Lucky Numbers (ABC; Episode 6)

[dougmorrisontheair]

At long last, our next episode of Lucky Numbers is about to start.



It's been away for a while. So, some notes are in order.



First, for any newcomers to NGC who haven't seen this, Lucky Numbers was, in the real world, a pilot for ABC daytime that didn't sell. If you're still not familiar with it, think of this as a game show version of the classic casino game Craps.



Bill McDee returns with three match wins and $217,620 in cash and prizes. If he, or anyone else, can win five straight matches, the champ plays an all-cash version of The Main Event, our bonus game, which could be worth more than $1,000,000.


As we welcome Bill aboard, who wants to challenge him?

ADDENDUM: Anyone who hasn't lost to Bill previously in LN is eligible.

[Bryan]

I’ll go!

[billmcdee]

Checking in.  Good luck Bryan!

[Bryan]

Same here Bill!

[dougmorrisontheair]

WPVI - PHILADELPHIA

Staff announcer: Phillies highlights -- tonight at 6.


(opening theme plays)

Bill Kennedy: It's time to play -- Lucky Numbers.

Ladies and gentlemen -- Doug Morris.

(audience cheers)

Thank you, Bill Kennedy. Hellooooo, everybody -- and welcome to Lucky Numbers. Throughout the show today, get ready for cash payoffs, fantastic prizes, screams of joy -- and probably some moans and groans as well.

Right now -- our contestants are about to meet me here at the dice table. A warm weclome to Bill McDee and Bryan Law.

(audience cheers)

Bill has won three matches and $217,620 in cash and merchandise. (audience cheers) Bill, you finally cleaned house and hit the big jackpot. How do you feel going into your fourth match?

[billmcdee]

Doug, I feel ready to roll, no pun intended!  Very very amazed that I won the bonus on the last episode.  Third time truly was a charm for me!

[dougmorrisontheair]

Well, remember, a win today and another victory tomorrow will mean you play the all-cash main event for at least $1,000,000.

Here to put a stop to that is Bryan. I understand you come to us from North Mississippi to play our game.

[Bryan]

Yes I have. I’m from Columbus where I enjoy SEC Football and NASCAR!

[dougmorrisontheair]

Columbus -- we all know where it is, don't we?

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

Bit of an inside joke. But, seriously, I know Columbus well. My dad's Air Force career took him through Columbus Air Force Base, my mom graduated from the Mississippi University for Women, my brother graduated from the Math and Science school. So -- great community over there.

Bill, Bryan, I wish you both good luck -- because you'll need it.

Take a look at the game board, please. Those are the lucky numbers in play for every game in our match -- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Attached to five of those numbers are cash awards. Anytime your dice roll totals one of those lucky numbers, you seize control of that cash award.

However, the remaining number is the luckiest of them all. It's our winning point. And the winning point in the first game we're about to play is...

(drum beats; cha-ching)

...number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9. Roll a 9 in any combination and you'll win the cash you've seized *plus* the money in the pot. At the start of every game, we seed the pot with $1500 -- just as we have right now -- and it could go up by as much as $500 on a particular roll. More on that later.

Now you'll notice the number 7 is not on the board. In any game, any roll of 7 means this.

(danger zone cue; lights briefly flicker in certain parts of studio)

There's the signal we're entering the danger zone. The complexion of the game will change from there. More about *that* later.

Now -- to get control of the dice, you must correctly answer a toss-up question. If you anticipate and you're wrong, the roll automatically goes to your opponent.

So -- Bill, Bryan, hands on the buzzers, please -- because here comes your first question.

True or false: George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address.
28 billmcdee
23 bryan
66 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

He was first with everything else, so I'll say that is true.

[dougmorrisontheair]

And I'll say you're right.

(audience applause)

Bill, the first roll of the dice in this game could also be the last. Roll a 9 in any combination and you're on the board with $1500. Let's see what you do with the dice.


(Bill rolls)

Not a 9 -- but the dice total 5. That's good for some cash.


(ding)

$375. Bill if you win this game, you'll win the money in the pot plus that $375.

All numbers that the champion controls will have money amounts that light up red. Bryan, the cash awards that you seize control of will light up blue.

On to our next question.

Beavers, ducks or turtles. Which group of animals most likely builds dams?
16 billmcdee
06 bryan
35 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill again.

[billmcdee]

That's a dam easy question

Beavers!

[dougmorrisontheair]

(scattered laughter from crowd)

The beavers are right.

(audience applause)

For bonus points, who destroys dams? (scattered laughter from crew) Nevermind -- another inside joke I'll explain in my memoir.


(Bill rolls)

Bill couldn't wait to roll -- and that's fine by me. The ballerina's roll of 2-2 is good *four*...

(ding)

...five bills. Lot of money at stake for Bill already. But Bryan could win the pot -- with this next question.

Brooke Burke, Brooke Burns or Brooke Shields. Which Brooke reunited with Calvin Klein for a sultry photo shoot in 2017?
44 billmcdee
51 bryan
51 random.org

(Bryan buzzes in)

Bryan?

[Bryan]

Brooke Shields?

[dougmorrisontheair]

She's the one. (audience applause) Bryan, your first chance to roll the dice. Perhaps you can win it in one fell swoop.


(Bryan rolls)

(audience groans)

Or that.

(danger zone cue; lights flicker in studio)

Gentlemen, we're in the danger zone. The next roll of 7 means an automatic loss for you; your opponent in the process will win the pot and any further controlled awards.

So if you feel a losing roll's coming down the turnpike, you may pass the dice to your opponent.

Crucial question coming.


U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was previously a U.S. Senator from what state; Alabama, Georgia or Louisiana?
11 billmcdee
21 bryan
08 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

Alabama.

(If correct, I will pass the dice).

[dougmorrisontheair]

You're right, Bill. It's Alabama.

(audience applause) (Bill immediately passes dice to Bryan)

Annd -- looks like you had your mind made up about who rolls.

Bryan, Bill's sensing lightning will strike two consecutive times. Avoid another roll of 7 and you stay in the game.

(audience cheers as...) (Bryan rolls)

But you just avoid it with this roll of 6. Bryan, you seize control of...

(ding)

...$300. Still looking for a winner in this opening game of the match. Let's see if we find our winner -- with this question.


In the world of professional football, the XFL is making a comeback. During the XFL's original existence, which team did *not* exist: the Birmingham Thunderbolts, the Oakland Devils or the Orlando Rage?
82 billmcdee
04 bryan
14 random.org

(Bryan buzzes in)

Bryan?

[Bryan]

Oakland Devils!

[billmcdee]

(nodding in agreement)

[dougmorrisontheair]

The XFL *did* have the San Francisco Demons in the Bay Area -- but there were no Oakland Devils in the league.

(audience applause)

Bryan, we're still in the danger zone..

...but a lot of money can be won if 9 is rolled. Of course the same can be said for the opposition if you roll a 7.

How do you play it? Roll or pass?

(audience shouts suggestions)

[Bryan]

I'm not scared of no 7, roll 'em!

[dougmorrisontheair]

(scattered cheers)

Bryan came to play. Can he roll a niner to win?

(Bryan rolls)

No -- but it's another 6.

Bryan, you already have control of the 6. So, what we do here is add the 6's cash value to the pot.

(drum beats; cha-ching)

Another $300 in the kitty as a result. $1800 plus other cash awards go to the winner of this game. We're still looking for that winner. Match continues here on Lucky Numbers -- after this.

(commercial cue plays; audience applauds)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(HR87 theme plays)

You should be here in the audience. I just gave the crowd a preview of my memoir.

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

A source for many of the questions we use on Lucky Numbers is the 22-volume World Book Encyclopedia -- which includes the research guide and the index volume. Our players always receive a fine welcoming gift.  And we've got a really great one, right, Bill Kennedy?

Bill: Yes indeed.  Each of our players will receive a $2500 shopping spree to Gucci on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills -- where you'll find a world of imported signature clothes and gifts. Furnished by Gucci.

Bill: We'll be back with more of Lucky Numbers -- after this message.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ASB cue plays; audience applauds)


Thank you -- and we're back with Lucky Numbers. Still we're in our first game of the match -- so the score is knotted at naught.

But we've got a lot of money waiting to be won -- an $1800 pot, two cash awards controlled by Bill McDee, our champion, in red -- and one award controlled by Bryan Law, our challenger, in blue.

We're in the danger zone -- meaning the next roll of 7 ends the game in victory for the opponent.

Before we resume play, let's talk about the rolls of 2, 3, 11 and 12.  Those are the wild rolls.  Anytime a wild roll comes up, we add $500 to the pot -- and you may roll the dice again.

Just when you thought this game couldn't get richer -- it can.

Let's resume this crucial first game -- with this question.

Let's say we're playing Monopoly. You're starting the game with a roll of 1 and 3 -- and you move forward 4 spaces. Would that be a lucky roll; yes or no?
50 billmcdee
02 bryan
93 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

No, as that would land you on "Income Tax" if memory serves.

(If correct, I will again pass the dice to my opponent.)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Bill, you're right and all over it.

(audience applause)

Indeed an opening roll of 4 would mean you're paying income tax to the bank.

(Bill passes dice to Bryan)

That would not be a lucky roll -- and Bill's sensing an unlucky roll's coming. Bryan, avoid the 7; you're ultimate goal's the 9.

(Bryan rolls)

(audience groans) (buzz)

Another 7. You lose, sorry. Bill, game goes to you.

(ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

Bill, you passed the dice at the right time -- and a niece piece of change is heading your way. You seized control of two cash awards totalling $875 *plus* an $1800 pot.

You've just score $2675. (audience cheers) Bryan, remember, we've got time for at least one more game. You can make a comeback. In fact, let's clear the board.

We're out of the danger zone. A new pot with $1500 will be seeded shortly as find out our next winning roll.

(drum beats; cha-ching)

It's a 5. Roll a 5 in any combination and you'll win $1500.

Since we're out of danger, next question's for an automatic roll of the dice.

"Double Trouble", "Funky Monkey" or "Hurlyburly". Which movie's cast included Meg Ryan, Kevin Spacey and the then married couple of Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn?
77 billmcdee
38 bryan
68 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

Total guess here as I know nothing about movies, "Double Trouble".

[dougmorrisontheair]

Oh no, "Hurlyburly" is the name of the movie.

Bryan, this means you get the roll by default. A couple of wild rolls and then a 5 will make this a near even game.

(Bryan rolls)

Niner instead. That's what we needed the last game. But here, it's worth...

(ding)

...$375. Bryan, that and the pot will be yours to keep if you win this game. Now on to a question about Asia.

China, Japan or the Republic of the Philippines. Which nation is known as the land of the rising sun?
44 billmcdee
20 bryan
55 random.org

(Bill buzzes in)

Bill?

[billmcdee]

That would be Japan, Doug.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Japan's right.

(audience applause)

Let's see if you can roll a 5 and pad your lead, Bill.

(Bill rolls)

Got an 8 instead. That's good for money.

(ding)

...three bills for Bill. Will he bank 18 bills total? Perhaps we'll find out after this question.

What would you need to clean up after using acrylic paints; thinner or just plain water?
03 billmcdee
64 bryan
83 random.org

(Bryan buzzes in)

Bryan?