Top Card Episode 1

[Deleted]

Announcer: In "Spaceballs" what does the bumper sticker say on the back of Lonestar's ship? The correct answer to that question could win one of our
contestants this sporty Subaru Legacy, (ooooo) this fabulous Corvette Stingray, (AHHHH!!!) or one of these other great cars onnnnnnnnnnnnnn Top Card! Here
is our host of Top Card, Joe Emerson!!

(applause)

Me: Good day to you all, and welcome to our exciting first show of Top Card! We have some wonderful trivia and fantabulous prizes in store today for our
three contestants! Here with me to help deal out the cards, is the lovely and vivacious Leslie Banks!

(applause)

Leslie: Thanks, Joe. It's a great honor to work with you! This game here combines trivia, strategy, and the luck of the draw! Who knew that blackjack
could THIS fun?

Me: Who knew, indeed! Stick with us for the next thirty minutes as we have fierce competition with these fine players. Let's introduce them now.


Leslie: Our first contestant is Michael Clifford, from Marlton, NJ who is currently unemployed.

Me: Nice for you to be here, Michael. I hope a potential employer is watching.

Leslie: In the #2 position, we have a supermarket clerk from Council Bluffs, IA. He is Matt Ringgenberg.

Me: Welcome, Matt. Take comfort in knowing I'm not one of those people who try to go through the express line with a gazillion items.

Leslie: Finally, we have Kevin Kolsen, who is an accountant from Long Island, New York.

Me: It's a pleasure for you join us. We'll talk after the show about Leslie's tax problems. (Audience chuckles; Leslie gives me a dirty look.)
Just kidding of course.

We will pause now to take a commercial break.  After these messages, we will start round one!  Stay tuned.



Contestants, you should have received a PM regarding this round's questions.  Please be sure to respond by Wednesday at 11:59:59 PM EDT.

[Deleted]

Welcome back to Top Card! Rules are as follows. These contestants will answer questions off this board in order to build a hand as close to 21 without going over. Once a correct answer is given, they may elect to keep the card off the board or take the top card off Leslie's deck. Whoever is closest to 21 without busting at the end of the round will get $1000 cash and move on to the Championship Round, but get a 21 on the nose, and the award increases to $2100. As always, aces automatically count as 1 or 11.



The categories for today's game are:



80s Movies

Math

Politics

History

Sports

Technology

Art

Religion and

Classic TV







Normally, the champion makes the first category selection. However, this is our first show. There is no champion, but Michael is in the champion's podium; he will go first. Michael, please make the first selection.

Michael, please select before Thursday at 11:59:59 PM EDT, or control will pass to Mark.

[Deleted]

Classic TV

[Deleted]

Me: For our very first question: Which TV show featured Ralph and Alice Kramden? (Buzzcode was 98)



Kevin (20)

Matt (30) DING!!

Michael (7)






Matt?

Matt: The Honeymooners.

(applause)

Me:  That is correct!  Just to clarify, nine cards were chosen from a regulation 52-card deck and were put on the board.  Let's see what card is behind that category -- a queen!! (woos from audience)  Would you like to keep that queen, or go for the top card?




Matt, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Thursday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the queen.  Also, please select the next category.  Thanks.

[mringgenberg]

You bet I'm going to keep it!

[Deleted]

(applause from audience)

Me:  The audience approves your choice.  You now have 10 in your hand.  




All you need now is that ace, and you win $2100 in cold hard cash!  Which category would you like to select next?




Please select the next category by Friday, 11:59:59 PM EDT, or Kevin will choose the next one.

[mringgenberg]

Technology

[Deleted]

Me: In the technology category: what name is given to half of a byte?  (Buzzcode was 96)

Kevin: 38      DING!                                                            
Matt: Pass
Michael: 23




Kevin?

Kevin: Nibble.

Me: Right, you are!  (Applause)  Did you steal away that ace?

Nope, it's the three of clubs.  Do you wish to take that three or take the top card?


Kevin, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Friday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the 3. Also, please select the next category. Thanks.

[koopakid17]

I'll take the Top Card.

And let's go to Math, please.

[Deleted]

Me: Leslie, what do you have for Kevin?




Leslie:  Well...it's a five.



Joe:  Gotta start somewhere.  Okay, Kevin, there are seven categories still in play, and you chose the  math category.



 No calculators allowed for this question.  (Chuckles from audience).  The number 4, raised to what power, equals 16? (Buzzcode was 99).


Kevin: (45)
Matt:  (75)
Michael: (96)  DING!




Me: Michael?

Michael: the power of 2.

Me:  Right you are!  If anyone doesn't know that, then they are a square.  (A few groans)  Anyway, under the Math category, we find...



the queen of clubs!  Michael, would you like to keep that queen, or take the top card?



Michael, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Sunday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the queen. Also, please select the next category. Thanks.

[Deleted]

I'm definitely keeping the Queen.

I'll choose sports next.

[Deleted]

Me:  The queen comes off the board, and you now have 10 like Matt.  





Okay, sports fans, listen up!  How many miles is a marathon foot race?  (Buzzcode was 89)

Kevin:  (78)                    
Matt:   Pass
Michael: (81)   DING!




Me: Michael, again.

Michael: 26.2 miles.

Judge on loudspeaker: We'll accept that, Joe.

Me:  Okay, you heard it from our Judge, Gary Sherwood-Forrest.  (quick cut to Gary, Gary waves)

Michael, let's see what's behind the Sports category.... a Jack.



Would you like to keep the Jack, or take the Top Card?
After that decision, either freeze or select the next category.




Michael, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Sunday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the jack.

[Deleted]

I'll keep the Jack & I'll freeze.

[Deleted]

He has frozen on 20, therefore, Kevin, or Matt, you must get 21 in order to move on to the Championship Round.  Otherwise, Michael advances with $1000.

Since Michael has frozen, the player with the lowest total picks next.  Kevin, that is you.  Five categories remain.  Where do we go, next?



Kevin, you have until 11:59:59 EDT Monday to pick a category, or Matt will select one.

[koopakid17]

I'll take History, please.

[Deleted]

Me: What period of human culture followed the Stone Age and preceded the Iron Age?  (Buzzcode was 90)

Kevin: (14)  DING!
Matt: Pass
Michael: Freeze

Me:  Kevin rings in.



Kevin:  Bronze Age.

Me:  Right you are. (applause)  Let's see that card, please.



Interestingly enough, it's the 5 of spades on the board.  That would give you 10 if you choose to keep it.  Would you like the 5 or the top card?

Kevin, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Monday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the 5.  Also, select the next category.

[koopakid17]

Ooh, nice. I'll take the five!

Religion, please.

[Deleted]

Your eyes got wide with that 5.  You now have 10.  Let's take a peek at the Religion category.



Me: In the Catholic religion, what is the title of the church official ranking just below the pope?  (Buzzcode was 32 -- a lower number for once!)

Kevin: 94   DING!                
Matt: Pass
Michael: Freeze

Me: Kevin, again.



Kevin: Archbishop.

Me:  No, sorry, that is not correct.  Matt, do you want to try?  (3 seconds elapses.)

BZZZZZZ!

Me:  Ooo, out of time.  The correct answer is cardinal.  No card on that one.

Three categories remain in play, Kevin.  Which one will you try next?



Kevin, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Monday for your response; else Matt decides.

[koopakid17]

Let's try Politics.

[Deleted]

Me: Let's see what you know about Politics.  Who was the first female justice on the US Supreme court?  (Buzzcode was 45)

Kevin:(51)  DING!
Matt: (71)
Michael: Freeze

Me: Kevin?


Kevin:  Sandra Day O'Connor.
(applause)
Me:  Yes, and the others since her are Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and most recently Elena Kagan.  Let's see the card...



(Audience groans)  A nine.  It would give you 19 if you take it, or do you want the Top Card?

Kevin, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Monday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the 9. Also, select the next category.

[Deleted]

You're going to take the nine, and please select----

(5 short buzzes)

That signal means time is up for round 1.  Michael, with 20, you're going to advance to the championship round with $1,000!

(applause, theme music)

Which one of our two remaining players will join him in the championship round?  Find out after these messages.


Commercial #1


More commercials!

[Deleted]

(applause) We are back!  For those of you just joining us, Michael won round 1.  He'll be back later to face off with one of these two contestants.



Whoever wins this round will join him for the championship round to play for the right to go to the bonus round where one of the cars today is that gorgeous Corvette Stingray.

(Leslie poses in front of the car, audience marvels)


Without further ado, here are the categories for round 2:





Kevin and Matt, here is your toss up question.  The first one to ring in with the correct response picks the category.  What is the capital West Virginia?

Gentlemen, please PM me your answer and buzzcode by 11:59:59 EDT PM Thursday.

[Deleted]

Buzzcode was 35--as in WV is the 35th state in the Union.

Kevin: (18) -- DING!
Matt: (91)

Me: Kevin with ring in.

Kevin: Charleston.

Me:  Indeed it is!  (applause)  Kevin, you have won the right to pick the first category for round 2.  Leslie's cards have been shuffled and cut.  Good luck to you both, gentlemen.  Kevin, which category would you like to begin this round?

Please respond by 11:59:59 PM EDT Friday; else Matt will select.

[koopakid17]

I'll take Cartoons, please.

[Deleted]

Me: In the category of cartoons, Gargamel is a sworn enemy to what blue creatures?  (Buzzcode was 82)

Kevin: 50
Mark: 55  DING!

Me: Mark rings in.






Mark: The Smurfs.

Me: That is correct.  (applause)  We'll start this game out with...(excited applause)



 a jack!  What's your decision, the jack or the top card? (audience yells suggestions)


Matt, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Friday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the jack. Also, please select the next category. Thanks.

[mringgenberg]

The Jack!

[Deleted]

Go ahead and select the next category, please.





There we go; the boards are working now.

[mringgenberg]

Games People Play

[Deleted]

Me: This category is about common games.  The question: How many dots are there on a single die?  (Buzzcode was 35)

Kevin: (86)
Matt: (36)  DING!!



Me: Matt again.

Matt: 21.

Me: Another correct!  You are on a roll!   What would you like to do with.....




a six?  (Audience yells out suggestions).

The six or the top card?


Matt, you have until 11:59:59 PM EDT Friday for your response; else the default decision will be to take the 6.

[mringgenberg]

Top Card