Peer Pressure (game show)

Peer Pressure
Created by	Burt Wheeler, Sharon Sussman
Directed by	Joe Carolei
Presented by	Nick Spano Valarie Rae Miller
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
Production
Producers	Gary Ponticello, Lynne Spiegel Spillman
Running time	approx. 22-26 minutes
Production company	Wheeler-Sussman Productions
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 9, 1997 (1997-09-09) – September 1998 (1998-09)

Peer Pressure is an American television game show. Youth contestants perform stunts and answer questions about moral dilemmas. The show aired in syndication from 1997-1998 in first-run, and was hosted by Nick Spano and Valarie Rae Miller.

Gameplay

Three youths, ages 12–17, compete in a game based around moral dilemmas and stunts. ^[1] They compete on a set resembling an oversized board game, and attempt to progress furthest on the game board. ^[2] One at a time, each contestant determines moves via a Magic 8 Ball, which reveals a type of activity (a stunt or a moral-based question) and the number of spaces the contestant can move upon a correct answer or completion of said stunt. The board also features "go ahead" and "move back" spaces.

Activities

Four different activities are possible:

• Decision – The contestant and a "Peer Group" (a jury composed of about 10-12 teenagers in the studio audience) are read a moral dilemma-type question (e.g., "She's a really pretty, petite young blonde, but often wears plain white T-shirts and blue jeans to school because that's what she likes to wear. Does she turn you off because she dresses like a tomboy?") The contestant, without knowing how the Peer Group voted, supplies an answer, and progresses if their answer matches the group's consensus.
• Odd Job – The player performs a stunt (such as sorting clothing by type into the appropriate laundry basket), and has to meet the goal in a time limit to move.
• Temptation – A prize is described. The contestant can take the prize and accept a two-step penalty, or pass it up and advance. If the contestant takes the prize, it is theirs to keep regardless of the outcome of the game.
• Fast Track – Similar to "Odd Job", except the stunt is more difficult and always worth eight steps (e.g., preparing three banana split sundaes on a moving conveyor belt within a time limit). Failing to complete the task awards a two-step move as consolation.

After each contestant has taken a turn, the host asks a "Pop Quiz" question. Correct answers allow that player to advance three spaces, while a wrong answer (or failing to answer) offers a three-step penalty. Gameplay continues until time expires.

In the final segment of the game, the two higher-scoring contestants of three compete in the "Pressure Cooker" round. The goal is to correctly guess the outcome of yes-or-no questions asked of the in-studio peer group. The first contestant to correctly guess three times wins a prize package.

Production

Peer Pressure was hosted by Nick Spano and Valarie Rae Miller. It was created and distributed by Wheeler-Sussman Productions, also the creators of Singled Out . ^[3] The show recorded at the Production Group Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles. ^[2]

References

1. Lee Harris (September 28, 1997). "Shows for youngsters and their parents too". The Los Angeles Times . p. 6. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
2. David Schwartz, Steve Ryan, Fred Wostbrock (1999). The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows. Checkmark Books. p. 168. OCLC   1431111416.
3. Ali Rafalowsky (October 12, 1997). "'Peer Pressure': A game show for our age". Hartford Courant . pp. G10. Retrieved February 3, 2026.