Allen Ludden, Bert Convy, Tom Kennedy, and, to a lesser extent, Regis Philbin would have all been proud. If their varying incarnations of the popular television game show “Password” had seen half the success (or audience) as Zenkaikon V’s one-day-long episode of “Anime Password,” perhaps it wouldn’t have gone through so many cancellations, hosts, and the like.
A huge crowd anxiously awaits Greg Wicker’s “Anime Password”
Celebrity contestant Vic Mignogna entertains some very excited audience members prior to the show
The Main Events room on the convention’s main floor was filled almost to capacity well before Anime Passowrd got underway. Host Greg Wicker mentioned that what he saw at Zenkaikon V may have been one of the largest audiences he had ever had for the show. Contestants who had been victorious at the Anime Password tryouts held prior to the videotaped event were high-school student Jess, Drexel University student Kent, and local AV editor Austin. The three con-attendees-turned-game-show-contestants were matched up with celebrity players Vic Mignogna and Todd Habercorn.
“Anime Password” is identical to its long-running TV counterpart: one player attempts to have his/her partner guess the “password” via one-word clues. Each password is part of a five-word list; the terms are clues to a puzzle. The team who wins three puzzles has the pleasure of advancing to the bonus round.
Jess and Kent took the stage for the first round of the game. Four puzzles were played in all, with “Alfonse Elric,” “Misty,” “Sushi,” and “Hellsing” being the winning terms. Jess and Vic wound up winning their way to the bonus round, where she correctly guessed a series of passwords based on Vic’s rapid-fire clues for additional winnings.
In the second game, Jess was up against new contestant Austin, who quickly advanced to the bonus round after winning two out of three puzzles (“Italy” and “Ghost”; neither team was able to guess the third puzzle, “Asuka”). His total winnings for the game after scoring additional yen through the bonus round exceeded $30.
Finally, Vic and Todd were pitted against each other; both were playing for charity money that would go directly to relief efforts for victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. If they reached the game’s goal of 5000 yen, Wicker swore a matching donation (to which Vic himself also promised). Several hilarious clues later, the 5000 yen goal was easily obtained and well over 15,000 yen (almost $200) was donated to the relief effort.
The thunderous applause, bales of laughter, and exceptionally charismatic celebrity guests made “Anime Password” a highlight of Wicker’s many Zenkaikon V game shows. Check out his work at 4randy.com or visit his Youtube channel for past performances of “Anime Password” as well as other game shows.
