Top Card: Pilot Episode - Paramount Network

[nelson21]

I’m in shock now

[billmcdee]

Nice going Nels!!!  Great game!

[nelson21]

Great game to bill

[dougmorrisontheair]

(theme plays)

Steve: You're watching a sneaking preview of Top Card. And now back to Doug Morris and the championship round.



(audience cheers) (music fades)


Thank you very much, Steve. Indeed it's championship round time in Vegas on Top Card.

Nick is back -- the winner of Round 1. Nels I hope has recovered from the shock of winning Round 2 with a lucky break. But luck of the draw is a factor in this game.

One of you will be playing for a million dollars in Top Card Plus.

Now if you win this round with less than 21, you'll win another $5000 cash. But if you hit 21, you'll win the amount of money in Jackie's Pot.

But -- here's the thing. You each got here by hitting 21. And we have a fun rule here in the Las Vegas version of Top Card. If a player hits 21 in one of the first two rounds *and* the championship round, the victor wins *double* the amount in Jackie's Pot.

(audience cheers)

And since you both got here by way of a 21, we might as well double the money in the pot right now *to*...

(audience cheers)

...$25,200.

One more thing -- if Jackie's Pot goes unclaimed, Jackie, her makeup artist, and their friends are taking that money on one heck of a shopping spree after the show.

(Jackie nods ahead)

(audience laughs)

Sorry -- but that's the rule.

Nick, as the winner of Round 1, please start us off by choosing a category.

[GMNick]

Let’s go with TIME TUNNEL, please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Good luck to you both, Nick and Nels, and away we go.


The Yom Kippur War lasted roughly one month. Did it occur before, during, or after 1973?

---

(Nels and Nick, please PM me your answer and a buzz code from 1-100.)

[dougmorrisontheair]

The Yom Kippur War lasted roughly one month. Did it occur before, during, or after 1973?

89 nelson21
71 GMNick
67 random.org


(Nick rings in)

Doug: Nick?

Nick: During

Doug: It was during 1973. That's right.

(audience cheers)

Doug: First card of the championship round is yours, Nick. But will it be this?

It's a 9. Want this or the top card?

(audience shouts suggestions)

[GMNick]

I think I’m going to take the 9, and I’ll go to COMIC RELIEF.

[dougmorrisontheair]

We can do that -- all around.

Americans loved this redhead on her eponymous sitcoms. She was best known for co-starring with her then husband, Desi Arnaz, on "I Love Lucy". This comedy legend is Lucille...

---

(Nels and Nick, please PM me your answer and a buzz code from 1-100.)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Americans loved this redhead on her eponymous sitcoms. She was best known for co-starring with her then husband, Desi Arnaz, on "I Love Lucy". This comedy legend is Lucille...

41 nelson21
44 GMNick
27 random.org

(Nels rings in)

Doug: Nels?

Nels: Ball

Doug: That's right.

(audience cheers)

Doug: Helped get "Star Trek" and "You Don't Say" on the air, too. Nels, let's see what could be your first card.

Doug: It's a 7. Want it or the top card?

(audience shouts suggestions)

[nelson21]

Top card

[dougmorrisontheair]

We'll say farewell to the 7 and hello to what instead, Jackie?

(Jackie lifts top card)

(audience cheers)

A lady in black. Face card for 10.

Nels, you have the lead and the control. Which category's next?

[nelson21]

Smith and jones

[dougmorrisontheair]

Okay -- it's actually Smith *or* Jones -- but we know what you mean.

Crucial question coming.


Tommy Lee Jones was one of the stars of the 1997 film "Men in Black". Name the other.

---

(Nels and Nick, please PM me your answer and a buzz code from 1-100.)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Tommy Lee Jones was one of the stars of the 1997 film "Men in Black". Name the other.

58 nelson21
15 GMNick
17 random.org


(Nick rings in)

Doug: Nick?

Nick: Will Smith

Doug: That's correct.

(audience cheers)

Doug: Funny how Nels misread the category as Smith *and* Jones, it's actually Smith *or* Jones, and the question dealt with a Smith *and* a Jones. Luck of the draw of the questions.

(scattered laughter from crowd)

Doug: Again, we knew what Nels was talking about -- but it's Nick that has dibs on this card...

...it's a 5. Nick, it would give you 14 if you took it. Want the 5 or the top card?

(audience shouts suggestions)

[GMNick]

Let me go with the TOP CARD, please.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Since you said "please", we'll give you this instead.

(Jackie lifts top card)

(audience cheers)

Lady in red.

Nick, you're up to 19. Would you like to freeze or keep searching for a 2 or a couple of aces?

[GMNick]

I'm happy with 19. I'll FREEZE, please!

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Standing on 19.

(freeze sfx)

Nick, you'll get the last chance to play if necessary.

Nels, now that Nick has frozen, you must outscore 19 without busting. That means you'll need 20 to take the lead -- or 21 for the automatic win.

You may answer questions unopposed and collect cards until you miss, freeze, or bust. The moment you give an incorrect answer, you'll be stopped wherever you are. Of course, you don't want to be stopped at 19 or less.

Five categories remain. Where do we start, Nels?

[nelson21]

Color my world

[dougmorrisontheair]

Color My World starts your comeback trail. Here your question, Nels.


Formed in the state of New York, this rock band has had hits with "Burnin' For You" and "Godzilla". Name this band.

[nelson21]

Blue oyster cult

[dougmorrisontheair]

Correct.

(audience cheers)

[NOTE FROM DOUG: There's actually an umlaut over the O -- making it "Blue Öyster Cult". But, Nels is close enough.]

Nels, you're building on a ten-counter. Let's see what's behind Color My World.

(audience cheers)

*Another* ten-counter. That would give you 20 and the lead, Nels. Want this or the top card?

[nelson21]

I’ll take it and freeze

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Somehow, I'm not surprised.

(freeze sfx)

Well, Nick, suddenly, we're back to you for last chance. On this chance, you'll pick one category. If you answer its question correctly, you'll have to collect a deuce.

With four categories left, where are ya goin'?

[GMNick]

I'm trying to visualize which category might have a 2 behind it. I think I'll go with CAN I HAVE A "P", PLEASE?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Trying out a little X-ray vision? Let's see if it works with this.


Jiminy Cricket sings "When You Wish Upon A Star" in this Disney animated film. What is the title of this movie masterpiece?

[GMNick]

Of course, that’s PINOCCHIO!

[dougmorrisontheair]

That's it.

(audience cheers)

To the host of "Blockbusters" on another network, you're welcome -- or I'm sorry.

(scattered laughter from crowd)

Okay, all kidding aside, it's going to boil down to the luck of the draw.

Nick, if there's a 2 behind your chosen category, you've won the game. Let's have a look.

(audience groans)

It's a 6. Too much. Obviously have to go to the top card. It *has* to be a deuce or else Nels is our first Las Vegas era champion on Top Card.

Jackie?

(Jackie lifts top card)

(buzz)

(audience groans)

It's a 4. Too much. Nels, you win the game.

(applause; theme plays)

Nels, you may not have won Jackie's pot -- the contents of which are going toward her major shopping spree -- (scattered laughter from crew) -- but you are winning another $5000 cash.

Obviously, a grand total of $10,000 heading into Top Card Plus. Are you in shock again, Nels?

(music fades)

[nelson21]

Yeah holy moly