Crothian said:
Okaaay...
I was inspired by the "I'd like to buy a vowel". We have a similar sort of gameshow in the UK called Countdown, whereby two people pick consonants and vowels and then make words out of them. The longer the word, the more points, if you can't make a word that's in the dictionary, no points. Thirty seconds to come up with your word.
There are also two rounds in which a three digit number is generated, and then six cards are drawn, each with a number on it, and you have to use the six numbers drawn to make the big number. Doing this gets you ten points. Again, thirty seconds only.
The hostess is called Carol Vorderman. Take note.
When choosing the six numbers, those on the top row are, I think, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100...and one other, can't remember, the others are all 1-9. Therefore, most people choose "One from the top, and any other five please Carol" as the easiest option that gives them a good chance of getting to the number in question. Some smart alec clever people choose all six big numbers to show off.
Hence.
The show is pretty popular in a "its the middle of the afternoon and I have no lectures" student kind of way, and also for mothers that aren't keeping track of children, and retired types that like wordplay and exercising their brains. Good fun.
(Phew, never thought explaining <i>Countdown</i> would be so complicated!)