The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Ep. 28)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(cuckoo bird sfx)

We're not paying this bird per appearance, are we? (scattered laughter from crowd) Form of the word or words in that link, Frank. One additional chance to guess for the win comes now.

[grapebuy789]

Bakery

[dougmorrisontheair]

If it's BAKERY, Frank reclaims the title.











































(dings; audience applause; win music plays)

It's BAKERY!

Five grand right on the nose, Frank. How ya feel?

[grapebuy789]

I feel so relieved! That took forever!

[dougmorrisontheair]

Just when you thought you were going to cruise to victory, David was working to make a comeback.

Let's finish off this chain.









You could have carrot cake for dessert. Any cake can be made in a bakery.









(ding)

And as the control room completes the chain, items from a bakery are made fresh. Will Smith was in the title role of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". Prince Harry is a member of the British royal family. And Art Carney starred in the movie "Harry and Tonto"; he played a widower named Harry who traveled the U.S. with his pet cat named Tonto.

That's the chain. David, sorry you ran into a buzz saw -- but you did score $1750 today. We add that to your prior winnings. A total of $7150, some fine gifts, and all this applause is yours, David Barkow.

(audience cheers)

(board rotates as part of the theme plays)

Frank Sartori, with this win, factoring in your bonus money from Round 2 and your cash from earlier wins, you have just cracked the $60,000 barrier.

(audience cheers)

By the end of this show, that total could exceed 100 grand.






Part of that depends on this Missing Link game. Are you ready?

[grapebuy789]

Let's do it.

[dougmorrisontheair]

All right, then, we'll start you off with four pennies.








(ding)

As you'll recall, we spot you the top and bottom links of this three-link chain -- and just the initial letter of the letter in the middle, or missing, link. A correct guess means you hold on to all four pennies -- which you could parlay into $40,000.

Each additional letter you need costs you a penny -- and thus reduces your potential winnings for the final chain in the process.

So let's set up your Missing Link game.

All right, then, we'll start you off with four pennies.








(ding)

Your Missing Link chain starts with TOTALLY and ends in SPRING. What is the missing link starting with H?

[grapebuy789]

Hot!

[dougmorrisontheair]

HOT is right.








(ding; audience applause)

"Totally Hot" -- one of Olivia Newton-John's albums. And a hot spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater rising from the Earth's crust.

Four cents are in the bank. Will they become $40,000? Come back and play along with the final chain with Frank -- after this.

(theme plays; audience cheers)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Doug in pre-recorded audio as theme plays)

If you'd like to be a contestant on The $40,000 Chain Reaction, call toll free 1-800-555-40CR. That's 1-800-555-4027.

(audience applauds)

Some quick bookkeeping notes before we proceed. Frank Sartori, officially, you're a three-time champion with winnings of $60,540.

(audience cheers)

Yes. If you can win your next two games, you'll win an instant bonus of $40,000. Your total earnings could exceed $200,000 before all's said and done.

Right now, you're competing for $40,000 here in the final chain. Ready to play?

[grapebuy789]

Let's do it!

[dougmorrisontheair]

Then let's set up the final chain. As you know, with the final chain, we only give you the top link...









(ding)

...and, in this case, it's EDWARD. We also spot you the initial letter of the remaining links. We also give you seven spare letters to use as needed.

Each incorrect guess you make costs you a spare letter. Each correct solution multiplies your money in the bank by ten.










(ding)

And here's how that money can grow -- from four cents all the way to $40,000.

(audience cheers)

Remember, it's crucial to correctly identify all the remaining links in the chain. If a spare letter completes a link, we cannot give you credit for a right answer -- putting you out of contention for the $40,000.










(ding)

So as we bring back the final chain, Frank, I wish you good luck. Your next link under EDWARD starts with an S.

[grapebuy789]

Scissorhands

[dougmorrisontheair]

Good opening guess -- but incorrect. Here comes the first spare letter.









(ding)

S-M.

[grapebuy789]

Small

[dougmorrisontheair]

SMALL is right.









(ding; audience applause)

The late Edward Small was a film producer.

Four pennies become four dimes. For four bucks, Frank, your next link starts with an F.

[grapebuy789]

Fry

[dougmorrisontheair]

Great guess -- but it's not FRY. Here comes another letter.









(ding)

F-O.

[grapebuy789]

Foot

[dougmorrisontheair]

Makes sense -- but it's not FOOT. Costs you another letter.









(ding)

F-O-R.

[grapebuy789]

Fortune

[dougmorrisontheair]

There ya go. FORTUNE.









(ding; audience applause)


A reasonably lucky day with a lottery ticket or at the casino could lead to a small fortune.

Frank still in contention for a $40,000 fortune. Four letters remain. Next link under FORTUNE is an H.

[grapebuy789]

Extra letter, please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not even a guess?

(two seconds pass) (buzz)

Okay, here comes the next letter.









(ding)

H-U.

[grapebuy789]

Hunt

[dougmorrisontheair]

(cuckoo bird sfx)

There's that bird again. Form of the word or words in that link. One free chance comes now.

[grapebuy789]

Hunter

[dougmorrisontheair]

There ya go -- HUNTER.









(ding; audience applause)

Fortune Hunter was the name of a pricing game on "The Price is Right".

"Fortune Hunter" was also an adventure show on the FOX network.

Frank's on the hunt for more than $40. With three spare letters left, the next link for $400 is under HUNTER and starts with an M.

[grapebuy789]

Mark

[dougmorrisontheair]

Makes sense -- but it's not MARK. Here comes another spare letter.









(ding)

M-A.