User:Daniel Benfield/Million-Dollar Chance of a Lifetime Video Archive

I've seen some refer to The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime as a pretty normal word game, but personally...I think it's pretty underrated and very good, and this and/or Bullseye should've been pulled out by GSN after host Jim Lange sadly died in 2014.

While only lasting two seasons in the States, it was exported to the UK where it aired from 1988-91.

Syndicated (1986-87)
Syndicated, Daily: January 6, 1986 - September 11, 1987

The original announcer was Mark Summers (not the Double Dare host), who was replaced by the end of March 1986 by Johnny Gilbert. Season 2 overhauled the set, intro, and graphics along with adding a hostess (Karen Thomas) and changing the titular Million from all-cash to having $100,000 in prizes.


 * January 1986 (WOR teaser promo for the show's debut that not only has no clips but doesn't even give said show's title!)
 * 1986 (WAGA promo with clips and a title namedrop, but boy is this a weird way to promote the show...)

Season 1 (January 6-June 6 {possibly}, 1986)
 * January 6, 1986 (Premiere: Rene & Kevin vs. Betty & Doug {taped 1985}; taped from WOR with commercials, intro partly cut, ends during credits {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * January 1986 (Dena & David vs. Connie & Steve, with Connie & Steve going for the million; WAVE repeat from Summer, with Johnny Gilbert doing the replacement fee plugs)


 * January-March 1986 (Heidi & Jim vs. Johanna & Rick, with Johanna & Rick going for the million; WAVE repeat from 8/13?/86, no open)
 * [Johnny does the replacement fee plugs and signoff (one plug is for the Sears Fall Catalog); the only indication that this is from early in the run is that Mark is still heard throwing back to Jim, who says "Thank you, Mark." in response. Also, the closing voiceover has WAVE meteorologist Craig Edwards saying "the Kentucky State Fair opens tomorrow"; the State Fair appears to have opened on 8/14 that year.]

Johnny Gilbert becomes announcer
 * March? 1986 (Kim & George vs. Vince & Sarah, with Kim & George going for the million; repeat from Summer)
 * [Jim shows a clip from "yesterday" of Kim solving the puzzle HI HO SILVER AWAY! after several dumb guesses. One plug is for the Sears Fall Catalog, and Jim says "see you tomorrow".]

Clue and money graphics moved down on computer screen, indentations added to "one letter at a time" clue graphics
 * March 1986 (Kim & Jerry {Day 2} vs. Janey & Charlie; open and close, with commercials)


 * Spring 1986 (Marci & Rudy {Day 2 - $1,600} vs. Cheryl & Bill {alternate copy})
 * Spring 1986 (Cheryl & Bill vs. Sandi & Avi; ends just before Lorimar logo {alternate copy})
 * [Home game is plugged as a prize for the losing couple, but the box isn't the one that was released (and is very likely a mockup).]
 * Spring 1986 (Cheryl & Bill vs. Jane & David, with Bill & Cheryl going for the million {alternate copy})

White "spot" added behind front-game money graphic, teams decide who plays Round 3 during post-R2 commercial break, "$1,000,000" graphic added for winners
 * June 5, 1986 (Andrea & Michael {~$3,800} vs. Judee & Ken, with Andrea & Michael going for the million; begins just as Round 1 Stinger is revealed, fee plugs missing)
 * [Jim shows clips of Michael solving the game-winning puzzle UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU! on Day 1 and winning the bonus round with four seconds to spare on Day 2.]

Season 2 (September 8?, 1986-September 11, 1987)
 * September 8?, 1986 (Season Premiere: Vern & Adina vs. John & Stephanie; VCR counter in upper-right throughout)
 * [Has leading zero if bonus timer goes below 10 seconds (10.0 -> 09.9).]
 * October 3, 1986 (Michael & Leina {Day 3 - $3,300} vs. Stan & Barbara, with Michael & Leina going for the million)

Leading zero removed from bonus timer if it goes below 10 seconds (10.0 -> 9.9)
 * October 1986 (Dan & Laureen vs. David & Peggy, with Dan & Laureen going for the million)
 * [Jim shows clips of Dan & Laureen winning on Day 1, then beating their opponents during a "Speed-Up" on Day 2.]


 * December 29, 1986 (Coddy & Mary vs. SCOTT HOSTETLER & Pam, with two quick rounds; begins just before Round 1)
 * [Joe Carolei is director by this point.]
 * December 30, 1986 (SCOTT HOSTETLER & Pam vs. Angela & Mark)


 * 1987 (Jay & Judy vs. Dave & Penny, with Jay & Judy going for the million; taped from WAVE, begins just into opening)
 * [Judy was also on Give-N-Take. Jim shows clips of Jay & Judy winning their first bonus round in 23.8 seconds (a record) and solving the "Speed-Up" GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE on Day 2.]


 * 1987 (Bob & Judith vs. Bobby & Diane, with Bob & Judith going for the million; kinda not-so-great quality, ends during fee plugs)
 * [Jim shows clips of Bob & Judith winning the game on Day 1 and solving Round 4 on the first clue on Day 2.]


 * July 1987 (Rick & Rita {$4,100} vs. Richard & Pat, with Rick & Rita going for the million; taped from WWOR with few commercials)
 * [Jim shows clips of Rick & Rita beating the bonus game on Days 1 and 2, the latter within the last two seconds. A partial promo at the beginning is "Mets take on the Astros, Sunday at 2:30 on Channel 9."; Baseball Almanac indicates that they faced off on a Sunday on July 12 and 26, 1987, putting this at the week of July 6-10 or 20-24...although whether it's a repeat, I don't know.]

TVS (1988-91)
TVS for ITV: April 16, 1988 - August 30, 1991 (94 episodes in 4 series)

Originally not much different aside from a simplified set, All Clued Up was hosted by David Hamilton, who sounded a bit like a stereotypical emcee at times.

When the show debuted, couples who won a bonus round could take £1,000 or risk half to come back next week; winning the bonus round a second time awarded the £3,000 top prize. Series 2 removed the isolation booth, while Series 3 removed the returning players and dropped the prize to £2,000.

For the final series, the show moved to daytime and its budget dropped: the pounds in the front game were now points, while the bonus game was played for a "daily cash prize" of £500. Despite this, the episodes remained self-contained.

Series 1 (April 16-August 13, 1988 {taped 1987; 18 episodes})
 * May 21, 1988 (#6: Open and close, with countdown clock)


 * 1988 (John & Jenny vs. Mike & Mags, with John & Jenny going for the £3,000)
 * [According to one comment, John & Jenny's first show had them pick the category "Christmas" and solve all six words easily.]


 * 1988 (John & Sue vs. Steve & Kate)
 * 1988 (Steve & Kate vs. Jeff & Jane, with Steve & Kate going for the £3,000)
 * 1988 (Neil & Susan vs. Andy & Gael)


 * 1988 (Simon & Sandra vs. Brian & Julia)
 * 1988 (Dave & Kay vs. Kevin & Ginny)


 * 1988 (Steve & Eileen vs. Stuart & Gerry)

Series 2 (June 18-September 3, 1989 {12 episodes})
 * July 16, 1989 (#5: David & Suzanne vs. Tony & Maureen)
 * July 23, 1989 (#6: Andrew & Lesley vs. Henry & Anita)
 * July 30, 1989 (#7: Andrew & Lesley vs. Steven & Pat, with Andrew & Lesley going for the £3,000)
 * August 6, 1989 (#8: Ross & Karen vs. Kevin & Lesley)


 * August 13, 1989 (#9: Ross & Karen vs. Paddy & Lesley)
 * August 20, 1989 (#10: Martyn & Lynette vs. Alan & Ros)
 * August 27, 1989 (#11: Alan & Ros vs. Jim & Sharon, with Alan & Ros going for the £3,000 and quite possibly the best bonus round of the show's run)
 * September 3, 1989 (Season Finale: Andrew & Jill vs. Barry & Dixie)

Series 3 (May 20-August 19, 1990 {14 episodes})
 * May 27, 1990 (#2: Keith & Barbara vs. Matthew & Heather)
 * June 3, 1990 (#3: Steve & Tina vs. James & Frances)
 * June 10, 1990 (#4: Stuart & Georgina vs. Paul & Suzanne)
 * June 17, 1990 (#5: John & Evelyn vs. Tom & Ann)
 * June 24, 1990 (#6: Chris & Stella vs. Malcolm & Ann)
 * July 1, 1990 (#7: David & Karen vs. Terry & Carole)


 * July 8, 1990 (#8: John & Jeannie vs. Bill & Janice)
 * July 15, 1990 (#9: James & Betty vs. Jeff & Pam)
 * July 22, 1990 (#10: Brian & Fiona vs. Anthony & Valerie)
 * July 29, 1990 (#11: Martin & Jo vs. James & Linda)
 * August 5, 1990 (#12: Mike & Karen vs. Graham & Marion)
 * August 12, 1990 (#13: Dave & Norma vs. Bob & Margaret)

Series 4 (June 24-August 30, 1991 {50 episodes})
 * June 24, 1991 (Season Premiere: Phil & Debbie vs. Trevor & Debbie)
 * [ -June 25, 1991] (#2: Bruce & Debs vs. Wynford & Colleen)
 * [ -June 26, 1991] (#3: Derek & Sheryl vs. Ed & Barbara)
 * [ -June 27, 1991] (#4: Bill & Nan vs. Andrew & Shirley)
 * [ -June 28, 1991] (#5: Alan & Sue vs. Mike & Adele)


 * [ -July 1, 1991] (#6: Martin & Chris vs. Tony & Shelley)
 * [ -July 2, 1991] (#7: Vaughan & Tracy vs. Roy & Anne-Marie)
 * [ -July 3, 1991] (#8: Ken & Ann vs. Paul & Cilla. The Stinger keeps getting hit!)
 * [ -July 4, 1991] (#9: Robert & Roberta vs. Andy & Anita)
 * [ -July 5, 1991] (#10: Trevor & Brenda vs. Campbell & Veronica)


 * [ -July 8, 1991] (#11: David & Julie vs. Nick & Anthea)
 * [ -July 9, 1991] (#12: Pat & Mary vs. Jim & Edna)
 * [ -July 10, 1991] (#13: Richard & Heather vs. Ivor & Carole)
 * [ -July 11, 1991] (#14: Dave & Jackie vs. Julian & Gill, with a hard bonus round {the first three words are all eleven letters long!})
 * [ -July 12, 1991] (#15: Barrie & Susan vs. Mark & Kim)


 * [ -July 15, 1991] (#16: Martin & Lee vs. Robert & Mary)
 * [ -July 16, 1991] (#17: Malc & Jan vs. Brian & Dot, with a four-digit score!)
 * [ -July 17, 1991] (#18: Mike & Maureen vs. John & Kary)
 * [ -July 18, 1991] (#19: Steve & Anne vs. George & Pat)
 * [ -July 19, 1991] (#20: George & Judith vs. Hughie & Alys)


 * July 22, 1991 (#21: Edoy & Ann vs. David & Julie)
 * July 23, 1991 (#22: Chris & Mary vs. Dave & Mandi)
 * July 24, 1991 (#23: Steve & Karen vs. Peter & Anne; brief video dropout during David's intro)
 * July 25, 1991 (#24: Peter & Wyn vs. Ed & Liz)
 * July 26, 1991 (#25: Darrell & Alison vs. John & Liz, with the star key used as a Stinger and Round 2 taking forever)


 * July 29, 1991 (#26: Jamie & Debbie vs. Pete & Neet)
 * July 30, 1991 (#27: Nick & Debbie vs. Gary & Madeleine)
 * July 31, 1991 (#28: Paul & Lynne vs. Ken & Jill)
 * August 1, 1991 (#29: Stephen & Jane vs. Michael & Tracy)
 * August 2, 1991 (#30: Tony & Paula vs. Cliff & Sandy)


 * August 5, 1991 (#31)
 * August 6, 1991 (#32)
 * August 7, 1991 (#33)


 * July? 1991 (Clip of an "Armageddon" that indicates the show knew TVS' end was approaching...fast)