WoF Retro Recap: May 7, 2009

EPISODE #5049: WHEEL AROUND THE WORLD

$1K Toss-Up: LIVING THING

T A _ _ A _ _ _ N
D _ _ _ _

Ernie solves TASMANIAN DEVIL. For the third night in a row, the interviews go from left to right…

Ernie Hesterly: bus driver, substitute teacher and minister of music at a baptist church from Sherwood, AR

Katie Nichols: inside sales worker for a surf company from Newport Beach, CA

Lindsay Smith: aesthetician who bought her first house from Bakersfield, CA

$2K Toss-Up: RHYME TIME

_ _ _ D Y
F _ _ D D Y

Ernie’s two for two w/ READY FREDDY.

FEATURED TRIP: sponsored by the movie “Angels & Demons”, one to Rome worth $7K

Round 1: PHRASE

It’s all Ernie this round…

_ ‘ M / _ _ / T H E
E D _ E / _ _ / M _
_ E _ T

…he says “I’M ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT” for $2,650 — PR. We see footage of the Italian version of this show (“La Ruota de la Fortuna”).

Jackpot Round: SAME NAME

Katie leads off w/ three $500 R’s and an S for the Rome trip. After buying five E’s, her next spin lands her on the MDW and she picks it up w/ the N’s. Following her purchases of A and I…

E A S _ E R / &
E N E R _ I _ E R
_ _ N N _

…she solves EASTER & ENERGIZER BUNNY for $7,750 cash and trip — PR #2.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $5,500

Ernie: $5,650/Katie: $7,750 cash & trip MDW/Lindsay: SPINNING NEXT

Mystery Round: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? (PRIZE PUZZLE)

In the middle of the round, Lindsay lands on the Mystery Wedge next to the invisible MDW and puts up an M. She declines a $2,700 gamble (good move; that’s the BANKRUPT one). But she BANKRUPTs anyway on the very next spin to lose $3,700. Ernie secondly spins his way to a $600 S, two P’s for another $700, a pair of T’s for another grand, an E, an H for the TIGER GPS gift tag, an two O’s to clean out the vowels, but he BANKRUPTS on the next spin to forfeit $2,800 cash and GPS. Afterwards…

S I P P I N G / A
M A R G A R I T A
O N / T H E
_ A _ _ O N _

Katie will be SIPPING A MARGARITA ON THE BALCONY at the Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay in MAZATLAN worth $5,539.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (Lindsay, Ernie)

Ernie: $5,650/Katie: $13,289 cash & trips MDW/Lindsay: GOOSEEGG ALERT

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$3K Toss-Up: QUOTATION

T _ / _ _ / _ _
_ O _ / _ _ / _ E

Ernie sweeps the Tossups w/ the classic Shakespeare quote “TO BE OR NOT TO BE” for a new total of $8,650.

Round 4: LANDMARK

Ernie gets his second BANKRUPT of the night to lose $1,550. Katie says the first dud all night long with R. After her buys of I and O, Lindsay says M for mistake. Ernie then picks the twin G’s for another $1,200 and a $400 L…

S T O N _ _ _ N G _
I N / _ N G L A N D

Ernie solves STONEHENGE IN ENGLAND for $1,600 and a new total of $10,250.

DUDS: R (Katie), M (Lindsay)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Ernie

Ernie: $10,250/Katie: $13,289 cash & trips MDW/Lindsay: NOTHING

Speed-Up: IN THE KITCHEN

Consonants are worth the $1,300 minimum. Ernie could still beat Katie…

B R _ _ D B _ S _ _ T

…but he ended up solving BREADBASKET for only the Final Spin amount.

SOLE DUD: N (Ernie)

FINAL SCORES
Ernie: $11,550/Katie: $13,289 cash & trips MDW/Lindsay: $1K GOOSEEGG

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $25,839
BANKRUPT TRASH: $8,050 cash & TIGER GPS

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MILLION DOLLAR BONUS ROUND #11

Katie lands on the M of AMERICA’S (and possibly MILLIONAIRE).

Category: OCCUPATION
This person makes judgment calls on baseball plays…

_ _ _ – L E _ _ _ E
_ _ _ _ R E

Most of CPMA are up there…

_ _ _ – L E A _ _ E
_ M P _ R E

This BIG-LEAGUE UMPIRE will be declaring her SAFE and she’s won…

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…$40K for a final total of $53,289 cash and trips.

MILLION DOLLAR ENVELOPE LOCATION: the ‘

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: May 6, 2009

EPISODE #5048: WHEEL AROUND THE WORLD

$1K Toss-Up: THING

W _ R L D
A T L _ _

David solves WORLD ATLAS. Once again, we’re going down the line in the interviewing…

David Anderson: HS teacher from Aiea, HI (orig. from Pittsburgh)

Molly Maring: Boise State student studying social work from Eagle, ID

Torsha White: marketing rep and life helper from Memphis

$2K Toss-Up: IN THE KITCHEN

C _ _ K _ E
_ _ _

Torsha is wrong w/ COOKIE CUP.

C _ _ K _ E
_ _ R

David’s two for two w/ COOKIE JAR.

FEATURED TRIP: to Bethel’s Beach Cottage in New Zealand w/ Air Pacific Airfare worth $10,327

Round 1: PHRASE

David begins w/ two R’s for the WC. Later, he buys a bad vowel in A. Molly finds a $2,500 N. After some work, however, she goofs w/ the P, possibly costing her $4,700. Afterwards, Torsha picks up both the Free SPIN and the NZ trip w/ W and L, respectively. The full board…

S T R I K E
W H I L E / T H E
I R O N / I S / H O T

She says “STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT” for $10,627 in cash and trip. Speaking of NZ, we see how it’s done there.

DUDS: A (David), P (Molly)

Jackpot Round: SONG LYRICS (PRIZE PUZZLE)

In the middle of the round, Molly uncovers two W’s while on Jackpot, but can’t solve for an $8,400 pot. And after a lot of work, she hits LaT to likely kiss at least $7,350 goodbye. Torsha next fills in  a $500 V, five E’s, a $500 L, a U buy, but she hits LaTs and uses her Free Spin. Next up are two P’s for another $7K and a $900 C before she tries to solve w/ all of this…

I / W A N T / T O
W A _ E / U P / I N
A / C I T _ / T H A T
N E V E R / S L E E P S

She’s right w/ “I WANT TO WAKE UP IN A CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS” (from Frank Sinatra’s “New York New York”) for $8,400 and a trip NYC at the Roosevelt Hotel with tickets to see “Alfred Hitchcock’s The 19 Steps” worth $5,743; that round was worth $14,143 to her.

LaTs: 2 (both ladies)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $13,800

David: $3K WC/Molly: ZIP/Torsha: $24,770 cash & trips

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Mystery Round: FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

Torsha immediately cashes in $7K w/ two T’s. It’s all her this round…

T I N / _ A N
S _ A R E _ R O _ / &
T H E / _ O _ A R _ L _
L I O N

…she IDs the “Wizard of Oz” characters TIN MAN, SCARECROW & THE COWARDLY LION for $14,600 — PR.

David: $3K WC/Molly: ZILCH/Torsha: $39,370 cash & trips

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$3K Toss-Up: FOOD AND DRINK

_ U M B O
S _ _ _ _ P

David eats up some JUMBO SHRIMP for the Tossup sweep.

Speed-Up: SHOW BIZ

Consonants are worth $1,600 apiece. You might see one of these people at a circus…

T _ _ H T R _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ R

Molly finally breaks through w/ TIGHTROPE WALKER for $3,200.

DUDS: S (David), N (Molly)

FINAL SCORES
David: $6K/Molly: $3,200/Torsha: $39,370 cash & trips

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $48,570
NO BANKRUPTS

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$100K Bonus Round

The dominant Torsha lands on the N of SPIN.

Category: THINGS
This five-word puzzle starts out as…

_ / _ _ N _
_ N _ / _ / N _ _

DCMA is useful, because we now have…

A / _ _ N _
A N D / A / N _ D

With A WINK AND A NOD, she wins $40K and leaves w/ $79,370 cash and trips!

MY EP. RATING: 9

WoF Retro Recap: May 5, 2009

EPISODE #5047: WHEEL AROUND THE WORLD

$1K Toss-Up: PHRASE

N _ W / O R
_ _ V E R

It’s NOW OR NEVER for one of these three players to win big, but Jacquelyn’s on the board first. Who are they, might you ask?

Jacquelyn Brubaker: restaurant server/bartender and certified counselor from Oxford, MS

Rich Johnson: business owner and father of two boys from Lake Arrowhead, CA

Ashley Carbonatto: corporate recruiter for a health club who’s married from Kenmore, WA

$2K Toss-Up: FICTIONAL CHARACTER

_ M _ _ I N A _ Y
_ _ I _ N _

Ashley solves IMAGINARY FRIEND.

FEATURED TRIP: to Paris from Go Ahead Tours worth $8,598
Tues./Thurs. Gift Tag: TIGER GPS

Round 1: FUN AND GAMES (PRIZE PUZZLE)

In the middle of the round, Jacquelyn picks up the Paris trip w/ three R’s, then she chooses two S’s for a grand, three O’s and three N’s for the Free SPIN + $900. After finishing off the vowels…

S U R _ I N _ / O N
T H E N O R T H
S H O R E

…she banks $1,150 and the Paris trip plus the chance to be SURFING ON THE NORTH SHORE at the Turtle Bay Resort in OAHU worth $5,945 for a total of $15,693 cash and trips that round! Going into the first break, we see clips of “La Roue de la Fortune” in France!

SOLE DUD: A (Ashley)

Jackpot Round: BEFORE AND AFTER

In the middle of the round, Jacquelyn gets $1K worth of H’s while on Jackpot…

_ _ _ / A R E / _ H E
S _ N S H _ N E / _ _ / _ _
L _ _ E
_ R E S E R _ _ R

Stevie Wonder would not sing a song titled “YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE PRESERVER”, but she’s right for $12,250 (includes a $7,300 pot; just the fourth such win this season) — PR.

Jacquelyn: $28,943 cash & trips FS/Rich: NIL/Ashley: $2K

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Mystery Round: SHOW BIZ

Rich finally gets his shot. He does some work before BANKRUPTING away $1,900. Second, Ashley picks up the Tiger GPS gift tag w/ three N’s, but then LaTs out. Third, Jacquelyn picks up the WC w/ three W’s…

A _ A _ E _ _
A W A R _ / W I N N E R
_ A T E / W I N S L E T

…and solves ACADEMY AWARD WINNER KATE WINSLET for the house minimum when she could’ve gone for the D’s.

SOLE LaT: Ashley
SOLE BANKRUPT: Rich

Jacquelyn: $29,943 cash & trips FS WC/Rich: NADA/Ashley: $2K

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$3K Toss-Up: LIVING THING

_ P O T T _ D
L _ _ _ _ _ _

Ashley solves SPOTTED LEOPARD to move to $5K.

Round 4: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

She loses control right away w/ the T. Second, Jacquelyn finds a $400 R but nothing w/ an L call, so she uses the FS. Later, she faces this…

R _ A _ _ N G / A
C O _ _ A S S

She’s READING A COMPASS, leading her to another $3,500 and $33,443 overall.

DUDS: T (Ashley), L (Jacquelyn)

Jacquelyn: $33,443 cash & trips WC/Rich: NADA/Ashley: $5K

Round 5: ON THE MAP

After the N’s get filled in by Ashley, it’s speed-up mode…

N _ _
_ _ _ _ _ N _

…w/ a $1,300 Final Spin. Her next call is a D…

N _ _
_ _ _ _ _ N D

…she gets NEW ZEALAND for $2,200.

DUDS (both before speed-up): T (Jac), S (Rich)

FINAL SCORES
Jacquelyn: $33,443 cash & trips WC/Rich: $1K GOOSEEGG/Ashley: $7,200

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $41,643
Rich’s BANKRUPT TRASH: $1,900

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$100K Bonus Round

The dominant Jacquelyn lands on the **.

Category: THING
Nearly half of this one-word puzzle has been filled in already…

_ E _ _ _ L E

CPHO and G give her…

_ E _ H O L E

She easily unlocks the KEYHOLE for another $25K, and leaves w/ $58,443 cash and trips!

MY EP. RATING: 8 (orig. a 9)

WoF Retro Recap: May 4, 2009

EPISODE #5046: WHEEL AROUND THE WORLD

$1K Toss-Up: PLACE

_ / _ I _ _ A N T
L A _ D

Tom could be off to A DISTANT LAND after winning his first grand. Our first players of the week are…

Tom Clyde: sales rep from Palm Bay, FL

Jenny Rojek: married lady to an Air Force guy named Ben and loves to do community theater from Vandenberg AFB, California (originally from Phoenix)

Yvette Polson: resource analyst married for four years from New Baltimore, MI

$2K Toss-Up: FOOD AND DRINK

C R E A _ / _ _ D
_ U _ A _

This time, Tom has nothing.

C R E A M / A N D
_ U _ A _

Jenny solves CREAM AND SUGAR.

FEATURED TRIP: to Malaysia w/ a Sony Reader Digital Book worth $9,400
Mon./Wed./Fri. Gift Tag: luggagepoint.com

Round 1: PROPER NAME

Jenny does a little work before hitting LaT to leave $3,700 sitting there. Second, Yvette finds three R’s for $1,650, but nothing from her I purchase. Third, Tom picks up the Free SPIN + $300 w/ the S, then he says two L’s for another $1,200 and an $800 G before we see…

T H E / H A R L E _
G L _ _ E T R _ T T E R S

He IDs THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS for $2,300. We see footage of the Malaysian version of this show titled “Roda Impian”.

SOLE DUD: I (Yvette)
SOLE LaT: Jenny

Jackpot Round: FUN AND GAMES (PRIZE PUZZLE)

A couple letters in, Yvette BANKRUPTs on the MDW’s left side to lose $1,600. Later, Tom gets the luggagepoint.com gift tag w/ two G’s. Next up are a $500 K, an A buy, a $300 R, but he BANKRUPTs normally to lose $5,300 cash and luggage, prompting him to use the FS…but then loses his turn w/ the C. Jenny gets the same fate w/ an M call.Yvette then gets up there a $900 W and a D for the Malaysia/Sony package…

T A K I N G
W I N D S _ R _ I N G
L E S S O N S

She solves this puzzle for $10,300 cash and package plus the chance to be TAKING WINDSURFING LESSONS at the Almond Smugglers Cove in ST. LUCIA worth $6,800; she’s on the board w/ $17,100 cash and prizes.

DUDS: C (Tom), M (Jenny)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Yvette, Tom)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,450

Jenny: $2K/Yvette: $17,100 cash & prizes/Tom: $3,300

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Mystery Round: BEFORE AND AFTER

Tom gets things going w/ two T’s for $900, but then R for roadblock while on the WC. Second, Jenny hits the same BANKRUPT of the MDW that Yvette got in the last round. Third, Yvette locates an S while on the Mystery Wedge next to LaT and obviously goes for it…but she’s BANKRUPTED for the second time this evening. Tom next picks two L’s for $900, two A’s, but he and Jenny dud out w/ B and M, respectively. Yvette tries again with an $800 H and E purchase, but then W for worthless. Tom follows suit for a $400 C, an O buy…

C _ T _
H A L L
& / O A T E S

…but he BOMBS OUT thinking the very last consonant is a D — seriously, sir?! -__- Jenny then says a $400 Y…

C _ T Y
H A L L
& / O A T E S

…and solves CITY HALL & OATES for the house minimum.

DUDS: R (Tom), B (Tom), M (Jenny), W (Yvette), D (Tom)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (both ladies)

Jenny: $3K/Yvette: $17,100 cash & prizes/Tom: $3,300

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$3K Toss-Up: AROUND THE HOUSE

M _ _ A Z _ _ E
_ A C _

Jenny doubles her money w/ MAGAZINE RACK.

Speed-Up: THINGS

Consonants are worth the $1,300 minimum to start the week. Hopefully you know your geographical terms…

L _ T _ T _ D _
& / L _ N G _ T _ D _

Tom solves LATITUDE & LONGITUDE for $3,900.

DUDS: S (Jenny), R (Tom), H (Jenny), P (Yvette)

FINAL SCORES
Jenny: $6K/Yvette: $17,100 cash & prizes/Tom: $7,200

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $30,300
BANKRUPT TRASH (minus MW $): $6,900 cash & luggage

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$100K Bonus Round

The vehicle at stake this week is an all-new 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. Yvette lands on the N in SPIN.

Category: PHRASE
Not much to start this one off…

_ _ L _
_ _ _

BDMA are all DUDS, so game over for her. If she had pulled off a miraculous solve for $25K, you might have yelled “HOLY COW(!)”.

MY RATING: 6