COUNTDOWN [PBS] - Pilot

[mringgenberg]

1 Large and 5 Small

[palmer7]

(and Stephanie draws random numbers)


[   ]
[50][1][3][1][5][10]


Stephanie: Our large number is 50, and the small numbers are 1, 3, 1, 5, and 10.


Greg: And the target number? (Stephanie presses the button)


[108]
[50][1][3][1][5][10]


Greg: One-oh-eight. Now, you are allowed to use more than one operation, but you're not allowed to bring in your own numbers. The target is 108, start the clock.

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

[palmer7]

OK, let's see what you came up with. Matt?

Matt: 103

Greg: And James?

James: 69

(the audience reacts) Greg: The audience will refrain from throwing tomatoes at our contestants. Matt, if your math checks out, you will add 7 points to your score. Please begin.

Matt: 10 x 5 = 50 + 50 = 100 + 3 = 103


[108]
[50][1][3][1][5][10]

10x5=50
50+50=100
100+3=103


Greg: And that will get you 7 more points. (cheers and applause)


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 33]


Now, it was completely possible to get 108. And Stephanie will show you how.


Stephanie: Well, the first thing you do is add the two ones to make 2. You use that 2 to double the 50 to make 100. Three plus five is eight, and when you add that to 100, you get 108.


[108]
[50][1][3][1][5][10]

1 + 1 = 2
2 * 50 = 100
3 + 5 = 8
100 + 8 = 108



(cheers and applause)


Stephanie: In fact, there were about 24 different possibilities. This was a rather easy one.


Greg: I know I figured it out. The score is 33 for Matt, nothing for James. And now, since we are stretching for time, allow me to make a few remarks on the matter. After which, we'll have Sam Hodkin give his observations and then we'll proceed with the game.

When ITV Studios America approached me and asked me to do the show, I went in knowing that this would be, quite possibly, the most mentally-demanding game show on American television. Oh sure, others require a greater depth of trivia. Shows like The Chase, Jeopardy!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. But those shows are nothing compared to this. We are the most mentally-demanding game show out there. We seek the intellectual giants, we seek the smart. If you have a personality and you're good with numbers and words, we welcome you. If you feel like you "deserve" to be here merely because you did a good deed or you have financial hardship, forget it. You're not going to get rich off this show, believe me. If we should have a tournament of champions, and this is assuming we have at least two high-scoring players, our top prize would hardly be considered life-changing. If you want to get rich quick, go on Hardwick's show. If you want to be challenged, this is the place to be! (audience cheers)

And with scores like what we are seeing tonight, I would say this show could not have come at a better time. I pray that WGBH picks this up for a full series, because we need something intellectually stimulating on TV right now. (audience cheers) Sam?

[hodders]

Well Greg, it's not over yet believe me, I've seen low scoring games that have been back-and-forth, so there's hope yet.

[palmer7]

The only thing is, this game hasn't been back-and-forth. It's just been forth.

Time for another Letters Game. James, how many vowels and how many consonants?

[Deleted]

3 vowels and 3 consonants

[palmer7]

(I take off my glasses and facepalm) And what about the remaining three letters?

[Deleted]

Wait 3 vowels and 6 consonants!

[palmer7]

Thank you! 

(Stephanie draws the letters)


[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


Stephanie: And starting with the vowels....


[I][A][A][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


I-A-A. The consonants are.....


[I][A][A][T][B][R][R][N][L]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


T-B-R-R-N-L..


Greg: There's nine in the frame, let's get on with the game. 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, time is up. Let's see how everyone did. James?

James: 4

Greg: Right. And Matt?

Matt: 6 Letters

Greg: Better. And what is the word?

Matt: LARIAT


Greg: Seems like a good word to me. What say you, Mr. Hodkin?

[hodders]

Lariat's a nice find, a rope used as a lasso or for tethering. The best I could find was an 8-letter word that could describe my humble role, ARBITRAL, assuming any words are in dispute of course.

[palmer7]


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 39]


Ah yes, he's so modest.

Round 8, another Letters Game. I'm going to attempt to make this easier for everyone. Matt, would you like 3, 4, or 5 vowels?

[mringgenberg]

Five

[palmer7]

And four consonants. (Stephanie draws the letters)


[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


Stephanie: And we'll start with the consonants this time...


[N][R][R][S][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


And the vowels....


[N][R][R][S][I][I][I][A][E]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


I-I-I-A-E.


Greg: Ay-yi-yi. I can make a full house out of that. 30 seconds, and your time starts now.

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

[palmer7]

All right. Let's start off with Matt. How many letters?

Matt: 6 Letters

Greg: All right. And James... I'm afraid to ask....

James: 6.

Greg: Hmmm.... well now, we'll start with James. What's your word?

James: insane

(I look over the board) Greg: Well, I see only one N, but I have to applaud your resourcefulness. Not only do you bring in your own numbers, you bring in your own letters as well. No points. Matt, what's your word?

Matt: RAISIN



Greg: Very good, Matt. You pick up another six points. (audience cheers)


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  0]          [ 45]


And the score is 45 Matt, nothing for James. Mr. Hodkin, what were some longer words our contestants could've used for more points?

[hodders]

Well there's a handful of seven letter words to be found in there, difficult with 5 vowels. RAINERS is a particularly good one out there, RAINIER for those needing an umbrella, and well done to anyone of a poetic find finding SENARII.

[palmer7]

Sam, I don't think you'll find anyone that poetic on this stage, aside from yourself.

Round 9..... a numbers game. OK, James...... how many large numbers and how many small numbers do you want, and if your total quantity of numbers is more than six, Sam Hodkin will take over because I will walk out and take a taxi to the airport! (audience laughs) So, how many large and small numbers do you want?

[Deleted]

3 large and 3 small Greg

[palmer7]

(I look stunned) There is a God! Hallelujah!

(Stephanie picks random numbers)


[   ]
[25][50][75][5][7][1]


Stephanie: Praise the Lord! The large numbers are 25, 50, and 75. The small numbers are 5, 7, and 1.

Greg: What's the target number? (Stephanie hits the button)


[165]
[25][50][75][5][7][1]


Stephanie: 165.

Greg: And remember, folks, you're trying to get as close as you can to 165 as possible. You can add, subtract, multiply, and/or divide. I cannot stress that enough. Here's your 30 seconds.

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

[palmer7]

All right. Let's see how everyone did. James?

James: 163

Greg: We'll have to check your work later on. Matt?

Matt: 162

(audience reacts) Greg: Well, James, a chance to finally get on the board. Talk us through it.


James: 25 + 50 + 75 + 5 + 7 + 1 = 163


[165]
[25][50][75][5][7][1]

25 + 50 + 75 + 5 + 7 + 1 = 163


Greg: And that's correct, so you get 7 points! (audience cheers)


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[  7]          [ 45]


Now, Stephanie, was it possible to get 165?

Stephanie: Oh yes, extremely possible. First, you add 25, 7, and 1 to get 33. Then you multiply 33 by 5 to get 165. It was extremely easy, or it should've been.


[165]
[25][50][75][5][7][1]

(25 + 7 + 1) * 5 = 165
33 * 5 = 165


Greg: See, kids? This is why you should stay in school. Matt, we're up to a Letters Game with you. 3, 4, or 5 vowels?

[mringgenberg]

4

[palmer7]

And five consonants? Hey, Stephanie! What do you people do in Boston for catharsis?


Stephanie: Drink, mostly. (she picks out the letters)


Greg: I'm a Mormon, I can't do that.


Stephanie: Oh well, Boston is full of other ways to be hedonistic. Here are the vowels...


[E][I][O][A][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


E-I-O-A. And for the consonants.....


[E][I][O][A][S][D][R][N][H]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


S-D-R-N-H.


Greg: Oh well. While I'm deciding between a Roy Rogers and a Shirley Temple, here's 30 seconds.

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

[palmer7]

You know, I think I'll go with Rebecca's Ruby Red. Matt, how many letters are in your word?

Matt: 6 Letters

Greg: And James?

James: 7 letters


Greg: Whoa! James, we'll have to check that word. What is it?

James: Sardine

Greg: Put that on the board, please.


[ ][ ][O][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][H]
[ ][S][A][R][D][I][N][E][ ]


And it works! Well done, James, 7 points! (audience cheers)


[JAMES]       [MATT]
[ 14]          [ 45]


14 to 45, now we're starting to have a match. Mr. Hodkin, can you do better than sardine?

[hodders]

Well fishy as it may sound, there's a nine in the selection - IRONHEADS, Ironhead being a the goldeneye duck. 

[palmer7]


[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[I][R][O][N][H][E][A][D][S]


Greg: OK, then. And if someone had gotten that word, they would've picked up 18 points. Oh well. Coming up after this round, Sam Hodkin with Origins of Words and Phrases. But James, we're up to Round 11. How many vowels would you like: 3, 4, or 5?

[Deleted]

5 please sir

[palmer7]

(Stephanie loads up the letters)

Stephanie: Thank you, James. Let's see what the vowels are this time....


[E][A][E][O][I][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


E-A-E-O-I. And the consonants you'll be working with this time are....


[E][A][E][O][I][D][R][S][R]
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]


D-R-S-R.

Greg: And here's your 30 seconds.

(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 what we've come up with. James?

James: 4


Greg: Awww, and you were doing so well, too. Matt?


Matt: 5 Letters

Greg: And what's the word?

Matt: RADIO

Greg: Matt, you get five points. Oh, Mr. Hodkin, what were some longer words they could've come up with but didn't?

[hodders]

Well if you're of a religious bent, you could have had ROSARIED for 8.

[palmer7]


[E][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[R][O][S][A][R][I][E][D][ ]


That is absolutely correct.


[JAMES] [MATT]
[ 14] [ 50]


Score is James 14, Matt 50. And now, why don't we all take a break while we go into this next segment, Origins of Words and Phrases with Sam Hodkin. Now, Sam, what word or phrase are you going to etymologize tonight?