As I was doing my normal game show web surfing duties, I came across a notice at our friends site Buzzer for audience participation in the GSN pilot for their revival of "Chain Reaction". Being that a) I am unemployed, b) I would like to attend for the site, and c) how many people can say that they were at the genesis of something big? went through my head...I emailed Embassy Row and got the go ahead to attend.

 

The shoot took place at Sony Music Studios in Manhattan. Ironically, it was the same studio where "My Kind of Town" was shot at. That show had 12 episodes in the can, but was itself canned after five.

Since it was a pilot, the set was barebones and in a corner of the vast studio. About 50 folding chairs were set up behind the camera and setup. But you expect that, being a pilot and not a sold show at this time. During one of the breaks, I was able to see executive producer Michael Davies running through. GSN president Rich Cronin was rumored to be there as well, since this was the first pilot to be shot under GSN's new deal with Mr. Davies. The deal was announced as part of GSN's upfront at the bi-annual Television Critics Association Press Tour last winter.

 

What about the host? He is Tim Vincent, the east coast correspondent for Access Hollywood. Yes he is another Brit. But after he got over the initial teleprompter jitters...he seemed okay. I would give him a chance. He is not a seasoned host per se, but give him time.  

 

The pilot contestants were former Millionaire players (hey, how come I wasn't invited?) selected by Embassy Row. The teams of three (no celebrities) played for real money. So lets go into the game.

 

The game is VERY FAITHFUL to the show it's based on. You simply have to connect a set of words to words like this as the example:

 

CHAIN

REACTION

TIME

CODE

WORD

PERFECT

ANSWER

 

Each team starts with $1,000 and gets $100/word in the first round. The person who completes the chain gets to do a speed chain worth $150. If you can solve the four word chain within 10 seconds you get bonus money. For example, try this Speed Chain:

 

SOUP

K

C

CULTURE.

 

If you guessed SOUP KITCHEN COUNTER CULTURE you are right. The 2nd round is $200/word and a $250 Speed Chain and $300/word and $350 Speed Chain.

 

The 4th round is where betting and strategy comes into play. You get the same 7 word chain but can bet up to $500 a word. If you guess the word, you keep the money...if you don't you lose it. The 4th round has a $750 speed chain. The final round you can bet up to $1000 a word, with no speed chain.

 

The winning team keeps the money and gets to play the original bonus round from the 1980 NBC run, with one team member blindfolded and the other two giving "GO" style one word clues to answers. If the team gets 7 in 90 seconds they get double their money--10 in 90, it's tripled. They did say teams would return, but again it's a pilot.

 

I stayed for two of the three shows taped. Teams who won split $1000 in real money and if they doubled the money they got $500--tripled another $1000. So the max they could have gotten if things went well was $1000 a person (because the teams who won got to play against each other in the third show.)

 

So, what's the verdict? Well, seeing how the audience was playing along in the studio...and how they plan to make it interactive with gsn.com, this show CANNOT miss. This will be the biggest hit for GSN in a long time.

 

Memo to Rich Cronin: get this into production...now.