Top Card Deluxe -- Primetime Special

[Deleted]

Me:  Doug, you seem to think the ace is there.  The way to find out is to see how close you are to the correct answer to this question.  On the screen in front of you contestants, key in the number you think is the correct answer.  Ready?  Here we go.  How many possible ways are there to make change for one dollar?


Doug has locked in.
Matt has locked in.

As a bonus, should either of you get it on the nose, you will win $1000 in bonus cash.  Audience applauds


Let's see what you put.



The actual answer happens to be:

(Sustained bell, audience cheers) 

293!  Doug has hit it on the nose.  (Walks over to Doug's podium)  Let's count it off audience!

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - ONE THOUSAND!!  audience ooohs


(Goes back to own podium)

Doug, if that card indeed an ace, then you will win an additional TEN THOUSAND dollars!  Matt is hoping it is not an ace.




Matt, you are still alive!  Doug, do you wish to keep that 2 or take the top card?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Top card, please. Come on, Ace!

[Deleted]

Me:  Leslie, is this a clean sweep, or will there be more mopping up needed?

Leslie:  Nope, still a few dust bunnies.  (Audience chuckles)







Me:  You now have 15.  Weigh your options carefully, and tell me what you would like to do, Doug.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Since "Health" has six letters, I'll choose that category and hope for a 6 there.

[Deleted]

Good thing there's no category called "antidisestablishmentarianism".  (Audience chuckles)

Hands on plungers, then.  Bradycardia is a condition that affects what organ?  (BC:11)

Doug: 24 (DING)
Matt: Pass

Doug: Heart.  (applause)

Me:  Indeed it is.  However, according to medical research it only affects people named Brady.  (Audience groans, sound effects lady rubs it in.)
(Tosses question toward audience, feigning anger toward audience) All right, come up with your own d**n jokes!  (Audience laughs)




Me: Well, it's a 4...the number of letters needed to describe my jokes...crap.  Do you play it safe with 19 or gamble with the top card?  (Audience suggestions are yelled)

[dougmorrisontheair]

19's a better number than 15. I'll take that 4 of Spades and freeze on 19, please.

[Deleted]

(Audience applause)


Matt, you have your work cut out for you.  Only a 20 or 21 will win the game.  Take a look at the categories, and tell me which one is next.

[mringgenberg]

Reality TV

[Deleted]

Me: Things are about to get real here.  No buzz in is required since it's just you.  Kelly Clarkson won the first season of what music competition?

Matt: American Idol  (applause)

Me:  Yes!  What card will you possibly start with?




It's a 5.  You can play it safe, or gamble with the top card. What's your pleasure?  (Audience yells ideas)

[mringgenberg]

I take the 5.

[Deleted]

The 5 is yours.  (applause)  You're now on the board.





Where to now, good sir?

[mringgenberg]

Sitcoms

[Deleted]

Me:  I think I might get dizzy after reading this question.  Maude spun off from All in the Family. What sitcom spun off from Maude?

Matt:  Good Times.  (applause)

Me:  That's the show.  Now, to see what you could build on that 5....




An ace!   (applause)  That will give you a 6/16 -- or a soft 16.  Would you like to take the ace or take the top card?  (Audience cries out suggestions)

[mringgenberg]

I'll take the Ace.

[Deleted]

(Applause, few cheers.)  The heat is on!  All you need now is a 4 or a 5, and you will win the round.





Pick your next category, please.

[mringgenberg]

U.S. Presidents

[Deleted]

Me: This question is for those with a sweet tooth:  Blueberry flavor jelly beans were created especially for which President?

Matt: Ronald Reagan.  (applause)

Me:  Yep, the ol' Gipper himself.  Let's see if this card will be beneficial....

(Audience expresses worry)



It's a 6.  That will give you 12 if you take it, or take the top card for the chance at a 4 or 5.  What's your pleasure?  (Suggestions are yelled)

[mringgenberg]

Top Card

[Deleted]

Me: Leslie, what do you have for Matt?  (Audience rallies)  Is it a 4 or a 5?

Leslie:  Neither.



Me: (Audience groans loudly)  Doug, you are still alive.  Matt, you now have 14.



Three categories remain; which one is next?

[mringgenberg]

Song Lyrics

[Deleted]

Me: I'll go straight to the question; I need the exact line for this one. Bob Marley's version of the song proclaims "I shot the sheriff, but I didn't" what?

Matt: Shoot the deputy.

Me: Judge?

(Judge gives a thumbs down signal and sounds buzzer)

Me:  Sorry, we were looking for the Bob Marley version, and the exact quote is "shoot NO deputy".  Can't give it to you.

(Buzz!Buzz!Buzz!Buzz!Buzz!)

Me: We are out of time for the round, and Doug wins with a score of 19-14.  (Theme starts, applause)

(Leslie and I walk to the podiums)



Me:  Matt, you played a great game, but you came up short at the end.  However, no one leaves empty handed.  Leslie, what do we have for him?

Leslie: It's a $1000 gift card to eBay compliments of Top Card!  (applause)

Me: We hope you enjoyed your stay; let's give it up for Matt Ringgenberg!  (Matt's fans cheers as he walks off stage with Leslie.)
As for you, Doug, with the $1000 bonus earned earlier, you racked up ANOTHER $5000 for winning the round.  Your total so far is $6,000.  Either you or Michael can win up to $10,000 more on top of that in just a few moments.  When we come back, we'll have the championship round with Michael versus Doug!  Don't go away.

[Deleted]

To allow people to spend time with friends and family, game play on Top Card and Top Card Deluxe will be in recess until December 26.



..and to those south of the Equator where it's now summertime:



Merry Christmas!

[Deleted]

(Applause fades)

Me: Welcome back to Top Card Deluxe.  It's the championship round, and in a few moments, one of you will be going to play the bonus round for tens of thousands of dollars in prizes.  If you're lucky enough, you could win that Maserati sitting over there worth over $100,000!  (oohs from audience)

It starts with this toss-up; hands on your plungers please, Doug and Michael.


Which singer sang hits such as "Wind Beneath My Wings", "The Rose", and "From a Distance"?  (BC:59)

Doug: 25
Michael: 49  (DING!)

Me: Michael with the ring in.

Michael:  Bette Midler.

Me:  That's the singer!  (applause)  Michael, you've won the right to start the championship round with one of these categories:



Me:  Michael, which category is first?

[Deleted]

The Solar System

[Deleted]

Me: (Thinking in his head--Please don't let it be about Uranus!  Please don't let it be about Uranus!  Please don't let it be about Uranus!  Phew!  It's not about Uranus!)  (Clears throat)  Which planet is nearest the sun?  (BC:27)


Doug: 11  (DING!)
Michael: 89

Me: Ding Douged in, er I mean Doug dinged in.

Doug:  Mercury.

Me:  Yes, it is.  Aren't we relieved that there were no Uranus jokes?  I tend to be the butt of them.  Anyway, the card before you is a....



Keep that 3 or dump it for the top card?  (Audience shouts ideas)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Top card

(And then...)

Let's try actors

[Deleted]

Me:  Leslie, what's on the top.

Leslie:  (Smiling)




The jack is worth 10!  

[dougmorrisontheair]

Let's go for an ace with Actors, please

[Deleted]

Me: Hands on plungers, please.  What film star began life as Archibald Leach?  (BC: 76)

Doug: 1
Michael: 50  (DING)

Me: Michael?

Michael: Cary Grant.  (Applause)

Me:  Yes, and wasn't he the one buried in Grant's Tomb? 

Judge: No, he was cremated.  

Me:  Thank you, Judge Buzzkillington.  (Laughter)  Michael, this beckons the question: Was there an ace in the actors category?



No, but there was a 7.  Keep that or take the top card?  (Audience suggests things.)

[Deleted]

I'll take the top card.

For the next category, I'll go with Weights & Measures.