NFL Week 11: $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime

This is $1,000,000. In a moment, Couple A will compete with Couple B as they battle for the biggest prize in the history of television. Just one single word can turn one of our couples into millionaires, all on the $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime!

You want the definition of cheesy 80s game shows! This one sets the standard! The $1M Chance of a Lifetime show was a syndicated program in the mid 80s - I think it was from 1985-87. It wasn't on a network schedule, so stations picked it up and used it for filler in the afternoon. This - of course - were the days before 86 million talk shows were invented, so this show was perfect for independent stations to show around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. For me, this was the perfect show to come home to after a rough day in middle or high school.

Where do I start with the gimmicks here? First, the grand prize was - yes! - $1 million dollars. I'll explain how you win it in a moment. The $1 million dollars was placed on stage during play for all to see - I guess to heighten the suspense. A security guard was positioned by the money during the opening until the host came out . There must have been problems with the studio audience coming up and stealing part of the money, so a Brinks employee was needed.

This was  a couples' game - that adds the fun! Can you imagine playing a game show for $1 million dollars with your spouse? Janice and I can't even play Pictionary without getting into fights. (Who doesn't know where Oregon is? -ed). The main play just needed one of the spouse playing against one of the others....and no help can be given by the non-playing spouse. What was the divorce rates of the losing contestants?

The game play was a bit complex - it was a combination of Password and Wheel of Fortune. Three puzzles were played - a puzzle consisted of a multi-word phrase or thing. Then clues were given one at a time .....and the contestants had to guess the clue when the letters of the clue were filled in one by one. Very much like the speed round of Wheel of Fortune.

Once you got a "clue" - then you tried to solve the main puzzle. The contestant went up to the main computer and picked letters for the main puzzle. The did this literally - letters were lit on the computer that were in the puzzle - plus one "stinger"! that was not included - and the contestant pressed a giant key on the keyboard to choose a letter.

If they could get the puzzle, great! If not, they went back and another clue was given. I love this keyboard. It's like a giant size Vic 20...remember kids, this was the breakthrough technology of the day!

Three puzzles were played - the winner went to the bonus round, where the couples were placed in the "isolation" chamber....they had to get 6 words in 60 seconds; the words were all part of a category that were chosen (like First Aid Items or Summit Conference Colleges). Letters were placed one by one for each word - the couple could blurt out any guess they wanted as the letters appeared. They needed to get all 6 words in 60 seconds to win.

The million was won if a couple can win the main game and the bonus game 3 days in a row. This was a great soap opera aspect of the game - I could watch on Monday, see somebody lose the bonus round, and then I realize I can skip Tuesday's and Wednesday's episode if necessary since no one can win the million.

Our host for the show is Jim Lange. He hosted the Dating Game in the 70s and another show in the 80s that will be coming up. I'd certainly consider Jim to be on the B-list of hosts - friendly, does the job, but there's just something missing. Seems forced at times.

I think I must be the only one to remember this show - it was short lived, and being on independent stations did not help its popularity. But it was a quick moving game show with the suspense of a million always hanging over the show. If a couple was there for the third time, it was required viewing and I had to fight to watch the show over Layup's insistence of watching "Inspector Gadget".

Most of you know my two guilty pleasures are game shows and politics; in doing research for this blog, I came across this episode of the show. You have to watch at around the 4:45 mark - a commercial was not edited out. Wow! How's that for a flashback......

What's the opposite of the suspense of having a coupe go for the $1,000,000 on the third episode? How about any meaningless Browns game from here on out? Thank God they are on the bye this week. This team is unwatchable. The penalties, mental mistakes are frequent and devastating. It's like we are starting over - again. We do nothing well......and this is even taking into account that Johnny may have a future here! He's not the problem! I really want to like Mike Pettine- especially after the 7-4 start last year - but since then, he is 2-13, and the team is degrading each week.

Oh - by the way- do you know the Monday Night Football game next week? you are welcome, America!

On to the games:

Atl 27, Ind 24. Can't figure out this game; both teams off a bye; I don't think there's that much of a dropoff to Hasselbeck.

Bal 27, StL 20. I just don't think the Ravens have it in them to give up. So disappointed in the Rams last week - they are certainly one-dimensional.

Car 26, Was 16. The Redskins are limited against a good D; Car won't outscore them, however, and will control the clock and the game without running away with it.

Chi 24, Den 19. Brock Osweiler's first start in the NFL, and who does he see? His old defensive coordinator on the other side of the field. I think Fox will have a lot of surprises for Brock.

Oak 31, Det 20. Detroit just played their Super Bowl - and it's clear they are not a good team. Oakland can beat bad teams on the road - see week 3!

NYJ 20, Hou 17. Too many injuries to count here. I think Houston's D is finally coming info form and this won't be a Jets rout.

Dal 20, Mia 16. Philly gave the game to Miami last week; I still don't think the Dolphins are very good. Dallas will be able to hold Miami and Romo should bring home the win.

Phi 26, TB 16. Just a feeling here. The matchup is horrible for Tampa; Philly's D will limit them and I think Tampa is not good enough defensively to stop Sanchez. Did I just say that?

SD 27, KC 20. San Diego is off the bye and will put up one last good effort. I think Kansas City is overrated and won't be able to score when needed.

Min 23, GB 20. Can't figure this game out. The Packers will be desperate, and they have to change their offensive strategy - a hurry up offense? If so, can Minnesota respond?

Sea 20, SF 16. The Seahawks should not be favored by double digits over anyone right now. Do people watch the games?

Az 30, Cin 20. I don't think the Bengals are firing on all cylinders offensively, and will have trouble to keep up with Arizona at home.

NE 31, Buf 24. I think this game will be close; NE is not as dominating as they were in teh beginning of the season.

Best bets: 12 of them. Last week: 9-6; overall: 76-59-4
Bal -3
Car -7
Chi +2
Oak +1
Dal -1
Dal/Mia under 46
Phi -6
SD +3
KC/SD over 45
SF +13.5
Az -4.5
Buf/NE over 47.5

Supercontest: Last week: 3-2; overall: 27-22-1
Oak -2
Dal pk
Phi -5.5
SD +3
SF +12.5