The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Episode 11, audience game)

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter under MASK.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Let's see if David gets the money...









(ding)

...as he takes a U.

[gameboy2000]

DISGUISE

[dougmorrisontheair]

DISGUISE is right.









(ding; audience applause)


gameboy2000
koopakid17


Commanding $3000 lead *plus* a bonus of $250 per letter in DISGUISE or $2000.

(more applause)

Now, players, if you'll recall, we had "U-N" erroneously in the money link. It should've been in the next link down.









(ding)

And it happens to be in the remaining unsolved link. We'll still make this worth a total of $1000. Again, runner-up in this game returns as the challenger on the next show.

David, are you giving or taking the third letter?

[gameboy2000]

I'll take the letter.

[dougmorrisontheair]

David's going to try to complete this convoluted chain...

(scattered laughter from the crowd)









(ding)

...with U-N-D.

[gameboy2000]

UNDERCOVER

[dougmorrisontheair]

You have completed the chain.










(ding; audience applause)

Let's recap this chain. A classic action comedy movie starred Jackie Gleason as a sheriff nicknamed "Smokey" and Burt Reynolds as Bo "Bandit" Darville. When robbing a bank, which we certainly don't encourage, a bandit could wear a mask. Anyone who wears a mask could use it to disguise his or her identity. While in a disguise, someone could go undercover. "Undercover Angel" was a hit in the late 1970s for Alan O'Day -- and I strongly doubt the kids on The New Dance Party USA would dance to that. And in Heaven, you should see an angel playing a harp.


gameboy2000
koopakid17

Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's a smaller version of the harp -- simply called an angel harp. Where's Marie when I need her expertise on harps? (scattered laughter from the crowd) David with a commanding $4250 to $250 lead over Kevin.

Let's go on to our third chain. And this chain for Round 3 starts with...









(ding)

...SOMETHING and it ends with BALANCE. Each link in the chain is now worth $750 -- with an additional $750 awarded to the player who completes the chain. It takes $5000 to win the match.

David only needs one right answer to win. Kevin, recall the deal earlier, if he goes out with just one more right answer, we'll see you on the next show for the rematch.

David -- how do you play it?

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter below SOMETHING.

[dougmorrisontheair]

David's going for the game right now...










(ding)

...with an E below SOMETHING.

[gameboy2000]

EXTRA

[dougmorrisontheair]

If it's EXTRA, you win the game.






















































(dings; audience applause; win music plays)

It's EXTRA and you've won the game.

Folks in the control room, please work with me on this. We know Kevin's going to be back on the next show. But we finished this game so early and the margin of victory is so big I just couldn't let him leave *this* game with just $250.

So, Kevin, here's what we're going to do. Folks in mission control, please spot Kevin the first letter in each link.











(ding)

Now, Kevin, I'll give you one chance to tell me each of the five remaining words in that chain. Each link contains just one word each -- including the exposed portions of the chain.

After you guess all five, we'll check. For each word you identify correctly, you'll win $750. If you get 'em all right, we'll throw in an extra $750.

By the way, this is all coming out of Mikey's pocket. (scattered laughter from the crowd) He puts the letters on the board -- including the goofed-up ones from Round 2. 

---

(Kevin, please respond with all five guesses in your reply.)

[koopakid17]

(I only see four words to guess so I'm posting the entire chain.)

Something
Extra
Edge
Crease
Charge
Account
Balance

Only one I'm not sure about is the middle word.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Kevin: I only see four words to guess.

Doug: Did I say "five"? I meant four. (scattered laughter from the crowd) So -- please tell me the remaining *four* words.

Kevin: Edge Crease Charge Account

Doug: All right -- please reveal the words Kevin identified correctly.









(ding; audience applause)

Got two -- at $750 each, that's $1500. Now, please reveal the rest of the chain.











(ding)

Ah, yes, the old Chain Reaction trick of having a certain word twice on the board. Let's recap in full.

In Louisiana, a lagniappe is defined as a gift or "something extra". When kids sold newspapers on the corner, they would yell "Extra Extra! Read all about it!" Tests at school could offer an extra credit question. When someone uses a credit card, they charge items rather than paying cash. When using that card, you'll be running up a charge account. And money owed to a third party is an account balance.

So that's the chain. Kevin, congratulations on winning $1750. We'll see you on the next show. Nice hand for Kevin.

(board rotates as part of the theme plays)

(audience applause)

David, so far, $7000 -- including the bonus money you racked up in the money link. Now you have a chance to win pennies which could turn into tens of thousands of dollars.

As you know in Missing Link, we spot you four pennies...







(ding)

...and in a moment, I'll spot you the top and bottom links of this three link chain -- and the first letter of that link in the middle -- the missing link.

Solve the missing link with just that initial letter -- and all four pennies join you in the final chain. But for each additional letter you need on the missing link, it will cost you a penny.

If you're set, here's today's Missing Link game.








(ding)

It starts with ANN and ends with KNOT. The missing link starts with A. To save all four pennies, what's that missing link?

[gameboy2000]

ARBOR?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Would they really sneak in a mild Wolverines reference in this game?







(ding; audience applause)

They sure would. Ann Arbor's a city which is roughly an hour west of Detroit. They're both in the same state with a name starting with M which I'm not going to say. (scattered laughter from the crowd) That's what Buckeye fans do. And an arbor knot is used by fishermen.

So -- four cents to build on the final chain. Come back to see if David can complete the $40,000 chain reaction -- after this.

(theme plays; audience applause)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Doug in pre-recorded audio as theme plays)

If you'd like to be a contestant on The $40,000 Chain Reaction, call toll free 1-800-555-40CR. That's 1-800-555-4027.

(audience applauds)

We're back and so is David -- with a chance to go for the top prize of $40,000 -- even *if* those darn Wolverines helped him bank four pennies.

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

So before the writers' meeting, let's get you started on this final chain.









(ding)

And on the final chain, we spot you just the top link -- which is THE. We also spot you the first letter of each of the remaining links -- and seven spare letters to use as you need them.

For each incorrect guess you make, it will cost you a spare letter.









(ding)

But on the positive side, for each correct solution you give us, the money in the bank is multiplied by ten. Go six for six and you pocket $40,000.

(audience cheers)

Keep in mind you have to get all of the remaining six links in the chain right. If you spend a letter on a link and said letter completes said link, we can't give you credit with a right answer. Also, when you run out of letters, the next wrong guess ends the game.

So -- best of luck as we bring back your final chain.











(ding)

Starting from THE, what's the next link starting with R?

[gameboy2000]

ROAD?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not ROAD. Here comes your first spare letter.









(ding)

R-E.

[gameboy2000]

REST?

[dougmorrisontheair]

'Fraid it's not REST. Next letter.









(ding)

R-E-N.

[gameboy2000]

RENAISSANCE

[dougmorrisontheair]

Third try's the charm. RENAISSANCE is right.









(ding; audience applause)

"The Renaissance" lasted from the 14th century to the 17th century -- bridging the time between the Middle Ages and modern history.

All right, 40 cents in the bank. Let's go for four bucks. Under RENAISSANCE, there's a D.

[gameboy2000]

DATE?

[dougmorrisontheair]

No -- not DATE. Though I hear it's fun to take a date to a RenFest. (scattered laughter from the crowd) Here comes another letter, David.









(ding)

D-O.

[gameboy2000]

DOTH?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Oooh -- sorry -- not DOTH. Here comes another letter.









(ding)

D-O-N.

[gameboy2000]

DONATELLO?

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it. DONATELLO.









(ding; audience applause)

A sculptor from The Renaissance was named Donatello.

Bank's up to four dollars. Next link's for $40. David, you're going to have to nail at least one of the remaining links off the bat to rack up the $40,000. Let's see if you can do it here under DONATELLO with a T.

[gameboy2000]

TURTLE