User:Daniel Benfield/Split Second Video Archive

Another favorite of mine, Split Second quickly established a reputation for being fast during its original run – a reputation they ruined in the revival. Regardless, the franchise was and remains solid throughout.

Note that syndicated episodes without a specific airdate are listed arbitrarily, the only exceptions being the episodes during the first bonus format where Monty remarks on the frequency of car wins; those are placed at the end of the "first bonus format" section, as "too many wins" was apparently why the bonus round was altered. For a (partial) episode guide, see User:Daniel Benfield/Split Second 1986 Episode Guide.

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1971-75/1986-88 Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions/STV and associated entities.

ABC (1972-75)
ABC Daytime: March 20, 1972 - June 27, 1975 (1,025 episodes)

Started out a bit sluggish, with the more well-known Singleton and Memory Buster elements added later.


 * Taped 10/27/71 (#SPS-43/Pilot #2: Maggie {Day 3 - $580}/Shirley/Tom {Jackpot: $3,000}; montage including slate, intro, and close)
 * [Tom notes that the Jackpot goes up $500 each day, then implies that it starts at $0.]
 * 197? (One/Two/Three; clip of a rehearsal game, with Jack Clark hosting)

Jackpot starts at $0 and increases by $200 per day
 * May 19, 1972 (#45: Mari {Day 2 - $300}/Craig/MICHAEL RUSSNOW {Jackpot: $600}; taped from KABC, B/W video {alternate copy})


 * May 22, 1972 (#46: Michael/Pat/Phil; taped from KABC, B/W video)
 * May 23, 1972 (#47: Michael/Karen/Dean taped from KABC, B/W video)
 * May 24, 1972 (#48: Michael/Bruce/Susan; taped from KABC, B/W video)
 * [Memory Buster and Singleton are still not present.]

Memory Buster added (began by about mid-1974)
 * May (or so) 1974 (Neil {Day 2 - $280}/Joan/Stuart {Jackpot: $200}, with Jack Clark playing a Native American for a question!; B/W video, no last segment)
 * [This and the below have no Singleton bonus. Jackpot still starts at $0 and increases by $200 per day.]


 * July (or so) 1974 (Wayne/Robin/Jeff {Jackpot: $0}, with Jack Clark appearing for a question!; B/W video)
 * [Tom notes that they've given away two cars in a row. First visual question is on the film Carnal Knowledge (released 6/30/71), which was recently vindicated by the Supreme Court; said ruling took place on June 24, 1974.]

Singleton bonus added, Jackpot starts at $1,000 and increases by $500 per day (began by 5/8/75)
 * May 8, 1975 (MARVIN SHINKMAN {Day 5 - $1,315}/Shari/Valiant {Jackpot: $3,000}; has a few commercials, begins at first question, jumpy at times)
 * June 27, 1975 (#115-75/Finale, taped 5/30/75: JUDD ROSE/Martha/Steve {champ retired last time}, with the Jackpot at $1,000; taped from KABC, with commercials)

Syndicated (1986-87)
Syndicated, Daily: December 15, 1986 - September 11, 1987 (approx. 195 episodes, taped at CHCH-11, Hamilton, Ontario)

Set's nice, as was the theme...but who thought it'd be a good idea to read the question before saying "Look at the screen."? It massively slowed down the game and, while not making it intolerable, made it not as fun to watch.


 * 1987 (CHCH promo with clips of David/Loren/Patricia, Diane/Robert/Shelley, the third CAR window {from late in the run}, and the original CAR/$1,000 windows)

First Bonus Format (1986-87)
The first 18 episodes had a noticeably different contestant area and more unique-looking CAR/$1000 graphics. The earliest episodes had a "Showcase" prize, which was either used instead of $1,000 or was the original consolation before being replaced by the cash; in either case, $1,000 became the regular consolation by January 6, 1987...and given what I know, Showcase lasted three weeks at the most.

Unfortunately, the bonus round format was too successful – after about 3-4 weeks of too many car wins (including it being won four times out of five shows at one point), Hatos-Hall decided to change it to something a bit harder...

Original set and graphics
 * December 15, 1986 (#86001/Premiere: Cathy/Jim/Ricki {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; GameTV repeat)
 * [Has some differences from the other episodes I'm aware of: 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 and copyright scrolls onscreen.]

Opening question now answered by Monty after his entrance; viewer questions now shown in front of a player/host backdrop ("Split Seconds" header replaced by normal logo); Hatos-Hall logo/copyright becomes a chyron (began by 1/2/87)
 * January 2, 1987 (#86015: Chris {Day 3 - $3,000+}/Judy/Janet {Car: Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am; $16,700}; GameTV repeat {alternate copy})
 * January 5, 1987 (#86016: Barbara/Mike/Rebecca {Car: Pontiac Grand Am}; GameTV repeat {alternate copy})

Music added to Countdown Round; viewer questions now done on the standard "pink background of logos" backdrop (began 1/6/87)
 * January 6, 1987 (#86017: Lauren/Owen/Sandra {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; GameTV repeat {alternate copy})
 * January 7, 1987 (#86018: Sandra/Gaye/Diana {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}, with a possible judging error on a "stars' mothers" question {specifically, regarding David Cassidy's}; GameTV repeat)

Normal set and graphics; model added to bonus game (began 1/8/87)
 * January 8. 1987 (#86019: Gaye/Richard/Diana {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; Family Channel {FAM} repeat, begins just before Monty's intro)
 * January 9, 1987 (#86020: Gaye/Roger/Carroll {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; FAM repeat, first second or two missing but has a Trivial Pursuit Playbreak)
 * January 12, 1987 (#86021: Gaye/Glenn/Norine {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; FAM repeat)
 * January 13, 1987 (#86022: Gaye/David/Lucile {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; FAM repeat)

[Note that after this point, episodes are listed somewhat arbitrarily. As far as I know, there were no changes made between here and the last episode with this format.]


 * Taped 1986 (Dianne {Day 3}/Robert/Shelley {Car: Pontiac 6000 STE})


 * Taped 1986 (Catherine/Gene/Beverly {Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe}, after someone retired last time {Part 3}; GameTV repeat)


 * Taped 1986 (Susan/Carl/Leasa {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}, after someone retired last time, with Monty commenting on the frequency of car winners {Part 3}; GameTV repeat)


 * Taped 1986 (Clip of Debbie {Deborah? Debra?} going for the car {Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe?} on her first day; Monty notes that the last three car winners got it on their first day)


 * Taped 1986 (June/Larry/Lezlie {Car: Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe}, after someone retired last time, with Monty commenting on the frequency of car winners {Part 3}; GameTV repeat)
 * [Per the uploader, this was the seventh-to-last episode with the first bonus format.]


 * Taped 1986 (Gail/Harvey/Wendy {Car: Pontiac 6000 STE}, after someone retired last time, with a misspelling of "regular" in Round 2 and Monty commenting on the frequency of car winners {Part 3}; GameTV repeat {alternate copy from a FAM repeat, begins during first question})
 * [Next-to-last show with the first bonus format.]

Floor and question monitor background become solid gray; set now fully lit during intro
 * Taped 1986 (Harvey/Lorraine/Debbie {Car: Pontiac 6000 STE}, with the last use of the first bonus format {Part 3}; GameTV repeat)

Second Bonus Format (1987)
The bonus game was altered from choosing a "CAR" screen that increased in number the more days a champ remained to picking three of five screens to match "CAR". The consolation prize was changed to a fur or vacation, and the player now had the option of quitting with that prize (and cash, in the case of the trip) rather than returning on the next show.

Also, the question monitor's background changed once more, to pink.

Sometime during the 1987 tapings, and definitely by #86074 (March 26, 1987), the bonus round prize screens were altered: CAR became a flashy red/blue on a whiteish background, FUR changed to stylized proper-case lettering on a white skewed-angle card background, and VACATION began using a blue font on a globe with an airplane above.

1986 copyright date
 * Taped 1986 (Rose/Eric/Debbie {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}, with a player accidentally skipped over during a Countdown Round question; FAM repeat with commercials, begins at contestant intros)
 * Taped 1986 (Eric/Lisa/Myra {Car: Pontiac Fiero GT}; FAM repeat, with Trivial Pursuit Playbreaks)

1987 copyright date
 * 1987 (Brian {Day 4 - $1,925}/Barbara/Melissa {Car: Pontiac Grand Am}; FAM repeat from 9/29/95 {the last episode they aired!}, with commercials)

Redone bonus round CAR/Fur/Vacation graphics (debuted by 3/26/87)
 * March 26, 1987 (#86074: Mary/Kevin/Elaine {Car: Pontiac Grand Am}, after someone retired last time; studio master with slate!)

The Attempted Revisit (1990)
Taped May 1 or June 8, 1990; hosted by Robb Weller

Shot for syndication by Ralph Edwards-Stu Billett Productions (Billett was a producer on the ABC run, and came up with the "five cars" concept) with the same format (and payouts!) as its predecessor, a different set, a much lamer "blindly pick one of three trips" bonus game, and a host who by all accounts was bad despite having just recently wrapped taping for Win, Lose or Draw.

Unfortunately, despite circulating for years, I don't think this has ever been online. I've never been able to find any pictures of it, either.

British Version (1987-88)
STV (Scottish Television), Weekly (not networked): December 24, 1987 - March 15, 1988

The logo's similar to the syndicated run, and the payouts seem to be in pounds, but based on an intro that was online at one point the end game (played for up to £1,000) may have been different from those in the States (as the IBA's winnings cap was still in effect at this point). Aside from that, no clue if the show was any different.

On a side note, the airing schedule doesn't really make sense unless STV moved the show at some point from Thursdays to Tuesdays; that, or the show actually ended on March 18.