The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA; Episode 19)

[billmcdee]

(Hmm...not what I was thinking but that is a superb guess, growing more uncomfortable as my lead is slip sliding away!  LOL)

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it. WOW!









(ding; audience applause)

Well -- get a load of what that does to the score...


jmdarrall
billmcdee


...Jon's up to $3500. Bill's still leading with $4000.

But the remaining, unexposed link is now worth $1500 -- $750 for the right answer and $750 for completing the chain.

The game is $5000 -- so the play who completes this chain wins it. Jon, if you win it, you take the crown. Bill, if you win it, it's an extra $40,000 and an undefeated reign.

But it's Jon with the crucial decision. Who's getting that first letter?

[jmdarrall]

I am.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Jon's going for the championship...









(ding)

...with an N.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Jon.)

[billmcdee]

(Remembered this from the vacation thread.  Jon and his g/f are away for the Memorial Day weekend camping, so no internet access.)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Jon; per the vacay note, this is an untimed down.)

[jmdarrall]

It's a stretch, but NAZARETH?

[dougmorrisontheair]

If it's NAZARETH, Jon, you'll become our new champion.











































(dings; audience applause; win music plays)

IT'S NAZARETH! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

What. A. Comeback.

Jon, congratulations. How does it feel to suddenly become the new champ?

[jmdarrall]

Holy...cow! Wow! It feels awesome. Bill, you were a great competitor. I want to say, I think this is NGA worthy.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ultimately, I have a sneaking suspicion you'd like to know how NAZARETH won you the game. Here's how.








 

A horror movie will likely have scenes that are bloody. A Bloody Mary is a cocktail with tomato juice, vodka and other spices.

And here's the area that clinched it for Jon. Mary of Nazareth was the mother of Jesus Christ. The *rock band* Nazareth was formed in Scotland; you probably know their songs "Hair of the Dog" and "Love Hurts".

As for the rest of the chain, Scotland Yard serves as the headquarters from the police department in London, England. And you can sell unwanted items from your home at a yard sale.

That's the chain. Let's not feel *too* bad for Bill. He doesn't get the $40,000 bonus. But Bill, you've got a lot of loot along the way. $4000 from the game and the $1000 bonus. A final grand total of an impressive...

(audience cheers)

...$142,530.  Anything you want to say before we pass the crown on to Jon.

[billmcdee]

I knew one way or another, this would be the episode where I had to abdicate my throne.  If it had to end, I cannot think of two better people to bring it to an end than Mary of Nazareth and my superb opponent!  Jon, congratulations!  Superb match!

Doug, I want to thank you and all the folks here at Chain Reaction.  It's been a very fun and enjoyable ride and I look forward to watching future episodes, and hope to see Jon perhaps do what I almost was able to do, win 5 in a row and take home that extra $40,000.

Thank you everybody!

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Well said -- and thanks for the kind words, Bill McDee.

Jon, I tell ya what. We're going to take a break. Afterward, we'll play Missing Link and your final chain for a possible $40,000. Stay tuned, everyone.

(theme plays; audience cheers)

---

[NOTE FROM DOUG: Due to my forthcoming vacation and a few loose ends to tie up elsewhere here at NGC, it's best we resume play with Jon's endgames after my vacation. I'll be back from said vacation June 11. Thanks for your patience.]

[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)

Jon Darrall has unseated our four-time champion, Bill McDee. In the process, Jon, you already have $5000. We owe you a try at the Missing Link game before you play your final chain. We'll play Missing Link right now.







(ding)

Three-link chain here -- and we've just spotted you four pennies. In a moment, we'll spot you the top and bottom links of the chain -- and the initial letter of the link in the middle. That's the missing link.

If you can solve the missing link with just that first letter, all four pennies join you in the final chain -- and you could parlay them into $40,000.

(audience cheers)

Remember -- for each additional letter you need, it costs you one penny -- reducing your potential winnings in the process. We'll keep playing Missing Link until you solve the link -- or until you're down to your last penny.

Ready to try Missing Link, Jon?

[jmdarrall]

Yes, let's go!

[dougmorrisontheair]

All righty then. Jon, your Missing Link game starts with...







(ding)

...TOO and it ends with PHILIPPS -- notice the spellings.   I *can* tell you that links at the top and bottom are spelled correctly.  I can comment no further than that.

The missing link starts with a B. To save the four pennies -- and to try to turn them into $40,000 -- what is that missing link?

[jmdarrall]

Bad?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not a bad guess -- but BAD is incorrect. Costs you a penny.







(ding)

B-U. For three pennies, what's that missing link?

[jmdarrall]

Butch?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sorry -- but it's not BUTCH. Away goes another penny.







(ding)

B-U-S.

Jon, if you're right, you'll play for up to $20,000. If not, the game ends and we'll take the one penny to the final chain -- where it could become ten grand.

[jmdarrall]

Busy

[dougmorrisontheair]

There ya got it.







(ding; audience applause)

Jon, our technicians need a moment before we rotate the board for your final chain.

Have you figured out how BUSY relates to TOO and PHILIPPS?

[jmdarrall]

Not really.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Well -- someone under a lot of stress is likely too busy to take on other tasks. That much I bet you figured out.

Busy Philipps is the name of an actress. She's been on "Freaks and Geeks", "Cougar Town" -- and if I'm not mistaken, "Dawson's Creek". Our sources confirm she spells her name with three Ps and one L.

(board rotates as part of the theme plays)

And I take that song to mean our techies are ready to move things right along to the final chain. Yup, coming into view -- and we're set.

Jon, it's time for the final chain. And in the final chain, we spot you just the top link...










(ding)

...which is CUP OF. We also spot you seven spare letters to use as you need them.

Each time you give me a wrong guess, it costs you a spare letter. But each time you give me the right guess, the money you just saved in Missing Link will be multiplied by ten.










(ding)

And as you can see by this money chain, it can grow from two cents -- all the way up to $20,000.

(audience cheers)

Remember, to collect 20 grand, you must give me six right guesses -- and you can't "back into" winning money. If a spent spare letter leads to completion of the link, we can't credit you with a right answer.










(ding)

So there's the final chain back on the board. You're starting off with the next link under CUP OF -- which starts with a J.

[jmdarrall]

Joe.

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it -- JOE. 

(ding; audience applause)

A "cup of joe" is a slang term for coffee in said container.

 

Just like that, you now have two dimes. Let's go for two bucks. Next link under JOE starts with another J.









(ding)

[jmdarrall]

Jackson?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Great guess. That's right!









(ding; audience applause)

Joe Jackson -- British singer best known for his hit song "Steppin' Out".

 

That's two bucks in the bank now. Now for $20, what's the next link under JACKSON? It's starts with an M.

[jmdarrall]

Mississippi

[dougmorrisontheair]

It's tempting to hum a few bars of a certain Bruno Mars song -- but I won't. MISSISSIPPI is right.









(ding; audience applause)

Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi.

 

You're mowin' 'em down, Jon. For $200, next link starts with B.