The Chair

Host
John McEnroe
Broadcast
Pilot: 2001 ABC: 1/15/2002 – 3/18/2002
Packagers
Touchdown Productions/ Trailopolis Entertainment Group LLC/Target Distribution, Ltd.

PREMIERE OPENING SPIEL: "Hi, I'm John McEnroe. I've spent the better part of my life performing under pressure. So, I know how important is it to stay calm, cool, and completely focused when big money's on the line. (montage of clips of his days as a tennis pro, including his infamous tirades) That's just me. If tonight's contenders can keep their heart rates under control, and answer the questions, they could leave here with $250,000. But first, they'll have to beat The Chair!"

The Chair was a short-lived game show on ABC where contestants would sit in a chair inside a pit and answer seven questions, all while keeping their heart rate under control for a possible $250,000. The show was originally an adaptation of the New Zealand series of the same name.

Before the Show[]

Contestants on the program underwent extensive medical supervision before they ever made it to the actual game. They were given intelligence tests and had their heart monitored for several hours, among other diagnostic procedures such as seeing how the contestants would react to sudden surprises. If they were declared fit, they would move on to the game.

Gameplay[]

Once seated in the Chair, the contestant found him/herself looking up at a large video screen on which McEnroe's image was displayed, as well as the information for the current question. He/she began with a stake of $5,000 and could increase it to a maximum of $250,000 by answering a series of seven multiple-choice questions. However, the contestant's heart rate was continuously measured throughout the game and compared to a "redline" threshold. This value started at 60% (later 70%) above the resting heart rate, and it was lowered by 5% of the resting heart rate after each question. For example, a contestant with a resting heart rate of 80 would have an initial redline threshold of 128 or 136 (160% and 170% of the resting rate, respectively), which would drop by 4 (5%) after each question.

Money was subtracted from the contestant's total for every second that his/her heart rate exceeded the redline value ("redlining"). In addition, he/she was ineligible to give an answer during this time; only while the heart rate was no higher than the threshold number could an answer be given. (Redlining between questions, or while a question was being asked, carried no penalty.) The third question involved recalling information from a video clip, the fifth required the player to list items pertaining to a given category, and the seventh involved choosing which event occurred first/last (this type of question would be eliminated later in the show's run). After the fourth question, McEnroe would make a one-time offer: keep the redline rate constant for the next question, at a cost of $25,000. This was rarely - if ever - accepted.

As long as the contestant had money in the account and continued to answer questions correctly, the game continued. The game ended when one of the following events occurred:

Answering a question incorrectly
Losing all money by redlining
Receiving three warnings from the Countermeasure Rule (see below)
Answering all seven questions correctly

Question	Value	Redline threshold	Redline penalty (per second)	Maximum possible total
1	$5,000	160%-170%	($100)	$10,000
2	$10,000	155%-165%	($100)	$20,000
3	$15,000	150%-160%	($200)	$35,000
4	$25,000	145%-155%	($300)	$60,000
5	$40,000	140%-150%	($400)	$100,000
6	$50,000	135%-145%	($500)	$150,000
7	$100,000	130%-140%	($1,000)	$250,000

If the contestant answered a question incorrectly, he/she left with whatever amount he/she had "stabilized" (see below). Correctly answering every question awarded the contestant all of the money in his/her account, for a potential top prize of $250,000 if he/she had no redlining penalties.

Heartstoppers[]

At two points during the contestant's campaign, a "heartstopper" event took place. These were designed to raise the heart rate. Precautions were taken to ensure the contestant's safety during these events. If the contestant could endure the event for 15 seconds, the event would end. If he/she went over the redline rate, the event would continue until the heart rate was under control, and he/she would lose money at the rate for the previously answered question. If a contestant is redlining, the heartstopper is not officially over until the contestant lowers their heart rate back into the "safe zone".

Heartstoppers (among others)[]

The flames in the fire pit would flare up
A shower of electrical sparks would rain down on the player
The player is face to face with an alligator
The player is faced with a hive of bees
McEnroe would serve tennis balls at the player's head
The player would come face to face with a boa constrictor (or python)
Two extremely large hammers would suddenly hit each other, causing an explosion
Fireworks would be set off in the fire pit
A piňata would explode and confetti would rain on the player
A bladed pendulum would swing, slowly creeping towards the player

Stabilize[]

After answering the $15,000 question correctly (for a potential prize of $35,000), the contestant earned the chance to "stabilize". Once during the rest of the game, he/she could exercise this option after a correct answer; if he/she missed a question or received three warnings, he/she would leave with the money won up to the "stabilize" point. However, if the contestant redlined in the interim and went below the stabilized amount, the stabilized amount would fall and match the current prize amount.

Countermeasure Rule[]

Contestants were required to stay alert during the game at all times. If a contestant tried to close his/her eyes or perform some other task in an attempt to lower the heart rate, McEnroe gave a warning. Three warnings would end the game (contestants could still leave with their stabilized amount). The latter never happened, though one contestant on the US show was warned twice and almost disqualified for the above actions. On the first episode, one contestant closed her eyes for the entire time on the one heartstopper she reached and was not given a warning.

Broadcast history[]

The Chair lasted for nine episodes on ABC in 2002, but not before two people managed to answer the final question correctly; Kris Mackerer won $224,600 and Steven Benjamin won the maximum $250,000. Just a week before Mackerer's $224,600 win; another player, Dean Sheffron, saw the last question but redlined away a massive $132,200 and lost it all after he was unable to get his heart rate under control.

Taping Location[]

Los Angeles, CA

Trivia[]

A similar show was aired on FOX known as The Chamber just after The Chair got cancelled. Both production companies have fought over this, by each claiming that the other show was a rip-off of theirs. A lawsuit was filled, but nothing became of it.

In the 80s, John McEnroe was a formerly famous tennis player, known for his confrontational on-court behaviors and his infamous catch phrase "You cannot be serious!". He later hosted the UK version that same year. The British version ran on BBC One from August 31 (31 August) until November 9 (9 November) 2002. Additionally, the original non-broadcast pilot was hosted by Paul Hendy.