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Officially set to premiere on January 20, 2002, the ABC "extreme" game show The Chair was rushed onto the network's schedule one week early, to trump the thematically similar Fox Network series The Chamber. Unlike other programs of its ilk, the object of the game herein was not to become excited at the prospect of winning fabulous prizes. Each of the eight contestants was seated in a special chair, attached to a heart monitor. If the player remained calm, he or she was permitted to keep the winnings accrued from the question-and-answer sessions. But if the player's heart began pounding with trepidation or euphoria, his or her winnings were diminished, and possibly eliminated altogether depending upon the pulse rate. Hosting The Chair was tennis great John McEnroe, as nasty and vituperative as ever!