The $40,000 Chain Reaction (USA, Episode 55)

[gameboy2000]

NELSON

[dougmorrisontheair]

Nelson Riddle -- the great bandleader. That's right.









(ding; audience applause)

You've doubled up to $500, David -- and the chain's still yours.



bighornbattle
gameboy2000

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter above NELSON

[dougmorrisontheair]

David keeps it and takes...









(ding)

...the letter C.

[gameboy2000]

Charles

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ahh -- I see what you did there -- but it's not Charles. So we're back to George.

[bighornbattle]

Take a letter above Nelson please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George gives it a try...









(ding)

...with C-O.

[bighornbattle]

Connor.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Musician of some renown, if I recall correctly. But Connor Nelson doesn't fit this chain. We're back to David.

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter above NELSON

[dougmorrisontheair]

Let's see if the third letter's the charm for David.









(ding)

C-O-A.

[gameboy2000]

Coat

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not COAT. We're back to George now.

[bighornbattle]

Take a letter above Nelson.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Fourth letter for George...









(ding)

...C-O-A-C.

[bighornbattle]

Coach.

[dougmorrisontheair]

There we go. COACH is right.









(ding; audience applause)

Two ways to make that connection -- but they'll have to wait until the end of the round -- because I might blow a cover above COACH.

George, you're on the board. How do you play the chain now?


bighornbattle
gameboy2000

[bighornbattle]

I will take a letter above Coach.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George keeps it and takes...









(ding)

...the letter V.

[bighornbattle]

Volleyball.

[dougmorrisontheair]

VOLLEYBALL is right.









(ding; audience applause)

And just like that, we've got a tie ballgame at $500.

We have one link left unsolved. It's now worth a *total* of $500 -- $250 for the right solution and $250 for completion of the chain.

George, who gets the first letter?


bighornbattle
gameboy2000

[bighornbattle]

I do.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George goes for the completion...









(ding)

...with the letter B.

[bighornbattle]

Beach.

[dougmorrisontheair]

You've completed the chain.










(ding; audience applause)

We'll get to that Coach Nelson bit shortly. But first, from the top.

A certain animal takes flight with the wings of a seagull. You could find a seagull at the beach. On the beach, you could play a game of volleyball. A high school or college volleyball team is lead by a coach.

Again, two ways to make this connection. The sitcom "Coach" starred Craig T. Nelson. Also, there was the great NBA coach Don Nelson.

As noted earlier, Nelson Riddle was a famous bandleader.

That's your Round 1 chain. George leads it 1000 to 500.

David, as you know, it's a close game as we up the ante in Round 2. Let's set up that next chain.










(ding)

This chain starts with GILLIGAN'S, note the apostrophe, and it ends with OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN; we didn't have room for her whole name, so we had to abbreviate.

This is a good time to note the five playable links in between do not have apostrophes, hyphens, or other non-letter characters -- just letters of the alphabet that make up words.

With that clarified, each link in the chain is now worth $500. Completion of the chain awards an addition $500.

That dollar sign in the middle link, though, represents the extra cheddar at $500 per letter. That's the bonus money link does not apply to the score of the game.

George, we left off with you. Will you give or take a letter below GILLIGAN'S or above OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN?

[bighornbattle]

Take a leletter below Gillian's please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George starts Round 2...









(ding)

...with the letter P.

[bighornbattle]

Place.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Not PLACE -- but a good guest. We go to David for the first time in Round 2.