WoF Recap: September 23, 2013

EPISODE #5856: PALAZZO WEEK (LAS VEGAS)

$1K Tossup: PHRASE

_ _ R / _ _ _ _ L
_ _ _ _ _ _ / O N _ Y

Jennifer buzzes in too soon and blanks out.

F _ R / _ O T E L
_ _ E S _ S / O N _ Y

Sarah says that this casino is FOR HOTEL GUESTS ONLY. Let’s meet our first three guests of the week…

Sarah Daraphondeth: solar industry worker promoting clean/renewable energy and an old furniture repurposer from Buena Park, CA

Jennifer Shirley: real estate agent and wedding singer married to Ryan w/ two daughters from Birmingham, AL

Devin Klein: full-time dad and echocardiography student who has one daughter from Henderson, NV

$2K Tossup: PLACE

S U M _ _ R
C _ _ _

Sarah doesn’t know it this time.

S U M _ _ R
C A M _

Turnabout is fair play — Jennifer solves SUMMER CAMP (I missolved w/ SUMMER HOME before the C came up).

FEATURED TRIP: Ramon’s Village Resort in Belize worth $6K
Mon./Wed./Fri. Gift Tag: Fab

Round 1: HEADLINE

First, Jennifer takes a $400 T but then LOSES A TURN. Second, Devin strikes out w/ S. Third, Sarah calls for N ($800) and D ($700) singles, three $700 L’s, but then H for halt. As we return to Jennifer, she uncovers two $450 M’s, four A’s, two W’s for the Fab gift tag, a $700 K, two I’s and three E’s, and three $700 B’s. We have…

W I L L I A M / A N D
K A T E / W E L _ _ M E
B A B _ / B _ _

…she solves “WILLIAM AND KATE WELCOME BABY BOY” for $4,950 cash and GT (this should have been $5,350 if you’re doing the math in your head and watching her spins).

(AIRED) DUDS: S (Devin), H (Sarah)
(AIRED) LaT: Jennifer

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Devin immediately lands on $3,500, but the S fails him again. Second, Sarah takes a $900 T but then the BANKRUPT near top dollar. Third, Jennifer gets roadblocked by the R. Devin next picks off an N while on the orange $800 and a C via the MW next to said dollar amount. He goes for it…$$$. Following that successful gamble are E and I singles, a $700 G, two A’s, three L’s for WC, and a $500 Y. Board…

_ _ _ L I N G
A L L E Y
C A T

He catches this BOWLING ALLEY CAT for $12,750.

DUDS: S (Devin), R (Jennifer)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Sarah

Jennifer: $6,950 cash and GT/Devin: $12,750 WC/Sarah: $1K

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PP/Express Round: FUN & GAMES

Sarah wastes a spin w/ the other normal BANKRUPT. Second, Jennifer says an $800 T, four $900 H’s, two E’s and three I’s, and two G’s for the 1/2 CAR near $900 (a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic is in play this week). Once she cleans out the rest of the vowels (A and O singles), she picks up the other 1/2 CAR w/ two N’s…but then says a MAJOR DUD of M after a lot of work to likely throw away at least $20K cash and Sonic (including the $5,400 in her bank) — hoo boy. Devin doesn’t do any better w/ the R. Sarah lights up $1,500 worth of S’s…

_ I S H I N G
O N / T H E
H I G H / S E A S

…and she’ll be FISHING ON THE HIGH SEAS during her stay at the Barcelo LOS CABOS Palace Deluxe courtesy of Hotwire; including that Sony HandyCam, she’s won $8,398 in that round alone.

DUDS: M (Jennifer), R (Devin)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Sarah (her 2nd of the night)

(NOTE: AutoNation’s providing the Sonic for this week.)

Jennifer: $6,950 cash and GT/Devin: $12,750 WC/Sarah: $9,398 cash and prizes

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$3K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

_ I _ _ A T _ R E
C O _ _ T _ _ _ _

Jennifer guesses MINIATURE COCKTAIL…she forgot to add the S at the end.

S I _ _ A T U R E
C O _ K T _ _ L _

Well, she and I still would’ve been wrong had she added that S — Sarah drinks up these SIGNATURE COCKTAILS to be $352 off Devin’s lead.

Speed-Up: THING

Consonants are worth $1,700 each.

Sarah: 2 S’s
Jennifer: 3 N’s
Devin: T (he tried to call before Jennifer’s turn was up)
Sarah: 2 A’s

_ A N _ _ _ / A _ T
_ _ / _ _ N _ N _ S S

Sarah’s RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS wins her another $3,400 and the game.

FINAL SCORES
Jennifer: $6,950 cash and GT/Devin: $12,750/Sarah: $15,798 cash and prizes

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $35,498
(AIRED) BANKRUPT TRASH: $900

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$100K Bonus Round

Who’s in Sarah’s group? Mother Kay, cousin Phoenix, boyfriend Greg, and cousin Steve. Here comes the S envelope of SPIN. That might contain more money and/or this week’s car — a BMW X3 from BMW of Henderson.

Category: THING
Some teachers and professors use this in their lectures…

_ _ E R _ E _ _
_ R _ _ E _ T _ R

CMPO gives her some more help…

O _ E R _ E _ _
P R O _ E C T O R

OVERLY PROTECTOR is sooo wrong…but she then comes up w/ OVERHEAD PROJECTOR for the $40K! Her final total is $55,798 cash and prizes.

$5K+ SPIN ID: CM7179187

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: October 23, 2009

EPISODE #5100: WELCOME ABOARD

$1K Toss-Up: PLACE

_ _ O W ‘ S
N _ S T

Nicole gets out of the CROW’S NEST for the first grand. The end-of-week panel…

Nicole Lambeth: Penn State Univ. student and the reigning Mrs. Houston who has two children and three stepchildren from Willis, TX

Lee Gilbert: bartender/skiier from Breckenridge, CO

Terri Jones: advocate for teachers from Memphis

$2K Toss-Up: FUN AND GAMES

A _ R O _ _ C
_ _ _ R C _ S E

Nicole does an AEROBIC EXERCISE to triple her money.

CRUISE ON THE WHEEL: Mexican Riviera from Carnival Cruise Lines worth $5,938 (and this week has celebrated National Cruise Vacation Month)

Jackpot Round: TV TITLE

Nicole gets us going w/ $1,500 worth of T’s, but then says S for sorry while on the Pier 1 Imports gift tag. Lee controls the rest of the round w/ a couple N’s for five grand, buys of I and a couple A’s, and a trio of L’s for $900 more.

L A T E / N _ _ _ T
_ _ T _
_ _ _ _ _ / _ A L L _ N

He solves “LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON” for $5,400.

SOLE DUD: S (Nicole)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,300

Round 2: BEFORE AND AFTER

Lee kicks off this round w/ a couple T’s for $1,600, two H’s while on Free Play for another grand, but he BANKRUPTs away $2,600. Second, Terri then calls up three N’s for $900, four E’s, an $800 G, four I’s, twin M’s for the WC, and two A’s before we look at…

H A _ I N G / T H E
T I M E / _ _ / M _
_ I _ E
I N _ _ _ A N _ E

She says that she’s “HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE INSURANCE” for the house minimum when she could’ve gone for the Y’s and F’s.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Lee

Lee: $5,400/Terri: $1K WC/Nicole: $3K

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Mystery Round: THING (PRIZE PUZZLE)

Terri opens with a $300 S, but the MDW’s left side takes that amount and the WC away. Nicole secondly inserts a $300 T, two R’s while on FP, a couple E’s, and a trio of N’s for the cruise. But she then buys the only dud vowel on the board (O). Lee then fills in a $600 L, a quartet of A’s, a $300 M, an I buy, and a $300 C before we turn to the board…

A M A _ I N _
N A T _ R A L
S C E N E R _

…he wins $700 plus the chance to see some AMAZING NATURAL SCENERY on a $5,080 CANADIAN TOUR courtesy of caravan.com.

SOLE DUD: O (Nicole)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Terri

Lee: $11,180 cash & tour/Terri: $1K/Nicole: $3K

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$3K Toss-Up: PHRASE

S P O I _ E R
A L E _ T

SPOILER ALERT — Nicole has swept the Tossups and doubles her money to $6K.

Round 4: LIVING THING

It’s all Nicole this round: a couple S’s for a grand, four R’s for another $1,200, buys of A and three E’s, and a $900 T.

_ A _ _ / R _ S S E _ _
T E R R _ E R

…she solves JACK RUSSELL TERRIER for $2,600 and $8,600 overall — PR.

Lee: $11,180 cash & tour/Terri: $1K/Nicole: $8,600

Round 5: SHOW BIZ

Lee does a lot of work: triple T’s for $2,400, an $800 S, buys of two A’s and three E’s, twin N’s for an additional $1,600, but then D for dud. Terri next calls two G’s for $600 and the $900 R…

T A _ _ N G
_ E N T E R / S T A G E

…she’s TAKING CENTER STAGE for $1,500 and new subtotal of $2,500.

SOLE DUD: D (Lee)

Lee: $11,180 cash & tour/Terri: $2,500/Nicole: $8,600

Speed-Up: OCCUPATION

It’s a $1,900 FS. First solve attempt…

_ _ _ _ S _ _ T H

Nicole goofs w/ BLACKSMITH, likely costing her $3,800. But she gets her second shot after frontloading the puzzle w/ the L…

L _ _ _ S M _ T H

…she’s right w/ LOCKSMITH for $5,700 and the win.

DUDS: R (Terri), N, D (both by Lee)
SOLE DQ: Nicole’s missolve

FINAL SCORES
Lee: $11,180 cash and tour/Terri: $2,500/Nicole: $14,300

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $27,980
BANKRUPT TRASH (minus WC): $2,900

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$100K Bonus Round

The *** envelope has been taken out.

Category: PHRASE
This one-liner begins as…

R _ _ _ _ _ N _ / _ T

GMPI should do it for her…

R _ _ G _ I N G/ I T

She’s ROUGHING IT enough to win another $25K for a final all-cash total of $39,300.

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: October 22, 2009

EPISODE #5099: WELCOME ABOARD

$1K Toss-Up: THING

J _ L _ Y
R _ _ E R

Katy IDs the famous pirate ship known as the JOLLY ROGER. Thursday’s players…

Katy Stallcup: photography college student who’s married from Cayucos, CA

Sean McInerney: stand-up comedian, UNLV junior studying film and a poker player from Las Vegas

Melody Fox: retirement community worker from North Port, FL

$2K Toss-Up: OCCUPATION

_ N I _ _ _ _ I _ Y
_ R O F _ S S _ _

Sorry, Sean — Melody takes control w/ UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR.

CRUISE ON THE WHEEL: Windstar Mediterranean Cruise worth $10,098

Jackpot Round: EVENT

Melody begins w/ three T’s for $7,500, followed by the buys of two A’s and three I’s, and three N’s for another $7,500! We now have…

_ _ _ _ _ T I N _ / I N
A / T _ I A T _ _ _ N

She isn’t COMPETING IN A TRIATHLON, but adding another $14,500 to her bank — PR!

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $10K

Round 2: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? (PRIZE PUZZLE)

Katy starts this round on the wrong foot w/ the MDW’s left-side BANKRUPT. Secondly, Sean starts his bank w/ $2,250 worth of five N’s, then he says five I’s, a $600 G, an E buy, triple T’s for an additional $2,700, the F for the Lobster Gram gift tag and an A. But after a $500 H…

_ N _ I N _ I N G
A T / T H E
I N F I N I T _ / _ _ _ _

…he says a FATAL DUD in S, so Melody has earned the right to be UNWINDING AT THE INFINITY POOL while at the Hilton Papagayo COSTA RICA Resort & Spa worth $5,300.

SOLE CRITICAL DUD: S (Sean)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Katy

Sean: ZIP/Melody: $21,800 cash & C.R./Katy: $1K

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Mystery Round: BEFORE AND AFTER

It’s all Sean this round: an $800 N, two T’s for another $1,800, an I buy, a $300 P, a trio of A’s, six S’s for an extra $1,800, and six E’s to clean out the vowels.

S _ E E P _ E S S / I N
S E A T T _ E
S E A _ A _ _ S

Don’t expect a movie titled “SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE SEAHAWKS”, but he’s on the board w/ $3,950 — PR #2.

Sean: $3,950/Melody: $21,800 cash & C.R./Katy: $1K

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$3K Toss-Up: RHYME TIME

_ _ K _ N _ / A _ D
_ I K _ _ G

Sean comes up w/ the right words, but he went the opposite route w/ BIKING AND HIKING.

_ _ K _ N _ / A _ D
B I K _ _ G

Melody gets the right order of HIKING AND BIKING to move to $24,800.

Round 4: PHRASE

Two T’s give this lady a $10K start, followed by three A’s, a trio of S’s to add $1,800, the lone I to already clean out the vowels, an $800 N, two G’s for $800 more, but then D for dud, likely costing her $12,900. Katy doesn’t do any better w/ the LaT. Sean next picks off twin R’s for $1,600, the P for another $500…

G R A S P I N G / A T
S T R A _ S

…and he’s GRASPING AT STRAWS for $2,100 a new total of $6,050.

SOLE DUD: D (Melody)
SOLE LaT: Katy

Sean: $6,050/Melody: $24,800 cash & C.R./Katy: $1K

Round 5: SHOW BIZ

Katy gets up there a $500 R, a $300 T, and an E buy before striking out w/ the S. We then go to Speed-Up Mode with this board…

_ _ _ _ _ E _ T _ R _
_ _ _ _

…and the Final Spin is set at $1,300. End result…

_ _ C _ M E N T _ R _
_ _ L M

Melody seals the deal w/ DOCUMENTARY FILM for $3,900!

SOLE DUD BEFORE FINAL SPIN: S (Katy)
SOLE DUD AFTER THE BELL: P (Sean)

FINAL SCORES
Sean: $6,050/Melody: $28,700 cash & C.R./Katy: $1K

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $35,750
NO BANKRUPT TRASH

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$100K Bonus Round

Melody grabs the envelope from the first A of AMERICA’S.

Category: PHRASE
To get her going…

_ _ _ E / _ T
_ / _ _ _ R L

She about to kill it w/ GVWI…

G I V E / I T
_ / W _ I R L

She knows that she had to GIVE IT A WHIRL (this is obviously about the Bonus Wheel), so she’s another $30K winner and departs w/ $58,700 cash and trip.

MY EP. RATING: 8

WoF Retro Recap: October 21, 2009

EPISODE #5098: WELCOME ABOARD

$1K Toss-Up: THING

_ H I P ‘ S
_ A N G P _ _ N K

Adam solves SHIP’S GANGPLANK. Here’s the lowdown on him and the female competition…

Adam Appleton: retail salesman from Virginia Beach

Merissa Fazio: SAHM w/ two kids and two toilet-trained cats from Tucson, AZ

Chae “Chae Hwa” Yoo: marketing/sales worker at a newspaper company from Los Angeles (born in Korea and grew up in the Philippines)

$2K Toss-Up: PROPER NAME

_ Y _ _
S E A _ R _ _ T

Chae Hwa solves the host of “American Idol”, RYAN SEACREST, for first control of the wheel.

CRUISE ON THE WHEEL: Alaskan Cruise from Princess Cruises worth $5,500

Jackpot Round: FUN AND GAMES (PRIZE PUZZLE)

Chae Hwa starts w/ three N’s for the Pier 1 Imports gift tag, an $800 G, an E buy, and an H on Jackpot, followed by two S’s for another $1,800, the buys of three I’s and A’s, a T for $450 more, but then the BANKRUPT on the MDW’s right side to lose $3,800 cash and gift tag. Adam secondly lands on Jackpot and puts up a $500 L…

S _ _ _ A / _ I _ I N G
A _ _ _ N _ / T H E
I S L A N _

…but he doesn’t solve for an $8,150 pot. Next is a trio of D’s worth $7,500…

S _ _ _ A / D I _ I N G
A _ _ _ N D / T H E
I S L A N D

…and he’s won $8K plus the chance to be SCUBA DIVING AROUND THE ISLAND of ST. CROIX; it’s a trip to the Divi Carina Bay worth $6,100.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Chae Hwa
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $10,650

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Round 2: BEFORE AND AFTER

Adam immediately gets the cruise w/ three S’s, then he says five T’s for $1,500, the buys two A’s and two U’s, a $500 J, but he BANKRUPTs on the MDW’s left side to forfeit $7K cash and cruise. Secondly, Merissa BANKRUPTs the old-fashioned way while Chae Hwa LaT out, so we’re coming right back to Adam. He puts up a $500 H, but then gets stopped by the only bad vowel of this puzzle (E). After Merissa LaTs out, Chae Hwa BANKRUPTS on the MDW’s right side again to give back $450. Adam BANKRUPTs normally to give up the other half of his $500. Merissa’s third turn has her picking up the MDW w/ three L’s…

T H A T ‘ S / J U S T
_ L A _ N
S _ L L _
_ U T T _

…and she says “THAT’S JUST PLAIN SILLY” PUTTY for the house minimum.

SOLE DUD: E (Adam)
LaTs: 2 (both ladies)
BANKRUPTS: 4 (Adam 2x, one each by the ladies)

Chae Hwa: $2K/Adam: $15,100 cash & trip/Merissa: $1K MDW

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Mystery Round: PHRASE

Merissa first gets up there a couple T’s for a grand, three S’s while on Free Play for an additional $1,500, a whopping TEN E’s, an $800 R, but then a bad purchase of I. Second, Chad Hwa strikes out w/ N while on the WC. Third, Adam grabs the  MW between FP and LaT after putting up an H…it’s the $10K! But that goes away very quickly to his third BANKRUPT of the episode. Merissa follows suit w/ two $800 P’s and five A’s…

P _ E A S E / _ E A _ E
A / _ E S S A _ E
A _ T E R / T H E
_ E E P

PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AFTER THE BEEP, Merissa — she says the right words for $4,150.

DUDS: I (Merissa), N (Chae Hwa)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Adam

Chae Hwa: $2K/Adam: $15,100 cash & trip/Merissa: $5,150 MDW

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$3K Toss-Up: LIVING THINGS

Y E L L O W
D _ I S I _ S

Adam picks off these YELLOW DAISIES for a new total of $18,100.

Speed-Up: OCCUPATION

It’s a $1,600 FS, so that’s NOT good news for Merissa. Anyway, Adam attempted to solve w/ this setup…

P R _ V _ T E
_ N V E _ T _ _ _ T _ R

…he gets PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR for $8K and the win!

SOLE DUD: L (Chae Hwa)

FINAL SCORES
Chae Hwa: $2K/Adam: $26,100 cash & trip/Merissa: $5,150

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $33,250
SEASON-WORST BANKRUPT TRASH: $21,500 cash & prizes

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$100K Bonus Round

The bonus spin lands on the A in GAME (and for Adam).

Category: THING
At the start…

_ E _ _ T _
_ _ R _

CMGI only gives him…

_ E _ _ T _
M _ R _

He doesn’t know that Marilyn Monroe is known for her BEAUTY MARK, and he loses $30K.

MY EP. RATING: 6 (orig. a 7; too much lost to BANKRUPT)