COUNTDOWN [PBS] - Pilot

[palmer7]

Our resident lexicographer, Sam Hodkin. Although, if you can find a word from that longer than five letters, I'd love to hear it.

[hodders]

Well both are absolutely fine and in both the OAD and Merriam Webster. If you were in a mood for food you could have had a TOSTADO for 7, because Tostadas aren't exclusively female. Another more obscure word you could have gone for is Ooblast of all things:


www.merriam-webster.com/medical/ooblast

[palmer7]


[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][D][T][ ]
[ ][O][O][B][L][A][S][T][ ]



[JAMES]       [MATT]
[ 0]          [ 5]


And the score is James 0, Matt 5. Matt, control now passes over to you for the second Letters Game.

[mringgenberg]

3 Vowels and 6 Consonants

[palmer7]


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(Steph draws out the letters)


Stephanie: OK, we'll start off with the vowels.


[E][E][A][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


Two Es and one A. Now, the consonants.


[E][E][A][R][H][D][S][M][M]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


R-H-D-S-M-M.


Greg: OK, let's see how well you do with this one. Start the clock!

(24 hours [maximum] to PM both Sam [hodders] and me the word and the number of letters you used, good luck)

[palmer7]

Well, let's see how you did. Matt?

Matt: 5 Letters

Greg: Uh huh. James?

James: 4

Greg: Uhhhh-huh. Matt, what's your word?

Matt: Shear

Greg: And James, just for a laugh...

James: hard

Greg: Those are both valid words to me. Matt once again gets five points. Now, we turn to the smartest man in the room, Sam Hodkin.

[hodders]

Well, plenty of longer words out there, sixes and sevens all over the place, and the longest I could find was HAMMERED for 8.

[palmer7]


[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][S][ ][ ]
[H][A][M][M][E][R][E][D][ ]


Greg: And there it is, hammered.



[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 10]


The score is Matt at 10, James at zip. Well, now we're up to our first numbers game.


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Here's how it works. We have 24 cards. The four at the top have the amounts 25, 50, 75, and 100. The remaining 20 cards have two copies each of amounts 1-10. James, in a moment, you will pick six of these cards. After we reveal which numbers have been chosen, our computer, who has not been given a name yet, will generate a random three-digit number between 101 and 999. You'll then have 30 seconds to use addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division to come as close as you can to that number as possible, if not exactly. If you hit it on the nose, you get 10 points. If you are off by five either way, you get 7 points. If you're off by ten either way, you get 5 points. Now, James, you get to pick first. How many numbers would you like from each row, starting at the top? (Alternately, how many large numbers and small numbers would you like?)

[Deleted]

4 and 5

[palmer7]

James, we only are putting six numbers up on the board. How many large numbers and how many small numbers do you want?

[Deleted]

6 small numbers and 3 large numbers

[palmer7]

This isn't the letters game, James. There are six numbers in play, total. Four of them are large. How many of those four large do you want?

[Deleted]

Three of them

[palmer7]

Good. Finally, we're getting somewhere. Stephanie, go ahead and pick out the three larges at random, followed by three other numbers at random.

(she does so)

Stephanie: Got it.



[   ]
[100][25][75][8][1][8]

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And for this first game, the numbers are 100, 25, 75, 8, 1, and another 8. Let's see what the computer gives us. (she presses the button)



[223]
[100][25][75][8][1][8]

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Stephanie: And it gives us 223.


Greg: OK then, the target number is 223. You can only use each of those six numbers once, and no fractions and no negatives. Let's see how you are with numbers. Good luck, and here we go.

(24 hours to submit your answer and how you got there, and you must show your work. Good luck.)

[palmer7]

(Will present the results tomorrow. Need to consult Mr. Hodkin.)

[palmer7]

Well, let's see what everyone came up with. James?

James: 223

(I look moderately surprised) Greg: Well, now. Matt?

Matt: 216


Greg: OK, then. James, you have a chance to pick up 10 points if your math checks out. Take us through your thought process.


James: 100 + 25 + 75 + 8 + 1 + 8 = 217


(Stephanie writes that on the board)




[223]
[100][25][75][8][1][8]

[100 + 25 + 75 + 8 + 1 + 8 = 217]



Stephanie: And you've used all the numbers.

James: 217 + 6 = 223

Greg: Where'd that six come from? I don't see a six. Do you see a six, Stephanie?

(she looks) Stephanie: No.

Greg: In the words of Daryl Hall, "I Can't Go For That, No Can Do". Sorry, James. You cannot bring in your own numbers. Zero points. Let's check in with Matt.

Matt: 100+75=175+25=200+8=208+8=216




[223]
[100][25][75][8][1][8]

[100 + 75 = 175
175 + 25 = 200
200 + 8 = 208
208 + 8 = 216]



Greg: And all that math checks out. You were 7 away, so we award you five points. Stephanie, how could they have solved this problem? Just watch, you'll be amazed.




[223]
[100][25][75][8][1][8]

[(75 * 25 + 8 + 1 - 100) / 8 = 223
(1875 + 8 + 1 - 100) / 8 = 223
1784 / 8 = 223


Stephanie: Well, this actually requires a bit more math than just simple addition. First, you multiply 75 by 25 to get 1,875. Then you add 8 plus 1, or nine,
and subtract 100 to get 1,784. Then you divide by that last 8 to get 223. (audience applause)


Greg: And that is how it's done, folks.


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 15]


The score is Matt 15, James at love, nothing, bupkis. And while I get something to calm my nerves, we turn now to Sam Ryan for the first of our celebrity anecdotes. Sam, talk to us about something.

[Deleted]

When I was in school, some teachers have noticeboards with notes and stuff on with the help of drawing pins...

Now what happened was, I was asked to stick something on the noticeboard when I slipped and accidently lost it, after searching everywhere, I wanted to sit down and then
I felt something in my rear end, got up and saw the missing drawing pin with spike side up!

(Rimshot)

[palmer7]

.....Uh, yeah. Just a reminder, folks, this is the time of year that your local public television station is asking for money. And even if it isn't, please give anyway.

Round 4, Letters Game time again. Matt, your turn. How many vowels and how many consonants?

[mringgenberg]

3 Vowels and 6 Consonants

[palmer7]


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(Steph draws out the letters)


Stephanie: Let's start off with the consonants this time.


[R][H][D][S][M][M][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


An R, an H, a D, an S, and a pair of Ms. To the vowels.


[R][H][D][S][M][M][E][E][A]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


E-E-A.


Greg: Let's see if anyone can come up with a word longer than five letters. Start the clock.

(24 hours [maximum] to PM both Sam [hodders] and me the word and the number of letters you used, good luck)

[palmer7]

OK, time's up. Let's take a look at how well you did. Matt?

Matt: 6 Letters

Greg: Finally! And James?

James: 3

Greg: Not surprised. Matt, what word did you come up with?

Matt: Hammer


Greg: Ah, well that is a six-letter word, but I think you're going to kick yourself because.... wait, did we reshuffle? I thought we did. We always put the used letters back in and reshuffle after each word, but it seems like we didn't do that this time because the same letters came out in almost the exact same order. Hey, Sam... has this ever happened before? The same letters in two consecutive Letters games?

[hodders]

Well it's possible, if rare. And the maximums are exactly the same as before: HAMMERED for 8.

[palmer7]


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 21]


And the score is Matt 21, James 0. James, it's your turn for this Letters Game. Go to it.

[palmer7]

How many vowels and how many consonants?

[Deleted]

4 vowels and 2 consonants

[Deleted]

Wait, 4 vowels and 5 consonants

[palmer7]

I'm so glad you corrected yourself. Stephanie?

(Stephanie draws out the letters)

Stephanie: Starting with vowels....


[E][O][E][E][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
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An E, an O, and two more Es. The consonants....


[E][O][E][E][T][Q][B][H][S]
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T-Q-B-H-S.


Greg: And if you use a Q, you don't get any bonus points, but you do get kudos. Start the clock.

(24 hours [maximum] to PM both Sam [hodders] and me the word and the number of letters you used, good luck)

[palmer7]

And let's see how everyone did. James?


James: 4, Toes


Greg: Oy gevalt. Matt?

Matt: 5 Letters


Greg: And the word.

Matt: SHEET


Greg: I know exactly how you feel. Sam, I would ask if you could top this, but I have a feeling you can. How well can you top these two?

[hodders]

Well I can, but not very easily, only a couple of 6 letter words available in a selection like that. Both BEHEST and SEETHE are in there, but the other 6 also caught my eye in the form of BOTEHS, plural of BOTEH-

(Camera switches to a screen capture of the definition)


A motif in the shape of a curved droplet, used in rug and textile designs and characteristic of Paisley patterns, variously described as a stylized leaf, pear, pine cone, or teardrop.

Kudos if you got that Persian-originated word.

[palmer7]


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 26]


The score, Matt 26, James nothing. If you think this is a blowout, it probably will be. Matt, it's your turn for the Numbers Game. How many large numbers and how many small numbers do you want? And please make sure the total quantity of your numbers is six.