Lucky Numbers (ABC; Episode 4)

[dougmorrisontheair]

His character owned -- dry cleaning businesses. "False" is right.

(audience applause)

Matt, dice are yours to roll. A wild roll or two and then a winning roll, in that order, make it a close game.

(Matt rolls)

Texas Sunflowers give you control of the 10 and...

(ding)

...$500 in cash. That and the pot's contents will be in your bank, Matt, if you win this game. Next question.

True or false: Ben Stiller learned to swim from The Pips, Gladys Knight's backup singers.
50 billmcdee
98 mringgenberg
48 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

That sounds silly, so because of that, I will answer true anyway!

[dougmorrisontheair]

(a few groan in the crowd)

What are you guys groaning for? Bill's right. It's true.

(audience applause)

It's also true if you show me eight pips in total face up, Bill, you'll win another game.

(Bill rolls)

(audience groans)
(danger zone cue; lights flicker in studio)

One pip shy puts us in the danger zone.

Welp -- next roll of 7 in this game means instant victory for your opponent. So -- the winner of this question has the crucial option of rolling or passing the dice.

First the question. A woman walks into a department store -- and can't get along with the staff. (scattered laughter from the crowd) The staff members find *themselves* in the danger zone.

(more laughter from the crew and crowd) (danger zone cue)

Only kidding, everyone. Here's the *real* question.

A woman walks into a department store. Based on statistics, will she more likely turn to the left or to the right?
60 billmcdee
38 mringgenberg
85 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

I'll say the right, Doug.

[dougmorrisontheair]

The right is right.

(audience applause)

Bill, any roll of 8 wins; any roll of 7 loses. Who gets the dice?

[billmcdee]

I shall roll since I feel great, come on bones turn up an eight!

[dougmorrisontheair]

(scattered laughter and cheers)

(Bill rolls)

Well it's a 9. No chills up the spine -- I guess.

(more laughter)

(ding)

Gets you control of $375. Matt, you're back in. Another toss-up question on the way.

The art of snapping your fingers is called -- what? Is it called fillip, filch or slue?
44 billmcdee
70 mringgenberg
29 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

I believe slew.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Oh no -- fillip is the right answer.

Matt, this means you've got the crucial choice. The 8 wins; the 7 loses; any other roll keeps the game going.

[mringgenberg]

I'll roll.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Challenger's gonna try it. Avoid that 7. You'd love an 8.

(Matt rolls)

(chimes; audience cheers)

But a 3 gives you another roll. That's a wild roll.

(chimes; audience cheers)

Five additional bills go in the kitty. Pot's up to two large. Matt, with the wild roll, you may roll again.


(Matt rolls)

And a 9. Bill *had* control of the 9. However...

(ding)

... that cash prize turns blue for you, Matt. So if you win the game, you win the cash amounts in blue and the $2000 pot. Next question.

Which milestone came first for Whoopi Goldberg: becoming center square on "Hollywood Squares" or becoming a grandmother?
17 billmcdee
59 mringgenberg
68 random.org

(Matt buzzes in)

Matt?

[mringgenberg]

Being center square?

[dougmorrisontheair]

A lot of us recall Whoopi became center square in 1998. She became a grandmother in...






























...1989.

(scattered groans)

So, Bill, you get control of the dice. Roll or pass? We're still in the danger zone.

[billmcdee]

I have a hunch that a seven will turn up, therefore I'm going to pass them.

[dougmorrisontheair]

What, no rhyme?

(scattered laughter)

Matt, the 8 you want. Avoid that 7.

(scattered cheers)

(Matt rolls)

Got a 9 instead.

(drum beats; cha-ching)

Matt, you already have control of the 9. When that happens, we match the 9's value and add that to the pot. So we have a $2375 pot in play.

Bill, ironically, has $2375 in his bank. Will he double that score -- or will Matt win this game and take the lead?

Find out who's going to the main event -- after this.

(commercial cue plays; audience applauds)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(HR87 theme plays)


Bill: Today's runner-up will receive a trash compactor. Unclutter your kitchen with a KitchenAid trash compactor. Features exclusive litter bin and charcoal-filter odor control, from KitchenAid.

And a 13 ounce can of Chock Full O'Nuts Coffee. Chock Full O'Nuts is that heavenly coffee. Better coffee a millionaire's money can't buy.

Bill: If you'd like to be a contestant on Lucky Numbers -- and you're going to be in the Los Angeles area -- please call 1-800-55-LUCKY. That's 1-800-555-8259 -- between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time. We'll be back with more of Lucky Numbers -- after this.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ASB cue plays; audience applauds)

And we're heading into the homestretch of today's match in Lucky Numbers.

Bill leads with $2375. Matt's yet to bank any money.

But a winning roll of 8 will give him the pot of more than $2300 -- plus control of the two cash awards he credited with -- another 800 and change.

We're still in the danger zone.  So any roll of 7 means instant victory for the opposition.

Players, remember, the next time you hear this buzzer...

(tacky buzzer)

...it means Stewie didn't recover from Taco Tuesday. (scattered laughter from the crowd) It also means the match ends right there and then. Player who's banked more money wins the match -- and goes to the main event and a shot at that $130,000 cash jackpot plus great prizes.

On to our next question.

True or false: Actor Albert Brooks's real last name is Einstein.
09 billmcdee
73 mringgenberg
11 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

I'm thinking false.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(scattered groans)

Should've thought true. Sounds like we have some Albert Brooks fans in the house. That Albert's real last name is Einstein.

Matt, the dice are yours to roll or pass. We haven't had a 7 in a while -- but we haven't had an 8 in awhile either. Who's getting the dice?

[mringgenberg]

I'll roll them.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Matt's going to try it himself. Let's see what happens.

(Matt rolls)

(audience groans)
(buzz)

Oh, a 7! Bill, you've got it.

(ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

Bill, only money you get is the money from the pot. But with that...



BILL
MATT


...your score doubles to $4750. Matt, we still have time. Some wild rolls and quick wins can make this a tight match. New winning point is...


(drum beats; cha-ching)

...the 4. Double twos or a 1-3 combination banks at least $1500. New question for the roll.

Julius Henry Marx was born in 1890. Did he grow up to host a quiz
show; yes or no?
27 billmcdee
74 mringgenberg
40 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

You Bet Your Life he did!  ôô  Yes!

[dougmorrisontheair]

[NOTE FROM DOUG: This question was prepared well before Bill's avatar -- a screen grab of part of the opening animation to "You Bet Your Life".]

---

We knew him better as Groucho Marx, the comedic actor and host of "You Bet Your Life".

(audience applause)

All right, let's see if you can pad your lead with this roll of the dice.

(Bill rolls)

Well -- roll *includes* a 4 -- but in total, it's a 9 -- good for...


(ding)

...$375. Next question.

True or false: Two Major League Baseball teams played a tripleheader -- meaning the teams played three games in one day.
48 billmcdee
98 mringgenberg
08 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

I believe that is true.

[dougmorrisontheair]

And it is true.

(audience applause)

The Cincinnati Reds took two out of three games in the same day from the Pittsburgh Pirates way back in 1920.

Bill, ironically, you're playing red. Let's see if you can get a red number on the board -- or better yet -- the winning roll.

(Bill rolls)

(chimes; audience cheers)

Snake eyes. That's a wild roll.

(drum beats; cha-ching)

Puts $500 in the pot. Matt, this could help you later. But, Bill, you're entitled to an extra roll of the dice. Please take it now.

(Bill rolls)

Another combination of 9.

(drum beats; cha-ching)

Bill, you have control of the 9. You still seize control of the 9. We put another $375 in the pot. This is the third time 2375's figured into the match. Wow.

Next question's a little long -- so play carefully.

Who said the following quote as part of an anti-smoking campaign? "Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life." Is this quote attributed to Brooke Shields, Keith Olbermann or Morton Downey, Jr.?
55 billmcdee
02 mringgenberg
11 random.org

(Matt buzzes in)

Matt?

[mringgenberg]

Keith Olbermann?

[dougmorrisontheair]

No -- Brooke Shields said that.

Bill, that means you get the dice again.

(Bill rolls)

And the roll is a 6. That's good for...

(ding)

...$300. Quickly, the next question.

"Paper", "Rock" or "Scissors". Which of these is the title of a horror movie that was released in 1991 and starred Sharon Stone?
66 billmcdee
11 mringgenberg
87 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

I saw it in the theater and it was Scissors.....Sharon Stone was a real cut up.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

Well played -- all around. "Scissors" is right.

(audience applause)

Roll 'em again, please, Bill

(Bill rolls)

And that's another win.

(ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

(tacky buzzer)

And there's the signal that the match is over. Bill is still our champion.

(longer ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

Bill, this last game was worth $3050 in total.

Another impressive win -- $7800. (audience cheers) We add that to your previous winnings for a grand total, all of it in cash...

...of $16,075. (more cheers) We'll take you over to the main event in a bit.

Matt, you ran into a buzzsaw today. But we hope you had fun along the way. We have fine gifts for you backstage -- and our great thanks for playing Lucky Numbers. Another nice hand for Matt Ringgenberg.

(more cheers)

Bill McDee's back in the main event -- when you come back.

(commercial cue plays; audience applause)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

Another big win in a match for Bill McDee. He's already $16,075 to the good -- all of that in cash.

Bill, are you ready to take on our main event for more than $150,000 in cash and merchandise?