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WoF Retro Recap: January 10, 2012

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EPISODE #5542: AMERICA’S GAME II

The next stop is “Desert Hideaways”.

$1K Tossup: PROPER NAME

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

Maggie solves the third president of the U.S., THOMAS JEFFERSON. Here’s the lowdown of these people…

Maggie Woelke: teacher at Apex Academy HS from Calipatria, CA

Katrina Julian: law school student who has a Chihuahua named Pac-Man from San Diego

Mitch Kimbrell: student at Mid-America Baptist Seminary married to Sara who’s also a fan of the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves from Cordova, TN (orig. from Doerun, GA)

$2K Tossup: SHOW BIZ

B E _ T – _ _ _ S _ E D
L I S T

Maggie might not make it on our BEST-DRESSED LIST contestant of this season, but she’s tripled up.

FEATURED PRIZE: ally BANK $5K bonus
Tues./Thurs. Gift Tag: jura coffee center

Jackpot Round: SAME LETTER

She leads off w/ two L’s for the jura coffee center, two S’s for $1,200, an E, and six N’s for $3K and the green 1/2 KIA, followed by an I, two T’s for $1,100, two G’s for $1,200 more, three A’s (one in each of the three lines), and the SL of three C’s for $1,500. The board…

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

…you don’t want to be CONSTANTLY CHANGING CHANNELS if you’re rooting for her, because she’s won $8,250 cash & coffee package — PR.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $7,750

Mystery Round: SONG LYRICS

Katrina’s shot at greatness begins w/ three T’s for $900, six E’s, but then the BANKRUPT near the WC. Second, Mitch claims four R’s for $1,200, I and O singles, and an S for the WC…

T _ R E E / _ _ E E R S
_ O R / T _ E / R E _
_ _ I T E / _ _ _
_ _ _ E

…he gets “THREE CHEERS FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE” (from “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean”) way too early.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Katrina

Mitch: $1K + WC/Maggie: $11,250 cash & coffee/Katrina: NOTHING

PP Round: PHRASE

His first letters are a $7K pair of T’s, two R’s from that WC, and a couple O’s, followed by a $900 trio of N’s, four I’s, a $550 G and the rest of the vowel department. We have at this moment…

_ E T / _ O U R
I _ A G I N A T I O N
R U N / _ I _ _

…LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD, sir — you’ve won $14,200 plus a $6,035 Hotwire trip to the Outrigger Reef on the Beach in HI!

PR #2!

Mitch: $21,235 cash & trip/Maggie: $11,250 cash & coffee/Katrina: BUPKIS

$3K Tossup: LIVING THINGS

_ _ C K I _ _ _ I R D S

Maggie sweeps the Tossups w/ MOCKINGBIRDS.

Round 4: WAYD?

She leads off w/ a $300 G, three N’s for x4 that amount, and the obvious two I’s before she says a dud in S. Second, Katrina gets two T’s for $1,100, the same number of O’s, but then the same BANKRUPT she got earlier to toss aside $850. Third, Mitch inserts a $300 R, but then buys the sole dud vowel of the puzzle (U). Back to Maggie who inserts a $600 L at the start, the E and a $300 H before she…

L E _ R N I N G / H O _
T O / _ N I T

…earns another $1,600 towards LEARNING HOW TO KNIT.

DUDS: S (Maggie), U (Mitch)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Katrina

Mitch: $21,235 cash & trip/Maggie: $15,850 cash & coffee/Katrina: BAD SHAPE

Round 5: AROUND THE HOUSE

At the start, both Katrina and Mitch dud out w/ T and R, respectively. Over to Maggie who FPs an E but loses her turn w/ the other BANKRUPT. Returning to Katrina who puts in a $300 N and BANKRUPTS the same way she did twice before and it’s time for Speed-Up Mode…

_ _ _ _ _ _ N _
_ E _ _

…w/ a $1,600 Final Spin. After an H request by somebody…

M _ H _ G _ N _
D E S K

…Katrina’s won her only $4,800 of the night towards buying a MAHOGANY DESK.

DUDS BEFORE BELL: T (Katrina), R (Mitch)
DUDS AFTER BELL: C (Mitch), L (Maggie), B (Mitch)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (women)

FINAL SCORES
Mitch: $21,235 cash & trip/Maggie: $15,850 cash & coffee/Katrina: $4,800

GT: $41,885
BANKRUPT TRASH: $1,800

$100K Bonus Round

After we see Sara the wife, the M envelope in GAME (and as in Mitch) has been picked up.

Category: THINGS
First off…

_ E _ _ _ N _
_ _ _ S

GCDA adds besides the obvious…

_ E D D _ N G
_ _ _ S

…WEDDING KISS and WEDDING BLISS are wrong, and so is BEDDING ____. He doesn’t remember making his WEDDING VOWS to Sara for $30K.

MY EP. RATING: 6 (orig. a 7; Speed-Up was messy)

WoF Retro Recap: January 9, 2012

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EPISODE #5541: AMERICA’S GAME II

We’re on the “Ports of Call” set to start this week, so this is the very last episode w/ the Mystery Round in R3 and the prize wedge available through said round.

$1K Tossup: SONG LYRICS

S _ E _ T / L _ N D
_ _ / L I B _ R _ _

Anthony solves “SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY” (from “America”). First to play this week are…

Anthony Myles: LSU sophomore majoring in political science who’s also an ambassador and a basketball team manager from Marrero, LA

Jody Lundquist: landscape/preservation worker for foreclosed homes from Phoenix (orig. from Chicago)

Tammy Walker: full-time caregiver and part-time tax preparer married w/ one daughter and four grandkids who enjoys zip lining from Hickson, TN

$2K Tossup: LIVING THING

B _ S T O _
T E _ R _ E R

Anthony triples up w/ BOSTON TERRIER.

FEATURED TRIP: S.F.’s Palace Hotel worth $5,200
Gift Tag: Beef Bucks

Jackpot Round: SAME LETTER

He’s off to a bad start w/ LaT. Second, Jody calls up four N’s for $1,200, buys two E’s, picks up the green 1/2 KIA w/ the SL of four S’s, lights up a $500 T and buys four A’s before getting the other 1/2 KIA w/ an L. Following the rest of the vowels (three I’s, an O & a U), she FPs a $500 R, and lights up a $450 M, a $600 B and a D for the Beef Bucks debit card. We now have…

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

…she eats up a SENSATIONAL SUBMARINE SANDWICH for a total of $20,500 cash & prizes!

SOLE LaT: Anthony
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $7,350

PP Round: PHRASE

Fresh off that big R1 win, Jody begins w/ a $500 T, a $550 G and two I’s, then she fills in a $300 T, an E, two H’s for another $600, two S’s for another grand, and three A’s. We now have…

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

…it’s SMOOTH SAILING AHEAD for her, because she’s won $2,200 and the $5,400 MSC CARIBBEAN CRUISE — PR.

Jody: $28,100 cash & prizes/Tammy: NIL/Anthony: $3K

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Tammy finally gets her shot. Her first calls are two R’s for $800, an E, four I’s, four FP O’s, three N’s for $10,500 and the leftover vowels (U and two A’s), but next is S for sorry. Over to Anthony who plugs in five T’s while on the MW near the MDW and takes the $5K for them (but he could’ve gotten twice as much), three C’s for $900 more, three H’s while on the other MW and a G for the WC. Following two L’s for a grand and two W’s for another $800…

T H R O W I N G
C A U T I O N / T O
T H E / W I N _ –
C H I L L / _ A C T O R

…he’s THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND-CHILL FACTOR for $10,700.

SOLE DUD: S (Tammy)

Jody: $28,100 cash & prizes/Tammy: GOOSEEGG ALERT/Anthony: $13,700 + WC

$3K Tossup: RHYME TIME 

B _ _ _ / O N
T _ A C _

Jody’s BACK ON TRACK and is up to $31,100.

Speed-Up: FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

The first FS of the week is $1,300.

Jody: N
Tammy: 2 T’s
Anthony: D
Jody: 3 A’s
Tammy: 2 R’s
Anthony: 2 E’s
NULL CYCLE CUT
Jody: 2 S’s
Tammy: 2 P’s

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

Tammy captures PAPA SMURF AND SMURFETTE for her only $6,500 on the night.

(NOTE: Jody blurted out a letter at a bad time twice in this round — first w/ the A’s when it was Anthony’s turn and a dud of B on her last turn of the round)

FINAL SCORES
Jody: $31,100 cash & prizes/Tammy: $6,500/Anthony: $13,700

GT: $51,300
NO BANKRUPTS AT ALL!

$100K Bonus Round

Jody lands on the In in SPIN.

Category: PHRASE
Limited RSTLNE help…

_ / _ _ _ _ _
_ E _ _ _ _

CHPI puts in…

_ / H _ P P _
_ E _ I _ _

…but she goofs w/ A HAPPY REUNION. She doesn’t have A HAPPY MEDIUM to nearly double her money.

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: January 6, 2012

andynwof3 Comments

EPISODE #5540: CALIFORNIA COAST

$1K Tossup: PROPER NAME

_ _ N / _ _ _ G O
C _ A _ _ _ _ _

Allan totally forgets the category, because he incorrectly says SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

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

Karen IDs the NFL’s SAN DIEGO CHARGERS. Time to meet ’em in order…

Karen Broussard: manager for a communication co. engineering group married to William w/ two kids who loves to bake, swim and read from Abita Springs, LA

Angie Jones: farmer married to Mike w/ three kids who custom bails hay and has a “princess tractor” with air conditioner and heated seats from Atkins, AR

Allan Levin: massage therapist who usually plays the show’s slot machine from Vegas

$2K Tossup: WAYD?

P L _ N _ _ N G
A / _ _ R D _ N

Angie does this often, but it’s Karen who triples up w/ PLANTING A GARDEN.

FEATURED CA TRIP: The Bread & Breakfast Inn at La Jolla from BedandBreakfast.com worth $6K

Jackpot Round: FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

She leads off w/ five S’s for $3K, five E’s and three I’s, two $500 R’s, and an A before saying a dud of H while on the blue 1/2 KIA. Angie secondly gets the other 1/2 KIA w/ two C’s, an N for the 76 gas card and two D’s for $600 more…

C I N D E R E _ _ A ‘ S
_ I C _ E D
S _ E _ S I S _ E R S

…she solves CINDERELLA’S WICKED STEPSISTERS for $2,600 cash & gas when she could’ve gone for the T’s and L’s.

SOLE DUD: H (Karen)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $7,450

Mystery Round: FOOD & DRINK

Angie’s off and running w/ a $900 N, four E’s, three R’s for the La Jolla trip, but then S for sorry. Second, Allan fills in a $300 D but nothing more w/ H. Third, Karen captures a $300 L, two A’s, and a G for the WC, but the LaT bites her. Angie continues on w/ two P’s for $800, three O’s, but she too LaTs out. Allan next inserts three T’s for $2,400, and a pair of C’s while on the MW near LaT. He adds the $2K to the $2,700 in his bank…
A / L A R G E
_ _ C _ E T / O _
_ _ T T E R E D
P O P C O R N

…and eats up a A LARGE BUCKET OF BUTTERED POPCORN for $4,700…but it could’ve been $12,700 instead.

DUDS: S (Angie), H (Allan) LaTs: 2 (women) 

Karen: $3K + WC/Angie: $2,600 cash & gas card/Allan: $4,700

PP Round: MOVIE QUOTE

Allan starts w/ a $600 T, a $7K pair of S’s, but then the only bad vowel of this puzzle (A). Second for Karen are a $3,500 R, an H courtesy of the WC, and the rest of the vowels (two O’s, an I and a U)… S O _ E _ O _ _
U _ / T H E R E
_ I _ E S / _ E

…she solves “SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME” for $6,250 plus a Hotwire trip to the St. James’s Club in ANTIGUA worth $7,140.

SOLE DUD: A (Allan)

Karen: $16,390 cash & trip/Angie: $2,600 cash & gas card/Allan: $4,700

$3K Tossup: ON THE MAP
_ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ C
O _ _ _ _

Angie’s wrong w/ THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, because that’s too many letters.

_ _ _ / P _ _ _ _ _ C
O _ _ _ _

Karen solves THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

Speed-Up: THINGS

Consonants are worth $1,500 each (Pat initially got the BANKRUPT near TD). After the C’s get put up to leave only vowels remaining…

M A N _ C _ R _ / A N D
P _ D _ C _ R _

…Karen can afford both a MANICURE AND PEDICURE, because she just barely beats the buzzer w/ $12K.

DUDS: L (Angie), S (Allan), T (Angie), H (Allan), Y (Allan), B (Karen)

FINAL SCORES
Karen: $31,390 cash & trip/Angie: $2,600 cash & gas card/Allan: $4,700  GT: $38,690BANKRUPT TRASH: NONE!

$100K Bonus Round

Karen’s landed on the second A in AMERICA’S.

Category: PHRASE
All week long, two letters are given for free (including this one) on these bonus puzzles…

_ _ _ _
_ _ _ L _ T _

CDHI gives her…

H I _ H
_ _ _ L I T _

…but we don’t have a $30K HIGH QUALITY guess, because she goofs w/ HIGH VELOCITY.

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: January 5, 2012

andynwof3 Comments

EPISODE #5539: CALIFORNIA COAST

$1K Tossup: LANDMARK

_ _ _ _ E _ / _ _ T E
P A _ _

Jesse solves GOLDEN GATE PARK and here are Thursday’s contesti…

Jesse Thompson: married man w/ two Alison w/ two kids who got a complement from the makeup department of the program and is said to be “HD Perfect” from Gilford, NH

Becky Goodson: nurse practitioner, hiker and piano player married to Thomas from Gilbert, AZ

Melissa Lobreglio: 1st grade teacher at Sacred Heart Grade School in Yonkers who’s also an avid reader from Bardonia, NY

$2K Tossup: PERSON

A / S _ A P P Y
D _ _ _ _ _ _

Melissa’s off by a letter w/ A SLAPPY DRESSER.

A / S _ A P P Y
D R _ _ S E _

Jesse gets the tripler as A SNAPPY DRESSER.

FEATURED CA TRIP: Madonna Inn Resort & Spa in San Luis Obispo worth $5,500 (singer obviously NOT included)

Jackpot Round: EVENT

He starts us off w/ three T’s for the green 1/2 KIA, five E’s, two H’s for another $1,600 and two FP O’s. But after his next pick of a $900 N is a DQ for repeating the H. Second, Becky picks up the WC but LaTs out just as quick. Third, Melissa inserts three S’s for $900, buys two A’s, but then duds out w/ R. Jesse then puts up a $900 trio of G’s…

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

…the Super Bowl is an example of THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE SEASON, and he’s right for $5,250.

SOLE DUD: R (Melissa)
SOLE LaT: Becky
SOLE DQ: Jesse’s H repeat
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,550 

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

First from Becky’s mouth are three T’s for $1,650, a $500 H for the other 1/2 KIA, three E’s, two FP A’s, three N’s for $1,350 and four I’s. Coming her way next are a $500 C, two M’s for another $1,800, an O, a C repeat while on FP, but then the BANKRUPT near TD to wipe out $5,050 and her cardboard pieces. After the same thing gets Melissa, Jesse SPINGLES for a $300 J…

J _ _ T / I N / T H E
N I C _ / O _
T I M E
M A _ A _ I N E

…well, the joke’s on him, because he blows the solve w/ JUST IN THE NICK OF “TIME” MACHINE. Back to Becky who puts up a $400 S, the last vowel of U, a $900 K and and F for the CA trip…

J U S T / I N / T H E
N I C K / O F
T I M E
M A _ A _ I N E

…but next is an EPIC FAIL call of R while on the MW near the MDW. Melissa then completes the board w/ the $300 G and the $400 Z…

J U S T / I N / T H E
N I C K / O F
T I M E
M A G A Z I N E

…and she reads this answer JUST IN THE NICK OF “TIME” MAGAZINE.

SOLE DUD: R (Becky)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (ladies)
DQs: (Becky’s C repeat, Jesse’s blown solve)

Melissa: $1K/Jesse: $8,250/Becky: ZILCH

PP Round: WAYD?

Melissa’s starters are three N’s for $900, an I, two G’s for another $1,800, two A’s and O’s (the latter was called on FP), and an R for the green 1/2 KIA. Next up are two E’s, a $1K pair of S’s, and three U’s before she sees…
S _ R U _ _ I N G
A / S O N G / O N
A / U _ U _ E _ E

…somebody will be STRUMMING A SONG ON A UKULELE for her, because she’s won $3,200 & a trip to The Westin MAUI Resort & Spa Ka’anapali courtesy of SpaFinder.com worth $6,642 — PR.

Melissa: $10,842 cash & Maui/Jesse: $8,250/Becky: TERRIBLE SHAPE

$3K Tossup: FUN & GAMES

S _ _ N _
D A _ _ I _ G

Jesse’s SWING DANCING his way back in the lead w/ $11,250.

Speed-Up: SONG TITLE

Consonants are worth $6K each! After six O’s are purchased for free late…

H O O R _ _ / F O R
H O L L _ _ O O D

…Melissa solves “HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD” for $18K and the win (though she could’ve gotten $12K more w/ the Y’s)!

DUDS: T (Jesse), N (Becky), P (Becky)

FINAL SCORESMelissa: $28,842 cash & Maui/Jesse: $11,250/Becky: DESERVING $1K GOOSEEGG

GT: $41,092
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding extras): $5,050

$100K Bonus Round

The M in AMERICA’S (and as in Melissa) has been landed on.

Category: THING
Two letters on the top to start…

_ L _ _ _ T
_ _ _ 

Unfortunately, she’s going w/ CDMA…

_ L _ _ _ T
_ A _ 

…and she won’t be putting the keys to the Eos convertible in her FLIGHT BAG.

MY EP. RATING: 6