$1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime - season 1 endgame

[JeopardyandWheelFan]

How old was Christine at that time?

[RolandTaylorJr]

I saw them win a million dollars twice in the short time that this show was on in my area, this episode and the time that the couple won with the word "CUCUMBER".

[djdavemick]

WTG Cheryl & Bill! That's 4 of the 9 $1M wins I've thus far watched on YT--If I could find the episode where both yell out "MUNICH!", that would be exciting.

[jumbojokerjesse]

even as a 5 year old and enjoying the show i could never get hit with the stinger.

[Whammy51]

That bonus round was too easy. I could beat that time.

[MrGameshowfan]

1:03 someone was coughing in the audience

[nicka727]

In California's state capital Sacramento, this aired on KCRA 3 (NBC) I believe.

[smjefferson1]

Why didn't they have the fireworks in this episode?? It looks like water was shooting from this million dollar sign.

[PatrioticPirate]

This is the first actual $1,000,000 game show on TV, right? Not including that ToC from The Joker's Wild with Jack Barry with Rob Griffin winning, right?

[BigLupeRakimDee2]

@PatrioticPirate: Well, it's debatable... the 1979 pilot of Bullseye featured a Bonus Island top prize of $1,000,000 (attainable by going ten spins without getting a lightning bolt), but Barry & Enright decided to change it because they didn't think that the general masses were ready for a million-dollar game show just yet.

It's difficult to argue, but I would say that this WAS the first non-pilot and non-ToC game show to offer a $1,000,000 top prize, preceding WWTBaM, Greed, DoND, WL, etc.

[MPL029]

youd think these 2 were about to go in front of a firing squad the way they clutch onto each other...

[SaleGuy]

This show was a complete fraud! Players are still not getting paid!

[mtiller2006]

@SaleGuy I can guarantee you that Cheryl Gilmore can tell you the exact opposite

[gamshwfan]

@mtiller2006 He must be thinking of 80's version of Lingo.

If my math is correct, Cheryl recieves the final $40,000 this year or do Bill & Cheryl each recieve $20,000. All I know is that the annuity runs out this year.

[gamshwfan]

@SaleGuy You must be thinking of the 80's version of Lingo.

[GSNSmashFan3]

@SaleGuy

No, that's 1987 Lingo.

[graceunderfire10]

Well she WAS the smart one! Lady has a brain like a 'puter. Sheesh, Providence with only 1 letter on the board? You kill me girl!

[petabread333]

mom picking up the slack

[mtiller2006]

Mom? Picking up the slack? What's this about?

[petabread333]

She's gets every single one, the dude does nothing

[Crooky0]

Damn, Providence with 1 letter in for the win...without that they were screwed.

[jricci9]

Anyone ever wonder, why did they have to be isolated?

[canbac21]

Because it was for big money and they didn't want the audience to shout out answers. The host's microphone was the only one connected to the booth, so that's all that they could hear.

[nodqisme222]

"Roaring twenties, that's things associated with the roaring twenties." Description FAIL.

[1977UconnFan]

the first thing she said to her husband when they got home..."gee,thanx for the help"

[Michael0808Milo]

weird... He said the first thing he was going to buy if he won the million was a truck. Then after he won he was asked again, and said he was guna buy a house... I'm just saying... that's kinda odd.

[BriSchwa82]

He never got to custom build his own truck.

[Disneydanny]

3:23 looks like she's fainting there

[mtiller2006]

She really felt like she was going to, she actually almost did! After interviewing her on BlogTalkRadio, the show was edited so her family could get to the studio to tape the ending

[islanders94]

See, if only all kids were like that little girl

[Valedc03ls]

Do you have the actual .mp3 of this 1st season theme itself? I have been looking all over for this particular theme song.

[jgr2045]

If this theme music sounds familiar, it was also used by Metrosports in their coverage of Notre Dame football replays (as well as ND basketball) in the early 1980's.

[LeothePatrioticLion]

For such a short lived game, I'm glad to see that nine couples won the $1 million.

[Visonu]

Wow! With just ONE second remaining!

[khidak1]

I got two words to say about this couple:

WORLD CHAMPIONS!!

WORLD CHAMPIONS!!

It's amazing how one word can turn couples into millionares and ultimately world champions

WORLD CHAMPIONS!

[RetroBoyisBack]

This basically followed "Scrabble's" format of revealing letters, but was still fun.

Aired here in L.A. on KHJ 9 (now KCAL) during the summer of 1987. I believe around 8:30 or 9:30, before a newscast (I have one ep on tape somehwere).

Remember the creepy STINGER sound effect, and the underwater "bloogagagaga" noise for selecting letters to the board.

[nextbarker]

Although, winning $500,000 is nothing to sneeze at, even for 1987.

[floridapanthersroar]

Oh, yay, Bismarck! Nearest of Winnipeg I'm going on a spring/summer/fall trip! Winnipeg's my hometown! And Los Angeles, too!

DDD Musical = Guys and Dolls

DDD Song = Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat

[floridapanthersroar]

Oh, yay, Bismarck! Closest to Winnipeg! I'm going on a spring/summer/fall trip! Winnipeg's my hometown! And Los Angeles, too!

[robert13t]

Yay Bismarck, I'm from North Dakota and they got it befor me.

[floridapanthersroar]

Is this a record-breaking moment?

[Boom12]

Not really, they did give away a million dollars, but it does not count since couples played, not single contestants, so that's why their names are not part of the list of highest winning contestants.

I use to watch this back when I was a kid lol. Of course, I had no idea how much a million was since I was still learning my numbers xD

[hawaiidkw]

I'd like to see this list. I don't think it's fair to exclude couples. Why can't there be separate categories, especially for something as incredibly diverse as game shows?

[ddavenport]

Hard to believe this was 22 years ago, before Regis, Meredith, or even Howie!

[janeyz]

bill is a twit! he's lucky to have such an intelligent wife :D way to go cheryl!

[TVLubber]

Don't call Bill a twit. Besides, both he and Cheryl are equally well.

[Jnelson09Returns]

Boom... boom... boom... boom...

[PGMEagle]

Wasn't this on GSN for a time

[mtiller2006]

I don't think so...

[Dannymac82]

This used to be on KYW 3 at 12:30PM

[gamshwfan]

This was a great moent for these great players. Cheryl & Bill deserveed to win after all of strategic gameplay & triumph over that wicked witch known as Jane Kovilian. They always picked the right catagory for the Million Dollar Round and executed it well. Even though their annuity is stillgoing they deserve every dollar of it. It's natural for someone to faint upon winning; when they water however it's serious. Good thing they were not there at time or that would have been a story forever.

[EDaddy506]

Jane a wicked witch? Tell me how she is a witch? She seems to me a sweet, genuine, & supportive person.

<3 Cheryl

[gamshwfan]

I've spoken to Cheryl on an internet radio program; when we came around to talking about this game she said that Jane Kovilian was being mean to the other couples. She said to the other couples before the tapings "If you think you're gonna win the million dollars you midas well leave cause were gonna win it." Her husband David was a nicer man; Cheryl wanted nothing more than to beat her. BTW; Jane is one of very few to score perfect on the tryout test for the show.

[EDaddy506]

Intresting.  Is there any way I can get a copy or at least listen to this interview?

[gamshwfan]

Yes, there's a link to the interview in the description box for this video. You can also visit the game show temple website and find the interview in the interview section.

[MizBehavin1997]

@EDaddy506

Hi EDaddy506 I would like you to try and watch where Mr.Lang is breaking to a commercial break at the end of the second round (before Jane and mom face off in the third round and yes Cheryl is my mom). There is a statement by Mr. Lang where he says stay tuned to see if Bill & Cheryl Gilmore will continue on their road to a million dollars and watch Jane Kavillions' lips. She mouths the word *NO*. Just goes to show there was a bit of um unsportmanship.

[EDaddy506]

@MizBehavin1997 Ugh, I didn't even notice she did that. That Jane girl was a crafty woman indeed! I'm so glad your mom was able to show her who's boss!

[lemonsters2008]

When in 1986?

[edwardsdman7]

I use to watch this 22 years ago in syndicated TV,before Who's wants to be a Millionaire,before Greed, even before Deal or no deal

[nicka727]

When WJBK channel 2 in Detroit had it, season one was seen at 7:30 pm and in the summer of 1986, it moved to 9:00 am and early mornings during season 2 at 6am

[GameShowMike]

Cheryl and Bill were the subject of a Trivial Pursuit question in the TV edition. The question was: "What game show saw the team of Cheryl and Bill Gilmore win the grand prize of $1,000,000?" The answer was "The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime".

[canbac21]

Do you mean from the Wink Martindale version from the 90s, or is this a "spoiler", so-to-speak, from Trivial Pursuit: America Plays?

[gshowguy]

I think he's talking about the board game.

[discoweasel1977]

I was born and raised in the state of Florida, and the capital is Tallahassee.

Too bad Tallahassee was not one of those six state capitals from the show.

[AdamJ617]

I remember watching season one on WBZ (then an NBC station). In season, it moved to independent station WSBK TV-38.

[NewEngland90]

I thought WBZ was a CBS affiliate.

[AdamJ617]

Well, it has been CBS since 1/2/1995. In the very beginning of WBZ, it was an NBC station. WBZ in Boston, was owned by Westinghouse, along with KYW (Philadelphia), KPIX in SF, KDKA in Pittsburgh, and WJZ in Baltimore. All of them today are still CBS O&Os.

Hey Boston, wouldn't you just love to see NBC buy WBZ from CBS and make WBZ an NBC O&O? Wouldn't that be fun?

[gsnman]

I remember watching this show on WFMY-TV channel 2 in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, NC.

[alexiapriss18]

wow, i remember this game show. i used to watch it when i was 4. it was shown here at a local channel in the philippines where i get to see every night.

[HIPPABELLE]

I was only 4 or 5 when this show was on the air (1986-87), but I remember watching it every night. I really wish GSN or some other station would air reruns of this!

[srf1969]

I remembered watching this show in 1986. I even saw this couple won $1,000,000 on TV. I've seen a few people won $1,000,000 on TV on this show.

[pernelldh]

It would great to have that game show and maybe an updated version would air on GSN (Game Show Network).

[JRaygor]

Who cares about a million dollars? She got to play with ROLF! ;-)

[rmenga4]

Look at my favorite part of this video at 3:21 I Hear A Siren What's That?

[rmenga4]

oh my i love the siren,bells and horns and confetti

[HomeoftheGoodGuys]

I remember that game show since I was a kid, it was usually shown on WOR-TV (channel 9) back in 1986. This was long before "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" came along where one of the contestant says "Is that your final answer?"

The indoor fireworks where the $1,000,000 sign spray does looked a lot like the WWE, but anyway, thanks for finding this.

[HomeoftheGoodGuys]

There was no ending credits on that show, but it does have the Lorimar/Telepictures logo at the end which was the L/T tower, just like "Thundercats" did. It started with the "Line of Doom" theme and then the "Roller Coaster" musical variation came afterwards. That was cool!

[JakePlatt61186]

That's really funny. Because I live near Allentown. :)

[JakePlatt61186]

Is the guy from Allentown, PA?!?!

[mtiller2006]

No, Bill was a truck driver in California according to Cheryl's interview. They were both in California, and Bill wanted to go to Allentown, PA and design his own truck there. I wonder if he did that or not

[heine71]

Another fact about $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime: It was based on an unsold late 1970's game show pilot called "The Letter Machine".

[mtiller2006]

1979, to be exact

[PTH4Fun]

What's the gameplay for The Letter Madchine?

[mtiller2006]

I don't really know. I never read it anywhere

[JepMasta]

Michael, I heard the original theme in the clear on the opening, where did you get it?

keep up the AWESOME work!

Brian~

[KPCarter2000]

9 couples one the Million. 5 from seasonn 1 and 4 from season 2 when they added the prizes ($100,000 in prizes including 2 cars and $900,000 in cash)

[lukebartolo]

can I see the second million dollar win from season 2.

[mtiller2006]

There is already a season 2 win, and it should appear in the Related Videos box

[heine71]

It ran 1 1/2 season and 1 full season 1986-1987, it was to return in 1986-1987 as a shopping game show format but never came back thanks to the demise of the shop at home TV craze or something like that.

[johnnyafairbanks]

@heine71 I read that at one point, they even beat "Wheel of Fortune" in the ratings! That pretty much scared Pat, Vanna, and Merv.

[heine71]

@heine71 I meant 1987-1988 for the $1MCOAL shopping game show format!

[lemonsters2008]

Audience: (cheers & applause)

Confetti: Fall Shawn

Host: Oh, the millionaire!!

1936: Run, Sheep, Run

1956: Guys and Dolls

[essentialeugene]

I enjoyed the pyrotechnic effects going off the $1,000,000 sign.

[patrickballoonman]

Love that gold confetti and those cool firework effects!

[khidak1]

It's time to party in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Gilmores are World Champions!!

[lobstertexas]

funny how that was so long ago and yet the contestants are still getting paid from that, $40k a year until 2011!

[hawaiidkw]

A 25-year payout doesn't strike me as particularly unusual, especially for a then-unprecedented game show prize.

It actually benefits both parties; the studio's burdened is lessened over time by inflation, and the couple is guaranteed many years of prosperous living instead of blowing the mil on some foolishness (all too easy for people who aren't used to having tons of cash).

[lobstertexas]

yeah, but unfortunately $40k/year before taxes isn't all that life-changing.. but you're right, that $1m would have been blown a long time ago if they got it in one-lump..

[dmoppins1980]

If memory serves me correct, I think that this is the first game show that offered $1,000,000. All cash by the way.

The pilot of Bullseye, hosted by the great Jim Lange, offered a million bucks, but they scaled it down.

[mtiller2006]

That's right, I recall that. I even have the pilot of Bullseye

[crinos43]

I hate the isolation booth, BUT I lvoe what happens when a couple wins.

[mtiller2006]

Specifically, the isolation booth was so that the contestants don't get distracted by the applause when they get words right. This helps them concentrate more

[Gameshowboy]

Was this the first game show that they offered a million dollars?

[cgsguy]

Why yes it is.

[CraigFoye80]

I always love this game show "The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime"!