About the show
About the show
Weeknights at 10.30pm
Iconic Kiwi classic It's In The Bag started in the 1950s as a
Radio New Zealand game show, hosted by Selwyn Toogood.
In the 1970s it was developed into a popular television series
hosted again by Toogood, then later John Hawkesby and Nick
Tansley.
Classic phrases such as "By hokey!" and also, "The money or the bag?" slowly but surely entered into the New Zealand vernacular.
One of the key points of difference at the time, and an aspect of its success, was that the production team went on the road to a different town each week, and the set was assembled into a local community town hall.
The contestants were down-to-earth locals who came to watch the show live, who were up to answering three general knowledge questions.
If all three questions were answered correctly, one had the chance to play for "The money or the bag?!"
The presenter would then offer a dollar value and the contestant could either take the money now and leave, or the bag.
The bartering for the bag would then continue until either the money was taken, or reached a limit where then the contestant would win the prize in the bag.
The prize would be extremely valuable, or a contain booby prize worth much less than the money offered.
Great classic tele!