The Chair was a game show television program that premiered on ABC in the year 2002. It was hosted by John McEnroe and directed by Michael A. Simon. A UK version, also hosted by McEnroe, also ran for one series in 2003.

Before the Show

Contestants on the program underwent extensive medical supervision before they ever made it to the actual game. They were given intelligence tests, had their heart monitored among other diagnostic procedures. If they were declared fit, they would move on to the game.

The Game

Once sitting in the Chair, the contender aimed to increase his or her $5,000 stake to $250,000 by answering seven questions correctly. The catch was that the contestant was monitored by a heart-rate machine that tracked that number throughout the game. The contestant was given a 'redline rate' that was 1.6 (later 1.7) times that person's resting heart rate. For every second that the contender was over the redline rate, money was deducted from the contender's account. That amount was $100 per second for the first two questions, and it went up to $1,000 for the seventh question. In addition to losing that money, contender was ineligible to answer the question in play if he or she was over that redline rate.

As long as the contender had money in the account, and continued to answer questions correctly the game continued. If the money runs out, or a question is answered wrongly, the game ends.

Heartstoppers

At two points during the contender's campaign, a heartstopper event takes place. Typically the event is designed to raise the contender's heart rate (coming face to face with an alligator, a hive of bees, or having the host serve tennis balls over their head.) If the contestant could endure the event for 15 seconds, the event would end. If the contender went over the redline rate, the event would continue until the heartrate was under control.

Stabilize

After answering the $20,000 question correctly (for a potential prize of $35,000), the contender can opt to stabilize. He has that option after every correct answer up through the sixth, as well. Stabilizing meant that the contender would win that money amount if he or she missed a question later on. Unfortunately, that money was not safe if the redline rate was exceeded later.

If a contestant can answer all seven questions correctly and keep his or her heart under control for the entire game, the top prize of $250,000 is awarded.

The Chair lasted for six episodes on ABC in 2001, but not before two people managed to answer the seventh question, winning $224,300 and the maximum $250,000.