WoF Retro Recap: January 20, 2012

Please don’t tell me we’re about to set a new RECORD-WORST in the modern era of this show. So far, a pathetic $97,076 went out the door. The current record-holder is the one from S24, “Weekend in New England”, w/ $124,350.

EPISODE #5550: PURE PARADISE

$1K Tossup: RHYME TIME

T _ _ / _ _ _ E / O F
_ _ E / _ A M _

THE NAME OF THE GAME is “Wheel of Fortune”, and Amanda solves this one to be interviewed first…

Amanda Dubin: sports broadcasting major who recently got accepted to Columbia University and also serves at a downtown restaurant Al Capone used to go to from Chicago (orig. from Highland Park, IL)

David Verschoor: restaurant general manager who jumped out of an airplane three times so far in his life from L.A. (born in CHI)

Casey Larkin: project mgr. for a health care software firm who went backpacking in Europe once from Madison, WI (originally from Chi-town as well)

$2K Tossup: SHOW BIZ

T _ _ R _ Z E
A R _ _ _ _

Casey solves TRAPEZE ARTIST.

FEATURED PARADISE: $7,800 Cuan Law boat ride through the British Virgin Islands from Hotwire

Jackpot Round: FOOD & DRINK

The first letters from her are three R’s for $1,650, but then a baddie of T. Second, Amanda calls up a $600 L, an N for the spawish gift tag, four E’s, and an A, then she puts in three B’s for another $900, a $2,500 Y, a $300 K, and three F’s for another $1,800…

F R E _ _ – B A K E _
B L _ E B E R R Y
_ _ F F _ N _

…she eats some FRESH-BAKED BLUEBERRY MUFFINS for another $6,700 cash and gift certificate.

SOLE DUD: T (Casey)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $10,550

Mystery Round: TV QUOTE 

Amanda leads off this big one w/ five T’s for $2,750, but then the BANKRUPT near the WC. David’s first letters this episode are three H’s for $900, four E’s, but then S for sorry. Third for Casey are a $600 pair of R’s, two L’s for the cruise, and twin I’s. What you’re about to see now will bring back bad memories for you long-time viewers…

T H E / T H R I L L
_ _ / _ I _ T _ R _
_ _ _ / T H E / _ _ _ _ _
_ _ / _ E _ E _ T

…this Jim McKay quote triggered the worst one-round maingame loss in the history of this program back in ’85 ($62,400 to be exact), but she exactly recites “THE THRILL OF VICTORY AND THE AGONY OF DEFEAT” for $8,150 in cash & cruise.

SOLE DUD: S (David)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Amanda

Casey: $10,150 cash & cruise/Amanda: $7,700 cash & GT/David: NIL

Well, at least we won’t set a new modern low…

---

PP Round: THINGS 

David’s first w/ an $800 pair of N’s, two A’s, three FP E’s, but then D for dud while on the blue 1/2 KIA. Casey next puts up two C’s for $1,200 and a $300 Q…

A C E
_ _ N _
Q _ E E N
_ A C _

…she solves ACE, KING, QUEEN (and) JACK for $1,500 plus a $6K SpaFinder.com trip to the New York New York Hotel & Casino in VEGAS.

SOLE DUD: D (David)

Casey: $17,650 cash & trips/Amanda: $7,700 cash & GT/David: NADA

---

$3K Tossup: LIVING THINGS

_ R O C _ _ _ _ E S

Casey gets CROCODILES to go over $20K.

Round 4: PERSON

Two T’s for $1,100 get her going, but the R ends her turn just as quick. Amanda secondly inserts a $15K trio of S’s, an E, four A’s, and an $1,800 pair of L’s…

_ A S T – T A L _ _ _ _
S A L E S _ A _

…she solves FAST-TALKING SALESMAN for $16,300 and the lead!

SOLE DUD: R (Casey)

Casey: $20,650 cash & trips/Amanda: $24K cash & GT/David: STILL NOTHING

Round 5: PHRASE 

Amanda instantly LaTs out. David secondly puts up three T’s for $1,800, a $1K pair of S’s, three I’s, and two L’s to add $1,600…

I T ‘ S / _ L L / I _
T _ _ / _ _ I S T

…he says “IT’S ALL IN THE WRIST” to finally get off the schneid w/ $4,150.

SOLE LaT: Amanda

Casey: $20,650 cash & trips/Amanda: $24K cash & GT/David: $4,150

Speed-Up: WAYD?

The last FS this week is $1,400. After the man buys two O’s for for free…

_ O S _ N _ / F O R
_ _ _ T _ R _ S

…he’ll be POSING FOR PICTURES following this $2,800 solve.

SOLE DUD: L (Amanda)

FINAL SCORES
Casey: $20,650 cash & trips/Amanda: $24K cash & GT/David: $6,950

GT: $51,600
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,750

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$100K Bonus Round

Amanda lands on the N of WIN.

Category: EVENT
I know the second word already…

_ _ _ _ _
_ _ R T _

PCMI does for her…

P I _ _ _
P _ R T _

…but she WON’T be throwing a PIZZA PARTY w/ the extra $45K since she only got the second word, so we have our THIRD OFFICIAL BR SHUTOUT of the season.

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: January 19, 2012

EPISODE #5549: PURE PARADISE

$1K Toss-Up: PHRASE

E N _ L _ S S
S _ M _ _ _

Felix solves ENDLESS SUMMER, also a title of a theme week to start S26. Now playing…

Felix Perea: bakery manufacturer plant worker for local grocery chain with a 15-year-old daughter who goes to Mountain Range High School, big Broncos fan who likes doing karaoke and watching sports from Thornton, CO

Dana Wyatt: secretary at local school district’s special education testing center, married to Jeff for 18 years with two daughters from Hickory, KY

Jessica Learn: recent graduate from Linfield College who majored in both communication/theater arts who just finished performing in a touring educational play related to hunger for middle schoolers from S.F.

$2K Toss-Up: ON THE MAP

_ A Y _ O N A
_ _ _ _ _

Felix triples up w/ DAYTONA BEACH.

FEATURED PARADISE: Australian Tour from Brendan Vacations w/ Hotwire travel worth $8,190 (AUSTRALIA)

Jackpot Round: FICTIONAL CHARACTER 

Felix opens up w/ two T’s and an H at $2,500 a pop, three E’s and A’s, but then the BANKRUPT near TD to forfeit $7K. Second, Dana picks up the RITZ Camera & Image gift tag w/ an N, calls up a $1,200 R duo, buys an I, but then the sole dud vowel of O. Third, Jessica FPs the last vowel of U, lights up a $600 pair of S’s, but then falls victim to the MDW’s right side. Felix next puts up a $600 pair of P’s…

T H E
S P E _ T A _ U _ A R
S P I _ E R – _ A N

…and solves THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER MAN for the other $400. Two C’s, sir…

SOLE DUD: O (Dana)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (her opponents)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $11,700

Mystery Round: SAME NAME 

Dana’s picked up the blue 1/2 KIA right away w/ two T’s, but she LaTs out just as quick. Second, Jessica plugs in a D for the Australian tour, two N’s for $600, three A’s, and an O, followed by a $300 S, an I, an $800 R, and the last vowels of two E’s and U’s. We now have…

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

…she solves QUESTION AND BEAUTY MARK (the second part’s a bonus puzzle from S27) for a total of $8,640 cash & trip.

SOLE LaT: Dana

Jessica: $8,640 cash & Australia/Felix: $4K/Dana: NADA

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Prize Puzzle Round: EVENTS

Current leader Jessica begins w/ a $550 N but then her second BANKRUPT of the game, courtesy of the one near the WC. Second, Felix FPs all five vowels (three I’s, an A, two E’s, a dud of U, and an O), and calls up a $1,600 pair of T’s, but the LaT gets him. Dana then goes for a trip of her own…

_ I _ _ / T I _ E / A N _
_ O _ / T I _ E

…she solves HIGH TIDE AND LOW TIDE for a trip to the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in ST. THOMAS worth $5,456.

SOLE DUD: U (Felix)
SOLE LaT: Felix
SOLE BANKRUPT: Jessica

Jessica: $8,640 cash & Australia/Felix: $4K/Dana: $5,456 St. Thomas trip

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$3K Toss-Up: FUN & GAMES

F _ _ I N G
_ / _ _ T _

Jessica’s FLYING A KITE to break five figures.

Round 4: FOOD & DRINK

First from her are an $800 S, two A’s, a $600 T, and three E’s, but the other normal BANKRUPT cleans her out of $900. That’s her third and final one of the night, because we’re now going into Speed-Up Mode…

_ _ _ _ E E / _ _ T _
_ _ E A _ / & / S _ _ A _

…and the leftover consonants are worth $1,400 apiece (Pat originally got the BANKRUPT near $600).

Felix: 2 R’s
Dana: 2 F’s

_ _ F F E E / _ _ T _
_ R E A _ / & / S _ _ A R

Dana drinks a cup of COFFEE WITH CREAM & SUGAR for $2,800.

FINAL SCORES
Jessica: $11,640 cash & Australia/Felix: $4K/Dana: $8,256 cash & St. Thomas

GT: $23,896
BANKRUPT TRASH: $9,050

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$100K Bonus Round

Mother Marilyn, Uncle Gary & Aunt Carolyn watch Jessica get the G envelope.

Category: PHRASE

This looks easy on paper…

T _ _
_ R _ _ R _ T _

MBPA gives her two of a hot consonant…

T _ P
P R _ _ R _ T _

…she gets the first word but then crashes and burns w/ TIP PROPERTY. Our TOP PRIORITY of ending a long BR losing streak is not fulfilled, and she loses the $30K. The I’s would’ve done it for her.

MY RATING: 4

WoF Retro Recap: January 18, 2012

EPISODE #5548: PURE PARADISE

$1K Tossup: PLACE

S _ N _ _ A S S E S
_ _ O P

Linda solves SUNGLASSES SHOP. The midweek panel looks like this…

Linda Ferrill: administrative assistant for an auto supply company on Cape Cod married to Woody who also bakes cupcakes from Sandwich, MA

Duane Blank: Chicago convention center worker and bass guitar player who owns 600+ records at home and is married to Amy w/ a daughter named Josephine from Homer Glen, IL

Chantal Doucet-Brice: graduate student at Southern Arkansas University who’s pursuing a Master’s Degree in both arts of teaching for secondary English and in Education for School Counseling as well as a Canadian crocheter from Magnolia, AR (orig. from New Brunswick, Canada; and she met her husband from Arkansas in South Korea where she taught English)

$2K Tossup: SONG LYRICS

G _ T / I _ _ O
_ H E / G _ _ _ V E

Chantal solves Madonna’s “GET INTO THE GROOVE”.

FEATURED PARADISE: JW Marriott Ihilani Jo Olina Resort, Hotel & Spa in Oahu from Hotwire worth $6,110

Jackpot Round: PERSON

She kicks off w/ a $600 T, two S’s to triple up, a $500 L, a Jackpot N, and her first vowels of five E’s and three A’s. Those are followed by three R’s for another $1,500, a G for yet another $500, two I’s, and a $400 P before we look at…

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

…she proves to be A PRIVATE EYE SEARCHING FOR CLUES, so she’s won another $4,450. Two C’s, ma’am…

PR
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,600

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

The first letters from Linda are two T’s for $600, but then a bad vowel of I. Second, Duane says S for sorry while on the MW near LaT. Third, Chantal picks up the Hawaii trip w/ three R’s and the green 1/2 KIA w/ two H’s, but she’s gonna have to say a sad Aloha to $7,110 cash & trip because she’s BANKRUPTED near TD. Linda next says N for another negative while Duane has a run-in w/ the other normal BANKRUPT, so we’re coming right back to Chantal who FPs five E’s and semi-spingles for a $600 C…

_ R . / _ _ T A T _
H E A _
C H E E R _ E A _ E R

…she imagines a MR. POTATO HEAD CHEERLEADER for the house minimum.

DUDS: I (Linda), S (Dune), N (Linda)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Chantal, Duane)

Linda: $1K/Duane: NOTHING/Chantal: $7,450

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PP Round: FOOD & DRINK

The scoreless Duane begins w/ an S for the WC, two F’s for $600, two A’s, and four O’s, followed by a $300 D, three E’s, but then R for roadblock. Second for Chantal are an $1,800 T trio, a $300 L, but then the BANKRUPT next to where Duane got the WC to forfeit $2,100 Linda then goes for the mystery trip…

A / _ E T T L E
O F / S E A F O O D
_ _ _ _ O

…she’ll likely order A KETTLE OF SEAFOOD GUMBO on the $5K trip to the Bienville House in NEW ORLEANS.

SOLE DUD: R (Duane)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Chantal (2nd so far)

Linda: $6K cash & N.O./Duane: STILL ZIP/Chantal: $7,450

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$3K Tossup: OCCUPATION

F _ _ _ _ G N
_ _ B _ _ S _ _ _ R

Duane solves FOREIGN AMBASSADOR to finally get on the scoreboard.

Round 4: PHRASE

First from him are two T’s (one to start each line) for $1,800, five E’s, a $1K H pairing, but then a bad vowel in A. Chantal next puts up a $600 pair of M’s, but it’s Speed-Up Mode time…

T H E / M _ _ E
T H E / M E _ _ _ E _

…the last consonant is worth $1,800 each time it appears. She calls that in the form of four R’s…

T H E / M _ R E
T H E / M E R R _ E R

…THE MORE THE MERRIER, she’s right to seal the deal w/ another $7,800.

SOLE DUD (before bell): A (Duane) 

FINAL SCORES
Linda: $6K cash & N.O./Duane: $3K/Chantal: $15,250

GT: $24,250
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding cardboard): $9,210 cash & HI

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$100K Bonus Round

Chantal spins up the E in AMERICA’S.

Category: AROUND THE HOUSE
For starters…

_ _ N _
_ R _ _ E R

CDMA gives her at least the second word…

_ _ N _
D R A _ E R

…but no help on top dooms her; the $45K gets buried deep into this JUNK DRAWER.

MY EP. RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: January 17, 2012

EPISODE #5547: PURE PARADISE

$1K Tossup: EVENT

_ _ _ _ E _
_ _ R / _ _ O

Christy’s won the money that’s good for a DINNER FOR TWO. Tuesday’s threesome…

Christy Medley: middle school math/science teacher married to Tim who just had their first baby about half a year ago and has been doing crocheting ever since reading Vanna’s book about that activity from Santa Monica (orig. from Spruce Pine, NC)

Carla Victum: House of Representatives aide & party gal from Quincy, MA

Bill Newberry: musician and theater teacher married to Pam who’s about to have his first grandchild from Lilburn, GA

$2K Tossup: OCCUPATION

_ _ N N _ S
_ _ _ C _

Christy isn’t a TENNIS COACH, but she’s tripled up.

FEATURED PARADISE: Belize’s Maruba Resort Jungle Spa worth $7,720
Tues./Thurs. Gift Tag: RITZ Camera & Image

Jackpot Round: FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

She starts w/ a $1,100 pair of S’s, but gives it right back to the BANKRUPT near the WC. Second, Carla calls up a $600 N and a $300 D, buys an A, lights up two R’s, but then repeats the N while on the RITZ Camera & Image gift tag. Third, Bill puts in two M’s for $1,100, two E’s, a $500 H for the blue 1/2 KIA, but then loses $1,350 and the plate to the same BANKRUPT. After Christy BANKRUPTS on the other normal one, Carla takes twin T’s for $1,800 but LaTs out. Bill then calls up an $1,800 trio of G’s…

_ E R M _ T
T H E / _ R _ G / A N D
M _ S S / _ _ G G _

…he IDs KERMIT THE FROG AND MISS PIGGY to keep that amount.

SOLE LaT: Carla
BANKRUPTS: 3 (Christy 2x, Bill)
SOLE DQ: Carla’s N repeat
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,300

Mystery Round: SAME LETTER 

Carla first picks up the same 1/2 KIA Bill lost w/ two N’s, a $450 G, and two semi-obvious I’s, followed by a $300 R, the SL of six T’s for the WC…

T _ N T _ _ I _ I N G
T _ _ T _
T R _ _ T _

…and her correct response of TANTALIZING TASTY TREATS for $1,500. Two S’s, ma’am…

PR

Bill: $1,800/Christy: $3K/Carla: $1,500 + WC

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PP Round: PEOPLE 

Bill’s first letters here are three T’s for $1,800, two E’s, three H’s for another $1,500, four O’s and D for dummy. After Christy LaTs out…

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

…Carla will be visiting OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH, which is the $6K Caravan.com TOUR OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES.

SOLE DUD: D (Bill)
SOLE LaT: Christy

Bill: $1,800/Christy: $3K/Carla: $7,500 cash & tour + WC

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$3K Tossup: ON THE MAP

C _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ Y
N _ _ _ _ _

Bill quickly locates CARSON CITY, NEVADA for second place at $4,800.

Round 4: WAYD?

He leads off w/ the obvious (a $600 G, two N’s to double up, and the I), an O, a $1,650 T trio, and two E’s. But after a $900 H is the sole dud vowel of U. Christy secondly puts up a $900 P, two A’s to clean out the vowels, a $500 S. After FPing a dud of R, she BANKRUPTS near TD for the second time tonight to fork over $1,150 (it’s also her third overall). Following Carla’s dud of D, Bill puts up the $900 K and a $300 C…

P A T T I N G / _ _ S E _ _
O N / T H E / B A C K

…he’s not PATTING MYSELF ON THE BACK, but he’s taken the lead w/ another $3,950.

DUDS: U (Bill), R (Christy), D (Carla)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Christy

Bill: $8,750/Christy: $3K/Carla: $7,500 cash & tour + WC

Speed-Up: PHRASE

Consonants are worth $1,800 a pop.

Christy: 2 T’s
Carla: 2 H’s

T H _ / T _ _ _
H _ _ / _ _ _ _

THE TIME HAS COME for Carla to win this game w/ another $3,600.

FINAL SCORES
Bill: $8,750/Christy: $3K/Carla: $11,100 cash & tour + WC

GT: $22,850
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding 1/2 KIA): $3,600

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$100K Bonus Round

Carla gets the M envelope of GAME.

Category: THING
Let’s see some end letters…

_ _ _ T
_ _ _ _ _ E R

DPMA doesn’t work at all, but there is one H…

_ _ _ T
_ _ _ _ H E R

…she will NOT be exchanging this GIFT VOUCHER for the keys to the Miata.

MY EP. RATING: 4