Split Second

Great show, fast paced and Monty Hall was fantastic. Learned a lot by just playing along.

ABC was on a roll in the early 70s with game show hits such as Let's Make a Deal, The Newlywed Game and Password. Then in March of 1972, came a new show from Stefan Hatos and Monty Hall titled Split Second. Split Second turned out to be a fast paced hit for ABC with challenging questions and the right host to handle the lightning quick proceedings in Tom Kennedy. It was a very simple game that home viewers could play along with as they saw the answers on the board.

The bonus round had plenty of drama as the winning contestant tried to start one of the five cars. If it started they left with the car. If it didn't, they returned with a better chance of winning the car.

Unfortunately, the 80s revival, hosted by Hall only lasted one season. It suffered from competition and station clearances. This is a show that should be revived someday. It was a fast pace quiz show with a format that would still work today.

I feel for the above poster, I would have gone for the big Chevy wagon too! I bet it was the one with the fake wood on the sides, the roof rack, and the tailgate that disappeared downward into the car.

I watched this show during my youth while I was on break from school. I remember being very angry when the winning contestant would choose to attempt to start the lousy Vega over the much nicer Caprice! Jeez, at least go for the Chevelle or Monte Carlo!! I did love this show, and I recall that the cars were usually Chevys. I also seem to remember some Pontiacs also. Were they always GM cars? I don't recall any Ford or Chrysler products. They ranged from the economy model to the top of the line. The winner could choose from five cars to attempt to start. I would love to see those now vintage cars sparkling new again.

The host of the show talks too slowly especially during the bonus round. Get a new host! I don't see why they keep him. He takes up too much time during the 60 second bonus round. He takes too long to read the questions and then to answer them He shouldn't be the host of the show. I wish I could enjoy the show but as it is with his slow pronunciation I have to change channel during the bonus round. Some of the bonus round players catch on to this and speak quickly because he is so slow in asking and answering the questions. It would be a better show if they had a different host. I would be able to watch the whole show.

This one was one of my favorites, along with the same era's Password and Jeopardy. Tom Kennedy was excellent as host, and the pace of the show was amazing.

I remember well when the show was canceled. ABC was promoting "It's a brand new day on ABC," as they expanded their soap lineup and removed both Split Second and Password from the schedule. On Split Second's last show, they did the normal opening but ended with "... as Split Second splits!."

My understanding is that ABC erased most of the videotapes of this show. The only one I know of that is still floating around is the actual last show... so unless someone finds the old ones in a vault or something else, Game Show Network won't be showing them.