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

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mmm -- no -- 'fraid that's not it. We're back to David.

[NOTE FROM DOUG: Adding chain due to page turn in thread.]

[gameboy2000]

I'll take a letter under USA NETWORK

[dougmorrisontheair]

Let's see if this letter works, David.









(ding)

C-A-L-L-I.

[gameboy2000]

Calling

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sorry, it's not CALLING. We're back to George.

[bighornbattle]

I will take a letter below USA Network.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Another letter for George, please.









(ding)

C-A-L-L-I-O.

[bighornbattle]

CALLIOPE.

[dougmorrisontheair]

CALLIOPE is right.









(ding; audience applause)

Without going into too much, "Calliope" is the title of a children's show that aired here on the USA Network. We'll talk more when we recap the chain at its completion.

George, meantime, you're $1000 away from the championship -- and command of the chain is still yours.


bighornbattle
gameboy2000

[bighornbattle]

I will take a letter below Calliope.

[dougmorrisontheair]

George keeps it and takes...









(ding)

...the letter J.

[bighornbattle]

Jones.

[dougmorrisontheair]

JONES is right.










(ding; audience applause)

Well -- it boils down to this. We have one link left. It's for $1500 in total.

George, if you complete the chain, you're the new champion. David, if you solve the remaining link, we'll start a fourth round to decide the game.

George, who gets the first letter of the remaining link?



bighornbattle
gameboy2000

[bighornbattle]

I do.

[dougmorrisontheair]

For the game, George...









(ding)

...you're taking the letter W.

[bighornbattle]

Welsh. That's only a guess.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Always better to guess than to bypass a guess.

If it is WELSH, George, you're the new champion.














































(dings; audience applause; win music plays)

Annnnd that's why you should always give it a guess.

George, we had a heck of a time earlier with CALLIOPE. Once you solved that, you got JONES and WELSH right off the bat.

How do you feel, champ?

[bighornbattle]

I feel awesome. Great match, David.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Indeed, great game by both players.

Let's recap this last chain of the main game -- because I'm sure a few links piqued your curiosity.









A lucky winner -- whether its in a lottery, at slots or in another game of change -- could hit a progressive jackpot. A revival of the game show "Jackpot" aired right here on the USA Network. USA Network was home of "Calliope", a children's program consisting of short films hosted by a character named Gene. Speaking of characters, Calliope Jones was portrayed by the late Arleen Sorkin on "Days of Our Lives". Singer *Tom* Jones is of Welsh descent. And Welsh rarebit is a dish of hot cheese sauce with ale, mustard, or Worcestershire sauce.

That's the chain. David, 'fraid we have to say farewell. Fortunately, you are leaving here with a nice piece of change.

$13,150. All that plus fine gifts and this applause are all yours, David Barkow.

(board rotates as part of the theme plays)

George, you've won the game. That entitles you to play the final chain. Before you do, we need to play the Missing Link game. This sets the maximum stakes for the final chain.

Ready?

[bighornbattle]

Yes I am.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Then let's start you off with four pennies.







(ding)

In a moment, we'll spot you the top and bottom links of this three-link chain -- and the first letter of the link in the middle. That's the missing link.

Solve it correctly in one try and all four pennies join you in the final chain -- where you could parlay them into $40,000.

(audience cheers)

But for each additional letter you need to see, it costs you a penny -- reducing your potential payoff in the final chain.

Now let's bring on the Missing Link game.







(ding)

This chain starts with CATCH PHRASE and it ends with 53.

The missing link starts with the letter H.

To save all four pennies, what is that missing link starting with H?

[bighornbattle]

Host.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Oh -- Art James was a great host on "Catch Phrase" -- but it's not HOST.

That'll cost you a penny.








(ding)

H-E.

[bighornbattle]

Hello.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ohh -- 'fraid it's not HELLO either. Have to say goodbye to another penny.








(ding)

H-E-R.

George, I will clarify there's at least one more letter after the R.

This is also your last attempt in Missing Link. A correct solution here means you save two pennies and you play for up to $20,000 in the final chain.

If you miss, you'll save one penny -- and you'll play for up to $10,000.

[bighornbattle]

Hershey.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Ohh -- that's not it either.

(buzz)

George, since you're playing against the house in Missing Link, I was trying to send you a Vulcan mind meld vibe when referencing the game show "Catch Phrase".







(ding)

On the 1980s game show "Catch Phrase", the show's computer animations would, on occasion, have its robotic mascot Herbie help demonstrate common expressions. And in "The Love Bug" movies throughout the decades from Disney, the classic car Herbie had the number 53.

So HERBIE was today's missing link.

Well, one penny goes to the final chain. Let's see if that turns into $10,000 -- right after this.

(theme plays; audience applause)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Doug in pre-recorded audio as theme plays)

If you'd like to be a contestant on The $40,000 Chain Reaction, call toll free 1-800-555-40CR. That's 1-800-555-4027.

(audience applauds)

All righty. George is our new champion -- $6250 to the good -- and a chance to add $10,000 more.

To win the ten large, you must successfully complete this final chain. And as you know we set it up a little differently.









(ding)

We spot you just the top link, which is NATIONALITY, and we spot you the first letter of each of the remaining links. We also give you seven spare letters to use as necessary.

Each time you give a wrong guess, it costs you a spare letter. But for each time you correctly solve a link, we multiply the money in the bank by ten.










(ding)

And there's how the money chain looks. Correctly solve all six of the remaining links in the chain and you win $10,000.

(audience cheers)

Remember, you need correct answers to win money. If a spare letter leads to a completed link, we can't give you credit for a right answer -- and that would put you out of the running for the $10,000.

So be careful.










(ding)

Here comes the chain back. Good luck, George. We're all rooting for you now. The next link, below NATIONALITY, for a dime starts with an A.

[bighornbattle]

Anthem.

[dougmorrisontheair]

'Fraid it's not ANTHEM. Here comes the first spare letter.









(ding)

A-M.