The Challengers aired at midnight Monday-Friday on WXYZ-TV (ABC affiliate in Detroit). However, twenty years ago today, a "Sneak Preview," edition aired that afternoon, in place of one of the local newscasts. That episode, featured Doak Fairey winning the game, and going on to play a special "Ultimate Challenge," round for $50,000.
From how that played, Doak picked one of two categories shown on the video wall, and had to answer three sub-category questions to win the $50,000. Each correct answer awarded Doak $1,000, and he only answered two of them correctly. Because he didn't win the jackpot, $5,000 was added to it. After a couple of weeks or so, with nobody winning three days in a row, and advancing to the "UC," round, they started adding $1,000 each day to the jackpot, until won!
The very first winner of the "UC," was Lawrence (or Larry at that time) Kaplan, who won $60,000! In 1999, he and Doak Fairey each appeared on WWTBAM, but Doak didn't make through the "Fastest Finger," round.
More thanks to you for a decent show, Ron Greenburg!