The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Ep. 50)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Greetings, all. We're finally rolling with Episode 50 of The $40,000 Chain Reaction. Some notes are in order.

\ First, koopakid17 returns with one win and $6002.

\ Because we've had a long period of time between episodes, I'm making an executive decision about a waiting period between episodes. If you played in Episode 47, 48, 49, and/or you're a five-time undefeated champion (Marc Enyedy, Frank Sartori), please sit on your hands and let someone else try.

And now, let's play our qualifying question. The player closest to the right answer, high or low, challenges Kevin.

On May 12, 2023 (that's right, just this past Friday), I hosted a charity Bingo Night in downtown Laurel, Mississippi, seen on the hit series "Home Town" and official spin-off shows. In the final Bingo game of the night, was the last number I drew? Please make sure your answer is higher than zero and lower than 76; there's no need to attach an official "BINGO" letter with your answer.


Please PM dougmorrisontheair (that's me) your answer.

[dougmorrisontheair]

At the end of the night, we played "Blackout" -- meaning all 24 numbers plus the free space needed to be marked to win. After I called...









(ding)

...O-64, someone screamed out "BINGO!" We checked, per tradition, and it was a legit win -- followed by a reference to a certain Beatles song.

Who's the closest?


34 bighornbattle


It's George. Chain Reaction starts in a bit.

[dougmorrisontheair]

---

---

(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.

(more applause)

Helloooooo, everybody. I'm Doug Morris and welcome to The $40,000 Chain Reaction. On our last show, we crowned a new champion who won a lot of money in the main game. The final chain -- eh -- not so much.

Please make welcome our challenger, George Custer, and our champion, Kevin Kolsen, with $6002.

(audience cheers)

George Custer, welcome, please tell us about yourself.

[bighornbattle]

Well, I am a game show junkie from Spartanburg, SC. I am currently 34 years old. In my spare time, I like to listen to 80s music, news open full themes, do mahjong for over 10 years, do word seeks, and love to sing. I even like to eat anything but yams, cranberry sauce, and all kinds of pies. I've never been married.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Never been married? Is USA rebooting "The Big Date"? (scattered laughter from crowd) Just trying to help. Anyway, good luck in the game of love and the game of Chain Reaction.

Kevin, good luck here as you defend your crown for the first time. Remind us what you do when you're not connecting our word chains.

[koopakid17]

Well, I'm going to be on the lookout because I'm single as well!

In all seriousness, I'm an accountant from Long Island, New York.

[bighornbattle]

Good luck Kevin. I want to wish a happy 50th episode of this series. Cheers to another 50.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Thanks, all and again, good luck to all. Let's get this show on the road and play Chain Reaction.

(board opens as part of the theme plays)

One of you will compete for up to $40,000. Before that can happen, one of you must win this race to $5000. And the race starts with this chain.










(ding)

This opening chain starts with NURSE and it ends with SYRUP. Five links are in between. Each link contains at least one word -- possibly more.

Each time you correctly solve a link, you score $250. Completing the chain is worth an additional $250. And when we start a new round, we raise the stakes.

George, you're challenging. So we start with you. Please start by giving or taking a letter -- and do so either below NURSE or above SYRUP.

[bighornbattle]

Giving a letter below Nurse please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Okay, Kevin, the first guess of the game is yours...









(ding)

...and it starts with the letter J.

[koopakid17]

Joy.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ah, the Pokémon character. Great guess -- but that's not it.

George, you may give or take another letter.

[bighornbattle]

Take a letter below nurse please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George, your first guess starts with...









(ding)

...J-A.

[bighornbattle]

My guess is Jackie.

[dougmorrisontheair]

And you're on the scoreboard -- because JACKIE is right.









(ding; audience applause)

George, with that correct solution, you retain control of the board -- and you may now give or take a letter below JACKIE or above SYRUP.


bighornbattle
koopakid17

[bighornbattle]

Take a letter under Jackie please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George keeps it and takes...









(ding)

...the letter B.

[bighornbattle]

Bradley Jr.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ah, the great major league outfielder. 'Fraid that's not.

A slight word of clarification to both players: We'd only use abbreviations at the top and bottom links. Words in between are always spelled out -- and we wouldn't include non-letter characters such as numbers, periods, ampersands, etc.

So, with that, Kevin, the control is yours.

[koopakid17]

I’d like to give above Syrup.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Kevin's going the other end of the chain...









(ding)

...for the letter W.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Kevin)

[koopakid17]

I said give, not take.

[bighornbattle]

Thanks Kevin. Waffle.

[dougmorrisontheair]

My mistake -- and George is legit correct.









(ding; audience applause)

Sorry about that, everybody. I zigged when I should've zagged.  

George, you've just benefitted from our singular/plural rule. You guessed the singular word WAFFLE -- and we pluralized it as WAFFLES. We also credit for a right answer in those situations.

So you are leading $500 to nothing, George -- and you've got control -- because, obviously, I don't. (scattered laughter from crowd)



bighornbattle
koopakid17

[bighornbattle]

Give a letter above Waffles please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Giving to Kevin above WAFFLES -- got it.

(scattered laughter from crowd)









(ding)

Kevin, you're getting a B above WAFFLES.

[koopakid17]

I don't think I got it though. I'll guess Bacon.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Good guess -- but it's not BACON.

George, we're back to you.