Format change

It really is a steep fall from the $10,000 level to $1000 or the $5000 level to zero if the encore song is played and the lyrics are wrong. I think that the loss definitely discourages the contestants from attempting the encore song.

The entertainment value of the show is for the most songs to be played, and while they at times play the encore, even when the contestant is not going for the money, they don't always, nor is it played in the earnest manner as when money is involved.

So how about this instead. If the contestant know the lyrics to the 1000 through 10,000 dollar levels, so that they have a "perfect" game up to that point, then they earn the right to go for the encore with no penalty if they get the lyrics wrong. In other words the encore becomes a bonus and reward for a perfect game.