The Chair
Host: John McEnroe
Lifespan: ABC, January 15, 2002-March 2002
Producers: Julie Christie, Darryl McEwen, Andrew J. Golder
PREMISE: Contestants can win up to $250,000 by answering seven questions and keeping their heartrates under control.
PLAY: Contestants are monitored for two hours prior to the program to determine their resting heartrate, which comes into play. The player is given a $5,000 stake to begin the game, and can win more money by answering questions. The catch is that the player must keep his or her heartrate under the "redline," which for the first question is 1.6 times the resting heartrate. After the first few episodes, that rate increased to 1.7. The contestant loses $100 per second that the contestant goes over the redline rate, either during a question, or during a "heartstopper". Answering the questions correctly wins more money ($5,000; $10,000; $15,000; $25,000; $40,000; $50,000; $100,000). As each question is played, the redline rate goes down .05 times the resting rate, and the penalty for going over the redline increases with each question. ($100, $100, $200, $300, $400, $500, $1,000) After the $25,000, the Benevolent One, Johnny Mac allows the player to not have the redline rate drop for the forthcoming $40,000 question, at a cost of $25,000. No one ever took him up on it.
Twice during the game, two "heartstopper" events occur, such as fireworks, the ring of fire, a pendulum axe, a live alligator, and so forth. Redline rules apply here, and the event continues until fifteen seconds are up, or the player gets down from the redline rate, whichever occurs last.
After the third question, the player may stabilize his or her winnings. The player is then guaranteed that money if he or she later misses a question, unless he or she loses some due to going over the redline rate. (If a player stabilized at $35,000; reached $60,000; lowered to $15,000 and missed the question, the player would win $15,000.) The player is only allowed one stabilize per game. This means the player can wait to stablize until later questions, running the risk of losing all the money and getting nothing, or stabilizing too early, and falling back to $35,000 from $100,000 after a missed question. Quite the quandary.
Most questions are the four-choice variety. The third question shows a series of pictures, and the player must remember details about them, answering a four-choice question. The fifth question requires the player to give a list of three or more answers.
The all-time champion of The Chair is Stuart Benjamin, who won the full $250,000 on an episode where no one redlined. The first person to answer the $100,000 question correctly was Kris Mackerer, who won $224,600. (she lost $25,000 on Q7) Dean Sheffron was the first to reach Question Seven, but redlined away a massive $132,200 and lost it all.
Net Versions
None.
Home Play
If you have one of those heart-monitor type watch things, and a pile of questions, you could do it. Best of luck coordinating the heart-stopper events. But it would sure be a cool game to recreate, considering it only lasted six episodes.
Travis' Review
Cast
John McEnroe gets bonus points for being an adept host; though his work as a sportscaster is of some help. He is able to banter with the contestants during the chat segments, and cheer for them while they climb out of the red zone, or get the final question right. He may have had Opening Night Jitters, but they faded quickly.
Music
The music was good, not quite as remarkable or hummable like "Millionaire" or "Greed," but it filled the purpose.
Game