<P> The Prize Patrol surprises sweepstakes winners at their homes, work or other locations with cash prizes and captures the event on video . Since their introduction in 1989, these reality TV - style videos of prize - winners surprised at their doorstep with checks for $1,000 to $10 million have been used in widely broadcast television commercials, and, more recently, in the company's online acquisition efforts, websites and social media communications . In 2013, a $5 million television campaign modified the traditional prize patrol commercial by digitally altering video from classic sitcoms like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island to show the prize patrol visiting characters in the show . </P> <P> The Prize Patrol has made in - person appearances or delivered prizes on TV programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Price Is Right . Their surprise winning moments have been spoofed by Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and the cast of Saturday Night Live; woven into the plots of movies such as Let's Go to Prison, The Sentinel and Knight and Day; and the subject of cartoon s . </P>

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