WoF Recap: May 31, 2022

EPISODE #7612: 🎣GONE FISHIN’🎣

Jim’s introducing the hosts while sitting near the cabin to the right of the center stage monitor.

$1K Toss-Up: PLACE

(Vanna had some trouble lighting up the rightmost letter, and Pat jokingly told her to kick it.)

_ O _ E _ _ E R E
O _ _ / _ H E / _ _ _ D

Chris only gets the first word, and Charlotte is incorrect w/ SOMEWHERE OFF THE ROAD.

S O M E W _ E R E
O F F / _ H E / _ R I D

Ellenor or one of these people could go to SOMEWHERE OFF THE GRID…

Ellenor McCoy: executive admin. assistant in the insurance business married to Renaldo for 20 years w/ a blended family of five kids and three grandkids (and she’s a competitive fisher w/ her hubby) from Anaheim

Chris Wetzel: firefighter for the Lafayette Fire Department Station #2 married to Erica for almost five years w/ two kids from Frederick, CO

Charlotte Capan: a lady who has had a team building event business for 18 years in the Bay Area and married for three months from San Rafael, CA (orig. from MN; her parents are huge WHEEL watchers and watch from that state)

$2K Toss-Up: CHARACTER 

C A P _ A I N
_ _ _ _

Chris takes a stab with CAPTAIN HOOK…yes it is.

FEATURED TRIP: marked ALASKA (this might be the $13K+ Alaskan Cruise; they mistakenly listed last night’s prize wedge info)

Round 1: WAYD?

Chris: $500 R, two L’s for $1,700 more, one E and five A’s, $700 N, two T’s for WC, $650 S, two O’s, three I’s, and two U’s (NMV), LaT ($3,300 at risk)

Charlotte: $800 G, $1,800 B trio, solve…

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

She solves BOARDING A BEAUTIFUL SAILBOAT for $2,600.

Mystery/Crossword Round: SUN _____

Charlotte: one T on MW near $650 and obviously risks…$$$, R for rats

Ellenor: $500 L, two A’s, MDW’s right side (lost $250)

Chris: one N for MDW, $700 H, one I, BANKRUPT near TD (lost $450 and both valuable extras)

Charlotte: $1K D pair, dud vowel of E

Ellenor: $600 G, $1,300 B pair, last vowel of O, solve…

	D			D
B	A	T	H	I	N	G
	_			A
			B	L	O	_	_

DAY and BLOCK are the other words associated with “sun” for $1,650.

Charlotte: $2,600/Ellenor: $2,650/Chris: $2K

---

PP/Express Round: FOOD & DRINK 

Ellenor: $1,400 T pair, three E’s and four I’s, $2,550 N trio, three A’s, $3,500 S (huh?)…

A _ T _ E N T I _
_ A _ I _ _ E A N
_ _ I S I N E

…but she says a CRITICAL DUD of L to leave $6,700 on the table, and Chris will have AUTHENTIC CARIBBEAN CUISINE on his trip to the Fairmomt El San Juan Hotel in PUERTO RICO worth $9,800.

Charlotte: $2,600/Ellenor: $2,650/Chris: $11,800 cash & P.R.

---

Triple Toss-Up: LIVING THING

1.

A T _ _ N T I C
_ _ _ _ _ N

Charlotte catches an ATLANTIC SALMON.

2.

_ _ _ _ _ I C 
S _ _ M O _

Charlotte also catches a PACIFIC SALMON…

3.

_ _ _ K _ _ E
S _ _ _ _ _

…and she catches this SOCKEYE SALMON for the bonus sweep.

Speed-Up: PHRASE

Charlotte has spun $1,650 per consonant.

Charlotte: 2 T’s (I knew the solution already)
Ellenor: D (DUD)
Chris: R (DUD)
Charlotte: S (DUD)
Ellenor: Y
Chris: 3 C’s

Y _ _ / C _ _ ‘ T
C _ T C _ / _ _ !

He gets the last word wrong w/ “YOU CAN’T CATCH UP!”.

Charlotte: H 

Y _ _ / C _ _ ‘ T
C _ T C H / _ _ !

She too gets the last word wrong w/ “YOU CAN’T CATCH ON!”.

Ellenor: M

Y _ _ / C _ _ ‘ T
C _ T C H / M _ !

This would apply to Charlotte, but Ellenor solves “YOU CAN’T CATCH ME!” for $3,300 more.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1		Chris
ROUND 2	R & E (both by Charlotte)		2 (Ellenor, Chris)
ROUND 3	L (Ellenor)
ROUND 4	D (Ellenor), R (Chris), S (Charlotte)			2 (missolves by Chris and Charlotte)

FINAL SCORES 
Charlotte: $12,600/Ellenor: $5,950/Chris: $11,800 cash & P.R.

GT: $30,350
BANKRUPT TRASH (minus both extras): just $700

Charlotte’s generic category list…

• PEOPLE 
• PLACE
• THING

She’s doing my category of PLACE.

---

$100K Bonus Round

The *** is where she lands on. Graceland is one example of this place…

_ / _ _ _ _ _ S
_ _ _ S E

PHGO gives her the third word…

_ / _ _ _ O _ S
H O _ S E

…but not much in the second, so she won’t be driving to A FAMOUS HOUSE in the Bronco Sport. Furthermore, she was THIS CLOSE in having the season’s lowest-winning total by just $10.

T-Mobile Puzzle of the Week: STREAM YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS

MY RATING: 4 (lackluster game)

WoF Recap: May 30, 2022 —🪖Memorial Day🪖

After we do some fishing this week, next week will mark the first time since S30 we end with an America’s Game week. 

EPISODE #7611: 🎣GONE FISHIN’🎣

Jim’s using a red fish prop as a microphone on his podium.

$1K Toss-Up: LIVING THINGS

_ _ _ S H _ _ T E R
F _ S _

Jenny catches some FRESHWATER FISH. Kicking off this week are…

Jenny Vazquez-Newsum: leadership program facilitator and writer married about 7 years to Shaun w/ two young kids who went fishing with her mom in San Diego County all the time and has a fear of balloons (i.e. globophobia) from Santa Monica, CA

Kelly Alexander: video producer married to Stephen for 12 years w/ one son (Liam) and two stepsons who won the title of Lady Angler 2007 in a fishing tournament from Delray Beach, FL (she’s dedicating this game to her mom and Liam the son who love this show)

Erik Radcliffe: commercial pilot and flight instructor who retired from a large corporation after about 35 years, and father of a son who graduated from Cal State Long Beach w/ a mechanical engineering degree from Long Beach, CA

$2K Toss-Up: THING

W _ _ T H E R
F O R E C _ S T

The WEATHER FORECAST predicts Kelly’s getting some $ too, even though she didn’t let Pat call on her after buzzing in.

FEATURED FISHING TRIP: Ramon’s Village Resort in BELIZE 
Weeklong Gift Tag: DICK’s Sporting Goods

Round 1: SAME LETTER (Pat mistakenly said SAME NAME)

Kelly: SL Bonus of three R’s for DICK’s gift tag, one E, S for sorry 

Erik: insta-BANKRUPT near $2,500

Jenny: $2,550 N trio, two A’s, D for dud

Kelly: MDW’s left side (lost $3,250 cash & GC)

Erik: other normal BANKRUPT 

Jenny: $650 L, three I’s, M for mistake 

Kelly: three G’s for BELIZE trip, but repeats the E right after 

Erik: one T for WC, last vowel of O…

R O _ I N G
R A _ T I N G
R E L A _ I N G

…but he FLUNKS OUT thinking H would fit up there — no way, sir. -__- Jenny then says a $900 W…

R O W I N G
R A _ T I N G
R E L A _ I N G

… and solves ROWING, RAFTING, RELAXING for $3,600.

Mystery Round: SONG LYRICS 

Erik: $900 T, five E’s, one H on MW near $650 and risks his own $650 and WC…$$$, A for awful 

Jenny: $650 N, two O’s, M fails her again 

Kelly: $1,500 R trio, one I and three U’s (NMV), BANKRUPT near $3,500 (lost $1K)

Erik: doesn’t capitalize w/ G for goof

Jenny: $900 Y, $1K D, bad time for the S (RUSSER DUSSIE?! -__-)

Kelly: HORRIBLE pick of L on MDW

Erik: $600 C…

R U _ _ E R / D U C _ I E
Y O U ‘ R E / T H E / O N E

…but he’s spinning on much to our dismay…and he painfully BANKRUPTs near $650 to give up $11K and his WC — UGH. -__- Jenny then completes the board w/ two B’s and K at $500 a pop…

R U B B E R / D U C K I E
Y O U ‘ R E / T H E / O N E

…and mercifully reads the answer (sung by Ernie on “Sesame Street”) for $3,800. Definitely the WORST first half of the season, period. -___-

Kelly: $2K/Erik: BUPKIS/Jenny: $8,400

---

PP/Express Round: PHRASE

Jenny: $1,600 S pair, four E’s, seven T’s for $4,900 more, one A, the M fails her yet again (what’s with her obsession with that letter? 🤨) 

Kelly: BANKRUPT near TD (she and Erik each have three of ‘em so far)

Erik: $900 G, two I’s, $650 B, solve…

I T / _ _ E S _ ‘ T
G E T / B E T T E R
T _ A _ / T _ I S

IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THIS — he’s finally on the board w/ $1,300 and a FlightGuru trip to The Buccaneer in ST. CROIX worth $11,150.

Kelly: $2K/Erik: $12,450 cash & trip/Jenny: $8,400

---

Triple Toss-Up: WAYD?

1.

W _ R _ I N G / U P
M _ / M _ S C L E _

These are things you do before and after an exercise, and Jenny solves WARMING UP MY MUSCLES.

2.

C O O L I N G
D _ _ _

Kelly’s COOLING DOWN.

3.

_ _ _ _ N _
A / S H _ _ _ R

Kelly solves TAKING A SHOWER.

Speed-Up: PERSON

Kelly has spun $1,650 per consonant.

Kelly: 2 A’s (rare time for somebody to start w/ a vowel right away)
Erik: 2 T’s
Jenny: 2 N’s
Kelly: 2 G’s

A / G _ N T _ _
G _ A N T

She doesn’t solve for $3,300. Erik then foregoes picking the last consonant of L and just solves A GENTLE GIANT for his own $3,300.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1	S (Kelly), D (Jenny), M (Jenny), H (Erik)		3 (Erik 2x, Kelly)	Kelly’s E repeat
ROUND 2	A (Erik), M (Jenny), G (Erik), S (Jenny), L (Kelly)		2 (Kelly, Erik)
ROUND 3	M (Jenny yet again)		Kelly
ROUND 4	NONE

FINAL SCORES 
Kelly: $6K/Erik: $15,750 cash & trip/Jenny: $10,400

GT: $32,150
BANKRUPT TRASH (excl. WC): $15,250

Since the PP mattered for Erik to win, this is usually NOT good news and he has to pick from…

• PHRASE 
• THING
• FOOD & DRINK 

…and to make my night more miserable, he picks THING. -___-

---

$100K Bonus Round

The last car offered this season is a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend. Erik lands on what’s under the R. Just two in the bottom, but I know it already…

_ _ _ _
T _ _ _ N _

All of his consonants of DMGA are there…

G _ _ D
T _ M _ N G

He makes the solve for $39K before the timer even started, giving him a final total of $54,750 cash & trip. That was more than GOOD TIMING right there.

MY RATING: 5 (horrible first half)

Notes of some WoF Alums on other game shows for May 2022

• Hilary Menor from April 12, 2019 in S36 appeared on “The Price is Right” two weeks ago on May 16. She was one of the First Four contestants that day, but she NEVER made it out, so she had to settle for the $300 consolation.
• Emily Herndon from Nov. 13, 2019 in S37 appeared on “The Chase” (this is her fourth GS appearance that we know of) on May 10 during the time I was away on vacation. She banked $10K after getting just one question during the Cash Builder Round and successfully made it through her head-to-head Chase w/ James. In the Final Chase, she was joined by her teammate Suchita who banked $60K in her own round. Both ladies would split $70K if they won the Final Chase…and they did!
• Wren Schultz from S32 (Oct. 30, 2014) also appeared on “The Chase” a week after Emily aired. He banked $30K in his Cash Builder Round and made it to the Final Chase. He was joined by Scott (banked $50K) and Jill ($30K). The team would split $110K if they won the Final Chase against Victoria Groce…but they painfully failed since Victoria caught up to them right before the buzzer.

Vanna on “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

For any of you fans of the reality “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, Vanna appeared last Friday in the seventh season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” in the episode titled “The Realness of Fortune Ball”.

In this challenge, the queens had to present three runway looks in categories inspired by “WHEEL of FORTUNE”. They were…

• Vanna White Realness
• Before & After
• Realness of Fortune Eleganza

Enjoy this near 11 min. clip featuring Vanna:

WoF Retro Recap: June 2, 2000 — SEASON 17 FINALE

This was the very last episode w/ the $1K wedge, the “drew numbers before the show”spiel, and for Merv Griffin as exec. producer.

EPISODE #3315: BIG MONEY WEEK II

Preview Puzzle: THINGS

S _ E _ K / _ _ _ E S

A: STEAK FRIES (not SLEEK BABES, Pat!)

Tony Fiore: pharmaceutical sales worker who’s married to Hortencia w/ two daughters and getting his private pilot’s license from Phoenix, AZ

Robert Lynn: Univ. of New Orleans junior studying business administration and a salesperson for a big computer co. and played pool shark from Metairie, LA

Pat Hoffman (female): retired nurse who’s married 35 yrs. w/ three kids and two grandkids who likes drinking wine while watching the show from Naperville, IL

Gift Tag: Meade

Round 1: PROPER NAME

Tony started w/ a $1K N, but then M for mistake. Second, Robert called up a $900 H, a single E, a $1K R pair, and a single A. Board…

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

He IDed former talk show OPRAH WINFREY for $1,400.

SOLE DUD: M (Tony)

FEATURED PRIZE: collection of coins from the American Historic Society worth $2,500

PUZZLER Round: EVENT

Robert’s first w/ three T’s for $1,200, two H’s to double up, two E’s and A’s, a $400 R, a $600 G, and two I’s, but the BANKRUPT near $600 nailed him for $2,650. Pat secondly picked two B’s for $600 and two C’s for the Free SPIN. Board…

C A T C H I _ G / T H E
B R I _ A _
B _ _ _ _ E T

She’s CATCHING THE BRIDAL BOUQUET for $600. To turn that into $3,600, here’s a PERSON…

M A _ _ / _ F
_ _ N _ R

MAID OF HONOR it is.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Robert

Tony: NIL/Robert: $1,400/Pat: $3,600 FS

---

FEATURED PRIZE #2: Sheraton Kauai Princeville Hotel worth $3,800

Jackpot Round: ON THE MAP

Pat led off w/ three T’s for the Kauai trip, but the BANKRUPT near Jackpot took it right back and she used the FS. Next up were three R’s for $1,800, a $3,500 N, a $900 D trio, and a $900 M trio before we saw…

_ M _ T _ R D _ M
_ N D
R _ T T _ R D _ M

She located AMSTERDAM AND ROTTERDAM (in the Netherlands)for $7,100.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Pat
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $9,700

Tony: NADA/Robert: $1,400/Pat: $10,700

---

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

Tony said an instant negative of N. Robert’s second in line w/ a $700 T, five E’s, but then R for rats. Pat’s up third w/ a $300 S and W singles, but she repeated the N while on the gift tag (not acknowledged as a repeat). Tony didn’t do any better w/ L. Robert lit up a $1,600 H pair, an $800 M pair, two O’s, but then B for bad. Pat got a $600 G and a P for the gift tag to leave only a vowel remaining.

H O M E
S W E E T / H O M E
P _ G E

As I’m writing this on my HOME SWEET HOME PAGE, she solved for $2,200 cash & telescope.

DUDS: N (Tony), R (Robert), L (Tony), B (Robert)
SOLE DQ: Pat’s N repeat

Tony: HARD LUCK/Robert: $1,400/Pat: $12,900 cash & telescope

Round 5: PHRASE

First for Robert were a $1,650 N trio, but then H for hush and it’s S-U time…

_ _ _ _ N _ / _ _
N _ N _

…and the last Final Spin of that season was $1,500.

Pat: G (DUD)
Tony: S
Robert: T
Pat: C

S _ C _ N _ / T _
N _ N _

Pat solved SECOND TO NONE for the Final Spin amount.

DUDS: H (Robert), G (Pat)

FINAL SCORES
Tony: PARTING GIFTS/Robert: $1,400/Pat: $14,400 cash & telescope

GT: $15,800
BANKRUPT TRASH: $6,450 cash & Kauai

---

Bonus Round

Pat hopefully ended the season w/ a win after picking the H.

Category: PHRASE

Nothing but three T’s to start…

T _ _ _ _ / _ T
_ _ T

HKDO (she picked N on her second consonant and repeated the K again) should do it…

T O _ _ H / _ T
O _ T

She was able to TOUGH IT OUT, so she won the $20K golden dollars from the U.S. Mint for a final total of $34,400 cash & prizes. Her niece and nephew came to celebrate.

MY RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: June 1, 2000

EPISODE #3314: BIG MONEY WEEK II

Preview Puzzle: EVENT

E _ _ T / _ _ L L

A: EXIT POLL (Pat got it right)

Jeannie Tapp: nurse who owned a cockatiel (Screech) and a Cocker Spaniel (Andy nicknamed Cat) from Memphis, TN

Bruce Krotter: father of three kids, personal trainer, certified deep water rescue lifeguard and arm wrestling champ who takes *92* supplements a day from Fresno, CA

Steve Arnaudo: worker for a major automotive firm and comedy buff who grew up on a farm in Northern California and comedy buff from San Pedro

Gift Tag: egghead.com

Round 1: SHOW BIZ (PUZZLER)

Jeannie: $900 R, $350 S, $1,200 N quartet, W for worthless

Bruce: $300 L, D for dud

Steve: $550 T, $500 V, $300 C, solve…

T _ L _ V _ S _ _ N
_ N N _ _ N C _ R

The late Charlie O’Donnell was a TELEVISION ANNOUNCER and this man solved for $1,350. Now for a PHRASE…

_ R O _ G H _ / _ O
Y O _ / _ Y

…he blanked and Pat threw it to Charlie who said the correct solution of “BROUGHT TO YOU BY”.

FEATURED PRIZE: Martin acoustic guitar worth $2,770 (MUSIC)

Round 2: FILL IN THE BLANK

Bruce: $600 T pair, two S’s for $10K, one E, one L for egghead.com, one A, PAINFUL BANKRUPT near $600 (lost $11,100 cash & GC)

Steve: $1,800 N trio, two I’s, $300 G, last vowel of O, CRITICAL DUD of R

Jeannie: D for dud

Bruce: $1,200 P pair, $700 H (complete board)

? / S A L T
? – H O P P I N G
? / T E N N I S

He solved ? SALT ?-HOPPING ? TENNIS for $1,900, but did he say table for the bonus answer? No — he said ball instead.

Jeannie: ZERO/Bruce: $1,900/Steve: $1,350

---

FEATURED PRIZE #2: 5d stay at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (incl. dinner at The Brown Derby and tickets to see the special effects stage spectacular “EFX”) worth $3K (LAS VEGAS)

Jackpot Round: PHRASE

Steve: $600 N pair, bad O buy (he phrased it saying he would like to buy a “zero”)

Jeannie: $550 W, H for halt

Bruce: just missed $3,500, but D for dud anyway

Steve: $1,200 L pair, $600 K, $3,500 F, solve…

_ / F _ _ L / L _ K _
_ / N _ W / _ _ N

He rightly admitted “I FEEL LIKE A NEW MAN” for $5,650.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $11,450

Jeannie: ZILCH/Bruce: $1,900/Steve: $7K

---

Round 4: AROUND THE HOUSE

Jeannie: $550 S, one T for LAS VEGAS trip, $300 R

SPEED-UP

_ _ T _ R _ _ _
S _ _ _ _

Consonants were worth $1,600 apiece.

Jeannie: C
Bruce: P (DUD)
Steve: L
Jeannie: D (DUD)
Bruce: F (DUD)
Steve: M
Jeannie: B

B _ T _ R _ _ M
S C _ L _

She solved BATHROOM SCALE for $4,050 and the Vegas trip, which is just barely enough for the victory by $50 (and not $550 as initially stated).

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1	W (Jeannie), D (Bruce)
ROUND 2	R (Steve), D (Jeannie)		Bruce
ROUND 3	O (Steve), H (Jeannie), D (Bruce)
ROUND 4	P (Bruce), D (Jeannie), F (Bruce)

FINAL SCORES
Jeannie: $7,050 cash & Vegas/Bruce: $1,900/Steve: $7K

GT: $15,950
Bruce’s BANKRUPT TRASH: $11,100 cash & GC

---

Bonus Round

Jeannie picked the second E.

Category: PHRASE

Take away the first two words, and you would get a bonus puzzle that would be used early in S22 (and wasn’t solved for a Chevy Blazer)…

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

GWMA added just two A’s…

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

She could only muster AT A CLEVER, so the audience wouldn’t be AT A FEVER PITCH when they learn she also lost the golden dollars.

MY RATING: 5

The S17 finale, which I originally published in August 2020 has been fixed and bumped to today.

WoF Retro Recap: May 31, 2000

EPISODE #3313: BIG MONEY WEEK II

Preview Puzzle: THING

_ A N _ A _

A: PANDAS (Pat blew it w/ CANFAT)

Allison Tatum: manager of public relations for an internet co. and a big BBQ and Cowboys fan from L.A. (orig. from Dallas)

Jeff Williams: paralegal who enjoys bowling from Phoenix, AZ

Julie Michalchuk: an adventurous girl who got out of high school to move to Paris to study French and backpacked across 17 countries in Europe and then some in Africa from Manitoba, Canada

Gift Tag: MyPoints

Round 1: OCCUPATION (PUZZLER)

Allison: two R’s for $800, but E for end of turn

Jeff: two N’s for $1,600, $300 G, three I’s, $800 S pair, $800 T pair, one U, $300 C, last vowel of O, $600 M pair, solve…

S _ I M M I N G
I N S T R U C T O R

He solved SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR for $3,650, and tried to nearly double w/ this THING puzzle…

D _ _ / _ A D D _ _

He got DOG PADDLE at the last second.

FEATURED PRIZE: CLAVA leather products worth $2,500

Round 2: CLUE 

Jeff: $1,600 S pair, $1,600 T pair, three E’s, three H’s for CLAVA prize, two I’s, $1,750 R quintet, N for negative 

Julie: L for loss of turn 

Allison: G for goof

Jeff: $1,200 D pair, six O’s, $1,200 F trio, and two A’s (NMV), UNFORTUNATE LaT ($8,850 cash & leather products at risk)

Julie: $400 M, $1,600 C pair, $800 W pair, $600 Z pair, solve…

S C A R E C R O W
H O _ E D / F O R / T H I S
F R O M / T H E
W I Z A R D / O F / O Z

She solved “SCARECROW HOPED FOR THIS FROM ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’” for $3,400 and correctly said brain for the bonus answer.

Allison: ZERO/Jeff: $6,650/Julie: $6,400

---

FEATURED PRIZE #2: Sonesta Beach Hotel & Spa in Florida worth $3,100 (FLORIDA)

Jackpot Round: PHRASE

Julie: $600 R, L failed her again

Allison: $800 N pair, two E’s, LaT

Jeff: $700 M, $3,500 Y, one A, $550 G, two O’s, $600 T pair, two U’s, $900 P (NMC), solve…

A R E / Y O U
P U T T _ N G / M E
O N ?

He rightly asked “ARE YOU PUTTING ME ON?” for $5,500.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $12,550

Allison: ZILCH/Jeff: $12,150/Julie: $6,400

---

Speed-Up: PROPER NAME

It’s a $6K Final Spin!

Allison: N (DUD)
Jeff: R (DUD)
Julie: T (DUD)
Allison: S
Jeff: P (DUD)
Julie: L
Allison: D (DUD)
Jeff: C (DUD)
Julie: B
Allison: M

_ _ M
B _ L _ S _ _

Allison IDed actor and comedian JIM BELUSHI for $12K, but she just fell short of the win.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1	E (Allison)
ROUND 2	N (Jeff), L (Julie), G (Allison)	Jeff
ROUND 3	L (Julie)	Allison
ROUND 4	N (Allison), R (Jeff), T (Julie), P (Jeff), D (Allison), C (Jeff)

FINAL SCORES
Allison: $12K/Jeff: $12,150/Julie: $6,400

GT: $30,550
NO BANKRUPTS

---

Bonus Round

The $25K was won the previous night and it’s back in the mix. Jeff chose the H.

Category: THING

Marilyn Monroe was most famous for this distinctive feature…

_ E _ _ T _
_ _ R _

DMGO only added…

_ E _ _ T _
M _ R _

He only got the second word of BEAUTY MARK and lost the golden dollars.

MY RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: May 30, 2000

EPISODE #3312: BIG MONEY WEEK II

Preview Puzzle: PHRASE

_ R _ E D / _ N D
_ R _ E

A: TRIED AND TRUE 

Robin Webster: office manager for a chiropractor married to Royce for 20 yrs. w/ two kids from Moore, OK

Paul Espinosa: desktop publishing worker who hosted an all 80s retro radio show (his most requested song was Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”) and played the keyboard from Hollister, CA

Erica Shelly: former U.S. Air Force member of 1.5 years who trained as a Farsi linguist at the Defense Language institute married to Jason w/ a seven-month-old son who’s a second generation WHEEL player (her mom competed in ‘87 or ‘88 but was shutout for parting gifts) from Fresno, CA

Gift Tag: egghead.com

Round 1: BEFORE & AFTER

Robin: insta-BANKRUPT

Paul: $1,350 R trio, four E’s, N for negative 

Erica: T for turnover 

Robin: $300 H, $900 D trio, two I’s, L for loss of turn

Paul: $500 V, solve…

D _ V I D / H _ D E
_ I E R _ E
_ _ _ R / E _ R _

He solved DAVID HYDE PIERCE YOUR EARS for $1,600. Oh, and this player is double-pierced.

FEATURED PRIZE: Magellan 750NAV navigation system worth $2,500 (TRAVEL)

Round 2: EVENT 

Paul: $700 N, $2,500 S, one E, A for awful 

Erica: $300 G, one I, $2,400 T quartet, $450 L, triple O’s, $600 R…

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

She solved SETTLING OUT OF COURT for $3,250 and tried to nearly double up w/ this THINGS puzzle…

_ E G _ _ / _ E E S

LEGAL FEES is correct.

Robin: ZERO/Paul: $1,600/Erica: $6,250

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FEATURED PRIZE #2: trip to St. James’s Club in Antigua worth $5,536 (WEST INDIES)

Jackpot Round: PLACE

Erica: $500 R, T failed her again on the WEST INDIES trip

Robin: S for sorry on TRAVEL prize

Paul: $600 L pair, BANKRUPT near JACKPOT 

Erica: $300 V, one A, LaT

Robin: $1,400 G pair, triple E’s, $800 N, BANKRUPT near $600 (lost $1,950)

Paul: $900 W, solve…

G R E E N W _ _ _
V _ L L A G E

He located GREENWICH VILLAGE for the $900.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,500

Robin: ZILCH/Paul: $2,500/Erica: $6,250

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Round 4: RHYME TIME 

Robin: insta-dud of T

Paul: $400 R, the L is no good to him

Erica: $1,800 B trio, $1,100 D pair (NMC)…

R _ B – _ – D _ B – D _ B

She solved RUB-A-DUB-DUB for $2,900.

Robin: BUPKIS/Paul: $2,500/Erica: $9,150

Speed-Up: THING

Consonants were worth $1,550 apiece.

Paul: N
Erica: 2 T’s
Robin: G 
Paul: C (DUD)
Erica: B (DUD)
Robin: R (DUD)
Paul: L 
Erica: 3 I’s
Robin: M (DUD)
Paul: F (DUD)
Erica: H (DUD)
Robin: S 

_ _ I T I N G
L I S T

Robin finally got out of the land of parting gifts by solving WAITING LIST for $3,100.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1	N (Paul), T (Erica), L (Robin)		Robin
ROUND 2	A (Paul)
ROUND 3	T (Erica), S (Robin)	Erica	2 (Paul, Robin)
ROUND 4	T (Robin), L (Paul)
ROUND 5	C & F (Paul) R & M (Robin) B & H (Erica)

FINAL SCORES 
Robin: $3,100/Paul: $2,500/Erica: $9,150

GT: $14,750
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,550

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Bonus Round

Erica picked the first E.

Category: THING

This would fit under FOOD & DRINK nowadays…

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

She knew it already and said HCBO…

C H _ C _ E N
B R O T H

She easily got CHICKEN BROTH and won the $25K for a final total of $34,150. She was greeted by her older sister Laurie and brother Chris.

MY RATING: 6 (too many duds) 

WoF Retro Recap: May 29, 2000

Let’s commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the Season 17 finale week, which was the second Big Money Week.

EPISODE #3311: BIG MONEY WEEK II

Preview Puzzle: SHOW BIZ

D I _ I _ / _ H I _ _ S

A: DIXIE CHICKS (not DIPID CHIMPS, Pat!)

Dave deSambourg: unit specialist for a major life sciences co. married to Whitney who grew up on an orange orchard from La Place, LA

Angela James: bartender married to Mitch w/ twin boys who wanted to start school in the fall and go into psychology from Tacoma, WA

Stephanie Guidi: kindergarten teacher at JFK Elementary School in Brewster whose family is at least 6 ft. tall (including herself, but not her mom) from Stormville, NY

Gift Tag: Meade

Round 1: EVENT

Dave: $300 T, $1K S pair, two E’s and I’s, BANKRUPT near $600 (lost $800)

Angela: $500 R, one A, LaT

Stephanie: $1,600 L pair, same BANKRUPT 

Dave: $800 G, three O’s, $1,200 C pair, solve…

G I R L / S C O _ T
C O O _ I E / S A L E

He solved GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALE for $1,750. Now for THINGS…

_ _ I N / _ I N _ S

He successfully IDed THIN MINTS as an example of a Girl Scout cookie.

FEATURED PRIZE: $2,500 MAC Cosmetics gift certificate (Beauty)

Round 2: PHRASE

Angela: insta-dud of T

Stephanie: $600 N, $10K R quartet, the four non-U vowels all in pairs (two E’s, A’s, I’s and O’s), $1,200 S trio, solve (after wanting to spin again)…

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

She realized APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS for $10,800.

Dave: $4,750/Angela: ZIP/Stephanie: $10,800

---

FEATURED PRIZE #2: trip to Le Parc Hotel in Paris + tickets to see a show at Lido de Paris worth $5,974 (Paris)

Jackpot Round: STAR & ROLE

Stephanie: four S’s for $2,400, six A’s, $300 L, one E and two I’s, one M for MEADE gift tag, one O (NMV), $900 N pair, $400 J, $450 H, $300 T, two R’s for Beauty prize, $550 B (complete board)

And this actress is also the first-ever celebrity millionaire on the primetime edition of this show…

M E L I S S A
J O A N / H A R T / A S
S A B R I N A

She read the answer correctly for $4,300 plus $3,500 in prizes — PR.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,050

Dave: $4,750/Angela: ZILCH/Stephanie: $18,600 cash & prizes

---

Round 4: THINGS 

Dave: $600 T, $600 S, four E’s, BANKRUPT near $500 (lost $950)

Angela: $600 R pair (not quite to Paris), two D’s for Paris, C for crud

Stephanie: $900 P

SPEED-UP

P E R _ _ R _ T E D
E D _ E S

The leftover consonants were worth $1,900 each. She then said F…

P E R F _ R _ T E D
E D _ E S

…and solved PERFORATED EDGES for $2,800.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1		Angela	2 (Dave, Stephanie)
ROUND 2	T (Angela)
ROUND 3	PERFECT ROUND
ROUND 4	C (Angela)		Dave

FINAL SCORES 
Dave: $4,750/Angela: PARTING GIFTS/Stephanie: $21,400 cash & prizes

GT: $26,150
BANKRUPT TRASH: $3,350

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Bonus Round

In addition to the $25K cash that week, there’s…

• $30K annuity
• $20K Yahoo! Shopping Spree
• $20K gold coins
• $20K Johnson Matthey gold/silver bars

Stephanie chose the W.

Category: THING

Just an L to start…

_ _ L _ / _ _ _ _

DCMO gave her two of the vowel…

_ _ L _ / _ O O _

She was stuck w/ some kind BOOK and had the right first word at the start, but trailed off w/ COLD, FILA, and FOLD. It was HULA HOOP and she lost the annuity.

MY RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: May 29, 1998 — Friday Finals

EPISODE #2915: WHEEL ACROSS AMERICA

Marlyn Artavia: won $8,400 on Tues.

Mike Couture: won $12,600 on Thurs.

Ouida Arnall: won $22,766 on the same episode as Marlyn

Round 1: PHRASE

Marlyn: $450 R, $1,100 T pair, one O, $400 N, $250 S, three U’s, one B for Free SPIN, two I’s, $1,400 G pair, $400 L, solve…

I / B U R S T / O U T
L _ U G _ I N G

I BURST OUT LAUGHING for this girl who solved for $3,250 — PR.

FEATURED PRIZE: 6n trip to the Chicago Hilton & Towers + Motorola StarTAC cell phone worth $6,025 (CHICAGO)

Round 2: LANDMARK

Mike: LaT right away

Ouida: four S’s for $2,400, three T’s for $900, $900 H pair, two E’s, $500 M, $1K R pair, two O’s and four I’s, $700 N, $250 L, three A’s, BANKRUPT near $500 (lost $5,650)

Marlyn: repeated the L and declined to use FS

Mike: $250 C, same BANKRUPT

Ouida: P for phooey

Marlyn: $10K’s right side

Mike: $400 W, $500 G, $600 Y, solve…

T H E
G A T E W A Y / A R C H
I N / S T . / L O _ I S
M I S S O _ R I

He located THE GATEWAY ARCH IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI for $1,500.

Marlyn: $3,250 FS/Mike: $1,500/Ouida: ZERO

---

FEATURED PRIZE #2: Cabela’s gift certificate + Coleman Redwood folding trailer by Fleetwood worth $6,649 (Outdoors)

Jackpot Round: STAR & ROLE

Ouida: $3,500 T, $1K N quartet, G for goof

Marlyn: $600 L, $900 J, three O’s, $800 H, BANKRUPT near $500 (lost $2,050) and used FS, $600 S pair, three A’s, $250 D, solve…

O L _ _ _ A
N _ _ T O N – J O H N
A S / S A N D _

She IDed OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN AS SANDY (from “Grease”) for $600.

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $17,400

Marlyn: $3,850/Mike: $1,500/Ouida: ZILCH

---

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

Marlyn: three T’s for $1,200, three R’s for Outdoors prize, $750 N trio, three E’s, $900 D trio, $1,400 L pair

SPEED-UP

L _ T T L E / R E D
R _ D _ N _ / _ _ _ D
_ R N _ _ E N T

Consonants were worth $600 apiece (just missed the big one). She then said M…

L _ T T L E / R E D
R _ D _ N _ / _ _ _ D
_ R N _ M E N T

…and solved LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ORNAMENT for $4,600 + outdoors prize — PR #2.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LOSE A TURNS	BANKRUPTS	DQs
ROUND 1	PERFECT ROUND
ROUND 2	P (Ouida)	Mike	3 (whole panel)	Marlyn‘s L repeat
ROUND 3	G (Ouida)		Marlyn
ROUND 4	PERFECT ROUND #2

FINAL SCORES
Marlyn: $15,099 cash & prizes ($23,549 so far)/Mike: $1,500 (out w/ $14,100)/Ouida: SHUTOUT (left w/ $22,766)

GT: $16,599
BANKRUPT TRASH: $7,950

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Bonus Round

All eyes on Marlyn as she tried to salvage this week after picking H.

Category: THING

Here’s four of the nine in this one-wordy…

_ N _ _ L E _ _ E

DWHA gave her…

_ N _ W L E D _ E

She surprisingly didn’t have the KNOWLEDGE, so we were SKUNKED for the sixth and last time that season and she lost the Harley Sportsters.

MY RATING: 5