WoF Retro Recap: March 30, 2012

EPISODE #5600: EXOTIC FAR EAST

$1K Tossup: ON THE MAP

H _ _ _ / _ _ _ G

Dennis quickly solves HONG KONG. Hoping to end March on a good note are…

Dennis Farrell: field technician for a major telephone company who was brought here by his girlfriend and she thought he’s been procrastinating too much in his life from Valley Stream, NY

Kym Jenke: zookeeper married to John who likes cheetahs from San Diego (she moved from Vancouver, BC 5 yrs. ago for better weather)

Sara Lewis: St. Louis Area Foodbank agency relations coordinator who’s pursuing her Master’s Degree in nonprofit administration at Longwood University from St. Louis

$2K Tossup: EVENT

C _ _ _ _ L
F _ _ D A _

Dennis triples up w/ CASUAL FRIDAY.

FEATURED FE TRIP: Lotte Hotels & Resort in Seoul, South Korea w/ airfare from Asiana Airlines worth $9,160

Jackpot Round: FUN & GAMES

He says an automatic dud of N while on the WC. Second, Kym calls up two T’s for a $1,600 start, but that’s taken right back by the BANKRUPT near TD. Third, Sara duds out w/ S. Dennis restarts w/ two R’s for the S.K. wedge, a $300 L, and three E’s, then she picks off a TD C and two A’s before hitting LaT. Kym next gets the same fate she got before, allowing Sara to put up a $900 D at the end, an $800 G at the start, and two Jackpot F’s…

G E T / _ _ T / _ F
_ A _ L / F R E E
C A R D

…she doesn’t need a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD, because she’s won an $11,700 pot for a total of $14,400 in this round alone!

DUDS: N (Dennis), S (Sara)
SOLE LaT: Dennis
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Kym)

Mystery Round: SONG LYRICS 

Kym first says four T’s while on the MW near the MDW and turns down the $4K offer for…her third BANKRUPT of the game. Sara secondly FPs three E’s, but loses her turn to the same normal BANKRUPT. Third, Dennis captures the blue 1/2 KIA w/ a P, three L’s to x4 up, and hits LaT for the second time this episode. Kym next gets her third BANKRUPT near TD (and fourth overall), allowing Sara to say two R’s for a grand, two A’s, an $800 H, and three O’s before she goes for the solve…

P _ T / A / L _ T T L E
L O _ E / _ _ / _ O _ R
H E A R T

…she’s right w/ “PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART” by Jackie DeShannon from 1968 (we also hear the line at the end of the current Smart Balance commercials) for $1,300.

SOLE LaT: Dennis
BANKRUPTS: 3 (Kym 2x, Sara)

(NOTE: The control people mistakenly gave Dennis another $500 when he picked up the plate.)

Dennis: $3K/Kym: NO LUCK/Sara: $15,700

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PP Round: WAYD?

Sara gets the obvious out of the way first — two N’s for the blue 1/2 KIA, a $350 G and four I’s. She follows w/ four I’s, three A’s, but then R for roadblock. Dennis secondly says S for sorry. Third, Kym finds a $1,200 T pairing, an H for the LuggageOnline gift tag, and an E before she wisely FPs the sole dud vowel of O. Next up are a $300K, the U, a $400 D, a $300 P, but then that same pesky BANKRUPT (her FIFTH one of the night) to rid her of $2,700 cash and luggage. Sara then puts up the twin Z’s for $600 more…

T A K I N G / A
D I P / I N / T H E
_ A _ U Z Z I

…she’s gonna be a TAKING A DIP IN THE JACUZZI soon, because she’s won $1,450 and a  Hotwire.com trip to the SuperClubs Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club in JAMAICA worth $6,540.

DUDS: R (Sara), S (Dennis), O (Kym)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Kym

Dennis: $3K/Kym: ROTTEN LUCK/Sara: $23,690 cash & Jamaica

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$3K Tossup: PERSON

E S C A _ E
A _ T I _ _

Dennis sweeps the Tossups w/ ESCAPE ARTIST.

Speed-Up: PHRASE

We’re ending the week w/ a $6K FS! Four I’s have been chosen by Sara…

T H _ / T _ N S I _ N
I S / _ _ I L _ I N _

…THE TENSION IS BUILDING and she solves for $12K! Here’s what everybody else left behind…

Dennis: $18K
Kym: $24K (she would’ve completed the comeback by $310)

FINAL SCORES
Dennis: $6K/Kym: $1K HARD LUCK GOOSEEGG/Sara: $35,690 cash & Jamaica

GT: $42,690
BANKRUPT TRASH: $4,300

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$100K Bonus Round

Sara lands on that *.

Category: PHRASE
This short one begins like this…

_ N / T _ E
_ _ _ 

CPDO results in a game over for her, so the $30K won’t be added IN THE MIX (she thought HUB and HUT on that last word). 

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: March 29, 2012

EPISODE #5599: EXOTIC FAR EAST

$1K Tossup: ON THE MAP

T H E / S O U T H
C _ _ _ A / _ E A

The non-hosting Pat blows it w/ THE SOUTH CASPIAN SEA, which doesn’t fit the theme week. Shaun then capitalizes w/ THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. Here’s the lowdown on the men and the sole lady of this Thursday night….

Shaun Garvin: flight attendant who’s going to graduate school to be an organizational psychologist from Atlanta (orig. from St. Louis)

Amira Azimi: sales account manager for an apparel company who’s been a Wheel Watcher since she was three years old w/ a 99 yr. old grandma and is married w/ a 9- month-old son from Los Angeles (orig. from Oxnard, CA)

Pat Kotsonis: owner of two restaurants from Fords, NJ

$2K Tossup: OCCUPATION

H _ _ E _
D O _ _ M _ N

Amira solves HOTEL DOORMAN.

FEATURED TRIP: Japan tour from g adventures worth $8,946

Jackpot Round: WAYD?

She kicks things off w/ two N’s for the blue 1/2 KIA, three I’s, but then the LaT. Second, Pat calls up the obvious G and three T’s for $500 a head, two E’s and an A, and two H’s for another $800, but he then hits the MDW’s left side for $2,300. Third, Shaun takes a $600 W and three O’s to clean out the vowels, and a $900 pair of C’s, but he LaTs out. Amira then spins once for a $500 P…

E A T I N G
N O O _ _ E _ / W I T H
C H O _ _ T I C _ _

…she’s rightly EATING NOODLES WITH CHOPSTICKS for another $1,250. Three S’s, ma’am…

LaTs: 2 (Amira, Shaun)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Pat
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,450

Mystery Round: SAME NAME

Pat gets the Japan tour right away w/ two T’s, FPs an O, plugs in three S’s for $900, and buys two I’s and three A’s. Next up are an N for the TravelSmith gift tag and two E’s to finish off the vowels…

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

…he solves SATELLITE AND SOAP DISH for a total of $10,096 in cash & prizes.

PR

Pat: $10,096 cash & prizes/Shaun: $1K/Amira: $3,250 1/2 KIA

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PP Round: SONG LYRICS 

Shaun instantly duds out w/ S while on the other 1/2 KIA. Second for Amira are a $300 N, three E’s, a $600 pair of R’s, a $600 H, and two A’s, followed by three FP I’s, and two C’s for $600 more…

C A _ I _ _ R N I A
H E R E / I / C _ M E

…too bad she solves “CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME” given her home state, but she’s won $1,900 and won’t have to travel far to the Omni Hotel & Resort in S.F. worth $5,500.

SOLE DUD: S (Shaun)

Pat: $10,096 cash & prizes/Shaun: $1K/Amira: $10,650 cash & S.F.

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$3K Tossup: PERSON

_ _ R _ _ _ _
D _ P _ O M A T

Shaun quadruples up up w/ FOREIGN DIPLOMAT.

Round 4: PLACE

His starting letters are two S’s (one on each end of the answer) for $1,200, two A’s, two FP T’s, but then a bad I buy. Second, Amira strikes out w/ N. Third for Pat are three R’s for $1,500, an E quarter, and a $450 C before he…

S E C R E T
_ E A _ _ _ A R T E R S

…steals another $1,700 from the SECRET HEADQUARTERS.

DUDS: I (Shaun), N (Amira)

Pat: $11,796 cash & prizes/Shaun: $1K/Amira: $10,650 cash & S.F.

Speed-Up: LIVING THINGS

Consonants are worth $1,600 each. The L is said early on by Shaun…

_ _ _ _ _ _
_ L _ S S _ _ S

…but he’s incorrect w/ CHERRY BLOSSOMS. Amira takes the B to leave only vowels unexposed…

_ R _ N G _
B L _ S S _ M S

…she solves ORANGE BLOSSOMS right on the buzzer for $8K and the win!

DUDS: C (Amira) and F (Pat)
SOLE DQ: Shaun’s incorrect response

FINAL SCORES
Pat: $11,796 cash & prizes/Shaun: $4K/Amira: $18,650 cash & S.F.

GT: $34,446
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,300

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$100K Bonus Round

Amira lands on the old W.

Category: PHRASE
Here’s how we begin this time…

_ L _ _ / T _ E
S _ _ T _ _

She’s about to kill it w/ PFCI…

F L I P / T _ E
S _ I T C _

…there’s no need to FLIP THE SWITCH on your TVs, boys and girls, because she’s won $40K for a final total of $58,650 cash & trip! Being an LfaT paid off quite nicely for her! For the record, that’s the 50th BR win of the season.

MY EP. RATING: 8

WoF Retro Recap: March 28, 2012

EPISODE #5598: EXOTIC FAR EAST

$1K Tossup: LANDMARK (there was laughing when Vanna didn’t start the board the properly)

_ H _ / F _ R _ I D _ _ N
_ _ T Y

Ryan IDs THE FORBIDDEN CITY, so let’s get to know everybody right this moment…

Ryan Slauter: nonprofit administrative assistant and former six-year Air Force air traffic controller married to Lindsey w/ two children (Ryan & Tyler) from Windham, NH

Minnie Miller: Army medic w/ two teenagers whose uncle appeared about 25 yrs. ago (he missed DON’T BE SARCASTIC) from Tacoma, WA

Yeganeh Watts: behavior consultant and singer/songwriter who has opened a kids’ art/music studio who has a 20-month-old daughter named Lily from Temecula, CA

$2K Tossup: WAYD?

T H _ _ K I N G
_ U _ / L _ _ D

Ryan’s THINKING OUT LOUD to triple up.

FEATRED FE TRIP: Viking River Cruise of China from Hotwire worth $9,850

Jackpot Round: FUN & GAMES

First from him are four T’s for $1,200, an I, two N’s for another $1,600, a FP E, and four A’s, followed by an L for the WC, the rest of the vowel shop, but then a DQ for repeating the N. Minnie secondly wastes a spin w/ the MDW’s right side. Yeganeh then spins just once for a $600 pair of M’s…

M A _ T I A L / A _ T _
T O U _ N A M E N T

…and solves MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT for the other $400.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Minnie
SOLE DQ: Ryan’s N repeat
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $7,800

Mystery Round: TITLE

Minnie gets going w/ two T’s for the green 1/2 KIA, two E’s, two $450 H’s, a $500 G, and two I’s, then she puts up a $600 Y pairing, a $300 L, two A’s, a $7K N pairing, and a $1,200 R double. We now have…

A R _ _ N _ / T H E
_ _ R L _ / I N
E I G H T Y / _ A Y _

…she solves “AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS” (by Jules Verne) for her first $10,750.

PR

Minnie: $10,750 1/2 KIA/Yeganeh: $1K/Ryan: $3K WC 

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PP Round: PHRASE 

Yeganeh starts w/ the same MDW BANKRUPT from before. Second, Ryan has the other side of that wedge, so goodbye WC. Third, Minnie inserts a $1,200 T pairing but no more w/ H. Yeganeh next picks up the LuggageOnline gift tag w/ an S, but the house takes it right back because she’s BANKRUPTED near the old WC spot. Ryan then puts up a $300 N, a $550 Y, four E’s, and a $300 P before going for a quick solve (huh?)…

_ N E / _ _ / _ Y
_ _ _ – T _ _ E
_ _ _ _ _ _ T E
P _ _ _ E S

…another $900 is his and he’s going ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PLACES, the Marriott Waikoloa Beach Resort & Spa in HAWAII worth $5,263.

SOLE DUD: H (Minnie)
BANKRUPTS: 3 (Yeganeh 2x, Ryan)

Minnie: $10,750/Yeganeh: $1K/Ryan: $9,163 cash & HI

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$3K Tossup: ON THE MAP

T _ _ _ L _ N _ / _ N D
_ I E T _ _ _

Ryan IDs THAILAND AND VIETNAM to take the lead at $12,163.

Round 4: THING

His first turn goes by the wayside because of the BANKRUPT near TD. Minnie secondly finds two T’s and an H at $350 a pop, four E’s, but then L for loss. Third, Yeganeh picks a $600 S, an $1,100 pair of N’s, two A’s, and two R’s for $600 more but the M ends her turn. Ryan then BANKRUPTS near $900 (that’s his third of the night), allowing Minnie to say a $900 trio of P’s and we’re finally going into S-U Mode…

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

…w/ the three leftover consonants worth $1,300 a pop. After she then chooses the F’s…

F R O N T / P A _ E / O F
T H E / N E _ S P A P E R

…she could be appearing on the FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER in her hometown, because she’s won the game w/ another $4,050.

DUDS (both before S-U): L (Minnie), M (Yeganeh)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Ryan)

FINAL SCORES
Minnie: $14,800/Yeganeh: $1K/Ryan: $12,163 cash & HI

GT: $27,963
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding WC): luggage

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$100K Bonus Round

Minnie also lands on A…and it’s the first one of AMERICA’S.

Category: THINGS
This is a biggie…

_ _ S _ _
R E _ _ _ R E _ E N T S

PDMA fills in two more blanks…

_ A S _ _
R E _ _ _ R E M E N T S

…she doesn’t even get the second right word w/ REFRESHMENTS, so she fails to meet the BASIC REQUIREMENTS for $35K.

MY EP. RATING: 5

WoF Retro Recap: March 27, 2012

EPISODE #5597: EXOTIC FAR EAST

$1K Tossup: THING

_ A M U _ A I
S _ O _ D

Jeremy takes out a SAMURAI SWORD to strike first among this gang…

Jeremy Ellis: pro desk home improvement retail worker and soccer coach for four/six yr. olds married to Katrina for eight yrs. w/ a six yr. old daughter named Briana from Hagerstown, MD

Kristin Rick: SAHM married to Jeff for four yrs. w/ a two yr. old child named Faith & a three-month-old child named Brenna from Lake Forest, CA (orig. from WI)

Antoinette Toney: nonprofit housing agency worker who shops w/ her mom from Dorchester, MA

$2K Tossup: OCCUPATION

_ R O U _ D S K E E _ E R

Jeremy triples up w/ GROUNDSKEEPER.

FEATURED FE TRIP: Hotel Port Canning in Singapore from Worldhotels.com & Hotwire.com worth $6,500
Tuesday/Thursday Gift Tag: TravelSmith

Jackpot Round: ON THE MAP

First up are a $300 T at the start of the answer, two $800 H’s, two E’s, and an A before he loses the $1,400 leftover to the BANKRUPT near the WC. Second, Kristin LOSES A TURN. Third, Antoinette gets the exact same fate as Jeremy. Next for the middle player are two N’s for the WC, two S’s for the blue 1/2 KIA, four I’s to wipe out the vowels, and an $1,800 L pair. Board…

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

He locates THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS for another $2,550.

SOLE LaT: Kristin
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Jeremy, Antoinette)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $7,500

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER 

Kristin leads the way w/ a $900 T, and buys of an E, two A’s and an I, before she gets the same BANKRUPT everybody else got. Second, Antoinette can’t find any N’s for the same 1/2 KIA. Third, Jeremy inserts two S’s for a duplicate of the blue 1/2 KIA, two R’s for another $300 each, and the last vowel of O. But after a $900 H is that same pesky BANKRUPT to rid him of $17,250 cash & KIA along w/ the WC. Darn. After seeing that unfortunate event, Kristin plugs in a $300 B and a D via the MW near the MDW before taking the risk…$10K! At this point…

B R I D A _
S H O _ E R
S T A _ _

…she doesn’t go on for the L’s, but she nails BRIDAL SHOWER STALL for $10,300.

SOLE DUD: N (Antoinette)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Kristin, Jeremy)

Antoinette: ZERO/Jeremy: $5,550/Kristin: $10,300

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PP Round: SONG LYRICS 

Antoinette instantly hits the other normal BANKRUPT, also her second. Jeremy secondly has the green 1/2 KIA w/ two T’s, three E’s, and two $800 N’s before he goes for a quick solve…

E _ E _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ E / _ _ N
T _ N _ _ _ T

…he’s right w/ “EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT” by Wang Chung (they’re actually from England) for $2,350 and the $5K trip to MIAMI’S Beacon Hotel.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Antoinette

Antoinette: ZILCH/Jeremy: $12,900 cash & FL/Kristin: $10,300

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$3K Tossup: PLACE

S H I P ‘ S
G A _ L _ Y

Kristin IDs a SHIP’S GALLEY to take back the lead w/ $13,300.

Round 4: EVENT

Her first letters are a $2,400 T trio, three E’s, and an I. One $900 F and an A later…

F A _ I _ _
_ E T – T _ _ E T _ E _

…she knows that this game is an example of a FAMILY GET-TOGETHER for another $2,550 (two G’s left out, though)

PR

Antoinette: BUPKIS/Jeremy: $12,900 cash & FL/Kristin: $15,850

Round 5: PHRASE

N for no is how Antoinette starts. Second for Jeremy are three T’s for $900, four I’s, and a $500 S at the end. He thought of solving at this point, but he spins once more for the $900 L trio…

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

…good thing he didn’t leave those behind — he’s able to TELL IT LIKE IT IS for $2,050 more.

SOLE DUD: N (Antoinette)

Antoinette: BAD SHAPE/Jeremy: $14,950 cash & FL/Kristin: $15,850

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Speed-Up: FUN & GAMES

$1,500 per consonant here. After an L pops up late in this round…

T W _ S T E R
& / _ L _ E

…Kristin solves TWISTER & CLUE for $4,500 and the win.

DUDS: N (Jeremy), O (Kristin)

FINAL SCORES
Antoinette: $1K GOOSEEGG/Jeremy: $14,950 cash & FL/Kristin: $20,350

GT: $36,300
BANKRUPT TRASH: $18,800 cash & wheels

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$100K Bonus Round

The BW stops on the A of GAME.

Category: THINGS
Here’s 1/3 of the answer…

_ E _ _
_ _ _ R S

CDMO only adds the vowel

_ E _ _
_ O _ R S

…and she’s out of the game at PEAK HOURS. When this was last used back on Jan. 8, 2008, only $25K was lost (that contestant left w/ $53,200)…

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…BUT IN KRISTIN’S CASE, IT’S FOUR TIMES AS MUCH — SHE’S THE SEVENTH $100K LOSER OF THE SEASON. Too bad. But according to Pat in the closing speech, they’ve given away the big one in the studio at least once before even though it hasn’t aired yet this season. I think some of you know when that’s gonna air.

VIDEO BONUS: Unlucky 7th $100K LOSS

MY EP. RATING: 5