Charge Account (NBC Daytime) Episode #1 (THE END)

[joeygatorman]

Here we go! This is the proper premiere, following a pretty fun pilot. If you want to play, make sure you familiarize yourself with the amended rules here. This time, the top prize is a jackpot starting with a car and $5,000 cash—yours for $600 in your charge account and a successful playing of the Jackpot Grid.

For this one time only, Kevin Kolsen and James Greek are allowed to sign up to compete in this episode, just the same as everyone else—but they've got to be the first to get there! If they don't, well, maybe the next time.

Two players are needed.

[jlastergolf]

I’ll go a round

[redrangerdude]

I'll play too.

[palmer7]

---

(pre-opening)

Greg: Hello, everyone. My name is Greg Palmer, and I am not hosting this show. What you are about to see is a blend of Boggle and old-school $ale of the Century. It's called Charge Account, and it's a revival of a show from the early 60s created and hosted by Jan Murray. You know, the guy who created Treasure Hunt. Not The New Treasure Hunt, the original one. Now, when I first saw this show, I thought, "He's totes ripping off $ale." But you know, he really isn't. Especially considering that my show is trivia-based, and his is more word-based. Well, there is some trivia, but still. Anyway, I don't know what to say about this show, but if you like word games, you'll probably like this one. And now, the National Broadcasting Company--- do they still use that anymore?--- Comcast is proud to present Charge Account.

[joeygatorman]

[Why, thank you, Greg. I'll be sure to return the favor one of these days. ]

(Over Richard Myhill's "Smash Hit," an animated "neon" opening plays, culminating in the logo:)

(fade in to a set of exciting prizes, one at a time)

MICHAEL HANKS: Today on Charge Account, get fit without the fuss with this $2,600 cardio machine, one of the prizes in our showcase today and yours for $200!

Or take a chance with one of our $250 Mystery Vaults and you could ride home in this $11,000 Harley-Davidson Roadster!

Or go all the way with $600 in your charge account and you could win a jackpot of over $28,000…

…including this Chevrolet Cruze Sedan!

And now, here's the host of Charge Account—Joseph Kristoff!

(loud cheers and applause as Joey enters from the side)

Yes! Thank you, Michael Hanks. Indeed, one of our contestants, if they're smart enough and lucky enough, could win a jackpot that grows and grows and grows. That Chevy Cruze will stay there until somebody wins $600 and then goes on to win the Jackpot Grid! That's just one of the many exciting things we have in a showcase worth more than $100,000! (audience hoots!) Now, let's meet the two people who hope to accomplish that feat today!

(a blue screen starts to enclose the showcase as the podia with the contestants are wheeled in from stage right. Once the screen is closed, blue lighting fades in from behind the players.)

Jonathan Laster and Lenny Jackson! (applause!)

Let's begin with Jonathan. Jonathan, would you please tell us a little about yourself?

[jlastergolf]

Yes I am the intern here and my notifications are lagging 🙄

[joeygatorman]

(laughter!)

I have no way to respond to that other than, "what kind of people do we get for contestants?"

And Lenny Jackson is from Washington, D.C. and is a high school student… any plans for after high school?

[redrangerdude]

Obviously, I want to go to college.

[joeygatorman]

Got a major in mind?

[redrangerdude]

Probably Journalism

[joeygatorman]

Ooooh! Very fascinating. Hope you are able to successfully fulfill your dreams. Good luck to you.

Contestants, in round one you will be filling in a grid of sixteen squares:



I will be giving you letters, one at a time, to place on your own grid. The letters have been selected so that a perfect round is possible. At the end of the round, you will score money for your charge account for each line with a three- or four-letter word. If you're all set, let's go.

(check your PMs, please.)

[joeygatorman]

Here are your letters:

S

.

.

.

O

.

.

.

E

.

.

.

E

.

.

.

V

.

.

.

P

.

.

.

I

.

.

.

N

.

.

.

H

.

.

.

E

.

.

.

W

.

.

.

W

.

.

.

T

.

.

.

S

.

.

.

E

.

.

.

N

And that's it. Let's see how the two of you did. First off, let's take a look at the perfect grid in this case.



Rather difficult grid, this one, what with two Ws and a V—SHOW, PINE, EVEN, VEST, SPEW, HIVE, ONES and WENT. If either one of you has a perfect game, in addition to winning $400 towards your score, getting you that much closer to the Jackpot Grid, you also win a $5,000 cash bonus. Let's see.



Yeah, it looks like you two didn't have the best time, though I do see some threes and a few fours. Each three-letter word is worth $20 and each four-letter word is worth $50. If there are two three-letter words on the same line, we'll only count one of them. What did you get?



(bing-beep-boop-boop-boop-boop-boop-boop!)
(beep-beep-beep-boop-boop-beep-bing-boop!)

Well! Jonathan, you were fortunate enough to get SONE, which is a unit of loudness, along with TEW, so you win $70! (applause!) And Lenny—you got TOES for $50, along with HIT, SOP, WEE and SEE for $20 each, giving you $130 and the lead! (more applause!)

We'll be back to play round two and declare our winner, right here on Charge Account! Stay tuned!

(cheers as the theme comes back up!)

[palmer7]

---

[$ale Theme]

(on the set of $ale)

Greg: $600 to get to the bonus round? Oh, please. Back in my day, $750 meant everything. And you had to win multiple nights to get it. Oh well, we've long switched over to the Winners' Board, where the right three picks could make you a millionaire.

(clips from the show)

Greg: Oh, and we have a lot of fun outside the bonus round, too. You never know what's going to happen.

(Cramer twirls the bingo cage and a number rolls out)


Cramer: G-52!

(suddenly, an Asian man stands up) Asian Man: BINGO! (audience cheers)

Greg: Holy smokes, we've got a winner!

Greg: So why spin your wheels or put yourself in Jeopardy! when you can watch $ale of the Century?

WEEKNIGHTS!

Greg: Be there, before primetime!

[joeygatorman]

(applause!)

MICHAEL HANKS: In our jackpot today, one of our contestants could win this Chevrolet Cruze LT Sedan. This ride offers the technology you crave, plenty of cargo room, and efficiency you could practically brag about, all wrapped up in a fun-to-drive, sporty package, furnished by Chevrolet and valued at $23,822!

(applause continues!)

And now, back to Joseph Kristoff!

Jonathan Laster and Lenny Jackson are playing Charge Account today, and Lenny holds the advantage, but in this round, all it takes is one question to turn things around. Here's how this round works: I'll be asking the two of you questions. Buzz in with the correct answer and you will be given three letters at random with which to place on the board. All the letters must be placed, and after doing so you must decide whether you want the grid scored as it is. Whoever is ahead at the end of the tenth question wins the game and gets to play a solo game for a chance to earn even more charge account money!

If you're all set, this is the first question.

DNCE,
FATBOY SLIM
or
GORILLAZ:

Which band had a Top-10 hit in 2015 with the song "Cake by the Ocean"?

Jonathan >> 32
↓↓↓↓↓100↓↓↓↓↓
Lenny >> 43

Lenny!

[redrangerdude]

DNCE

[joeygatorman]

Correct. (applause!) Lenny, here are your three letters:



(ding!) S, O, A. Place them anywhere you want.

[redrangerdude]

S (1)
O (2)
A (10)

[joeygatorman]

(ding!) Next question:

BELGIUM,
FRANCE
or
LUXEMBOURG:

Ypres, the site of five World War I battles between the Germans and the Allied Forces, is located in which country?

Jonathan >> 32
↑↑↑↑↑50↑↑↑↑↑
Lenny >> 79

Jonathan!

[jlastergolf]

Luxembourg?

[joeygatorman]

No, it's in Belgium. Lenny, control is yours again:



(ding!) R, I, Y. Where do these go?

[redrangerdude]

Y (3)
I (5)
R (4)

[joeygatorman]

SOYR
I***
*A**
****

Now, would you like to score this grid as it is, or try for more in the hope of making some more words? If you score it, whichever letters are used to make words will be cleared from the board.

[redrangerdude]

I will score the grid.

[joeygatorman]

(ding!) All right! (some applause) Well, I would say that's pretty early, but it prevents Jonathan from possibly stealing your hard work. What words has Lenny completed?



(beep!) That completes SOY for another $20, giving you $150, as we clear away those three letters and continue with this.



CLOSER TO –100°F,
CLOSER TO –300°F
or
CLOSER TO –500°F:

On the Fahrenheit temperature scale, where does "absolute zero," the coldest possible temperature, lie?

Jonathan >> 32
↑↑↑↑↑74↑↑↑↑↑
Lenny >> 20

Jonathan again.

[jlastergolf]

-500

[joeygatorman]

Correct. It's –459.67°F. Jonathan, first crack at some letters for you:



(ding!) W, C, R. Place them where you want.

[jlastergolf]

W (13)
C (9)
R (11)

[joeygatorman]

***R
I***
CAR*
W***

Score this grid as it is, or try for more and longer words?

[jlastergolf]

Score

[joeygatorman]

(ding!) (some applause) Okay! I've got to say, eventually one of you will have to make your move and take a risk. As it is, though, I presume there is one word for Jonathan.



(beep!) CAR. Jonathan now has $90, $60 off the lead. Seven questions to go, and the question is:

CALIFORNIA,
NEVADA
or
OREGON:

In what state will you find the town of Yreka?

Jonathan >> 32
↑↑↑↑↑30↑↑↑↑↑
Lenny >> 64

Jonathan again.