User:Daniel Benfield/Split Second 1986 Episode Guide

Since I had some info about the 1980s Split Second compiled from various sites, I figured...hey, why not do this? :)

My thanks to Greg Brobeck, David Downs, Ryan Rinkerman (all for various info on the first 23 episodes), Sonicfox44 for info on several episodes past that point (including the last show with the original endgame format and first with the second format), Wink Martindale's group for posting Episode #074 (which, thanks to the final set of prize screens, really helped pin everything else down), and Buzzr for picking the show up in September 2019 (which is helping pin down episodes).

Episodes that circulate from their Family Channel broadcasts (September 6, 1993 through March 4, 1994 and January 2 through September 29, 1995) are noted where possible.

NOTE: There are some spoilers, such as the returning champ and what day they're on (if available) as well as any car wins. This is partly in an attempt to sort things out regarding episodes that are yet to have confirmed slotting.

Bonus Round Screens
The screens used for the bonus round prizes changed several times throughout the run.


 * CAR (both formats): Black font with white trim and black shadows on background with three vertical green rectangles and two vertical strips of purple waves (through 12/24/86), neon-esque font on cloudy background (12/25/86 through early second format), glittery neon-esque font on cloudy background (early second format), flashy red/blue on whiteish background (at least 3/12/87 onward).
 * Showcase (Format #1 only, quickly discarded): White Eggcrate-style lettering on vertical rainbow stripes going yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue from outside to inside (through at least 12/2/86).
 * $1000 (Format #1 only): Blocky white font on black rectangle with rainbow colors on top and bottom (through 12/24/86), neon-esque font on cloudy background (12/25/86 through end of first format).
 * FUR (Format #2 only): Neon-esque font on cloudy background (early second format), stylized proper-case style on white skewed-angle card (at least 3/12/87 onward).
 * VACATION (Format #2 only): Neon-esque font on cloudy background (early second format), blue font on globe with airplane above (at least 3/12/87 onward).

First Endgame Format (1986-87)
December 1, 1986 - January 29, 1987

Each day's winner chose, from five screens, the one that had CAR on the other side. Otherwise, the player won $1,000 (or, very early on, a "Showcase" prize) and came back the next day; winning subsequent games shut off the screens already picked, with five wins awarding the car automatically.

While the series is commonly said to have debuted on 12/15/86 (and it did on at least one station, WABC), these TV listings from the Windsor Star show it debuting two weeks earlier on CHCH. Since CHCH was directly involved with the show's production, I see no reason to disbelieve this.

While references to the show being taped in Canada weren't normally mentioned on the US airings, at least one station (WCAU, which held off on the series until the 1987-88 season) added a disclaimer during the credits reading "Cash and Prizes Are Valued in Canadian Dollars".

Variety blurbs indicate that Viacom pitched the show for a January start, "with a fallback to September if the January time periods don't open up" (9/24/86 Weekly, Page 39); I'm not sure how they settled on a December debut. Later, it was reported that 18 episodes had been produced (11/6/86 Daily, Page 9) - which, perhaps not coincidentally, is the exact number of shows with the original contestant area and endgame screens.

All episodes of this format have a 1986 copyright date. Based on UCLA listings, the show began taping in late September or early October.

Original set and bonus round graphics
 * December 1, 1986 (#86001/Premiere): Cathy vs. Jim vs. Ricki. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Car won!]
 * [Has the Showcase consolation prize. Viewer questions have a "Split Seconds" header and blue background, opening question is answered by Sandy before the car/hotel plugs, and the Hatos-Hall logo/copyright scrolls onscreen and offscreen.]
 * December 2, 1986 (#86002): Jackie vs. Jo vs. Judi. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Jo doesn't drive!]
 * [Has the Showcase consolation prize.]
 * December 3, 1986 (#86003): Jo (Day 2) vs. Lesley vs. David.

"Split Seconds" header on viewer questions replaced by normal logo (began by 12/4/86, #004)
 * December 4, 1986 (#86004): Jo (Day 3) vs. Bette vs. Jim. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Car won!]
 * [Endgame consolation prize not specified. Hatos-Hall logo and copyright info still scroll onscreen.]
 * December 5, 1986 (#86005): Linda vs. Gerry vs. Marsha. [By this point, the $1,000 consolation prize is present.]


 * December 8, 1986 (#86006): Gerry (Day 2 - $1,670) vs. Cynthia vs. Tom. Car: Pontiac Grand Am. [Has the $1,000 consolation prize (Monty notes that Gerry won it last time).]
 * [By this point, the Hatos-Hall logo and copyright info now fade in onscreen before scrolling offscreen.]
 * December 9, 1986 (#86007): Gerry (Day 3 - $3,240) vs. Susan vs. John.
 * December 10, 1986 (#86008): Gerry (Day 4) vs. Tim vs. Murray. [Car won! UCLA lists Episode #C8 among their holdings, with a tapedate of 10/11/86.]
 * December 11, 1986 (#86009): Raquel vs. Martin vs. Sindi.
 * December 12, 1986 (#86010): Martin (Day 2) vs. Farida vs. David.


 * December 15, 1986 (#86011): Farida (Day 2) vs. Curtis vs. Ilene.
 * December 16, 1986 (#86012): Curtis (Day 2) vs. Katharine vs. Pat.
 * December 17, 1986 (#86013): Pat (Day 2) vs. Chris vs. Joellen. [UCLA lists Episode #C13 among their holdings, with a tapedate of 10/16/86.]
 * December 18, 1986 (#86014): Chris (Day 2) vs. Alice vs. Bev.

Opening question now answered by Monty after his entrance, viewer questions now shown in front of a player/host backdrop (began by 12/19/86, #015)
 * December 19, 1986 (#86015): Chris (Day 3 - $3,000+) vs. Judy vs. Janet. Car: Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am ($16,700). [Car won!]
 * [Endgame consolation prize not specified.]


 * December 22, 1986 (#86016): Barbara vs. Mike vs. Rebecca. Car: Pontiac Grand Am. [Car won! UCLA lists Episode #C16 among their holdings, with a tapedate of 10/16/86.]
 * [Endgame consolation prize not specified.]

Music added to Countdown Round, viewer questions now done on standard "pink background of logos" backdrop (began 12/23/86, on #017)
 * December 23, 1986 (#86017): Lauren vs. Owen vs. Sandra. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT.
 * [Has the $1,000 consolation prize.]
 * December 24, 1986 (#86018): Sandra (Day 2 - $1,260) vs. Gaye vs. Diana. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Has a judging error on a "stars' mothers" question, specifically regarding David Cassidy's.]

Redone set and graphics (including the second CAR and $1000 windows), model added to bonus game, Hatos-Hall logo/copyright becomes a chyron (began 12/25/86, on #019)

For whatever reason, Buzzr's run of the series began with #019 (listed as "86_0001" on the network's schedules, with subsequent episodes continuing that numbering) and I'm not sure why - the first 18 shows had already aired on GameTV in Canada, so Fremantle clearly should have them.

What makes this even odder is that #019 also happens to be the earliest episode confirmed to have been shown by The Family Channel during its own run of the series.


 * December 25, 1986 (#86019): Gaye (Day 2 - $1,640) vs. Richard vs. Diana. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * December 26, 1986 (#86020): Gaye (Day 3 - $2,980) vs. Roger vs. Carroll. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]


 * December 29, 1986 (#86021): Gaye (Day 4 - $4,535) vs. Glenn vs. Norine. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * December 30, 1986 (#86022): Gaye (Day 5 - $6,000!) vs. David vs. Lucile. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * December 31, 1986 (#86023): David (Day 2 - $1,395) vs. Loren vs. Patricia. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Monty notes that the car hasn't been won for more than six shows...and it's finally won today! Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * January 1, 1987 (#86024): Catherine vs. Gene vs. Beverly. Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe.
 * January 2, 1987 (#86025): Catherine (Day 2 - $1,655) vs. Martti vs. Stephanie. Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe.


 * January 5, 1987 (#86026): Catherine (Day 3 - $3,035) vs. David vs. Tricia. Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * January 6, 1987 (#86027): Catherine (Day 4 - $4,735) vs. Jeffrey vs. Mary. Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe. [Car won!]
 * January 7, 1987 (#86028): Susan vs. Carl vs. Leasa. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Monty comments on the frequency of car winners - and the car is won again today!]
 * January 8, 1987 (#86029): Ellen vs. Steve vs. Claudette. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * January 9, 1987 (#86030): Claudette (Day 2 - $1,430) vs. John vs. Jennifer. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE.


 * January 12, 1987 (#86031): Jennifer (Day 2 - $1,395) vs. Dean vs. Stephanie. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE.
 * January 13, 1987 (#86032): Stephanie (Day 2 - $1,330) vs. Ray vs. Marcia. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE.
 * January 14, 1987 (#86033): Stephanie (Day 3 - $2,785) vs. Eric vs. Linda. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE. [Car won! Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * January 15, 1987 (#86034): Sharon vs. Marv vs. Dianne. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT.
 * January 16, 1987 (#86035): Marv (Day 2 - $1,320) vs. Joyce vs. Gail. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT.


 * January 19, 1987 (#86036): Marv (Day 3 - $2,950) vs. Cindy vs. Laura. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT.
 * January 20, 1987 (#86037): Marv (Day 4 - $4,400) vs. Sandra vs. Elaine. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Car won!]
 * January 21, 1987 (#86038): June vs. Larry vs. Lezlie. Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe. [Monty comments on the frequency of car winners - and the car is won again today!]
 * [Monty says this is the third time a player has won the car on their first day in the past week (or this week?), but as seen above that clearly wasn't the case. Per Sonicfox44, this was the seventh-to-last show with the original bonus game.]
 * January 22, 1987 (#86039): Deborah vs. Sandy vs. Nili. Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe. [Champ retired last time. Car won! Intro and endgame are the only parts known to circulate, the former through a CHCH promo.]
 * [Monty notes that the last three car winners also got it on their first day.]


 * January 23, 1987 (#86040): Lisa vs. Michael vs. Dianne.
 * January 26, 1987 (#86041): Dianne (Day 2 - $1,565) vs. John vs. Patricia. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * January 27, 1987 (#86042): Dianne (Day 3 - $3,035) vs. Robert vs. Shelley. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE. [Car won, the fourth such event in five shows! Circulates from what I think is a Fam broadcast.]


 * January 28, 1987 (#86043): Gail vs. Harvey vs. Wendy. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE. [Champ retired last time. Next-to-last show with the original bonus game. Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * [Has a mispelling of "regular" during Round 2, and Monty comments on the frequency of car winners ("We've given away about four cars in the last week or so.").]

Floor changes from gray with white lines to solid gray; question monitor changes from black to gray; by this point, the Countdown Round music changes to its second and final version
 * January 29, 1987 (#86044): Harvey (Day 2 - $1,475) vs. Lorraine vs. Debbie. Car: Pontiac 6000 STE. [First show with the above changes, and last with the original endgame format. Car won!]

Second Endgame Format (1987)
January 30 - September 11, 1987

Same five screens, but now the winner had to pick the three that had CAR on the other side. Day 4 added a fourth CAR screen, and as before five games awarded the car automatically. It seems the consolation prize changed each week.

Early episodes with this format have a 1986 copyright date, after which it changes to 1987. Barring the listed changes during this part of the run, episodes here are listed arbitrarily.

1986 copyright date
 * Taped 1986: Tricia vs. Barry vs. Rose. [Debut of the new bonus round!]


 * Taped 1986: Rose vs. Eric vs. Debbie. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [One player is accidentally skipped over in a Countdown Round question, possibly costing them the game. Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Fur. No idea if this is the same Rose as above.]

CAR signs now glittery (began on Eric/Lisa/Myra)
 * Taped 1986: Eric (Day 2) vs. Lisa vs. Myra. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Fur (white mink sweater). At this point, endgame players still choose which order to reveal the chosen screens in.]
 * Taped 1986: Eric (Day 3 - $1,000+) vs. Valerie vs. Sharon. [Circulates from Fam broadcast.]
 * Taped 1986: Eric (Day 4) vs. Catherine vs. Ron. [Circulates from what I think is a Fam broadcast.]
 * Taped 1986: Eric (Day 5) vs. Lori vs. Betty. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [AUTOMATIC car win! Circulates from Fam broadcast.]


 * Taped 1986: Glenn vs. Sam vs. Ellen.
 * Taped 1986: Glenn (Day 2) vs. Steve vs. Elaine. [Winner turns down a trip to Paris.]
 * Taped 1986: Glenn (Day 3) vs. Stan vs. Denya. Car: Pontiac Firebird Formula. [Winner takes the consolation prize instead of returning tomorrow. Circulates from what I think is a Fam broadcast.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Vacation (to London).]


 * 1986?: Elizabeth vs. Slade vs. Louise. [This and the four below are placed according to their order in Greg Brobeck's collection (after Glenn/Stan/Denya), and may or may not have been taped in '86.]
 * 1986?: Diane vs. Bob vs. Susan.
 * 1986?: Bob (Day 2?) vs. Jennifer vs. Tatra.
 * 1986?: Tatra (Day 2?) vs. Steve vs. Shelley.
 * 1986?: Kathleen vs. Terry vs. Shirley.


 * Taped 1986: Stephanie vs. Kwame vs. Therese. Car: Pontiac Grand Am. [Champ retired last time.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Vacation (to Paris). Therese wins $545, which I note in case the below episode doesn't directly follow this one.]
 * 1986?: Therese (Day 2?) vs. Steven vs. Ellie. [This and the two below may or may not have been taped in '86.]
 * 1986?: Therese (Day 3?) vs. John vs. Rita.
 * 1986?: Therese (Day 4?) vs. Calvin vs. Dawn.

1987 copyright date
 * 1987: Calvin (Day 2 - $425) vs. Doina vs. Jo-Ann. Car: Pontiac Grand Am.
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Vacation (to the Bahamas). Calvin wins another $600, which I note in case the below episode doesn't directly follow this one.]
 * 1987: Calvin (Day 3?) vs. Angela vs. Cathy.


 * 1987: Brian (Day 4) vs. Barbara vs. Melissa. Car: Pontiac Grand Am. [Circulates from Fam broadcast, and was the last episode they aired.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Fur. By this point, Monty reveals the chosen endgame screens in the order picked.]
 * 1987: Brian (Day 5) vs. ? vs. ?.


 * 1987: Mimi (Day 5) vs. Andrew vs. Tracey. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Automatic car win!]


 * 1987: Cesar vs. Leslie vs. Barbara. [Circulates from Fam broadcast. Not sure whether it goes here or under the below heading, though.]

Overhauled bonus round screen graphics (began by 3/12/87, #074)
 * March 12, 1987 (#86074): Mary vs. Kevin vs. Elaine. Car: Pontiac Grand Am. [Champ retired last time...and the car is won again today! Circulates as a master copy, with slate.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Fur (by Dicker & Dicker). Also by this point, the directing is altered a bit to have the doors at center stage open up during the initial player interview(s), rather than at some point during the first segment.]


 * 1987: Francine vs. Gordon vs. Suzanne. Car: Pontiac Grand Am. [Champ named Andrea retired last time...and the car is won again today!]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Vacation (to Miami).]


 * 1987: Rebecca (Day 2) vs. Nick vs. Elizabeth. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Has misspellings of "Florida" and "Schwarzenegger". Winner leaves with the consolation prize instead of returning tomorrow. Circulates from original broadcast.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Vacation (to Miami). Not sure whether this goes here or below.]

Endgame area now visible throughout main game (doors no longer shown on-camera, associated sidepieces no longer move); player interviews now done before Round 2
 * 1987: Lisa vs. Marty vs. Elisabeth. Car: Pontiac Fiero GT. [Champ retired last time with $3,000 and a trip. Circulates from a WABC broadcast with commercials, which seem to date this to August.]
 * [Endgame Consolation Prize: Fur (mink vest from Dicker & Dicker).]
 * 1987: Marty (Day 2) vs. ? vs. ?.