The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Episode 1)

[tmann3x]

I'll take a letter with language.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Next letter for you this time, Tony,...









(ding)

...B-O.

[tmann3x]

Body.

[dougmorrisontheair]

BODY -- that's it.










(ding; audience applause)


tmann3x
Twentington


Tony narrows the gap further with that right solution. Another $750 for the challenger. Get the next one right, Tony, and we have a tie game.

How do you play it?

[tmann3x]

I'll give Evan a letter under Foxworthy.

*BTW, Bill needs you on Gambit.

[dougmorrisontheair]

All right, Evan, first guess is yours under FOXWORTHY...










(ding)

... -- starting with F.

[Twentington]

FARM?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sorry -- not FARM. Back to Tony.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(time passes) (buzz buzz)

Ohhh -- sorry -- took too long. Evan, this means we give you the next letter under FOXWORTHY...










(ding)

...which is an I. We also give you the first letter above BODY -- which is an S.

You may guess the link starting with F-I -- or the link starting with S.

[Twentington]

Above body.... SHAPE?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not SHAPE -- but a great guess. Tony, you've been given a reprieve from the governor. Where to?

[tmann3x]

A letter, for myself, with Foxworthy please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

F-I- (ding) -F.

[tmann3x]

Fifth grade?

[dougmorrisontheair]

(cuckoo bird)

Tony, a little birdie tells me you're close but not close enough to be credited with a right answer. We'll give you one more try.

[tmann3x]

Fifth GRADER?

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's more like it.









(ding; audience applause)

And get a load at the score.

tmann3x
Twentington


Tie ballgame at 3750. The remaining unsolved link is now worth $1500 -- $750 for the right answer and the other $750 for completing the chain. The next right answer in this round wins the game for someone.

Tony, with that in mind, are you giving the next letter away to Evan -- or taking it for yourself?

[tmann3x]

I'll take a letter for myself.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Going to try to win the game yourself...









...with S- (ding) -T.

[tmann3x]

Student...?

[dougmorrisontheair]

If it's STUDENT, Tony, you're the new champion.



















































(dings; audience applause; win music plays)

That's it! You're the winner, Tony Lane.

Let's recap this chain before we move forward.











If you've stared at a carton of orange juice because it said "concentrate", you might be a redneck, according to Jeff Foxworthy's comedy routines. Jeff Foxworthy was the host of "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" A fifth grader is definitely a student -- and part of a student body. Tom Kennedy hosted the charades-style game show "Body Language". And an example of a foreign language is French.

That's our Round 3 chain. Tony, stand by, because you've got to play for pennies that could be parlayed into $40,000.

First, we've got to say goodbye to Evan Hatfield. A short stay -- but a profitable one for you Evan. You scored $3750 in this game. You picked up $1500 in bonus money from the money link in Round 2. We add it all to your previous winnings for a grand total of a nice round $51,000.

(audience cheers)

Oh yeah. You also have some fine gifts waiting for you backstage. Another nice hand for Evan Hatfield.

(audience cheers) (board rotates as part of the theme plays)

Tony, the bonus round awaits. But first, we're setting up the board for a special Missing Link game.








And there's the board -- just a three-link chain. Now for winning the game, we give you four pennies.







(ding)

In a moment, Tony, we'll spot you the top and bottom links of this chain -- as well as the initial letter of the missing link -- the one in the center, of course. If you correct identify the missing link with just that initial letter, you'll take the four pennies into the bonus round -- where they can be parlayed into a possible $40,000 payoff.

(audience cheers)

However, if you're wrong, we'll give you the next letter -- but it will cost you a penny and reduce your potential winnings.

We'll keep playing until you correctly identify the missing link or until you're down to just one penny -- at which time, we'll give you a shot at $10,000.

If you're set, here is your Missing Link game.








(ding)

And this starts with HELICOPTER and ends with COMPANY. The missing link starts with P. What's that missing link?

[tmann3x]

I'll take a guess and say pilot.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not PILOT. 'Fraid that costs you a penny.







(ding)

Missing link starts with P-A.

[tmann3x]

Parts...?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sorry, not PARTS. That'll cost you another penny.







(ding)

P-A-R. A correct solution here means you'll play for up to $20,000. If not, you'll go for $10,000.

Last shot at the missing link. Make it a good one.

[tmann3x]

This is gonna be difficult for me. *sighs* Parking?

[dougmorrisontheair]

If it's PARKING, you're playing for $20,000. Is it PARKING?





















































(ding) (audience groans)

No, it's PARENT. A helicopter parent is a mom or dad who pays a lot of attention to his or her child's progress at school. And a parent company controls management and operations of other companies within its portfolio.

Well, sorry this didn't work out, Tony. What this means is we put one red cent in the bank.

Literally -- one red cent. The lights on the scoreboard over there are red. (a few laughs from the crowd) You'll have a chance to parlay that penny into $10,000. Find out how when we come back.

(theme plays; audience applause)

 

[tmann3x]

That puzzle was too difficult for me.

[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)

And we're back with Tony Lane. He had some tough luck with the Missing Link game -- but he has a chance to start a chain reaction that could lead to $10,000.

There's the penny you got from the special Missing Link. In a moment, you're going to try to complete another chain.  Let's set up our bonus chain.











(ding)

For this bonus chain, we only spot you the top link -- which is COMPUTER. We spot you the initial letters of the remaining six links. We also give you seven free letters to play with as necessary.

For each incorrect guess you make, it will cost you a free letter. For each right solution you make, your winnings in the bank are multiplied by ten.









(ding)

As you take a look at the *money* chain, you see how that money can pile up. First right answer is for dime -- then a buck -- then $10 and so on all the way to $10,000.

(audience cheers)

Two big things to keep in mind. If you make a wrong guess and you're out of free letters, the game ends. Also, if you use a free letter that reveals the link in its entirety, we can't credit you with a right answer -- putting the $10,000 out of reach.

But keep playing because there's money to be made if you don't go all the way. Now, let's bring back the bonus chain.










(ding)

We're starting under COMPUTER with a link that starts with S. What do you think is in that second link?

[tmann3x]

Software?