Original subtitles

- Last time on "99 to Beat"...

- Let's freaking go!

- Gianna's cup finally came up empty.

Oh, my God!

[all cheering]

Cara-Maria flipped out of the competition.

- You were amazing. - Come on, baby.

- And the Wagners lost two of their own.

- It's too much pressure.

- 15 players head into the semifinals.

- Oh, my God.

- And one of these people with springs on their head

is gonna walk away with a million dollars.

- Yeah.

- Come on!

♪

[festive music]

[cheers and applause]

- Wow.

♪

- All right, players, welcome to a very special

holiday edition of "99 to Beat."

Ken will be cooking a turkey very, very soon.

So thoughtful. - Gobble, gobble, yo.

- Not only is today our holiday special,

but it's also the semifinal!

[cheers and applause]

- We started with 100 players,

and now we are down to 15.

And I can't think of a better holiday gift

than making it into the final six

and winning that $1 million.

[cheers and applause]

Just remember, you don't have to be the first.

- First.

- You don't have to be... both: The best.

- Just whatever you do...

all: Don't finish last!

[cheers and applause]

- Come on.

Now through this. - OK.

Zoink.

- Good job.

- This money would mean a lot.

The ranch my family and I live on had a fire.

And it would be really nice to give my family

some financial security.

- I'm in top 15.

And I'm this much closer to a million dollars.

[feedback screeching]

[dramatic music]

- Players, this is a team game.

Using a hair dryer, you must move a ping-pong ball

through an obstacle course.

Each player will be responsible

for one of the five stages of the course.

At the end of each stage, you must safely land

your ping-pong ball into a bucket.

The last team to complete the course will all be eliminated.

- Going from 15 to 10 in just a few minutes.

- Come on.

That's just too many.

- Team captains have been selected at random.

The captain of the Red Team, David A.

[cheers and applause]

The captain of the Yellow Team, Danni.

- Ooh.

- Wow. - OK.

- Danni.

- And the captain of the Orange Team, Jared.

[cheers and applause]

- Wow.

- [sighs]

God, I trust you, whatever is meant to happen.

- David A, choose a player to join your team.

- I am going with Tommy.

- Tommy, who is peaking at the right time.

- Miranda.

- Yeah!

- Good call.

- Ronald.

Ronald is, like, old.

So he's like, wise, OK?

So I definitely wanted him.

- Ciara.

- Pastor Peter. - Wow.

- Jennifer.

- Come on over, Dakota.

- Thanks, David. - OK.

- Good call. - They have a good team.

- This is the team to beat.

- Preston. - Preston.

- Good call.

- Leo.

- Kara.

- Kara is good. Solid.

- I like the Kara pick.

- Leandra.

- Only two Wagners remain.

- The young'uns. - The young'uns.

Brother and sister are on the same team.

- Carlene.

- What happened, Danni?

I can't be on your team?

- Will it be Team David A, Team Danni,

or a Team Jared going home?

- You bring it all the way down until the ball is

right there, right above the lip.

- This game brings us into top 10.

We all want to win, but top 10 is big.

- We are going to drop it out of this bucket.

Don't panic.

- Everybody has their certain strengths,

which each of these challenges are made for.

And I'm confident in the team that I picked.

- I think you should do the rings.

- I could do that. - Because you were

used to that. - I could do that.

- There is so much at stake right now.

We're ready to hair blow dry away the competition.

- Yeah!

[buzzer blares] - And we are off.

Must transfer a ping-pong ball on top of a hair dryer

into a bucket at the end of each stage.

Here's Dakota for Team David A...

- You got this, Dakota. Take it home.

- Peter for Team Danni... - Good, Peter. Good.

- Ronald for Team Jared.

- Take a deep breath. Don't even look nowhere else.

- OK.

- This is the toughest of all the team games so far.

- That was good. - There you go.

There you go, Ronald. There we go, Ronald.

- Come on! - Ronald got it in.

- Whoa, Ronald got it. - OK.

- Angle.

- A little more.

- Focus.

- Yes! - Yes, Dakota!

- Team Danni... - Good, Peter. Good.

- They still haven't finished the first hurdle yet.

- Oh! - Close.

- This game is clearly a marathon, not a sprint.

- Carlene going over the hurdle here

with nice foliage.

- This is all-natural foliage.

- [laughs]

- I may or may not be telling the truth.

- Lower, baby.

Lower. Lower.

- Oh, my God, Carlene got it.

Kara on team David A is also attempting the second stage.

- Whoa. - She got it!

Kara got it!

Tommy's going next.

Third leg.

Poor Team Danni, they're not even out of the gate yet.

- I don't know. They could still catch up.

- I'm very aware that both teams

are now on their third section of obstacle.

We haven't completed our first yet.

- Tommy got it! - What?

Tommy gets it in. - Whoa!

- Let's go, Ciara. - You're confident.

You're able. You're confident. You're able.

- Almost. Keep going.

- Peter's struggling, Ken.

Not a fan of these wireless hair dryers.

- I am a little concerned.

- Nice, Peter, just like that.

- No need to push the panic button yet.

[dramatic music]

- Yes!

- Peter got it in! - Peter finally gets it in.

- Hallelujah!

♪

- Yes!

- Come on!

- Oh, my God, Jared got it!

- He got it.

Oh, my gosh.

- Ciara is tackling the fourth stage

for Team David A.

- She's so perfect.

And I'm not just talking about her back muscles.

She just whizzed through that.

- Just whizzed through that, just a natural.

Power Ranger, mother--

- Yes! - Yes!

- All down to David A...

- She's so good. - For the final cup.

- David, you got this. - Look at me.

You got it.

- Everyone else is behind.

All we need is David to bring it home.

- Was it wise to leave David A for the last leg of this?

- I don't see why it wouldn't be.

He's been a very solid competitor.

- David, don't be timid.

- Stick your tongue out and trust it.

- Go slow, Leo. Stabilize.

- Leo is catching up right now in the fourth leg.

- Come on, Leo.

♪

- Yes! Yes!

- Oh, my God, Leo got it. Leo got it.

- Whoa! - Leo got it.

Oh, my God, they're on the last leg.

- Whoa!

- Oh, my God, there's Jennifer.

Here's Preston on the second stage for Team Danni.

- Preston got it.

- Preston got it on the first try.

That's incredible.

Leandra is up next.

- Praise God.

We keep fighting, and we're back in it.

- You got it.

- You got it, Leandra.

This is you. You've got this.

- They're making up time.

They're making up time.

- See, I don't know if David A's team knows this.

- David's having a really hard time.

He cannot get that ball through the hoop,

and people are catching up.

- If Leandra gets this, they will be virtually tied.

- Yeah, you're right.

You're right, you're right, you're right.

- Be cool and drop it in.

[dramatic music]

- Got it in. Yes.

- Come on! - Leandra did it.

- Wow.

- David, under.

OK.

Don't be scared to move.

- I put the ball back on there,

and it falls off again, so it is hard.

- David hasn't gotten it through once.

- Come on, Danni.

You got it.

- Yes!

- Danni got it.

Danni got it.

- It is a three-way race.

Final leg--Jennifer, Miranda, and David A.

- Get on your feet, 'cause you have to stay mobile.

- He's got to calm down, but he's too overwhelmed.

And that's when he does poorly.

David A is a player

that works better with confidence,

not with criticism.

- It's a game. It's fun.

- Oh, Miranda did a hell of a transfer.

- Oh, my God.

- Come on, Miranda.

- What?

Oh, my God!

- She's free.

- Oh, my God, Jennifer's making it.

- [trilling]

- I'm at the very end.

The bucket's right there.

I tell myself, come on.

[heartbeat thumping]

[cheers and applause]

- Team Jared advances!

Jared, Jennifer, Leo, Carlene, and Ronald.

- Wow.

- Everyone's powerless in the back.

Look at everyone just sitting,

almost with a sense of futility.

- You got it, David!

- I hate to doubt David, but I'm scared.

We're watching David do the same thing

over and over again,

and nothing's working.

- Team David A or Team Danni are

on the verge of elimination.

- Time's on your side, Miranda.

- Yes, David! - David.

David got it.

- He got it through one.

- You're doing great now!

I believe in you!

Believe in yourself!

- Whoever goes home will be devastated.

[tense music]

It just takes one drop into the cup.

[gasps]

- It's down to just one drop into the cup--

Team David A or Team Danni.

One of these teams will be going home.

- Time's on your side, Miranda.

- Whoever goes home will be devastated.

[dramatic music]

♪

It just takes one drop into the cup.

[gasps]

- Oh, she's right there, Ken.

- Yeah!

- Oh, my God!

Team Miranda advances-- Preston, Leandra, Peter,

and Danni advances.

Tommy, David A, Kara, Ciara,

and Dakota have been eliminated.

- It's OK.

- Yeah! Come on!

- This is so painful.

We have just lost five exceptional players.

- It's OK. - I feel so bad.

- No.

- I'm a big team player,

and I feel horrible.

[somber music]

♪

I feel so bad.

- Don't feel bad.

- All the plans I had for my son and me

to live more comfortably are gone.

- Don't beat yourself up.

- I just don't want to--

I don't want to walk over there.

- Yeah.

Give yourself your time.

- I do just feel deeply saddened.

My opportunity and my chance for a million dollars

to help me and my family has been taken away from me

in probably the most brutal way possible.

♪

- We fought as a team, and it's on the team.

It's not on any one person, so I don't feel that way.

- My biggest scare in this competition

was having something happen out of my control,

and now someone else here is going to take the money

that should have been mine.

It's not a good feeling.

Yeah.

Thank you.

♪

[sighs]

[dramatic music]

♪

- Team David A, I'm heartbroken to have to say,

Ciara, Dakota, David A,

Kara, and Tommy, you finished last,

and sadly, your million-dollar dream is over.

- I did feel like I was really close.

But they're all great people.

If I'm not going to be a millionaire,

a good person is going to be a millionaire.

I love you so much.

- You guys got it.

- And with five players eliminated,

that prize rises by another $50,000

to $900,000.

[cheers and applause]

[festive music]

- Players, you must tie a chain of rubber bands

together to create a bungee cord

from the starting ring to your belt.

Once long enough, you must race to grab your Santa hat

without breaking the cord.

The last player wearing a Santa hat

will be eliminated.

♪

- How does this work?

There we go.

- I can feel the tension now, right?

- Wait.

Rubber bans? Tension?

- A million dollars, for anyone,

is life-changing money.

Personally, I would buy a house,

stabilize my life a little bit more,

and then give back to those in need.

- I think it's going to be at least 45 rubber bands.

There's maybe about 50 feet

between the loop and the pedestal.

- I did not think this was going to be this far away.

- Ugh.

- I believe there's a real reason why Jared has

made it to the top 10.

I heard he's studying to be

a criminal lawyer. - Love it.

- I didn't learn to tie my shoes until I think I was ten,

but I can tie a knot pretty well, I think.

All you can do is just try your best and go for it.

[buzzer blares]

- Here we go.

- And we are off.

They have to build a DIY bungee cord...

- Yes.

- Out of rubber bands so they can reach out

and grab the Santa hat.

Sounds easy?

It's not.

Because if those rubber bands snap,

as they say in the medical profession...

- What do they say? - Ouch!

- [laughs]

- I think Leo's got a distinct advantage, you know,

dealing with rope.

He's a rancher.

- And Jared can--

oh, shoot. - Oh, no.

- What is the technique? Can I see?

- I don't know what kind of technique he's doing there.

- I'm kind of like, double folding

these rubber bands, which is giving it

more of a stronger tension.

- Jared is using the wrong technique.

He needs to change his tactics.

- What do you mean by that?

Should they be longer instead of--

- Yes. He's got it way too braided.

- Got it.

- I think Jared is ready to go.

And so is Carlene.

[loud snap]

- Oh! - Oh!

- Oh, my gosh. - Oh, my God.

- Jared's snapped. - See, that's what I worry

about Jared, because it's too taut.

Get it, Carlene. Get it, get it.

- Get it, get it.

- Oh, shoot!

Leandra is trying it out.

Oh, God.

Don't--don't snap your back.

I'm like--oh, God.

♪

Are you kidding me?

She's got it.

- She's got it. Crazy.

- Peter's got it. - Peter's got it.

- Yo, what up, Leandra?

- Oh, my gosh.

- Leo rappelling himself down like he's from a building.

I love how Leo is doing this.

Oh, it's not long enough.

- My line is getting just a little too tight,

and the last thing I want it to do is snap.

- Let's see if Ronald's is long enough.

♪

Ronald got his.

- Uh-oh.

- Oh, come on, Jennifer.

Look at Leo.

Come on. You got it.

You got it.

Oh, God, Jennifer's got through.

She joins Leandra, Peter, Ronald, and Leo.

Preston going for it.

He's got length.

Don't--don't be cocky. Got it, got it.

Oh, OK. Go ahead, be cocky.

Four players left--

Carlene, Jared, Miranda, and Danni.

- You got this.

- It's gonna snap again.

It's not long enough.

- It's gonna pop.

Jared, you need more rubber bands.

- I'm listening to the other players

in the back like Ronald, and I'm just like,

hmm, what could possibly, like, be wrong in the way

that I did the rubber bands?

It's not making me able to move as far as I need to.

- I don't know if you can undo that.

- Carlene, go slow at the end, OK?

- Carlene.

Carlene's got it.

- Three left, Ken--

Jared, Miranda, Danni.

- Danni, Danni, Danni.

[loud snap]

both: Oh! Oh!

- She should have used her reach more.

- I back it up.

I realize I'm feeling tension.

- Careful, Miranda.

- And I'm hearing the snap.

[loud snap]

As I'm hearing the snap, I'm like, OK,

I have time to go slowly, slowly, slowly,

getting to the point where I just have to

reach for the end goal.

I'm not letting it snap on me.

- Miranda, close. Miranda, close.

- Turn around. Turn around.

- Careful, careful, careful, careful.

She got it.

- So it's Danni and Jared, Ken.

- Final two.

One of them will finish last.

- She's gonna have it here.

She has enough.

- Come on, Danni.

[loud snap] - Ow.

That hurts.

both: Oh!

- You got it, Danni. Hustle back.

- Come on, Danni. You're all right.

- Can't think about the pain.

I have got to get back

and fix this rubber band again.

- She has to re-tie.

This gives Jared an amazing opportunity.

- You got this, Jared.

- Danni's nearly ready to go again.

She just needs to reattach to her belt.

- Come on, hurry.

Hurry up, Danni.

♪

- Danni is close right now.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.

- She got it.

- She's got it.

- I love you, Santa. [buzzer blares]

- Danni survives.

Jared is eliminated.

[somber music]

Ebullient spirit.

- You did amazing. You know that.

- An amazing player, and we're gonna miss him.

- My time is over.

It's heartbreaking.

Coming into this, I kind of just felt like

just a little 21-year-old outsider.

So to say that I beat 90 people--

me, a 21-year-old from New Jersey--

I'm over the moon.

♪

[dramatic music]

- Jared, beneath your fun-loving exterior

lies a very thoughtful and competitive spirit,

and we'll miss you.

But you finished in tenth place,

and your million-dollar dream is over.

[cheers and applause]

[together] Jared! Jared! Jared!

- Whoo-hoo!

- [laughs]

♪

- Ahh!

- Jared is the 91st player to be eliminated,

meaning that the prize now stands at $910,000.

[cheers and applause]

[dramatic music]

- Players, you must fill a syringe with water

and extinguish three candles.

The last player to extinguish all three candles

will be eliminated.

- Jennifer plays video games for a living, so hopefully

her aim is gonna be good. - Her aim is good.

- My parents came to America to give me a better life.

And they've provided so much for me and given up everything.

When I win the million dollars,

I'm going to pay it forward to them and make sure

they have the most comfortable and loving life

that I can give them.

- This is Ronald's event.

He is literally a firefighter.

- Oh, that would be very embarrassing to go back

to the fire station if I couldn't put a fire out.

- Leo, as a pentathlete, does riflery.

So he's a sharpshooter.

- Ken, we're going to get wet.

- Oh, wow. I think you're right.

[buzzer blares]

And they are off.

Fill a syringe with water and extinguish three candles,

simple as that.

The last player to extinguish their three candles

will be eliminated.

It's a pretty far distance.

Ooh. [gasps]

- Ronald almost got one out. - He got one out.

Yes. - He did. He got one out.

- Come on, Ronald.

This is exciting.

- Oh, Leo has one out.

- [whispering] Oh, my God.

Sharpshooter Leo.

- [whispering] Preston just got one.

- Preston, only 20 years old.

Probably doesn't even know what a candle looks like.

- He hasn't blown out many on his cake.

You know what I mean?

- Peter has one.

Yes.

Hallelujah.

Preston has two.

We really don't have to whisper.

- I feel like we have to be respectful.

- Yeah. - And it's so soothing.

I feel like I'm at a spa.

Do you have any lavender?

- [laughs]

[dramatic music]

Oh, Miranda got one.

- Miranda's got one.

- Danni's got one.

Carlene has one finally.

- Ronald got the second.

- Yes, Ronald has two.

Danni has two.

Jennifer has got none.

- Leandra got one.

- Oh!

- Carlene got it.

- Yes! - Wow.

- Preston has it.

Preston has it.

Yes.

- Take your time.

Slow down and steady your hands.

You see, you almost got that one.

- You know what's amazing about the fellowship right now?

A million dollars is on the line,

and still the instinct is to help others.

- Danni got 'em all.

- Danni got them all.

- Wow, Danni.

- Amazing.

Awesome.

Six people left.

Jennifer still hasn't got one.

- Oh, man.

- Leo, two to go-- surprising for a rifleman.

- I'm not getting frustrated.

But it's annoying to think that I'm now watching people leave

and I'm still here firing.

- I'm getting nervous now.

- This is for a million dollars

to get ultimately into the final six.

- Oh, my gosh.

- One of them is going home.

♪

both: Ooh!

- So far, only three players

have extinguished all three flames.

So six are still left in play.

both: Peter is through.

- Pop. Pop.

- Pop.

- There you go. Come on.

- Miranda got it.

Final four--Leo, Ronald.

Man, Leo, I am shocked. - Yeah.

- Leandra and Jennifer, who has not extinguished one--

one of them are going home.

- Ronald got it. - Ronald has it. Yes! Yes!

- It was a little bit different than fighting a fire,

but I wasn't eliminated, so hey,

we live to fight another day.

- Final three--

Leo, Leandra, Jennifer.

One of them are going home.

Wait, is Jennifer's--

- No, it's still going.

- One left, Leandra. You're good.

- Help me.

- So close.

- The middle candle has now gone out for Jennifer.

- It was hanging on.

- There you go. Oh, you're on it.

Oh, you're so on it.

- How you doing, Leo?

- There you go.

That was great. And I didn't--

- Hey, Peter, no offense.

But for me personally, you're not a voice of calm.

- OK. - All right.

Not to be mean, sorry.

- No, no, no, it's fine. It's fine.

- That is the gossip I'm into.

- Yeah.

- Wow.

- Yes.

- Yeah, one more.

- One more for Leo. One more for Leandra.

Two more for Jennifer.

[dramatic music]

- Oh, there it is.

- Yes!

You know what I like about Leandra?

She doesn't get enough credit for her tenacity.

She just never gives up.

- All right, let's go, Jennifer.

You got this. Come on.

- Final two-- either Jennifer or Leo.

One is going home.

- Oh. - Ooh, what a shot.

- Whoa. - Here we go.

- Jennifer has extinguished the second candle.

- Here we go--it's the same candle for both of them.

- Both of their hopes rest on this last candle.

- Oh! - Whoa!

- It's so difficult going head-to-head,

because Leo has honestly become

one of my greatest friends here.

- God.

I'm getting emotional right now.

This is so terrifying.

- I know one of us is going home,

but I'm not going to give up.

There's a million dollars on the line.

- Slower and aim.

- Danni, call my shots.

- Yep. Just keep firing it.

- Lean back if you have to. Yeah.

- There you go. - Whoa!

- She got it.

- Jennifer extinguished the third candle.

[buzzer blares] Leo is going home.

- How frustrating.

- Good job.

Good job. - Oh, Leo.

- Leo's dream is over.

- That's tough.

- Oh, my God.

- [crying]

I'm sorry.

- You're good.

It was gonna be one of us.

Come here. Sorry, sorry. [speaking indistinctly]

- And look how supportive Leo is,

and now what he's doing now.

- Aw.

- The closer I got, the more real

I thought that this would be.

A loss never feels good.

But it is easier losing to people I like,

because I'm happy to see them succeed without me.

[dramatic music]

♪

- Leo, your multifaceted talent

and dignified competitive spirit

really made an impact on us all.

But you finished in ninth place, and sadly,

your million-dollar dream is over.

- We love you, Leo!

[together] Leo! Leo! Leo! Leo!

- Whoo!

- Thank you, Leo!

- Whoo! Come on, Leo!

Giddyap, cowboy!

- Leo is the 92nd player to be eliminated,

meaning that the prize now stands at $920,000.

[cheers and applause]

- Players, in this game, you will first play

as two teams of four.

Each team must attempt to balance their seesaw

for three seconds.

The losing team will split up

and play against each other, two versus two.

The pair who fails this round will play against each other

in a head-to-head final round.

The last player to balance will be eliminated.

♪

- I think this game is gonna take a lot of communication,

a lot of group effort,

and just small, subtle movements.

You're gonna definitely have to come together as a team.

- For this game, teams are randomly selected

by picking a gold or red ball from a bucket.

- Gold Team is Miranda, Jennifer, Ronald, and Leandra.

Preston, Peter, Carlene, and Danni are on Team Red.

- You just anchor yourself somewhere,

and then you know balance really well,

so you just shift your weight. - Where?

Where should I be? - In the middle.

I'm confident in my ability to gather my group

and get the job done.

- I'm gonna stay in the middle with you,

because they're the exact same size pretty much.

- I love Jennifer right now.

She's a gamer.

She loves figuring things out.

- I think my balance is OK,

but it's also not about my balance.

It's about our team's balance too.

Ultimately, this comes down to communication

and teamwork once again.

- Here we go--round 1

of Balanced Seesaw.

- Team Gold, Ronald, Leandra, Miranda, and Jennifer,

and Team Red, Peter, Danni, Carlene, and Preston,

have to balance the weight on the seesaw for three seconds.

Whoa. - Wow, Danni.

- Whoa. One, two--nope, almost.

- Oh, wait, Ken. Ah!

- No.

I don't know why Jennifer is off to the side.

I think Jennifer needs to be behind Ronald at all times.

- Step out. Peter, in.

- Now step in. There you go. Good boy. Well done.

Sorry, I didn't mean that in a patronizing--

- Oh, guys, don't move. - OK.

Keep going, keep going. - No, that's--

- Stop right there. Come back, come back.

It's going to be on Jen.

Let--Jen's the only one to move.

- There's too many voices. - I agree.

- Ready? - Yep. Yep.

- Good.

[buzzer blares] - Ooh, don't move.

- Ooh. - OK. Hold on.

You're going too fast. You're going too fast.

- This is perfect. - Too fast. Too fast.

- It's perfect.

- Oh, my gosh, they need to listen.

- OK.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Ooh, ooh, stop.

- Ohh!

- Team Red versus Team Gold--

they have to keep it on the red for at least three seconds.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

- One of them will be going home.

- Ooh, don't move. - Ooh.

- OK, hold on. You're going too fast.

You're going too fast.

- Oh, my gosh, they need to listen.

- OK.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Ooh, ooh, stop.

- Ohh.

Ooh.

- Back out.

- That was so close.

- Keep doing it. Keep doing it.

I feel like I'm birthing a child.

- Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.

Lean back, lean back, lean back.

Stay right there. [buzzer blares]

Oh, lean.

We almost had it, y'all. Come on.

- Yeah, yeah. - Don't give up.

Don't give up. - I love Ronald right now.

"We almost had it, y'all. Don't give up."

I love that.

- I have two sisters, a mom.

My dad passed early.

So I've been surrounded by women for a long time.

So I'm used to working with women, dealing with women,

so I think my team is perfect.

- Slow. Slow.

- There's way too much weight on that side.

- Wow, this is so much harder than I expected.

Both teams are having problems.

- We got it. We got it.

- Stop moving. Stop moving.

You don't know when to move left.

You don't know when to move right.

You don't know when to shift your weight.

It's giving us a little bit of trouble right now.

- Stop.

Stop.

Oh, dang it.

- Go that way just a little more.

- Go a little bit to the end, Miranda.

[dramatic music]

[bell dings] - They got it.

- Oh, my God. - They got it!

- We got it? - Good job, guys.

- Yeah! Let's go!

- So the remaining players,

Peter, Danni, Carlene, and Preston,

will face each other in pairs.

- I am shocked.

- Holy moly.

- Gold Team got the gold medal.

- Whoo!

- Whoo, whoo!

- Hey, the ladies made it look easy.

- Round 2, Ken.

- Carlene and Danni are Team Gold.

Peter and Preston are Team Red.

- Feet planted, and we're just shifting weight.

- You should be behind me and shift left to the right,

and I get it centered.

- It has to be either or.

How are we gonna-- how are we gonna balance it?

- You don't have to be on either side.

- Oh, OK. So let's--let's see.

Let's just see.

- All right. - Yeah, let's just see.

- All right.

Ladies versus the guys, let's go.

[buzzer blares]

[dramatic music]

- Team Gold, Carlene and Danni.

Team Red, Peter and Preston.

- You stay--you stay put.

- Now you're going to have to move your weight

back and forth, OK?

- Now, one thing we learned, you've got to

talk to each other calmly.

- All right. No, you stay put. - OK. All right.

- Preston and Peter, you got to stand together in the middle.

Act like you're surfing.

- You guys are too close together.

Let Danni do the walking.

- I'm hearing a lot of contradicting advice.

- I agree.

- Come close or you guys are too close together.

- Keep surfing, baby.

There you go. Now lift it up.

- I would do a Leo and just say, kindly zip it.

- I need you to be relaxed.

Ugh.

- It's very challenging, even though

we do have a similar weight.

Slow is the name of the game.

- You're doing great.

- OK. - You're doing just fine.

I'm thinking I can be cool, calm,

keep playing my game.

Because mistakes get made.

The end hasn't been written yet.

- I'm going to lean. You stay. - OK.

- I got it. No, don't. You don't move.

As we're strategizing, Carlene isn't understanding

how it works.

- I predict a meltdown.

- I'm just growing, like, incredibly frustrated,

not even getting close.

♪

[buzzer blares]

- Look at the frustration on Danni's face.

- Don't give up, Danni. Let's go. Let's go.

- She's moving too much.

She's moving too much.

- Stay in your stance.

Stay nice and tight.

[bell dings] - Nice!

- Red pulls through. Peter and Preston move on.

It is now Carlene and Danni going head-to-head.

- I'm feeling a lot of pressure only because

how heavy this balance beam is.

So doing it on my own, I'm a little scared.

- We are right there.

I mean, we're like, balancing a million dollars right now.

[buzzer blares]

- And they are off.

Danni, Carlene-- one of them goes home.

- They were both so visibly frustrated

when they lost the last round.

- Lean on the bar for the weight.

There you go. You feel that?

Keep going, Carlene. You got it.

- If it moves slow, you can stop it slow.

- Small movements.

- The hardest thing right now is just

getting the motion in and getting the rhythm

of the balance beam.

- I do think Danni is moving a little bit too much.

- That's all right. - Ah.

- Don't give up, baby. Let's go.

- Carlene. - [gasps]

[buzzer blares] Oh, my God.

Carlene is coming ever so close...

- Yeah, she is. - To eliminating Danni.

- Danni, try a wider stance.

- I think Danni's panicking.

- This seesaw is so heavy.

And I don't weigh a lot, so it's just

starting to feel impossible.

I feel like things are slipping away.

- I'm just surprised.

I thought she would just easily have this.

- Whoa. - Oof.

- Don't walk.

It's about your arms and your legs.

- Oh, Danni, Danni, Danni.

- Danni, Carlene-- one of them goes home.

- Ooh, Danni, Danni, Danni.

- That was two seconds, easily.

The atmosphere is tense.

- When it starts to move, just get low.

- Come on, Carlene.

One, two, three. [bell dings]

She got it, she got it, she got it.

- She's got it.

[buzzer blares] Oh, my God.

Danni is eliminated.

Carlene moves on to the next round.

- Good job, Carlene.

- You're lying.

- That was close. - Aw, man.

Poor Danni.

She had such a great attitude this entire competition.

She was a sweet mom.

She was a great supporter of everyone.

- It's a bummer.

I just couldn't find that right balance,

but it was nice to do something for myself,

get back in the game again, and be competitive.

It's been so much fun.

My thighs were shaking.

[tense music]

♪

- Danni, you're one of the most complete players--

so tough, yet so classy, faced everything with a smile.

But you finish in eighth place,

and your million-dollar dream is over.

[cheers and applause]

- Love you. - Well done.

Well done. - Well done.

- I love you guys. Have fun.

[cheers and applause]

- Danni, the survivor!

- Danni was the 93rd player to be eliminated,

so the prize now stands at $930,000.

[cheers and applause]

[light festive music]

- Players, you must stack ten boxes

on top of each other in order.

You can only add a box to the bottom of the stack.

The last player to complete their tower of boxes

will be eliminated.

- Everybody who completes this task is in the final.

- I'm glad that my brother and I are

still here to encourage each other

and to represent our family.

But at the end of the day, we all want

to take home that million dollars,

and so I'm going to fight for that.

- Look at everyone studying the boxes.

- Ah.

The pressure is on.

But, you know, with pressure comes diamonds.

- One more game to go.

I make it through this game, I'm in the finals.

Oh, that's super close.

- One of the tricks is going to be for me, I think,

is thinking about keeping my spine parallel.

But I've also almost been eliminated a number of times,

so I'm not sure I'm the person to listen to.

[buzzer blares]

- And they are off.

- What's your strategy?

- Get it right, take your time, and keep your cool.

- Preston! - Preston is just sick.

Oh, my gosh.

He's like, the Grinch that stole all those presents

and put them in his sleigh.

How are they balancing like that?

- Doesn't matter if you're in the lead.

- Just don't finish last. - Oh, my gosh.

Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. - And the likelihood

of finishing last and doing this too fast--

you'll have to start all over again.

Oh, no.

Shoot.

- Ronald's trying to do it, Ken.

[gasps] Oh, no. Oh, no.

- It's gonna collapse. - No, it's not.

No, it's not. He's juggling.

- The only thing that's going through my mind is,

don't let it fall.

I'm five seconds from the finals.

♪

- Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

- Are you kidding me? - Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. - He has surprised me.

- Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

♪

- Whoa.

Ronald did it. - Wow.

- Incredible.

Ronald is the first finalist of "99 to Beat."

- Ah!

- Crushing. - Look at Peter.

He's trying now.

- Is Peter going to join Ronald

in the final?

- I didn't get into ministry for the money.

So winning the million-dollar prize

would be a huge blessing to my family,

my church, my community.

[tense music]

♪

- Peter is joining Ronald in the final.

♪

OK, Preston right now is on the verge.

But look at number one. - Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh.

- See? It's done. - Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh.

Oh, gosh. - It's done, so--see?

- Look at Leandra.

She has nine stacked, Ken.

- Leandra, look at the top, and stay smooth.

- If Leandra gets it, it proves it's not about size.

It's about keeping her cool.

- No rush.

No rush, Leandra.

- It's gonna fall. - It's not.

She's gonna get it.

- A little bit more to the right.

A little bit more. A little bit more.

That's it.

- Whoa!

- Leandra has made it to the finals.

- Get it, girl.

- Leandra goes through

and joins Ronald and Peter in the finals.

- Preston, look at me.

Breathe.

- But can her brother Preston

make it two Wagners in the final?

- Look at me, Preston.

Pause.

Like you're at the gym, like this.

- Leandra is on the side shouting encouragement.

- OK, pause. Look at me.

Stabilize it, Preston.

- It is a little risky, because I can be put off.

- You got lots of time.

You're panicking.

- It's about to fall.

God, it was so close.

Carlene is aiming to be the fourth finalist

of "99 to Beat."

- Oh. - Oh.

♪

- She may have this, Ken.

[gasps] You got it.

You got it.

You're there.

[gasps] Walk away.

- Carlene is the fourth finalist of "99 to Beat"

joining Ronald, Peter, and Leandra.

- The final three, Ken.

- Jennifer, Preston, and Miranda.

- Preston, make sure you look up the whole time.

This is just balance.

You know it.

- This is Preston's third attempt.

Can Preston be the fifth finalist of "99 to Beat"?

- He's got it.

- Don't be cocky. - Tilt it.

Tilt it--other way! - No!

- There you go. - He's got it.

- Can Preston be the fifth finalist of "99 to Beat"?

- Don't be cocky. - You have it.

Tilt it. Tilt it.

- No!

- Oh, no, another collapse.

- I should have had it, but then I was cocky.

I got to recover and just get right back up.

- Take a deep breath, Jennifer.

You got time.

If you don't feel it, set it back down.

- Aw. I love that.

Ronald, he's just sitting there trying to coach her up.

- I can feel my legs tensing up,

and I'm struggling right now.

- Hold up, hold up, Jen. Stop. Stop. Stop.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

- You got this, Jennifer.

- Walk away.

- Jennifer is the fifth... - Thank you!

- Finalist of "99 to Beat"!

- Ronald! Oh!

I'm so grateful Ronald chose to help me through it.

He's like a father figure to me.

- It is down between Preston and Miranda.

One of them is going home.

- Calm down.

Miranda, take a deep breath. Nice and slow.

- Preston, you got it. Let's go.

- Both of them in the exact same place--

nine boxes.

Got to get it on the tenth one.

One of them is going to the finals,

and one of them is going home.

- Smooth. Smooth, Miranda.

- It is a race to the finish.

- Miranda is catching up. You got to lift it now.

- Keep going, Miranda. - Lift it now!

- You got to speed up.

- Preston, let's go.

You're right there.

Preston, let go now.

- Walk away, Miranda. Walk away.

- Let go now, Preston! - Walk away.

[tense music]

♪

- And Miranda has made it to the final by seconds.

Preston is eliminated.

Miranda is through.

Six finalists-- Ronald, Peter, Miranda,

Carlene, Leandra, and Jennifer.

- That was tough.

- Preston narrowly eliminated.

- I could have been a little quicker.

That probably would have saved me.

Miranda did phenomenal.

She's a fighter.

You deserve it.

- You did great.

- I'm feeling sad.

Yeah, it was really tough to watch.

Part of me also feels a little bit guilty, because I'm like,

I stopped him so many times.

Could have that been that extra second?

Either way, I'll try to take it home

for our family to represent.

[dramatic music]

♪

- Preston, our youngest player,

wise beyond your years,

you've done your family proud.

But you finished in seventh place,

and your million-dollar dream is over.

- We love you, Preston! [cheers and applause]

[uplifting music]

- Well done. Well done.

- Preston. - Love you, Preston.

[cheers and applause]

♪

- Preston is the 94th player to be eliminated,

meaning that the prize now stands at $940,000.

[cheers and applause] - Wow.

- Let's go!

[dramatic music]

♪

- And then there were six.

[cheers and applause]

- Wild. - Wild!

- Next time we see you guys, one of you

is going to be walking away with a million dollars.

- Let's go! - Whoo!

- You have defeated 94 other players

through a combination of focus, sheer will to survive,

and the ability to keep your cool when it mattered the most.

And above all, you remembered the golden rule.

all: Don't finish last!

- We'll see you next time for the finale of "99 to Beat."

both: Happy holidays!

[cheers and applause]

- Next time on "99 to Beat"...

- Finale!

- Let's go!

- Six players have

reached the final.

- How's your stress level?

- High.

Confetti flies.

- What else do you

want from me?

- Frustration boils.

- What am I supposed to do?

- I'm watching Leandra

lose her mind.

- And the tensions rise.

- No. - Oh, no.

The balls are falling off.

Who can hold their nerve

when everything is on the line?

Oh, my goodness! - Good job.

One of these players is going to be a millionaire.

♪