The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Episode 54)

[gameboy2000]

CAUTION

[dougmorrisontheair]

CAUTION is right.









(ding; audience applause)

Been all David so far -- and now you have a chance to complete the chain. Do so and you'll score an extra $250 for the completion plus $250 for solving the link.

Who gets the next letter, David?


gameboy2000
Bryan

[gameboy2000]

I'll take it.

[dougmorrisontheair]

David goes for the completion and the sweep...









(ding)

...with E-X.

[gameboy2000]

Exercise

[dougmorrisontheair]

You've swept the chain.









(ding; audience applause)


Very briefly, on another game show, when your opponents have voted you out of the show, the host declares, "You are the weakest link." On that show, "Weakest Link", contestants bank money during question and answer rounds. At a bank near you, you can find a vault. Gymnasts perform vault exercises. When staying safe, it's best to exercise caution. And when there's a wreck in an auto race, an official may wave a yellow, or caution, flag.

That's the chain. David's got all the money and leads $1500 to nil.

(audience cheers)

But we double the stakes in Round 2. And let's set up our Round 2 chain.










(ding)

This chain starts with ANCIENT and it ends with OPENING POETRY. We had to abbreviate due to space. This is also a good time for us to clarify we would only use non-letter characters at the top and bottom of each chain.

Only letters and words would you find in the five playable links -- which are now worth $500 each. Completion of the chain is worth $500 more.

And in the middle link, we've got that dollar sign as the designation of our bonus money link. First player to solve it wins $500 per letter in that link -- which doesn't apply to the score of the game.

David, we left off with you. Will you give or take a letter below ANCIENT or above OPENING POETRY?

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter below ANCIENT.

[dougmorrisontheair]

David starts Round 2...









(ding)

...with the letter G.

[gameboy2000]

Greece

[dougmorrisontheair]

(noticeable pause)










(ding; audience applause)

Judge accepts. Okay.

Per the rules on DougMorris.net/chain, if a player guesses a longer form of the word and the link in the chain is shorter, the player will be credited with a correct answer.

David said GREECE and we had the slightly shorter GREEK.

So -- break for you per the rules of the game, David. And the chain's still yours.



gameboy2000
Bryan

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter under GREEK.

[dougmorrisontheair]

David wants to keep on keepin' on...









(ding)

...with an A.

[gameboy2000]

Athens

[dougmorrisontheair]

Great guess -- but not ATHENS. We're back to Bryan.

[Bryan]

Take a letter under GREEK

[dougmorrisontheair]

Bryan's looking to get on the board...









(ding)

...with A-L.

[Bryan]

ALGEBRA

[dougmorrisontheair]

I -- see where you're going with that. But ALGEBRA is incorrect. We're back to David.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for David)

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter under Greek

[dougmorrisontheair]

Third letter for David...









(ding)

...A-L-P.

[gameboy2000]

ALPS

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not ALPS. We're back to Bryan.

[Bryan]

Take a letter under GREEK

[dougmorrisontheair]

Let's see if *this* can get you on the scoreboard, Bryan.









(ding)

A-L-P-H.

[Bryan]

ALPHA

[dougmorrisontheair]

(cuckoo bird sfx)









Form of the word or words in that link. Bryan, one additional chance to guess without losing control comes now.

[Bryan]

ALPHA MALE

[dougmorrisontheair]

(buzz)

Can't take it. Sorry.

David, with some intel, how do you play it?

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter under GREEK.