Split Second

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.

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

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.

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.

It's been nearly two years since anyone (and only one) posted something about Split Second. I just found this site today, so here goes. I was a contestant on the show. My 'show' was taped in July '74 and aired in Sept. '74. I won the first day but lost the second day. That appearance was a pleasant memory. It all happened very quickly. I saw the show only once (live, at that!) and applied. Passed the preliminary test; was called back for live test at the production offices (on Hollywood Bl.) with two others and passed. Told I was on the eligible contestant list and was called two days later to come to the ABC studio to be in the eligible contestants pool. They actually had two taping sessions, morning and afternoon. I was chosen for the afternoon session. During that time, you had to go through a producers' round, right on the set, to see how you react under actual playing conditions. If you didn't make it through that, you were automatically cut. I was a college student at the time. If I won a car, I would sell it and live off that for one school year. The first day I won. I went for the Chevy station wagon, figuring it would bring me the most money. I turned the key but it didn't start. (The Vega started.) I looked at Tom Kennedy and almost apologetically said 'It didn't start.' During the next show I missed two or three easy questions and let my mind wander. I finished in second place and needed four answers to win. I got one question in the first set and need three more to win. The next set was movie monsters and listed Dracula, THE WOLFMAN, and THE INVISIBLE MAN. We had to name the actor who portrayed them. I correctly named Bela Lugosi as Dracula and then Claude Rains as The Invisible Man (the toughest to identify of the three). With each answer, Kennedy got more and more excited (and louder). On the third, The Wolfman, I remembered there were two Lon Chaneys, Jr. and Sr. I said 'Lon Chaney', paused for a 'split-second' and added 'Senior.' Kennedy took a deep breath, readying to congratulate me, looked at his answer card and said, loudly and almost sorrowfully, 'Wrong answer!' The lady contestant sitting next to me, needing only one answer, rang in and quizzically said 'Lon Chaney Jr.?' Kennedy screamed 'Congratulations! You've won!' My reign ended. After the show, Kennedy and the producer said 'Lon Chaney' alone would have been sufficient. Because I said it, they had to count it as an incorrect answer. I had to wait until the program aired (about a month later) to get my prize(s). I think I won about $800, a weekend for two at some chain hotel, and three pairs of Farrah slacks. I used the weekend-for-two the for a honeymoon in San Francisco the following summer and have long since outgrown those slacks. I still watch Jeopardy, and every time I hear a contestant add something to their answer, I think 'Don't do that!' And, of course, anytime I hear the name Lon Chaney, my mind instantly goes back to the 'split-second' and mentally kick myself. It was considered a real honor to be a contestant on Split Second, as you had to have a certain degree of intelligence, like Jeopardy today. (I tried out for Jeopardy twice since then and, obviously, didn't make it. I'm still very proud to just have been on Split Second. It was a terrific show.