Win big at home with ‘National Bingo Night’

Whether game shows such as “Deal or No Deal” qualify as reality television has been a topic of conversation, but I’m sure ABC’s latest fits the bill and it’s lots of fun.

“National Bingo Night” is bound to be the next hit game show and you won’t want to miss out on the family-friendly fun.

Most of us have played bingo at some point in our lives, and now the entire country can play along with contestants on the show. Trust me, this isn’t your grandmother’s bingo game so get out your daubers and get ready to win.

In each episode, three games are played in the television studio and viewers are able to play along at home using bingo cards that are available online.

Host Ed Sanders, known for his contributions to “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” calls the numbers one through 75 in the Bingo Plex arena. The studio audience keeps track of their own cards for a chance to win cash and prizes and send the contestant home with nothing.

Home viewers can print out cards on the show’s Web site at www.abc.com. Each printing gives you three pages – red, white and blue – for each of the three games that will be played during Friday night’s episode. Each page has three chances to win and following the show, at-home players log on to ABC’s Web site and enter the serial number from their card to verify that it’s a winner and become eligible for the grand prize drawing for that game.

Winning serial numbers must be entered by 6 p.m. the following Monday in order to redeem prizes.

Cards are available now, but there are some rules and players must be over 18 years old. For a complete list of regulations, go to www.abc.com.

“National Bingo Night” airs at 9 p.m. Friday, May 18, on ABC.

Don’t miss it because prizes for the first game are a $5 Kmart gift card (I know, it doesn’t sound like much but it gets better) with the grand prize of $10,000.

The white card game could net you a Rascal Flatts “Me and My Gang” CD or the grand prize of a seven-night Royal Caribbean Cruise.

And the final game gives winners a chance at a trip to the Indy 500 courtesy of ESPN or a trip to New York City to visit the set of “The View.” The final grand prize drawing is for $50,000. How long do you think it will take for them to get up to $1 million giveaways?