WoF Retro Recap: April 24, 2012

EPISODE #5617: AMERICA’S GAME (WK. 4)

The next stop’s the “WHEEL Around the World” set.

$1K Tossup: PLACE

W _ O _ I N G
R A _ C _

Kristine isn’t living on a WYOMING RANCH, but she’s correct. Here’s where she and the other players are really from…

Kristine Guadiz: piano/social studies teacher at Showalter MS who’s married to John for seven yrs. from Seattle

Robin Jacobson: L.A. tax accountant married to Jeff for a couple yrs. w/ a yr. old son named Luke from South Pasadena

Scott Benskin: old fields maintenance man and frequent cook married  married to Cassie w/ eight children (five of whom are teenage daughters)  from Bakersfield

…yep, all from the West Coast.

$2K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

_ _ R _ / O N
_ _ E / C _ _

Scott quickly eats up some CORN ON THE COB.

FEATURED TRIP: Durango, CO from Hotwire worth $5,585

Jackpot Round: MOVIE QUOTE

He gets the ski trip right away w/ S, a $300 T at the start, and five E’s, but after a $300 R and an A buy is the MDW’s right side to clean him out of $5,685 cash & CO. Second, Kristine FPs the I but loses a turn w/ the BANKRUPT near TD. Third, Robin sees two $500 H’s pop up and an N for the BnbFinder.com gift tag…

T H E R E ‘ S / N _
_ _ A _ E / _ I _ E
H _ _ E

…she says “The Wizard of Oz” line “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME” for $2K cash & GT.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (Robin’s opposition)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $6,600

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER 

Kristine claims the blue 1/2 KIA right away w/ two S’s, five E’s and two A’s, but her O buy (the sole bad vowel of this puzzle) fails her. Second for Robin are two S’s for $1,200, the other vowel singles of I and U, and three $900 L’s before the LaT strikes. Scott next sees two F’s at $600 pop and two P’s for the WC pop up…

_ L U E – P L A _ E
S P E C I A L
E F F E C _ S

…and he solves BLUE-PLATE SPECIAL EFFECTS for $3,200.

SOLE DUD: O (Kristine)
SOLE LaT: Robin

Robin: $2K cash & GT/Scott: $3,200 WC/Kristine: $1K

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PP Round: WAYD?

The lead-off lady, Robin, picks up the MDW w/ two N’s, a $900 G, and three obvious I’s, followed by two L’s for another $700, A and E singles, a $400 R and an O trip to clean out the vowels…but the other normal BANKRUPT cleans her out of said wedge and a grand. Now with a chance to build on his lead, Scott puts up a $2,700 P trio and faces this…

_ I P P I N G / A
_ O L _ / _ R I N _
_ _ / _ _ E / P O O L

…he doesn’t keep track of the A’s as he incorrectly responds w/ SIPPING A COLD DRINK AT THE POOL. Kristine then SPINGLES for a B while on the other 1/2 KIA…

_ I P P I N G / A
_ O L _ / _ R I N _
B _ / _ _ E / P O O L

…she’s the one to be SIPPING A COLD DRINK BY THE POOL on her $5,500 Caravan.com PANAMA TOUR.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Robin
SOLE DQ: Scott’s preposition fail

Robin: $2K cash & GT/Scott: $3,200 WC/Kristine: $7K cash & Panama

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$3K Tossup: PHRASE

_ I _ C U _
A C R O _ A _ S

Some CIRCUS ACROBATS send Kristine to the $10K mark exactly.

Round 4: PHRASE

A $900 T gets her going, followed by an I buy but then N for negative. Down Robin’s path second are four L’s for $1,200, an E pair, a $300 H, but no more w/ R. Scott next FPs two A’s and forfeits his WC to the BANKRUPT next to where he got it before we go into S-U Mode…

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

…and the Final Spin is $6K a consonant! Kristine then calls the twin S’s…

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

…she says “IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK” for the win w/ another $13,550!

DUDS (both before S-U): N (Kristine), R (Robin)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Scott (his other one of the night)

FINAL SCORES
Robin: $2K cash & GT/Scott: $3,200/Kristine: $23,550 cash & Panama   

GT: $28,750
BANKRUPT TRASH: $5,685 cash & CO

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$100K Bonus Round

Kristine lands on the E of AMERICA’S.

Category: FUN & GAMES
She needs good help in the bottom word…

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

GDCO puts in besides the obvious…

O _ E N _ N G
_ _ C _ O _ _

…whether she’s a football fan or not, she can’t get that second word of OPENING KICKOFF for $35K.

MY EP. RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: April 23, 2012

Could this be the week that we finally have our first $100K winner of S29? Let’s find out.

EPISODE #5616: AMERICA’S GAME (WK. 4)

We’re kicking things off on the Hawaii set.

$1K Tossup: PROPER NAME

D A V _
_ _ O C _ _ _ T

Simms IDs folk hero DAVY CROCKETT. First players that week…

Simms Haguewood: senior at Ole Miss majoring in elementary education who’s also a teacher from Tupelo, MS 

Dave Zachary: international documentations specialist and runner of two marathons who sings in his car from time to time from Brockton, MA

Anesha Williams: Kindergarten teacher at Venetian Hills ES and stuffed animal collector (she got most of them from her mom) who has an identical twin that she does twin studies w/ from Jonesboro, GA

$2K Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

_ A _ I L _
H E I R _ O O _ S

Dave solves FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.

FEATURED TRIP: Club Med Sandpiper Bay in FL worth $5,500
Gift Tag: BnBFinder.com

Jackpot Round: OCCUPATION

Getting him started are five T’s for $1,500, buys of two A’s and three E’s, but then the LaT. Second, Anesha claims the green 1/2 KIA w/ two N’s, buys U and I, picks up the BnBFinder gift tag w/ two S’s, and purchases that last vowel of O…

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

…she solves UNITED STATES ATTORNEY for $1,250 in cash & GT.

SOLE LaT OF THE ROUND: Dave
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $5,800

Mystery Round: RHYME TIME 

Anesha’s next call of T is no good. Second, Simms FPs two E’s, picks up the same 1/2 KIA w/ four R’s, and buys two A’s before saying D for dud. Third, Dave catches three S’s for $1,500, two I’s, a $300 M and the leftover two O’s, then comes his second LaT of the night. Next for Anesha are a $500 H while on the same wedge where Simms got her plate, $400 F and a FP P…

A P R I _
S H O _ E R S
_ R I _ _ / M A _
F _ O _ E R S

…she says “APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS” for $1,400 more (it could’ve been $16,400 cash & Soul had it not been for Simms).

DUDS: T (Anesha), D (Simms)
SOLE LaT OF THE ROUND: Dave

Anesha: $2,650 cash & GT 1/2 KIA/Simms: $1K/Dave: $2K

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PP Round: PHRASE 

Simms wastes a spin w/ the MDW’s right side. Dave secondly puts up three $500 T’s but no more w/ the sole dud vowel of A. Third for Anesha are an $1,100 S pairing, two E’s, a $300 R, three I’s, and an O pair before she says L for loss. Simms then picks off two $900 M’s, a FP U to clean out the vowels, and three S’s while on that same 1/2 KIA…

I / M U S T
_ E / _ O I _ G
S O M E T _ I _ G
R I G _ T

…she says “I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT”, because she’s won $3,300 plus a $5,500 Hotwire trip to the The Fairmont Chateau WHISTLER.

DUDS: A (Dave), L (Anesha)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Simms

Anesha: $2,650 cash & GT/Simms: $9,800 cash & Canada/Dave: $2K

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$3K Tossup: ON THE MAP

_ R O P I _ / O F
_ A _ R I _ O R _

Dave solves the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN to go up to $5K.

Round 4: SHOW BIZ

First from his mouth are a $300 T but then S for sorry. Second, Anesha gets into BANKRUPT trouble near TD. Third, Simms spots a $300 R and an $800 C, buys an E and A quintet, and puts up a $600 D pair before the other BANKRUPT nails her to the tune of $1,200. Dave then puts up two M’s for $600 and FPs three N’s…

A C A D E M _ / A _ A R D
N _ M _ N A T _ _ N

…no ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION for him but another $2,400 is added to his overall bank.

SOLE DUD: S (Dave)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (women)

Anesha: $2,650 cash & GT/Simms: $9,800 cash & Canada/Dave: $7,400

Round 5: FUN & GAMES

Consonants are worth $1,450 each. Anesha puts up the frontloading B to leave only two consonants unexposed…

B _ T T _ N G
_ _ G _ _

…she solves BATTING CAGES for another $2,900.

DUDS: R (Simms), M (Anesha), L (Simms)

FINAL SCORES
Anesha: $5,550 cash & GT/Simms: $9,800 cash & Canada/Dave: $7,400

GT: $22,750
BANKRUPT TRASH: $1,200

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$100K Bonus Round

Simms takes the & envelope.

Category: PHRASE
She needs some good help in the bottom line…

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

HCBO adds besides the obvious H…

_ E T / T H E
_ O R _ / O _ T 

GET THE WORD OUT now, Simms…but she TOTALLY BLOWS IT w/ WET THE FORK OUT, PET THE WORK OUT and MET THE WORK OUT. That costs her $30K.

MY EP. RATING: 3

WoF Retro Recap: April 20, 2012

EPISODE #5615: WHEEL ACROSS AMERICA

$1K Tossup: PLACE

T H _ / _ E A _ T _ _ N D
_ F / A M _ _ _ C _

In THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA, Ken makes the solve. The last potential big winners of the week…

Ken Rodgers: eight-year NYPD officer and four yr. Army veteran (who got out of duty in ’03) married to Jessica for seven yrs.w/ a 3.5 yr. old child named Jack from Massapequa, NY

Cynthia Herbert: secretary for a local government office married to Michael w/ two adult children (Jasmyne & Adam) whose family also has a former Broadway actress from Inglewood, CA

Brittany Young: U.S. Navy helicopter pilot who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy whose boyfriend Steve’s also a Cobra pilot for the Marine Corps from San Diego

$2K Tossup: OCCUPATION

_ T A T _
_ _ O _ P _ R

Brittany beats Ken to the punch w/ STATE TROOPER.

LAST TRIP OF THE WK.: Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL from Hotwire worth $5,360

Jackpot Round: LANDMARK

Brittany instantly gets the Red Roof Inn gift tag w/ an S, FPs an A, calls up a $300 R, but then duds out w/ N. Second, Ken calls up a pair of Jackpot L’s, but loses the grand right back to the MDW’s right side. Third, Cynthia finds no M’s. Brittany next puts up a Jackpot D, buys two E’s and three I’s, and lights up a $300 F before she…

_ _ I _ A _ _ ‘ S
_ R I _ L E _
F I E L D

…solves CHICAGO’S WRIGLEY FIELD for another $1,600 cash & gift tag.

DUDS: N (Brittany), M (Cynthia)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Ken
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,450

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

First for Ken are two $600 T’s and three H’s via the MW next to that MDW. He turns down the $3K offer for…the $10K! Following his buy of six E’s are an $800 pair of S’s, an A, a $300 N, a $1K W and three O’s before he says a possibly fatal dud of D while on the green 1/2 KIA. Cynthia then puts up a $2,700 trio of R’s…

T H E
E _ _ E R O R ‘ S / N E W
_ _ O T H E S
H A _ _ E R

…she solves “THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES” HAMPER.

SOLE DUD: D (Ken)

Ken: $1K/Cynthia: $2,700/Brittany: $3,600 cash & GT

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PP Round: SONG LYRICS

Cynthia first calls up four T’s for $1,200, five I’s, and two N’s at $550 each, but she then gets the same MDW BANKRUPT to lose $2,050. Brittany then goes for a quick solve…

I ‘ _ / _ _
_ _ _ I T _ _ / _ N _
I / _ _ _ T / _ _ N ‘ T
_ I _ _ / I T

…she nails “I’M SO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN’T HIDE IT” (by the Pointer Sisters) for a $7,900 trip to the Franklyn D. Resort in JAMAICA.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Cynthia

Ken: $1K/Cynthia: $2,700/Brittany: $11,500 cash & prizes

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$3K Tossup: THING

_ E A R V _ _ W
_ _ _ R O _

Ken looks in a REARVIEW MIRROR to x4 his money.

Round 4: PROPER NAME

He kicks off w/ four T’s for $2,400 but then E for error. Second, Cynthia also strikes out w/ L. Third, Brittany gets the same fate w/ her R request. Ken resumes his play w/ four N’s for $1,400, three S’s for $1,800 more and five I’s before this pops up…

S _ I T _ S _ N I _ N
I N S T I T _ T I _ N

…he solves the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION for $5,100.

DUDS: E (Ken), L (Cynthia), R (Brittany)

Ken: $9,100/Cynthia: $2,700/Brittany: $11,500 cash & prizes

Round 5: AROUND THE HOUSE

Wanted by Cynthia first is the R, but this puzzle doesn’t have any either. Second for Brittany are a $1,350 trio of T’s, an E, a $600 H, and an I before L for loss. Third, Ken BANKRUPTS next to the old WC spot; that’s his other one of the night as we go into S-U Mode…

_ _ _ _ _ / _ _ / T H E
_ I _ H T _ T _ _ _

…and the Final Spin is set at $1,500. After a later B request…

B _ _ _ S / _ N / T H E
N I G H T S T _ N D

…Brittany finds some BOOKS ON THE NIGHTSTAND for $5,950 and the win!

DUDS (both before Speed-Up): R (Cynthia), L (Brittany)

FINAL SCORES
Ken: $9,100/Cynthia: $2,700/Brittany: $17,450 cash & prizes

GT: $29,250
BANKRUPT TRASH: $3,050

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$100K Bonus Round

Brittany picks up the * envelope.

Category: PHRASE
This puzzle that was last used at the end of NFL Players Week ’04 (and denied us a PBRW) begins as…

_ _ / _ _ R
_ R _ _ E

PFGI does for her…

G _ / F _ R
_ R _ _ E

…but she doesn’t really GO FOR BROKE, because she only gets the first line and we have our FOURTH 0-5 BR WEEK on the season. Did the $100K play a part in this latest shutout?…

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…no, she’s the other $30K loser of the week. And after the BR ended, the studio lights went out — I guess it wasn’t meant to be this night.

MY EP. RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: April 19, 2012

EPISODE #5614: WHEEL ACROSS AMERICA

$1K Tossup: PHRASE

W _ / H A V _ / T H E
G R E _ N / L I G H T

Nicole correctly says “WE HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT”. Before we give them that in the maingame action, we need to know something about them first…

Nicole Railey: labor delivery nurse w/ three children (one daughter & two sons) from Little Rock (orig. from Winchester, AR)

Sarah Stanfield: pharmacy technician who coaches her town’s Lions Little League Baseball team and mom of two boys who is celebrating a birthday at the time of this taping from Cottage Grove, OR

David Hill: University of North Carolina student majoring in Spanish & minoring in Business who’s a member of Pi Kappa Phi via Push America from Winston-Salem, NC

$2K Tossup: FUN & GAMES

P _ _ _ _ _ G
_ A T _ _

Sarah’s PLAYING CATCH, so she’s spinning first.

FEATURED TRIP: Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio worth $7K

Jackpot Round: AROUND THE HOUSE

She squanders a turn to the BANKRUPT near the WC. Second, David claims the RITZ Camera & Image gift tag w/ two S’s, a $900 H, and four E’s, but after a $600 pair of R’s is the sole dud vowel of A. Third, Nicole BANKRUPTS the same way the other lady did, so Sarah captures $5K worth of T’s, two I’s, and a C for the blue 1/2 KIA. Following two O’s and three N’s for the TX trip…

_ E _ O N –
S C E N T E _
_ _ R N I T _ R E
_ O _ I S H

…she solves LEMON-SCENTED FURNITURE POLISH for $12K cash & TX.

SOLE DUD: A (David)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (ladies)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,200

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER 

David instantly BANKRUPTS next to TD. Second, Nicole quickly takes a $1K N instead of looking under the MW near LaT (that was a good move after all), then she says a $550 T, two I’s, but then D for dud. Third, Sarah inserts a $450 S and an E before saying a THROWAWAY DUD of J — she apparently thought the last word was JEANS. Dave next says another baddie of R, so Nicole takes a $1,200 L trio and two O’s…

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

…she solves CAPITOL HILL OF BEANS for $2,250.

DUDS: D (Nicole), J (Sarah), R (David)
SOLE BANKRUPT: David

David: ZIP/Nicole: $3,250/Sarah: $14K cash & TX 1/2 KIA

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PP Round: THING

The next letters on Nicole’s list are two T’s for $1,200, two H’s to add half her initial amount, four E’s, but then a baddie of I. Over to Sarah w/ a $300 R, three A’s, a $500 S, and an O. But after a P for the WC is that same BANKRUPT she got before to hand back $300 and those cardboard pieces. David then takes a stab at this…

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

…but he blows the solve w/ THE MOON SHAPE OF A PALM TREE. Nicole then finds a $300 D, and two $600 L’s…

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

…she banks another $2,800 and will feel THE COOL SHADE OF A PALM TREE on her hotwire trip to the Hilton Waikoloa Village worth $6,515.

SOLE DUD: I (Nicole)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Sarah
SOLE DQ: David’s blown solve

David: BAD SHAPE/Nicole: $12,565 cash & HI/Sarah: $14K cash & TX

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$3K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

S H _ _ _ P
_ C A _ _ _

Nicole eats some SHRIMP SCAMPI to move to $15,565.

Round 4: PEOPLE

Two T’s for $600 get her started, followed by a $1,500 R trio, an O buy, but then the S-U bell…

_ _ R _ _ R _ _ O _
_ _ _ R T _ T

…and the remaining consonants are worth $1,300 a pop. Her next consonant of N is a dud. Sarah then puts up the B’s…

B _ R B _ R _ _ O _
_ _ _ R T _ T

…the BARBERSHOP QUARTET will give her a good serenade, because she’s added another $2,600 and is the victor by $1,035.

SOLE DUD (during S-U): N (Nicole)

FINAL SCORES
David: $1K GOOSEEGG/Nicole: $15,565 cash & HI/Sarah: $16,600 cash & TX

GT: $33,165
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding cardboard): $300

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$100K Bonus Round

SS spins up the E of AMERICA’S.

Category: THING
Here’s the last letter of both words…

_ _ _ _ _ E
_ _ R

CMGA makes Vanna add…

C _ _ _ _ E
_ A R

…but she won’t be sticking her hands in the producers’ COOKIE JAR and taking away the $30K inside.

MY EP. RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: April 18, 2012

EPISODE #5613: WHEEL ACROSS AMERICA

$1K Tossup: PLACE

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

Heidi gets off the INTERSTATE HIGHWAY at a good time to score first among this group…

Heidi Bird: softball coach at Simi Valley High School and former four-year Arizona State University softball player married to Tim w/ a one-year-old son named Cody from Vista, CA

Steve Brenner: technical sales director for a security software co. married to Lisa w/ three kids who plays the guitar from Grafton, MA

Donna Perkins: Tennessee Tech University student who will graduate on May 5th and become an elementary school teacher from Chattanooga, TN; she also served in the Army for 16 yrs. and has seven children & one grandchild

$2K Tossup: IN THE KITCHEN

_ _ E / _ _ _ _ M
_ _ K _ _

Heidi quickly triples up w/ an ICE CREAM MAKER.

FEATURED TRIP: MacArthur Place in Sonoma Valley from Hotwire worth $5,500

Jackpot Round: TITLE

The first letters this evening are two Jackpot R’s, six E’s, an H for the MDW, a $400 R and two A’s, followed by four N’s for the blue 1/2 KIA, three $300 D’s, and two I’s…

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

…she solves “THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE” for $3,550. Two C’s, ma’am…

PR
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $6,700

Mystery Round: SAME LETTER 

Steve’s off to a sour start w/ S. Second, Donna gets two $800 R’s but no more w/ a dud of T. Third, Heidi LOSES A TURN. Steve restarts w/ a $500 D, two E’s and three As, and the SL of four B’s for the Red Roof Inn gift tag, but he and Donna dud out on the WC w/ N and L, respectively. Heidi next puts up a $900 C double, a U, a $500 Y, a $300 K, before making the fatal purchase of the sole dud vowel of O. Steve then gets the CA trip w/ a G…

B _ G
B A C K Y A R D
B A R B E Q U E

…he’s won $6,500 in prizes w/ a BIG BACKYARD BARBEQUE.

DUDS: S (Steve), T (Donna), N (Steve), L (Donna), O (Heidi)
SOLE LaT: Heidi

Donna: ZERO/Heidi: $6,550 1/2 KIA MDW/Steve: $6,500 in prizes

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PP Round: PHRASE 

Donna starts w/ her third straight dud of R. Heidi secondly plugs in an N and two T’s at $300 apiece, three E’s, two H’s for another $600 and four I’s, followed by an M trio for a duplicate of the blue 1/2 KIA, and a $500 G. Here we go…

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

She rightly admits “I’M HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE” for $18K cash and Soul plus a trip to ANTIGUA’S St. James’s Club worth $7,140!

SOLE DUD: R (Donna)

Donna: ZILCH/Heidi: $31,690 cash & prizes MDW/Steve: $6,500 in prizes

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$3K Tossup: LANDMARK

H O _ _ _ R
D A _

Steve finally gets some money w/ the HOOVER DAM.

Speed-Up: FICTIONAL CHARACTER

Here’s another $1,300 FS for ya. After a C request by Steve…

L _ _ B _ R _ _ C _
P _ _ L / B _ N _ _ N

…he IDs LUMBERJACK PAUL BUNYAN for $3,900.

DUDS: S (Steve), T (Donna), D (Steve), H (Donna)

FINAL SCORES
Donna: $1K GOOSEEGG/Hedi: $31,690 cash & prizes MDW/Steve: $13,400 cash & prizes

GT: $46,090
NO BANKRUPTS THIS GAME!

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MILLION DOLLAR BONUS ROUND #9

Attempting to become the new all-time top winner on the show, Ms. Bird’s flown to the S of SPIN.

Category: PHRASE
Let’s see that RSTLNE legend…

_ _ T / _ _
S _ _ _ T

CMPU only adds the vowel…

_ U T / _ _
S _ _ _ T

…she doesn’t even get the first word right w/ GUT. This is going OUT OF SIGHT because she doesn’t win it…

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…$40K. Not very well played.

$1M SPOT: I of AMERICA’S

MY EP. RATING: 7