A bit ago, BuzzerBlog announced “Chain Reaction”, GSN’s new word game, was renewed for a second season. It apparently got decent ratings, but a good deal of the game show community, quite frankly, disliked it and wondered why it was renewed instead of other things like “I’ve Got A Secret”. Many issues came up with things like game play, set, music, host, contestants, and everything. So, we called out to our readers to submit their changes. The results were rather astounding. Including emails, we got over 50 comments. We thought it would be nice to showcase our favorite ideas and then combine them to make what we feel would be a better edition of “Chain Reaction”. These are also going to be submitted to GSN and Embassy Row.

One quick comment before we start. We would like to note that, in theory, “Chain Reaction” is not a bad game. It has the makings of something terrific. However, there are so many tiny errors and flaws in the game play, set changes, music issues, host issues, and more, that it really takes away. When I say that we are making what we feel is a better show, I stress the we as in BuzzerBlog. We are not saying this is terrific to you or compares to the classic. This will just be a combination of your game play that was suggested into a format. Please click below the link to read your hard work.

ONE MORE NOTE: BuzzerBlog is reviving it’s podcast talk show “The Buzz”. If you would like to be featured in it and interviewed about “Chain Reaction”, please leave a comment about this post or email us.

Buzzer’s Chain Reaction:
Two teams of three compete. A SpeedChain starts each round at the value of one word in that round. The first letters are revealed to start, and more letters fill in after time. If a team buzzes in and is correct, that team wins the value of the chain (one word in that round) and starts the round. If a team buzzes in and is wrong, no money is exchanged and the other team begins.

The main game chains are the same as they currently are; the five middle parts are missing. The final letter is not revealed, but if the teams do not get the word with the second to last letter revealed twice, that word is revealed and the game continues. Also, Dylan either says that the player is right or wrong, there is no more stalling so we can fit more game in. Here are the values of a word.

Round One: $100
Round Two: $200
Round Three: $300
Round Four: $400

The first team to $2,500 moves on to the bonus, which is the same as it currently is, but Dylan says if they are right or wrong, and the words come across quicker. If a team gets 5 right, their money is multiplied by two for a total of at least $5,000. If a team gets 7 right, their money is multiplied by four for a total of at least $10,000. Since a team that does not win the bonus has at least $2,500, there is no money for each right answer.  We’d like to have a different bonus round (discussed below), but we know GSN won’t change.
NOTE: If the game ends after round 3, the time where round 4 usually is becomes replaced with a small talk segment, a-la “2 Minute Drill”.

Your Suggestions:
James D:
1- Returning champions — why GSN is deathly afraid of returning champs for its shows is beyond me. But having returning champs would increase the likelihood of viewers returning to said show night after night. And who knows? You may have team that could go 6-7 shows.

2- “Sweep bonus” — if a team manages to fill all the words in a chain (currently, 5-for-5), said team gets a $500 bonus.

TheKid965:
Other than that quibble, it’s all about the execution as far as why I haven’t been too terribly impressed with the current CR. It needs a new host, a more colorful set (sad to say, the Millionaire look just doesn’t work… not that I’m suggesting a return to the old-school style of set, mind you, because I’m not, but they *can* do better than this), and if they’re still hand-picking their audience members, they need to cut that garbage out.

Doug Morris:
1- Get a new host. (Though if CR:WTF’s been renewed, Dylan’s probably been asked to return.)

2- Get a new contestant coordinator. (Some people on CR:WTF just show they don’t know how to play the game.)

3- Bonus game: The “building questions one word at a time”, sadly, has run its course. Alex, I like your suggestion that sort of borrows the endgame from the Canadian-based revival. Spot the team the top word in the chain, the first letter of each of the remaining six words and an account of $10,000. For each letter a team member needs, it costs them $1000. Upon the chain’s completion, the team keeps the remainder.

Nick Todor:
How to improve Chain Reaction: Get rid of it, and bring back IGAS.

Marc412: Chains should be more than just seven-part “Before and After”s. Make them “could-be-anything” associations like they were in the past.

Steve H.:
1- Lose the “Guys vs. Girls” thing — mix it up a little bit.
2- Go quicker in between words in the final round. It should take no longer than 0.75 - 1 second to get a new word up there once it’s called as right, wrong or pass.
3- Wean Dylan off the cue cards. We need him to actually improv a little bit. He can do better. If he can’t, get someone who can.
4- What is up with that theme music? All by itself, it sounds like something that is played on an elevator and it’s the same 16 notes over and over again in a pattern?

Jeff Metzner:
I think they should accept forms of words, or at least give the player a chance to guess again like Password used to do. However, the big thing that caused me to stop watching was simply that the contestants didn’t seem very smart.

Jhuhn:
The bonus round should be for $10,000 and it should be the format used when Geoff Edwards did Chain Reaction in Montreal.

Jason Lewis:
Now, getting back to the end game… can’t they find something better than using the host’s podium for that??? And the blind-fold is a stupid idea. Have a little area on the side of that million dollar stage and have them sit down like they did in the older version of the game. Also, in addition… have the computer please KEEP up with the contestants in the end game… again, another million dollar piece of machinary and it can’t keep up.

Asja2002: I just did some quick math and it seems to me the most any team can win is roughly $14,000. I would definitely up the stakes, maybe something like this.
1st round-Each word–$100-Speed Chain/$300
2nd Round-Each word-$300-SC/$500
3rd Round-Each word-$500-SC/$1000
Betting round, max bet $1000

Bonus Round, Balance it out Guys!!!
$500 per word/ 10 words in 90 sec.—-$10,000
COME ON GSN, YOU GAVE AWAY MORE ON WHAMMY FER CRYIN OUT LOUD?!?!?!?!?

Adamjk:
I’d make the main game best 3 rounds out of 5, team that completes the chain wins that round. If there’s a tie after 4 rounds, make the last round be one of those speed chains. 1 word, filled in a letter at a time, first team to buzz in and get it wins. No cash in the game, sans speedchains worth a flat $500 per.

Brandon:
Also, can you stick to one camera shot? The constant camera shots are just annoying and unnecessary. A set shot on the three is fine. It’s a game show, not a music video.

So, the general idea: New music. New set. Make the game to a certain goal. Fix the bonus round. Help the host or get rid of him. GSN, you have a good show hiding. Please try to get it out.