About this episode
How do TV producers decide how much money to give away? A little psychology and a lot of math. Zachary Crockett phones a friend. SOURCES: Bowen Kerins, math teacher and former contestant on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. Arthur Smith , CEO of A. Smith & Co. Productions and author of "Reach: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television." Aaron Solomon, television producer. RESOURCES: " ‘The Price Is Right’ Celebrates 10,000 Episodes With Extra Big Wins for Contestants That Top Off at $100,000! " by Rosemary Rossi (Variety, 2025). " Why haven’t more game show prizes been adjusted for inflation? " by Janet Nguyen (Marketplace, 2023). " Deal or No Deal? Decision Making under Risk in a Large-Payoff Game Show, " by Thierry Post, Martijn J. van den Assem, Guido Baltussen, and Richard Thaler (American Economic Review, 2008). " Why Game Shows Have Economists Glued to Their TVs, " by Charles Florelle (Wall Street Journal, 2006). EXTRAS: " Bowen Kerins on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire " (2000). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.