SECOND CHANCE!!! |
Jim Peck wasn't really this yellow, folks. |
Way before Press Your Luck was even though of, there was a similar show made by the same people called Second Chance, hosted by Jim Peck. The way it worked was very similar to PYL. They were asked 3 questions, in which the players wrote their answers on Match Game-like cards. Then Jim would give them hints on whom was right or wrong, like "At least one of you is right" and "At least two of you are wrong" Then Jim read three possible answers. If a player though they were right, they could stick with their answer, or go for a Second Chance if they thought their answer was wrong, or wasn't one of the choices. First answers netted you 3 spins, while a Second Chance answer gave you one spin. This made the possible total 27 spins! Spins were represented by square lights on the podium. Then, the spins were taken to the Bonus round. Unlike PYL, the scores DID NOT shuffle. The light moved in a long 64-light pattern, but the light moved EXTREMELY FAST!!! In fact, with a light that quick, would a pattern matter? Anyways, the top amount in Round 1 was $2500; in round 2, $5000. Prizes were represented by gift boxes, in which, when a player hit one, the slide changed to show the prize they had won. Then the box was retuned to conceal a new prize. |
Stop at a box! |
I mean, stop at a dinette set! Even better! |
But they might also hit a Devil, similar to a Whammy. A "wank" buzzer would sound, and a Devil picture would appear behind the player. No animations played, but they'd be pretty dull anyways. Obviously, 4 Devils eliminated you. |
Two of the three players in the third pilot episode (the only one known to exist) were Jack Campion, a lawyer who also was seen in several other pilots, including PYL's, and the all-too-familiar Maggie Brown. Supposedly, in episodes after the pilot, several changes were made. The Devil buzzer was shortened, except for the 4th, when it was played in full. Originally, no extra spins were offered, which could land a player in a situation where they couldn't win, but later the big bucks square shuffled, in $1000 increments, $1000-$5000, all with extra spins. 9 patterns were put on the board. Carruthers asked for more, but ABC was too cheap... until a mini-Larsen game popped up, in which ABC quickly added more patterns. The Devils popped up on cards just like the Whammies, in the same "2 leaning left, 2 right" style. There were no champions; there were three new people every day. So, as you can see, Carruthers had to do some MAJOR changes. Thank goodness they did, as it led to the hit show we know and love today. |
That's the Devil you see to the right. Doesn't it look too cute, though? |
Jack Campion couldn't have been a lawyer, as he was seen in too many pilots. |