The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Episode 14)

[bowlerraymond]

March?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Great guess -- but that's not it. James, back to you.

(And as we've turned the page again, here's the "up to date" chain...)

[Deleted]

I'll take a letter below month

[dougmorrisontheair]

James is taking...









(ding)

...M-A.

[Deleted]

May?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Has to be the other one -- and it is.









(ding; audience applause)

James, you're now up to $3500. Raymond has $2500. How do you play it?


bowlerraymond
jman8606

[Deleted]

A letter below may for me please

[dougmorrisontheair]

Champ keeps it and takes...










(ding)

...the letter Q.

[Deleted]

Queen?w

[dougmorrisontheair]

[NOTE FROM DOUG: The "w" in James' response of "Queen?w" was probably unintentional. We'll accept it as "Queen".]


That's it. WOW!











(ding; audience applause)

I would tell you now how MAY pertains to QUEEN right now...


bowlerraymond
jman8606


...but it's best I save for later. James, you're one solution away from retaining your championship.

Raymond, if the chain comes back your way, you'll want to make a run.

James, it's all up to you.

[Deleted]

A letter below aueen

[dougmorrisontheair]

For the game, James,...










(ding)

...an E.

[Deleted]

Elizabeth?

[dougmorrisontheair]

If that's it, you've won another game.

(ding; audience applause)

You've won the game, James Greek.

Just for fun -- either one of you guys want to take a guess as to the last link?

[bowlerraymond]

I don't know. Good game James.

[Deleted]

Neither do I! I'm curious though! Good game Raymond!

[dougmorrisontheair]

Nice to see the sportsmanship here. Unsolved link in the chain was ...










(ding)

...BANKS. Now let's recap the chain top to bottom.

When a woman is having her period, it's also known as that "time of the month". The fifth month of the year is May.

Now to the part of the chain that surprised James pleasantly. *Brian* May is a member of the rock band Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II has been Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand since the 1950s. Actress Elizabeth Banks appeared in "The Hungers Game" movie. And "Banks of the Ohio" is the title of an old country music song.

Also, cities such as Cincinnati and Steubenville are often described as being located on the banks of the Ohio River.

That's the chain, that's the game and we have to say farewell to Raymond. But we say farewell with $2500 from the game and another $1000 from the money link earlier. That's $3500...

...plus fine gifts backstage. A nice hand for Raymond Weaver.


(audience cheers)

(board rotates as part of the theme plays)

But James wins his second game in a row. Total winnings now up to $14,250 -- and a chance to start a $40,000 chain reaction. You got *real* close to 40 grand last time. Let's see if you can do it later.

Before you play the final chain, you'll play missing link. For winning the game, we give you four pennies.







(ding)

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

Correctly solve with just that first letter -- and all four pennies go to the final round with you. But for each additional letter you need, it costs you a penny.

The pennies you save can later be parlayed into tens of thousands of dollars.

If you're set, here comes the Missing Link game for today.







(ding)

The chain starts with FRENCH and ends with SOLO. The missing link starts with N.

For a possible $40,000, what's that missing link?

[Deleted]

Dunno

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not going to try. Let's see if you have better luck as you spend a penny...







(ding)


...on an A to go with the N.

[Deleted]

National anthem?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Clever -- but that's not it. Another penny goes away.







(ding)

N-A-P.

James, I should clarify, if you solve it here, you'll save two pennies for a possible $20,000 chain reaction. If not, you'll be down to one penny, we'll stop the game here and let you play for up to $10,000.

[Deleted]

Napoleon?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Oui.







(ding; audience applause)

The historical French leader Napoleon Bonaparte is often simply known as Napoleon. And Napoleon Solo was David McCallum's character on "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

And, yes, he's the same David McCallum who plays "Ducky" on "N.C.I.S." -- which can be seen often here on USA.

James, you saved two pennies. We'll see if you can parlay them into $20,000 with our final chain. That's coming up -- after a promo for "N.C.I.S.", I'm sure, and other words of interest. Stay with us.

(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)

James Greek tries the final chain for the second time. He already has $14,250. Another two cents are in the bank -- ready to becomes hundreds, thousands or maybe even tens of thousands of dollars.

It all depends, James, on how you fare with the final chain. As you know, in the final chain, we spot you just the top link...










(ding)

...which is REGGIE, in this case. We also spot you the first letter of each of the remaining links and we also give you seven spare letters to play with as necessary.

For each incorrect guess you make, you'll spend a spare letter. For each correct solution you make, the money in the bank increases tenfold.









(ding)

And the money chain shows us how that money can grow. Six right answers will turn two cents into $20,000.

(audience cheers)

Remember, you can't "back into" winning money here in the final chain. If a spare letter you burn completes the link, we can't credit you with a right solution. Even if you run into that kind of situation, keep playing the chain.

So let's bring back your final chain, James.











(ding)

Best of luck to you. We're all rooting for you now. Next link under REGGIE starts with M.

[Deleted]

Miller

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it -- MILLER.









(ding; audience applause)

Reggie Miller played his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers.

Just like that, two pennies become two dimes, James. For two bucks, next link under MILLER starts with a B.

[Deleted]

Boyettt?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ohh -- the sitcom producers. Good guess -- but that's not it. That'll cost you your first spare letter.









(ding)

B-E.

[Deleted]

Beer?

[dougmorrisontheair]

*Now* we're talkin'. BEER is right.










(ding; audience applause)

Miller Brewing company in Milwaukee certainly makes beer.

Up to two bucks. Next one's for $20. Under BEER, there's -- a -- P. (scattered laughter from the crowd) And get your minds out of the gutter, kids!