has local broadcast affiliates, they are not allowed to change local programming (which airs prior to 8 pm local time) on affiliate stations... therefore, they would be unable to broadcast the "live" announcement in Alaska or Hawaii at 7pm and 6pm respectively.

Their original way of handling this appears to have been to exclude those states from eligibility, but after some backlash, they must have come up with a new plan (either a different "medium" through which the final clue would be dispensed, or a deal with the local stations in those regions to allow ABC to cut into local programming with the final Push clue).

Once again, this is pure speculation, but since the Producers have assured the press that you can solve the entire puzzle without visiting any internet sites, I have a hard time imagining what medium other than television they could use to broadcast the final clue.

EDIT: Another possibility is to broadcast the "final clue" during Monday Night Football, which is carried live in all timezones... this might also help to generate publicity for a PN2.

EDIT #2: The more that I think about it, the more that I, personally, would set up the final clue as follows:

In final episode, if you have followed all of the clues, you know "where" the money is located (at a warehouse, for example)... during Monday Night Football, a seemingly normal advertisement airs for this fictious warehouse, offering people the chance to use their services (whatever they are)... this ad also features a 1-800-number that you can call for more information... the first person to call (potentially with an access code or something) wins.

Taken from the official rules:

D. THE FINAL CLUE

During the Final Episode, contestants will be directed to the medium, date and approximate time for dissemination of the Final Clue, which date and time shall be determined by Producer and shall occur (subject to preemption or circumstances beyond Producer's control) within seven (7) days after the broadcast of the Final Episode. By utilizing the Final Clue along with all prior Weekly Clues, contestants will be equipped with the information necessary to complete the Ultimate Solve.

My guess is that the final clue will be obtained by calling a phone number once everyone has had a chance to see the Final Episode.

Thanks Sleeeve,
That does seem like a likey explanation. Did anyone read about any backlash that did occur re: Alaska & Hawaii's exclusion?

Re: Final clue - I agree that it will have to be disclosed in some manner on a "Live" program - Does ABC have the Super Bowl this year? as there is a 6 hour window to win and it is first person calls wins so different time zones would be at a disadvantage.

I think that the winning situation will involve calling a number of one of the places in Push, Nevada (e.g. Martha's Boarding House, Silas' office etc.), and that part of the clue from the episode will be which place you have to call. If you have not tried yet, you should call the number on the Versailles fax and enter Silas machine code 4321 - there is an additional message to the one that Jim leaves in episode 1.