The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Ep. 7; audience game)

[dougmorrisontheair]

We're about to get Episode 7 of The $40,000 Chain Reaction on the road. First some notes...

\ Marc Enyedy returns with two wins and $82,250.

\ We're starting qualifying here. The player closest to the right answer to the following question, high or low, plays against Marc.

...and now, the question.

On September 12, 2012, at 11:30am Central, we watched a rerun of "Lingo", hosted by Chuck Woolery, on GSN. The two teams scored a total of how many points in this episode? Please respond in increments of 25 points.

We operate on 24-hour deadlines. So you have 1440 minutes from now to PM me your answer.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Annnnnd -- that's time. Team 1 won by the final score of 575 to 200. These ought to be easy numbers to crunch.









(ding)

Yes -- 775. Who's the closest?

600 koopakid17

Kevin Kolsen is. Kevin takes on Marc on Chain Reaction.

---

(theme plays; audience applause)

The game is -- The $40,000 Chain Reaction -- where one word leads to another -- and the right word could lead to a big payoff.

Hellooooooooo, everybody. I'm Doug Morris and welcome to our show. We welcome back quite the affluent champion -- and a challenger who wants to get his hands on some big money.

Ladies and gentlemen, please make welcome our challenger, Kevin Kolsen, and our champion, with $82,250, Marc Enyedy.

(audience cheers)

Let's take a moment to meet our players. Kevin, please tell us about yourself.

[koopakid17]

I'm an accountant from Long Island, New York. I have another two weeks of preparing tax returns until the rush is over. In my spare time, I like to go to the gym and write.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ahh -- an accountant. Well -- our champ probably would want to speak with you after the show. He's probably curious how much of his money is going to Uncle Sam when this is over.

(scattered laughter)

Seriously, good luck to you in the game, Kevin. Marc, good luck to you as well. You've won $82,250 minus taxes. When the tax bill's settled, got any plans for the money?

[marc412]

Well, a tenth of the dough will go to my church, some will replace what I spent during my year-long layoff...

[dougmorrisontheair]

I heard that. As I noted the other day, it's possible for a champion to rack up roughly a quarter of a million dollars. We retire a champion after five straight wins -- and part of that retirement package includes an instant payoff of $40,000.

Kevin, if you went all the way and won a quarter million, what would you do with that kind of money?

[koopakid17]

So, if he retires undefeated, does that mean he gets a retirement form in the mail?

*laughter*

If I had $250,000, I'd save most of it but I probably wouldn't quit my current job. I'd maybe buy a nice car, though.

[dougmorrisontheair]

I think part of the retirement package includes a t-shirt reading "I won five straight games of Chain Reaction and still got this lousy t-shirt."

(scattered laughter from from the crowd)

Great ideas for sure, Kevin. Marc, mathematically, you can still run your winnings up to about $250K. If you make it, what would you do with that moolah?

[marc412]

I guess I could Invite a bunch of my friends to vacation with me at Disney World, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Well, 82-grand-and-change can definitely buy a nice vacay. Let's see if it can be a bigger one as we open the board and get to -- the -- uh -- chain.

(board opens as part of the theme plays)

I almost stole a line from another show. (a few in the crowd laugh)  In any event, this first chain of the game starts with...









(ding)

...GARBAGE and it ends with OFF. Each link in this first chain is worth $250. The player who completes the chain picks up an additional $250. The first player to reach $5000 win the game -- and then has a chance to parlay pennies with our top payoff of $40,000.

(audience cheers)

Kevin, you're the challenger. You may give the first letter below GARBAGE or above OFF to Marc -- or take that letter for yourself.

(Note from Doug: In response to Kevin's note in the net game vacay section, we'll be lenient on time pressure -- likely just for the first round.)

[koopakid17]

I'll give Marc a letter below Garbage.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Okay, Marc's guess is the first in the game...









(ding)

...and Kevin gives the champ a T.

[marc412]

Truck?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Great opening guess -- but not TRUCK. That means Kevin keeps on truckin' to give or take another letter.

[koopakid17]

I'll give a letter above Off this time.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Interesting move.









(ding)

Marc, now he's giving you a G above OFF.

[marc412]

Goof?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Another great guess -- but not right.

Kevin, you've stumped him twice. What would you like to do now?

[koopakid17]

I'll take this time below Garbage.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Challenger takes his first letter.









(ding)

T-R, for you, Kevin.

[koopakid17]

Trash.

[dougmorrisontheair]

And that's it.









(ding; audience applause)

koopakid17
marc412

Kevin, you're on the board first -- and you still maintain control of the chain.

[koopakid17]

I will give below Trash.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Below TRASH for Marc...









(ding)

...is an L.

[marc412]

Litter?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Litter, litter, adds some glitter.










(ding; audience applause)

koopakid17
marc412

We have a tie ballgame now. Marc, chain's now yours to give or take a letter.

[marc412]

I'll take a letter above Off

[dougmorrisontheair]

Back the other way...










(ding)

...G-L.

[marc412]

Gloves?

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it -- GLOVES.









(ding; audience applause)

koopakid17
marc412

Lead changes hands. Marc, chain's still yours.