January 27, 2006

Divorce and Heartbreak on Spike TV!

by Webmaster
Categories: GameShows
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Spike TV is expanding its lineup of reality fight shows by introducing a new gameshow based on real couples splitting up and divorcing! Get ready for Divorce and Heartbreak, hosted by Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson.

Nick and Jessica provide scathing and catty remarks toward not only each other, but also the contestants on Divorce and Heartbreak, where regular couples, experiencing divorce, compete with each other for the prizes of their own personal belongings that are up for grabs as the couple splits forever! The game consists of three preliminary rounds, and one final grand prize round.

The game opens up with a five-minute documentary that introduces each contestant, and includes the date of marriage, the length of marriage, the number of children, and edited footage of family movies. Re-enactments of alleged wrongdoings are shown, including cheating, abuse or gambling.

Round One is the Irreconcilable Differences round. In round one, each contestant bids groups of items valued at under 200 dollars each, up to a 5000 dollar maximum. These items include electronic equipment, the bottom tier of family furnishings, personal mementos and jewelry. Each contestant then recounts horrifying stories of mistreatment during the marriage, including such topics as cheating, drinking, compulsive gambling, constant nagging, or inability to hold down a job. The audience then gets to vote based on the testimony to determine who had suffered most from the marriage emotionally, and that person is awarded all prizes in that round.

Round Two is the How well you know your former spouse round. In this round, each contestant bids, one at a time, the larger value items priced at under 4000 dollars each. These items include washers/dryers, the best family furnishings, expensive jewelry, entertainment systems, etc. The hosts ask each contestant personal questions that the former spouse should know based upon their marriage. If the contestant loses his bid, the other contestant gets the prizes.

Round Three is the Big Ticket Item Round. In this round, all expensive items are put up as a bid. These items include the cars, boats, RV s, personal watercraft, the house, and even alimony. The hosts ask each contestant why they deserve each item based upon their failure to keep a marriage together, and each contestant pleads their case. The audience then votes who should get each item, but the audience decision must have at least a 20% margin, or else the decision is made by a guest Family Circuit Court Judge.

Round Four determines who gets custody of the children. In the final round, each contestant can offer to return a portion or all of their winnings in a bid to trade for custody of the children. If no bargain is made, the contestants in-laws and friends make a plea to the audience to state their cases why each contestant should be awarded custody. The audience then decides, but the margin must be greater than 20% or the guest Family Circuit Court Judge makes the determination.

All decisions are final as signed by a contract by each contestant prior to the show.

Some excitement to watch for includes fistfights between rival in-laws and friends of the former couple, and the snappy jibes Jessica and Nick hurl at each other.