The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Ep. 21)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Greetings, all. We're about to start our 21st episode of The $40,000 Chain Reaction. Kevin Kolsen returns with one win and $5754.



As we welcome Kevin to this thread, who wants to challenge him?

[koopakid17]

Checking in.

[gameboy2000]

I'll play

[dougmorrisontheair]

---

(theme plays; audience applause)

The game is -- The $40,000 Chain Reaction -- where one word leads to another -- and the right word could lead to a big payoff.

(more applause)

Helloooooo, everybody. I'm Doug Morris and welcome to The $40,000 Chain Reaction. Hope your weekend went well. And if it didn't, hope you're relieved to see us.

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

Please make welcome our contestants -- David Barkow, our challenger -- and our champion with one win and $5754, Kevin Kolsen.

(audience cheers)

David, please tell us something about yourself.

[gameboy2000]

I am unemployed from Virginia.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sounds like you could use the money. Well, I wish you good luck in the game of life -- and good luck here in the game of Chain Reaction.

Kevin, I also wish you good luck in the game of Chain Reaction. Please tell us what you do when you're not linking words in our chains.

[koopakid17]

I'm working as an accountant. I'm going to be on vacation soon, though. Going to Chicago next week.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Okie doke. Let's see if you can win more money for that Chitown vacay -- as we open up the board.

(board opens as part of the theme plays)

Again, good luck to both players. Only one of you can play for up to $40,000 -- and that only one will be the one who wins a race to $5000 -- which we are starting with this chain.









(ding)

And this chain starts with BASKET and ends with DUPLICATE. Each link in this opening chain is worth $250. The player who completes this chain scores an additional $250. Whenever we start a new round, we up the ante.

David, you're the challenger. You'll start us off by giving or taking a letter below BASKET or above DUPLICATE.

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter below basket.

[dougmorrisontheair]

David starts by taking...









(ding)

...an E.

[gameboy2000]

Easter

[dougmorrisontheair]

(cuckoo bird)

Little birdie right away -- telling us your close but not close enough. David, one chance to capitalize on your own guess of EASTER.

[gameboy2000]

Easter Egg

[dougmorrisontheair]

We'll give it to you. It's EASTER EGGS









(ding; audience applause)

If a word or words appear in singular form and a player pluralizes the guess, we'll take it as a right answer. Same for plural words and a singular guess.


gameboy2000
grapebuy789


David, first $250 are yours -- and the control.

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter under EASTER EGGS

[dougmorrisontheair]

Challenger keeps it and takes...









(ding)

...an H.

[gameboy2000]

Hen

[dougmorrisontheair]

You'd need a HEN to eventually get those eggs -- but that's not it.

Frank, welcome to the game. Where are you giving or taking a letter?

[koopakid17]

Frank? I think you mean me, right?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sorry, Kevin. This sort of thing happens with aging. Second thing to go is the knees -- and I forget what the first one is. (scattered laughter from the crowd)

[koopakid17]

I don't think I want to know.

I will take above Easter Eggs.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Above EASTER EGGS? That links already revealed in full.

(scattered laughter from the crowd)









(ding)

Judge is ruling you meant you're taking a letter *below* EASTER EGGS -- and you're guessing the link starting with H-I.

[koopakid17]

See? I'm getting old, too!

My guess is Hiding.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Who knew it could be contagious?

(cuckoo sfx)

Oh -- the birdie again. You've given a form of the word or words in that link, Kevin. One chance to capitalize on your own guess of HIDING.

[koopakid17]

Hidden?

[dougmorrisontheair]

There's the word we needed.









(ding; audience applause)

There's a snide remark I'm tempted to make about Jimbo, who works on the staff, but I don't want to give away the next link.

(scattered laughter among crew)


gameboy2000
koopakid17


Inside joke, friends.  Score's tied at 250.  Kevin, you may give or take the first letter below HIDDEN or above DUPLICATE.

[koopakid17]

I'm going to give this time, below Hidden.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Alright, David, you're getting the next letter.









(ding)

It's a C.

[gameboy2000]

Camera

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it. CAMERA.









(ding; audience applause)

Which might have something to do with Jimbo's hidden *agenda*.

(scattered laughter among crew)

Or not.


gameboy2000
koopakid17


Enough about Jimbo for now. Kevin, you have the lead -- and you still have the control.