Lucky Numbers (ABC; Episode 31)

[dougmorrisontheair]

We're starting a new game of Lucky Numbers.

pathfinder20 returns with one game and $90,025 in cash and merchandise. We're seeking Kourtney's next opponent.

Since this host was away for several weeks last year and we have a new champion, I'm going to relax the waiting period a bit. If you played in the main game of Episode 28, 29, or 30, please sit on your hands and let someone else in on the fun.

With that, let's play the qualifying question. The player closest to the right answer, high or low, gets to play against Kourtney.

Before the show, one of our models rolled five money dice. The numbers 1 through 6 were replaced with, respectively, these amounts of money: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. What was the total value of the roll? Please respond to the nearest dollar.

Please PM dougmorrisontheair (that's me) in 24 hours from now.

[pathfinder20]

Checking in

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ding)

Yes, folks, we've added Bargain Hunters dice to our show. Lucky Numbers is a salute to all things Heatter-Quigley.

Anyhow, our main event model rolled three singles, a Grant and a sawbuck for a total of $63.

Who's the closest?


$65 bighornbattle


Sharp shootin, George. Only off by $2. Lucky Numbers coming up in a bit.

[dougmorrisontheair]

-

Staff announcer: What's next for the Spurs after winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes? Find out 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 and helloooooo, everybody. Welcome to Lucky Numbers.

Our contestants test their luck with the numbers -- by rolling these unpredictable dice to uncover words, names, and common expressions. The sooner they can identify them correctly, the more money they will win.

At the end of the game, the winning contestant rolls for lots of cash and amazing prizes in our main event.

(audience cheers)

We have a champion looking for win number three -- and a challenger looking for win number one.

Please make welcome our challenger, George Custer -- and our champion, with total winnings of $90,025 in cash and merchandise -- Kourtney Wilson.

(audience cheers)

George, warmest of welcomes to this dice table. Please tell us about yourself.

[bighornbattle]

Well, I am from Spartanburg, SC. I enjoy singing, playing mahjong for over 10 years (for fun), do word seeks, being a game show junkie, and playing along with game shows. When I am not doing any of that I enjoy news music from the USA, listen to 80s music, and have fun playing games. I will be 35 years old in December. Never have been married.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Wide variety of interests for sure. Good luck to you in today's game.

Kourtney, good luck to you as you move closer to that million dollar main event. Ready to give this a try?

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Kourtney)

[pathfinder20]

Yes, I am. Locked and Loaded.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Just like Denny Crane.

Again, good luck to all. George, you're the challenger. You'll start the game.

Let's load in a puzzle, first.

(chime sfx)

Now we've got twelve lucky numbers up there. Behind the numbers is the identity of a person, place, thing, or other common expression. And notice the solution includes an ampersand; we spot you that for free.

While the numbers are in no particular order, the letters that are behind the numbers are always in their correct spots.

The sooner you can solve, the more money you can win. Each puzzle's starting value in this first round is $1500. We take away $100 for each letter revealed.

George, since you're controlling the dice, you might as well roll 'em. So please roll those bones.

(audience cheers as...) (Frank rolls)

And you're starting with the big roll of a 10.

George, in this game, you may reveal the letter that's behind the 10 -- or you may take more than one number that totals 10.

How do you play it?

[bighornbattle]

The 10 by itself.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ding)

And you get an E for that effort.

George, here, you have some options. You may take a guess for $1400, roll again, or pass the dice. Anytime you make a mistake -- whether it's a wrong guess or an unlucky roll -- you lose control of the game and we automatically reveal a letter from the highest remaining letter on the board.

By the way, right now, there's no sense in passing the dice -- since all the rolls are good.

[bighornbattle]

Roll please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers as...) (George rolls)

And the roll is an 8 this time.

[bighornbattle]

8 please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ding)

Woah -- a Z. Not often a zed pops up.

George, all rolls are still good. Guess for $1300 or roll again?

[bighornbattle]

Roll.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers as...) (George rolls)

And another 10. How do you play this?

[bighornbattle]

7 and a 3 please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ding)

Get an I and an L out of that deal.

All the rolls still work, George. You may guess for $1100 or roll again.

[bighornbattle]

Roll.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers as...) (George rolls)

And a small roll of a 4 this time.

The only way to play this roll *is* the 4 -- so we'll do that.

(ding)

It's an S. George, we need to talk unlucky rolls. And 4 just became an unlucky roll. Another roll of 4 means you lose control of the dice.

You may guess for a grand, roll again, or you may now pass the dice to Kourtney.

[bighornbattle]

Roll.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers as...) (George rolls)

And it's snake eyes this time.

Same song, second verse, George. The only way to play this roll is by taking the 2.

(ding)

It's another S to complete that word.

George, the danger zone's really open for business now. Rolls of 2, 3, 4, and 8 are unlucky.

You may guess for $900, roll again, or pass the dice to Kourtney.

[bighornbattle]

RIZZOLI & ISLES

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

That's it for $900.

George, that $900 you just banked is yours to take home no matter how this game ends.

(chimes; audience cheers)

And that sound means you have a chance to bank another $500 with the first of three follow-up questions in our game.

George, answer this correctly and you'll pad your lead by $500. If you miss, Kourtney will have a chance to capitalize and bank the five bills.

So, George, for $500...

The TV crime drama "Rizzoli & Isles" starred Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander in the respective title roles. The show was based on a series of novels by what author?

[bighornbattle]

Tess Gerritsen.

[dougmorrisontheair]

That is *a* correct answer for $500.

(audience cheers)

The author's real name is Terry Gerritsen. So if you said Terry Gerritsen, Tess Gerritsen, or just the last name of Gerritsen, we'd have to accept it as a correct answer.

George is legit $1400 to the good. We'll give Kourtney a chance to play -- when you come back to the dice table.

(ASB win cue plays; audience applause)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(HR87 theme plays)


A source for many of the puzzles and questions we use on Lucky Numbers is the 22-volume World Book Encyclopedia -- which includes the index volume and research guide.

Our contestants always receive great welcoming gifts. Bill, I understand you have a really nice gift to take the sting out of a Monday.

(scattered laughter from crew)

Bill: Oh, I sure do, Doug. It's a five-night stay on Catalina Island. Lucky Numbers will take each player and a guest on a chartered boat from Los Angeles to Catalina Island -- where they will stay in a luxurious room at the Hotel Metropole. A private two-hour yacht charter is included -- furnished by Hotel Metropole and Lucky Numbers.

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

[dougmorrisontheair]

(ASB cue plays; audience applauds)

Can we do a whole week of shows from Catalina Island? (scattered laughter from crew) Oh -- we're back.

Hi, and welcome back to Lucky Numbers.

George, our newcomer, racked up $1400 in the first puzzle. Kourtney's yet to touch the dice. Since the champ's trailing ahead of this next puzzle, Kourtney gets to roll.

First, let's load in that new puzzle.

(chime sfx)

And we've got eleven letters in the solution this time with a fresh $1500 pot. Kourtney, for the first time this game, please roll those dice.

(audience cheers as...) (Kourtney rolls)

First roll for the champ is a 5. How do you play the 5, Kourtney?

[pathfinder20]

One and four please.