Excerpt: The Big Winner

“Risk It?” Episode Number 4621, scheduled to be shown on Monday, March 8 in television markets all over the United States and Canada, as well as to the men and women stationed overseas for military services, began taping promptly at 12 Noon. After all the preliminaries were out of the way; after doing the local promotional pieces; after all the practice, it was finally time for me to play the game.

Andy Marshall, who had worn a plaid shirt and jeans during practice, stepped out to accept his applause in a navy blue blazer, gray slacks, a white shirt and a red-and-gold striped tie. He looked relaxed and confident as he acknowledged the audience.

“Welcome to ‘Risk It?’!” he said. “Now you’ll notice that our good friend, Martin Runcible, is not here today. Martin’s under the weather, but don’t worry, he’ll be back soon. In the meantime, you’re stuck watching me.” The self-depricating humor drew some laughs and a smattering of applause. “But you don’t tune in to watch me, you tune in to watch great contestants like these. If you’ll do the honors, please, Joshua.”

“My pleasure, Andy,” announcer Joshua Herndon replied. Since I was at the third buzzer – the one closest to the audience, I was introduced first. A red light came on atop a video camera on the opposite side of the stage. When I looked into it, I smiled.

“He’s a newspaper editor who enjoys reading, writing and video games! From Saint Francis, South Carolina, here’s Terrence Atkinson!” The audience applauded for me, the red light clicked off the camera, and I clicked off the smile.