WoF Retro Recap: November 28, 2011

As November 2011 comes to a close, we’re kicking off a new week titled “Alpine Adventures”.

EPISODE #5511: ALPINE ADVENTURES

$1K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

_ W I S _
_ H _ C _ L A T E

Donyelle eats some SWISS CHOCOLATE. Let’s see if any of these players will heat things up in a good way…

Donyelle Gorham: Towson University sophomore studying early childhood education, and a member of their Step dancing team from Lanham, MD

Josh Desmond: a man who started an organization called the Delta Analysis Group married to Lindsay for 3 years w/ two kids from Bristow, VA

Gina Melchor: federal agency worker that manages Western public lands married w/ three daughters and a new son-in-law from Santa Fe

$2K Tossup: LIVING THING

_ N O _
L _ O _ _ _ D

Donyelle’s 2 for 2 w/ SNOW LEOPARD.

FEATURED AA: Fairmont Chateau Whistler in British Columbia worth $5,800
Mon./Wed./Fri. Gift Tag: Bedandbreakfast.com

Jackpot Round: SAME NAME (snowman wipe)

She kicks things off w/ an N for the BedandBreakfast.com gift tag w/ an N, two D’s for $600, four R’s to throw in $10K, and three A’s, followed by two P’s for the blue 1/2 KIA, two S’s for the ski trip, two I’s, an E, and a $500 T. Now we have…

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

…unfortunately, she blows the solve w/ SURPRISE AND FRIDAY PARTY to likely throw away her plate along w/ $18,150 cash & prizes. What is a “Friday party” supposed to be, girl? -__- Josh doesn’t do any better w/ the BANKRUPT near TD. Gina then SPINGLES for the $600 B…

S _ R P R I S E / A N D
B R I D A _
P A R T _

…and solves SURPRISE AND BRIDAL PARTY for a $400 bonus.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Josh
SOLE DQ: Donyelle’s blown solve
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,400

Mystery Round: SONG LYRICS

Josh LOSES A TURN right out of the gate. Second, Gina selects two R’s for $700, two S’s for another $600, two A’s and an E, two T’s for another $600, three O’s and two I’s, but then M for mistake. Third, Donyelle wastes a spin w/ the MDW’s left-side BANKRUPT. Josh next puts up a $900 pair of P’s, a $300 Y, and three N’s for another $10,500…

_ A _ _ / _ R O S T
N I P P I N _ / A T
Y O _ R / N O S E

…he solves “JACK FROST NIPPING AT YOUR NOSE” from “The Christmas Song” for $11,700.

SOLE DUD: M (Gina)
SOLE LaT: Josh
SOLE BANKRUPT: Donyelle

Gina: $1K/Donyelle: $3K/Josh: $11,700

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PP Round: PHRASE

Gina gets going w/ a $1K pair of S’s and four T’s to add $3,600, then she buys all the available vowels in one fell swoop (four I’s, two A’s, three I’s, a FP O and two U’s)

I T ‘ S
_ E A U T I _ U _
T _ I S / T I _ E
O _ / _ E A _

…she says “IT’S BEAUTIFUL THIS TIME OF YEAR” for the leftover $3,600 plus a trip to the Mount Cinnamon Resort in GRENADA worth $6,540 — PR.

Gina: $11,140 cash & trip/Donyelle: $3K/Josh: $11,700

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$3K Tossup: TV TITLE

_ _ _ / _ _ . / _ Z
S _ _ _

Josh is off by a letter w/ “THE MR. OZ SHOW”.

_ _ _ / _ _ . / O Z
S _ _ _

Donyelle sweeps the Tossups w/ “THE DR. OZ SHOW”.

Round 4: THING

She leads off w/ a $400 N, two FP A’s, a $5K T, a $2,700 trio of R’s, but then a bad I buy. Josh secondly duds out w/ G. Next for Gina are a $500 H and three E’s before we hear the dinging for Speed-Up Mode…

T H E R _ A _
_ N _ E R _ E A R

…the four leftover consonants are worth $1,300 apiece. She then calls the D…

T H E R _ A _
_ N D E R _ E A R

…and solves THERMAL UNDERWEAR for $1,550 and the win.

DUDS (both before S-U): I (Donyelle), G (Josh)

FINAL SCORES
Gina: $12,690 cash & trip/Donyelle: $6K/Josh: $11,700

GT: $30,390
NO BANKRUPT TRASH THIS GAME!

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$100K Bonus Round

We’ve got a Nissan Xterra 2WD waiting to be won in Bonusland this week. Gina takes the N envelope of SPIN.

Category: THING
Let’s get this five-letter answer started…

_ L _ _ E

GCMO fills in all but one blank…

G L O _ E

…there are only two possibilities for this one — GLOVE or the right one of GLOBE. In her case, she says the former right away and doesn’t say a thing all in the 10 seconds!!! UGH. -__- That costs her $30K. I know how hard it is up there, ma’am, but that was just EMBARRASSING.

MY EP. RATING: 4

WoF Retro Recap: November 25, 2011

EPISODE #5510: WHEEL LOVES NEW YORK!

$1K Tossup: PLACE

_ _ _ L I _
_ _ B _ _ _ Y

We don’t need to be quiet as Ashley’s on the board w/ PUBLIC LIBRARY. One of these players will try to save this short week…

Ashley Eidson: May 2011 graduate from the University of Virginia w/ a marketing & information technology degree who’s also part of a big professional bowling family from Reston, VA

Toni Jilka: three-year UNLV peer adviser, biology major, and teapot specialist who previously made ceramics/potteries for four years and currently applying for dental school from Henderson, NV

Mark Lawrence: 13-year U.S. citizen married to Deborah who has seven grandchildren from Plantation, FL (he’s originally from England and lived in South Africa for 32 yrs.)

$2K Tossup: SHOW BIZ

_ H _ / _ A D I E S / _ F
_ H _ / V _ E W

Mark IDs THE LADIES OF “THE VIEW”.

FEATURED NYC TRIP: Roosevelt Hotel w/ tickets to “Rock of Ages” worth $5,780

Jackpot Round: THING 

Two $300 R’s get him started, followed by three E’s, but then the BANKRUPT near the WC. Second, Ashley calls up a $450 Y, buys two A’s, and inserts two C’s to add $1,200, but she then gives up the $1,400 to the MDW’s right-side BANKRUPT. Third, Toni picks up that WC w/ two N’s, but LOSES A TURN just as quick. Mark then lights up a $2,700 trio of T’s…

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

…and keeps that amount for solving THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY.

SOLE LaT: Toni
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Mark, Ashley)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $7,250

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

First, Ashley gets the other MDW BANKRUPT. Second, Toni puts up three S’s for $2,700, buys five E’s, and selects two N’s while on the MW near LaT. She gambles her leftover $2,450 and WC…and she pays the piper for it. Over to Mark who says a $900 R, three T’s for $1,500 and the blue 1/2 KIA, as well as three A’s, and I. Those picks are followed by a $900 M, the leftover O and U singles, a $600 D and a $300 B, then we have…

M A N _ A T T A N ‘ S
U _ _ E R / _ E S T
S I D E
O _ / B E E _

…he order’s MANHATTAN’S UPPER WEST SIDE OF BEEF for $3,200.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (ladies)

Mark: $7,900/Ashley: $1K/Toni: ZILCH

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PP Round: EVENT

Toni begins w/ two T’s as in the TicketsNow.com gift tag, three N’s for $2,700, an I, but then S for sorry. Second, Mark FPs two A’s, plugs in a $600 pair of R’s, buys six E’s, but then LaTs out. Ashley then SPINGLES for a $300 F…

A N
_ N F _ R _ E T T A _ _ E
E _ _ E R I E N _ E

…she’ll have AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE at the Rincon Beach Resort in PUERTO RICO (the airfare for this one isn’t provided by ORBITZ) worth $6,100.

SOLE DUD: S (Toni)
SOLE LaT: Mark

Mark: $7,900/Ashley: $7,400 cash & P.R./Toni: BAD SHAPE

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$3K Tossup: LIVING THINGS

_ O T T E D 
P _ _ _ _ _

Toni’s still stuck at zero, because she’s overboard w/ SPOTTED PUPPIES.

P O T T E D
P _ _ _ _ _

Mark cracks five digits w/ POTTED PLANTS.

Round 4: OCCUPATION

His first letters this round are two R’s for $900, an E and three A’s, four T’s at $450 a pop, and two I’s before we hear the Speed-Up bells…

_ _ I T E _ / _ A T I _ _ _
T R A _ _ _ A T _ R

…and the leftover consonants are worth $6K each! Two S’s pop up next…

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

…he solves UNITED NATIONS TRANSLATOR for $13,550 — PR!

FINAL SCORES
Mark: $24,450/Ashley: $7,400 cash & P.R./Toni: $1K GOOSEEGG

GT: $32,850
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding WC): $4,200

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$100K Bonus Round

In the hunt for more American money and/or that Swedish automobile, Mark (he didn’t have any supporters) spins up the W. BTW, he didn’t have anyone in the audience.

Category: PHRASE
These two letters get him started…

_ _ _ E / _ T
_ _ _ _   

DPHI’s good for…

_ I _ E / I T
_ _ _ _ 

…only the first line. When it comes to the prize in his envelope, we’re not gonna GIVE IT AWAY and it’s the $30K, so we have our second unofficial SKUNKING of the season.

Overall, a measly $84,765 was given away on this shortened week.

MY EP. RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: November 24, 2011

EPISODE #5509: WHEEL LOVES NEW YORK!

$1K Tossup: ON THE MAP

T H _ / _ _ _ _ X

Monica IDs THE BRONX. Our players on this Thanksgiving are…

Monica Glenn: instructional asst. at Springbrook ES and a salsa dancer married to William from Irvine, CA

Andrew Horton: synthesizer player who’s addicted to LEGOs and Godzilla movies, married to Sharon and has a cat named Squeemoo from Chicago

Jamelie Kangles: 3rd/4th/5th grade Math coach who watches college football, goes to the lake & is engaged to Steven from Chattanooga

$2K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

_ _ Z Z _ / B _
_ H _ / _ L _ _ E

I’ll bet many NYers had a PIZZA BY THE SLICE on this particular holiday. Anyway, Andrew’s right for control.

FEATURED NYC TRIP: Algonquin Hotel w/ tickets to “Anything Goes” worth $5,670
Gift Tag: Ritz Camera & Image

Jackpot Round: TV TITLE

He’s off and running w/ three H’s for the green 1/2 KIA, two E’s and A’s, two S’s to add $1K, and buys of two O’s and I’s to wipe out the vowels. After those are four T’s for the NYC trip and a $1,350 trio of W’s. Up on Vanna’s board…

T H E
_ A I _ _ / S H O W
W I T H / _ O _
S T E W A _ T

…he might go see a taping of “THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART” in NYC, because he’s won that trip plus $2,850 for a total of $8,520 in that PR.

JACKPOT LEFTOVERS: $6,450

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Jamelie begins w/ three S’s for $1,800 but then T for trouble. Second, Monica claims the other 1/2 KIA w/ two N’s, buys three E’s and A’s, picks up the Ritz Camera & Image gift tag w/ two R’s, and purchases an I before LOSING A TURN. Third, Andrew BANKRUPTS near the WC to give back the plate. Jamelie next buys two O’s, lights up an $800 H, and buys the last vowel of U before she…

_ A _ I S O N
S _ U A R E
_ A R _ E N
H O S E

…solves MADISON SQUARE GARDEN HOSE for $2,100 when she could’ve gone for the D’s.

SOLE DUD: T (Jamelie)
SOLE LaT: Monica
SOLE BANKRUPT: Andrew

Andrew: $10,520 cash & trip/Jamelie: NOTHING/Monica: $1K

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PP Round: THINGS

Monica’s first letters are a D and two A’s, but a lady duds out w/ T for the second round in a row. Andrew secondly FPs an E and I, but the LaT gets him. Third, Jamelie picks up the green 1/2 KIA w/ three N’s, buys the last vowel of O, and captures a $3,500 L. But she then craps out w/ C. Monica next gets three S’s for the WC and a $450 R, but then the MDW’s right-side BANKRUPT. Andrew then puts up a $1,200 pair of K’s…

S N O R K E L
_ A S K / A N D
_ I N S

…he’s gonna need a SNORKEL MASK AND FINS for his second trip to the Divi Little Bay Beach Resort in ST. MAARTEN worth $5,875.  for a new score in cash & trips of $17,595.

DUDS: T (Monica), C (Jamelie)
SOLE LaT: Andrew
SOLE BANKRUPT: Monica

Andrew: $17,595 cash & trips/Jamelie: $2,100/Monica: $1K

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$3K Tossup: LIVING THING

_ O C K _ R
S P A _ _ E L

Andrew breaks the $20K mark w/ COCKER SPANIEL.

Round 4: OCCUPATION

First for him are a $5K L, vowel singles of E, A and I, two R’s to add $10K, and three O’s, but we’re going into Speed-Up Mode…

_ O _ S _ R _ _ _ I O _
_ O R E _ A _

…w/ a $1,550 Final Spin. His next call is triple N’s…

_ O N S _ R _ _ _ I O N
_ O R E _ A N

…but he still can’t make the $18,650 solve. An F’s been later put up…

_ O N S T R _ _ T I O N
F O R E _ A N

…Monica should’ve gone for the C’s, because she solves CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN for said FS amount.

FINAL SCORES
Andrew: $20,595 cash & trips/Jamelie: $2,100/Monica: $2,550

GT: $25,245
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding extras): $450

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$100K Bonus Round

Here comes the ** for Andrew.

Category: THING
The bottom word is key to victory…

_ _ _ _ R _ T E
_ _ _

JKGA’s an interesting combination…

_ A _ _ R _ T E
_ _ G

…he totally blows it w/ GARMENT BAG, so he won’t be sipping his victory drink in his FAVORITE MUG and he loses the $50K.

MY EP. RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: November 23, 2011

For the rest of this Thanksgiving week, they’re saluting NYC.

EPISODE #5508: WHEEL LOVES NEW YORK!

$1K Tossup: LANDMARK

_ _ E / _ _ _ _ _ L _ N
_ _ _ _ _ E

Michael solves THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE. None of the players on this panel are from NYC, but here you go…

Michael Smith: Beverly Hills hotel worker who met Vanna all the way back to when he was in 2nd Grade from L.A. (orig. from NC)

Alicia Splies: bilingual service representative for a Social Security office married to Michael who had a bone marrow transplant when she was about two years old from Appleton, WI

Vicki Robinette: surgery center recovery nurse married to Craig for 14 years w/ 5-yr.-old triplets (2 girls and a boy) from Bakersfield

$2K Tossup: PLACE

_ _ _ A _ C A S T
B O _ T _

Michael triples up w/ BROADCAST BOOTH.

FEATURED NYC (sponsored by “Arthur Christmas”) TRIP: no hotel mentioned, but it’s worth $5,500
Gift Tag: TicketsNow.com

Jackpot Round: BEFORE & AFTER (taxi wipe)

His list of letters begins w/ a T for the green 1/2 KIA, a $2,500 H, and two obvious E’s, but after a $1,500 trio of P’s is the MDW’s left-side BANKRUPT to take away $4,250 and his plate. Second, Alicia LOSES A TURN. Third, Vicki misses w/ R while on Jackpot. Michael’s second try has him putting up two L’s for $600, and a, and a $500 B. We now have…

T H E / B I _
A P P L E
_ _ _ P L I _ _

…he eats THE BIG APPLE DUMPLING for the house minimum when he could’ve gone for the G’s.

SOLE DUD: R (Vicki)
SOLE LaT: Alicia
SOLE BANKRUPT: Michael
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,800

Mystery Round: HUSBAND & WIFE

Alicia’s first w/ two T’s for $1,800, but she then LaTs out for the second time this episode. Second, Vicki calls up three S’s for $1,800, buys four E’s and five A’s, lights up a $550 J, picks up the WC w/ two C’s, and buys two I’s. But after all that work is the LaT. Third, Michael picks up the TicketsNow.com gift tag w/ five R’s…

_ A T T _ E _
_ R _ _ E R I C _ / &
S A R A _ / J E S S I C A
_ A R _ E R

…he’s being a consonative again after solving MATTHEW BRODERICK & SARAH JESSICA PARKER.

LaTs: 2 (ladies)

Michael: $5K cash & GT/Women: $0 each

The scoreboard shouldn’t be like this after the first half…

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PP Round: THINGS

Vicki gets to work by calling four T’s for $3,600, two E’s and A’s, an $800 R, a $600 M, and two O’s. Afterwards, she picks off two N’s for $600, a FP I to clean out the vowels, and three S’s for $900 more. Now we have…

S O O T _ I N _
S _ A / T R E A T M E N T S

…she’s won her first $5,750 and will have SOOTHING SPA TREATMENTS while at the Maruba Resort Jungle Spa in BELIZE worth $7,720 — PR.

Michael: $5K cash & GT/Alicia: ZIP/Vicki: $13,470 cash & trip WC

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$3K Tossup: OCCUPATION

_ N T _ Q _ E
D _ _ _ E R

Alicia’s off the schneid w/ ANTIQUE DEALER.

Speed-Up: PHRASE 

It’s a $1,300 speed-up. After a G call by Alicia…

N _ / _ T R _ N G _
_ T T _ C _ _ _

…she says that there are NO STRINGS ATTACHED on the $5,200 extra that she just earned, but she could’ve called those S’s.

DUDS: L (Alicia), M (Vicki)

FINAL SCORES
Michael: $5K cash & GT/Alicia: $8,200/Vicki: $13,470 cash & trip WC

GT: $26,670
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding 1/2 KIA): $4,250

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$100K Bonus Round

The featured car here is a Volvo C30. Vicki’s reward is from the first A in AMERICA’S.

Category: PHRASE
I have an idea…

_ _ _ / T _ E
R _ _ _

MPDA and H give her besides the obvious…

_ _ _ / T H E
R A _ _

…so much for our thought of OFF THE RAMP. Whether she buys clothing OFF THE RACK or not, she loses the Volvo.

MY EP. RATING: 5