GAME PLAY
Three players, one a returning champ, competed. Peter read a question, and the first to buzz-in gave an answer. That became a multiple choice answer with two others for the remaining players. Each gave an answer. The buzz-in player received 3 spins if they were right, and a multiple choice answer gave a contestant 1 spin. If noone buzzed-in, the question became multiple choice. After four questions, the spins were taken to the board.

The board contained 18 screens (more later) flashing dollar values, prizes and "whammies." The player with the fewest spins went first. In the event of a tie, the player farthest left went first. A light would bounce from space to space, and the player hit their buzzer to stop the board. They were awarded with whatever they landed on. If they hit a directional square, they made a choice (in "Pick a Corner" for example, taking the result of any of the other 3 corners on the board). If they hit a whammy, they lost everything they had to that point. Hitting four whammies ended the game for that contestant. Players could pass spins at any time to the player with the highest total besides them. If there was a tie among the other two players, they had their choice. Passed spins were forced, unless a whammy was hit, in which case they became earned spins. After each player takes their spins, the round ends.

Round 2 is played the same way with increased values on the board. Play starts with the contestant in third place, moving up to the leader from round one. The player with the highest total wins. In the event two players get four whammies, the last player can opt to stop playing or press after each spin. If there is a tie in the end, both or all three players return. If all three players "whammy out" new contestants play next time.

NOTES
Peter Tomarken worked for Women's Wear Daily magazine before breaking into game shows on "Hit Man." After PYL he's seen steady work on "Wipeout," "Bargain Hunters," and most recently "Paranoia." He's also done commercials for Ameritrade and as of this writing, Frosted Mini Wheats.

Rod Roddy and Peter have developed a sort of on-camera banter through their work together on "Hit Man." Rod had his first break as the announcer on "Soap." He's also done voice work for "Whew!" and was picked to replace Johnny Olsen on "The Price is Right" in 1985.

The Carruthers Company resurrected "Second Chance" as PYL. The show aired briefly in 1977 with Jim Peck as host on ABC. It was basically the same game with a slightly different question round and a board that didn't change configurations every second or two.



Aside from the whammies themselves, one thing people remember about this show was Michael Larsen's big run. Larsen, at the time unemployed, memorized the light pattern by slowing down tape of the show. He went on, despite a contestant coordinator seeming something was odd with him, and won $110,237. Mike lost the money in a real estate deal, and died a few years ago. His story was to be made into a movie starring Bill Murray, but that plan is in limbo. Game Show Network will do a special on the two-part episode in the coming months.

The reason for the show's current popularity, and ultimately how it got revived in 2002 is because of USA's rerunning of the show. It ran nearly in its entirety for years on the cable net, along with several other game shows in a multi-hour block.

The show recorded at CBS Television City, often using the bleachers from "TattleTales" for the audience. A few weeks were taped at Studio 33, where "The Price is Right" films.

Champions originally retired after surpassing the network limit of $25,000. When it was raised to $50,000, contestants could stay on until passing that mark or playing five times. Michael Larsen caused a $75,000 winnings cap to be installed on CBS shows around this time as well.

The board was made of 54 slide projectors, each containing slides for prizes, dollar values and the whammy. On more than one occasion, a slide would be too big, a different color than usual, or just plain not there.

The cash values is the first round started at $100-$1,250, but later rose to $200-$1,500. Round 2 remained pretty much the same throughout, but more extra spins were added later on. Prize values hovered around $200-$1,500 in round one and round two saw gifts worth as much as $6,700.

MY THOUGHTS
Looks simple on paper doesn't it? A good premise that gets trounced a lot for whatever reason; I find it quite good. Strategy comes into play throughout the game, and there's lots to be won. Peter Tomarken is a smooth, sarcastic host who fits the show well.

JAY SAYS...
Cast - 2.0
Bells and Whistles - 1.5
Game - 2.0
Prize - 2.0
Tilt - 1.5

[ 09.0 ]

Music package is great, but the set has some problems. Lack of a backdrop in places gives you a neat, but unprofessional view of the cameras, other cords, etc. The prizes are fine, but I dock a half point for the limits which crushed some early champions who won big in one or two shows. It's easy for anyone to follow, which is why the younger set tends to like it just as much as a game show veteran.

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