The Jackpot Game (pilot canceled)

[dougmorrisontheair]

At long last, friends, we're launching The Jackpot Game. In case you haven't seen, please visit www.dougmorris.net/jackpot for the rules.

We'd normally do a qualifying round -- but in the interest of getting the show on the road, let's bypass it. First three people to respond to this thread get to play.

[koopakid17]

I'll try this out.

[bowlerraymond]

I'll play.

[mrb2000]

I'll try it

[dougmorrisontheair]

Excellent. Kevin, Raymond and Matt, please PM me six buzzcodes from 1-100. Meantime, we'll let stations identify themselves.

---

Staff announcer: Coming up next, it's a special sneak preview of The Jackpot Game. Then, at 12:30, meet the Americans who'll go for gold at the Rio Olympics. Thanks for spending your weekend with NBC17.

---

(opening theme plays along with a video montage of casino games in action)

Three players are about to compete against each other -- and the house. One of them will try to hit the jackpot -- worth tens of thousands of dollars. It's time for The Jackpot Game.

(audience cheers)

Helloooooo, everybody, I'm Doug Morris -- and welcome to a special sneak preview of The Jackpot Game. This is an exciting new show from CDM Enterprises of risks and rewards.

Throughout the game, we're going to build a jackpot -- of which only one of our contestants could win. And a *really* lucky player, at the end of the show, could spin for a bonus of $1,000,000!

(audience cheers)

So, without further delay, let's welcome our first three players, Kevin Kolsen, Raymond Weaver and Matt Bingel.

(audience cheers)

Before we start our first half of play, let's take a moment to meet our players -- starting with Kevin.

[koopakid17]

Thank you, my name is Kevin and I'm from Long Island, New York where I work as an accountant. When I'm not doing taxes, I'm at the gym, reading or watching game shows.

[dougmorrisontheair]

I'd imagine March and April are busy times of year in your profession. Good luck to you today.

Raymond, a word or two about you, please.

[bowlerraymond]

My name is Raymond Weaver, I'm 25 years old and I work at a national doughnut shop.

[dougmorrisontheair]

All I can do in response is say there's a good chance we've had your shop's doughnuts in the staff lounge. (scattered laughter from the crew and crowd) Good luck to you, Raymond -- and good luck to you Matt. Please tell us about yourself.

[mrb2000]

Well. I'm Matt Bingel from Baltimore, Maryland.

Soon to be sophomore and diehard Muppets fan since 2011.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Sounds like you're looking forward to a certain sitcom on a certain network -- all owned by a certain conglomerate.

Kevin, Raymond and Matt, again, good luck to you -- because this is a test of luck as well as knowledge.

First -- let's talk money. Because in order to play The Jackpot Game, we need a jackpot. And we're starting the jackpot off at...

(ding)

...$25,000. (audience cheers) This is the very least today's ultimate winner will play for. 

Now this pot should grow as we play. I'll tell you how later. But now, let's spot each of you $500.

(ding)

And this first half of play starts with the first of three sets of answers. The first question in each set is worth $500 -- with a second try question to follow for $250.

Hands on your buzzers, please, because here comes that first set of answers -- and your first question in the game.

Taylor Hicks, Scotty McCreery or Carrie Underwood. Whose fans make up what an "American Idol" winner calls his or her "soul patrol"?

32 koopakid17
18 bowlerraymond
09 mrb2000
85 randomizer.org

(Kevin buzzes in)

Kevin?

[koopakid17]

Carrie Underwood.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Kevin, if Carrie Underwood is the right answer, you'll score $500. If not, each of your opponents will collect $500.

Do folks in the soul patrol side with Carrie Underwood?

(buzz)

No. Taylor Hicks' fans make up the soul patrol. This means Raymond and Matt each collect $500.

This also means they sit out the second try question -- while Kevin plays it unopposed.

Kevin, one of the wrong answers to the previous question is the right answer to the second try question. If you answer it correctly, you'll pick up $250. If not, no score. Either way, we'll move on to the next set. Here's your second try question.

Which of the remaining "American Idol" winners went on to perform the theme song to "NBC's Sunday Night Football"?

[NOTE FROM DOUG: By rule, all buzzcodes for this question, even the one from randomizer.org, will be ignored.]

[koopakid17]

Carrie Underwood.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Going to give Carrie another try. Let's see if you're right.

(ding; audience applause)

There ya go. $250 for that, Kevin. Now we move on to a new set of answers and a new question.

444, 555 or 666. How many days did the Iran hostage crisis last?

10 koopakid17
78 bowlerraymond
66 mrb2000
97 randomizer.org

(Raymond buzzes in)

Raymond?

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Raymond.)

[bowlerraymond]

444 days

[dougmorrisontheair]

444 days...

(ding; audience applause)

...is right. $500 more for you, Raymond. Now, you'll sit out this second try question -- while Kevin and Matt try to win $250. The right answer to this next question is either 555 or 666...

...and here it comes.

The devil is in the details when you realize all the red and black numbers on a roulette wheel add up to which of the remaining numbers?
78 koopakid17
29 mrb2000
22 randomizer.org

(Raymond buzzes in)

Matt?

[mrb2000]

666.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Add up those red and black numbers and you get...

(ding; audience applause)

...666. And -- uh -- we're gonna play roulette games at least twice this half. (scattered laughter) I've also worked with the dealer who'll man the roulette table -- and he was quite a mean one.

(more scattered laughter)

Likely still is. Going into our final set of answers, Raymond's leading with $1500, Matt just improved to $1250 and Kevin's not far behind with $750.

One more set of answers and two more questions are coming up. Then you'll have a chance to beat the house and try to defeat our mean dealer.

Arthurchu, Pikachu or Raichu. In a long running anime franchise, which species of Pokémon has the highest National Pokédex number?
88 koopakid17
62 bowlerraymond
36 mrb2000
01 randomizer.org

(Matt buzzes in)

Matt?

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Matt.)

[dougmorrisontheair]

[NOTE FROM DOUG: Sudden change in plans. After this pilot, The Jackpot Game won't be immediately going to series. This is in deference to plans to host On A Roll -- with blessings, support, etc., from Greg Palmer. Look for the new On A Roll in September. Meantime, we'll be finishing up The Jackpot Game -- and possibly "hurrying up" the rest of this Q&A period and the next half's Q&A.

The Jackpot Game may bow sometime in 2016. As for now...]

(buzz)

Sorry -- time's up. Raichu has the highest number. Kevin and Raymond each score $500. Matt, you get the second try question all to yourself for $250.

Which species of Pokémon is not listed in the Pokédex -- because we made it up? Is it Arthurchu or Pikachu?

[dougmorrisontheair]

(Bump for Matt.)

[mrb2000]

ArthurChu

[dougmorrisontheair]

Of course, we made up Arthurchu.

(ding; audience applause)


Arthur Chu, actually, is the name of a former Jeopardy! champion. Backtracking to the earlier question, Raichu's number is 026 and Pikachu's is 25.

Now to the first of two turns for each of you at the jackpot board.

(ding)

Kevin, you're currently in last place so you'll go first. Matt, you'll be next and Raymond last.

Players, when it's your turn, you'll place a bet on a letter in the word "JACKPOT". Each letter hides the name of a game of chance. Four letters hide card games -- which will be one-on-one showdowns against the house. The remaining three letters hide roulette games -- where all three of you, eventually, get to bet.

And now, it's my not-so-great honor to introduce to everyone the man who will operate the card and roulette games. Let's give a big Bronx cheer to Dirty Harry!

(audience boos as Dirty Harry enters studio)

I'm not sure if he's glad we called him back to service or not. (scattered laughter from the crowd) Uh, in any event, players, please keep in mind in this first half the minimum bet is $50, the maximum bet is $500 and you must wager in increments of $50.

So, Kevin, start this part of the half off please -- with a wager and a letter.

[koopakid17]

$300, letter K.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Betting $300 on...

(ding)

...Baccarat. The game prefered by everyone who's played James Bond on film.

Kevin, to simplify matters, you're automatically betting on the player to win. Harry and the house will act as the banker.

If your hand's better than the house's we pay off at 1-to-1. If there's a tie, you won't gain or lose anything. If the banker wins, the $300 you're betting will be taken away and added to the jackpot. Losing bets always are added to the jackpot.

Now, let's see some cards.

(Harry deals the first card to the player, the next to the house, the next to the player and the next to the house)

Now if this were Blackjack, the player would have 15 and the house 13. But, the last digit in the total value of the hand counts. So, Kevin, you're leading 5 to 3. Since your hand is worth less than 6, you must take one more card.

(Harry deals)

(scattered groans)

Cowboy keeps it at 5. Rules say the banker takes one more card.

(scattered applause)

And the 10 doesn't help him either. Kevin, you've won the hand 5 to 3 and pick up another $300.

(dings; audience applause)

So, Kevin, you're up to $1550. Remember, you get one more pick this half. And there are roulette games lurking where everyone bets.

Matt, it's your turn at bat. How much do you want to bet -- and on what letter?

[mrb2000]

$200 on O.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Betting two bills on...

(ding)

...Blackjack. Matt, we're playing from the same deck. So, let's see the cards

(Harry deals the next card to the player, the next to the house face down)

(scattered applause)

Hey now. Jack for 10. Matt, if the next card is an ace, you *could* get a 2-to-1 payoff and take the lead. Come on, Harry, let's see an ace.

(Harry gives Doug a "Really?" look) (scattered laughter from the crowd.

Please?

(Harry deals...)

(scattered cheers)

Well, another face card. Total of 20. House has...

...a snowman up. Well -- hit or stand?

[NOTE FROM DOUG: I *promise* when this "goes to series", I'll put the player in this situation on the clock to hit or stand. Anyone with the most basic blackjack knowledge notes the right move is to stand. So, I'll put words in Matt's mouth and make him stand on the hard 20.]

Matt: I'll stand, Doug.

Smart move. Let's see if it pays off. Harry, what's in the hole?

It's a 4. House must hit on any hand valued less than 17. So...

(crowd starts to chant, "Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust!")

...heheh -- they're already rooting for Matt. Next card, please.

(crowd chants louder, "Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust!")

Another 4. Total of 16. One more card for the house.

(dings; audience applause)

And the 9 breaks the house for 25. Matt, you're $200 richer.

Matt, you're only $50 off the lead. But it's Raymond's time to play the jackpot board. How much do you want to bet -- and on which of the remaining letters?

[bowlerraymond]

$350 on C