GAME 1
$1K Tossup: SONG LYRICS
I / _ A D E
Y _ U / L O O K
Meghan realizes the puzzle is her hit song, “I MADE YOU LOOK.” Hoping to bring the holiday cheer are these three stars:
Meghan Trainor: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who has an upcoming holiday song (“Gifts for Me”), album (Toy with Me, releasing in April), and three-month summer tour with her kids; she loves Christmas music and her mom reminds her to text Ryan on his birthday, Christmas Eve (but he didn’t get a text this year – uh-oh)
Taye Diggs: actor and singer who recently starred in Moulin Rouge! and the new holiday romantic comedy His, Hers & Ours; while the former reminded him about the difficulty of rehearsal, the latter rekindled his love of acting; he’d host a talk or game show if he didn’t act
Sebastian Maniscalco: 51-year-old comedian and actor whose latest special, It Ain’t Right, went #1 in its first 24 hours; he’s on tour right now and will pivot to a different joke if the current one doesn’t land; he met Vanna while working at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel and told a bartender he had a crush on her
Ryan loves his job so much, he claims he sped to the studio (not driving, of course). Sebastian thinks Ryan’s the only man who can wear a turtleneck well, and Vanna believes she was giving the comedian “vibes” back then.
The celebrities’ respective charities all work with kids: Save the Children, the American Heart Association, and the California Community Foundation’s Tag, You’re It! Foundation (the latter of which supports military veterans, people with Alzheimer’s disease, and children’s education).
$2K Tossup: TONGUE TWISTER
Taye starts dancing (and Meghan joins him later).
_ _ _ / L _ A _ H E R
Y E _ L O W / L E A T H _ R
Meghan knew the second line, but Taye recites “RED LEATHER, YELLOW LEATHER” like he’s on Broadway.
$5K Round: HUMAN OR ANIMAL? 🆕
Taye: M for mistake on $600
Sebastian: a $700 S, three A’s, two H’s for $1,200, one O, two I’s (the “sold-out crowd” approves his gameplay so far), LaT (he says “it’s over”)
Meghan: two N’s for $1,200, a worthless W on $900 (she thought the last word was SHOW)
Taye: a $500 B, last vowel of U, solve for $250 + $5K (and Sebastian realizes the answer)…
A / B U _ _ / I N
A / _ H I N A / S H O _
Taye’s like A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP to jump to $7,250.
$10K Round: BEFORE & AFTER
Sebastian: a $1K T pair (he goes on a rant about how he should’ve worn his turtleneck), BANKRUPT near $650 (which he considers payback for making fun of Ryan)
Meghan: a $1K N pair, S for sorry on $500
Taye: a $700 B, sole dud vowel of U (that early?)
Sebastian: a $500 R, a single O, an E quartet, a $550 L, a $650 G, an I trio, H for halt on the MDW near $900
Meghan: same BANKRUPT ($1K gone)
Taye: other BANKRUPT (so long, $450)
Sebastian: last vowel of two A’s…
_ I A _ E R
G E N I E
I N / A / B O T T L E
…but he bombs out with M on $900 after dodging trouble (and he knew it wouldn’t make the board), so $700 goes down the drain as Meghan (who’s a mom) itches to solve DIAPER GENIE IN A BOTTLE for $10K.
Sebastian: ZERO/Meghan: $11K/Taye: $7,250
During the break, Vanna declares Ryan will guide Wheel’s sleigh tonight, but Ryan will only do so if the sleigh’s a Waze.
Triple Tossup: WORDPLAY
1.
K _ I _ K L E / C U T
C H I P S
Taye munches on a bag of KRINKLE CUT CHIPS (which Meghan’s never heard of).
2.
P R _ N _ L _ S
Taye’s unsure, but PRINGLES are the correct snack.
3.
K R _ _ S
_ R _ N _ _ E
Sebastian doesn’t have faith in this answer, but KRISS KRINGLE… is the right character. (Taye admits his head wasn’t there.)
$20K Prize Puzzle: HAPPY HOUR (one-liner)
Sebastian: a $650 N, an E, a $600 F (not quite to the MDW), solve for $1K + $20K…
_ _ _ – F _ _ _ _ _ N E _
Sebastian remembers Vanna ordering an OLD-FASHIONED cocktail at the Four Seasons and catapults to the BR after his QUICK ($21K) PR (by the way, he held his buzzer before choosing his last letter). A home viewer can win a trip to DISNEYLAND’S 70th anniversary celebration; its holiday party, which ends on January 7, includes It’s a Small World, World of Color! Happiness, and the Festival of Holidays.
FINAL SCORES
Sebastian: $26K/Meghan: $11K/Taye: $17,250
| PENALTY BOX | DUDS | LOSE A TURNS | BANKRUPTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5K Round | M (Taye), W (Meghan) | Sebastian | |
| $10K Round | S (Meghan); U (Taye); H and M (Sebastian) | Everyone | |
| 10 TOTAL | 6 | 1 | 3 |
GT: $54,250
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,450
Sebastian, who likes to gloat, can earn more money with one of these categories…
- FUN & GAMES
- PHRASE
- THING
$100K Bonus Round
While Sebastian’s opponents drink holiday cocktails, he lands on the C in AMERICA’S (we hear the sleigh bell sound effect). That last word is key…
_ _ T / _ _ / _ _
L E _ _ _ E
GDPA should do the trick…
_ _ T / _ _ / _ _
L E A G _ E
…but he botches the midsection with OF A and ON A – oy vey. While this puzzle wasn’t OUT OF MY LEAGUE, Vanna was out of his (per Meghan), and he loses an easy $25K.
MY RATING: 4
GAME 2
$1K Tossup: EASY QUESTION 🆕
_ A U G _ T Y
_ R / N I _ E ?
Maniscalco (yep, Ryan called Sebastian by his last name) asks the age-old Christmas question, “NAUGHTY OR NICE?”
Sebastian is as surprised as we are that he solved the Prize Puzzle so quickly yet blanked out on the Bonus Round under so much pressure, but he’s looking for redemption.
Meghan admits that people refer to her by her full name, and the Capricorn in her celebrates Christmas from November 1 to January 6-10 (after which she’s sad).
Taye researched everyone; for instance, two days before taping this episode, he binged a couple of Sebastian’s specials and considers his Italian and physical humor “kinda funny” (a compliment he appreciates).
$2K Tossup: RHYME TIME
I ’ M / A
W _ R D / N _ R D
Sebastian brags, “I’M A WORD NERD.” (This phrase is new to Taye, but he remembered the category.)
$5K Round: NEVER HAVE I EVER
Sebastian: two R’s for $1K, two T’s for $1,100, two E’s, two A’s, one I, a $650 G, three O’s, BANKRUPT near $650 ($1,750 lost)
Meghan: a $650 N (a letter she “tried”), other BANKRUPT (she was “on a roll”)
Taye: three B’s for $1,500, P for phooey on $650
Sebastian: solve for $5K (he presses his buzzer)…
B R O _ G _ T / _ I N E
T O / A / B A B _
_ _ O _ E R
I hope Sebastian’s never BROUGHT WINE TO A BABY SHOWER; in any case, he jumps to $8K. (Meghan was hoping to solve this puzzle.) A viewer can win $50K during the Holiday Giveaway by entering this solution.
$10K Round: BEFORE & AFTER
Meghan: the first BANKRUPT (she almost walked off the stage)
Taye: the second BANKRUPT
Sebastian: a $3,500 R “as in Randy,” a $600 T, E and A pairs, an S for the MDW near LaT, an O, U for uh-oh
Meghan: an N for the MDW near $600 (she shrieks after achieving her dream of holding that wedge), a $1,400 C duo (close call), last vowel of two I’s, a $1K G couplet, solve for $2,150 + $10K…
N I C O _ A S
C A G E
_ I G _ T E R
A pumped Meghan imagines a NICOLAS CAGE FIGHTER for $12,150 and the sparkly green wedge.
Sebastian: $8K/Meghan: $12,150 MDW/Taye: NADA
Triple Tossup: ON THE MAP
Ryan assures Sebastian his buzzer will work this time.
1.
T H _ / V I R _ I N
_ S _ A N _ S
Islands are on the menu, and Taye locates THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.
2.
_ _ _ / C A Y M A N
_ _ _ _ _ _ S
Taye rightly guesses THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.
3.
T H E / I S _ A _ D / _ F
M I S _ I _ / T _ Y S
This place is imaginary, but THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS gives Taye the sweep.
$20K Round: WAYD?
Taye: a $700 G, two $650 N’s “as in Nancy” (close call), SPEED-UP
_ _ _ _ _ N G / _
_ _ _ _ _ _ N _
Taye gives us an $1,800 Final Spin (after landing on LaT). Brace yourself…
Taye: two I’s
Sebastian: two A’s (“no clue”)
Meghan: a throwaway guess of CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN (she and Ryan are unaware of what’s happening)
Taye: M
Sebastian: C
Meghan: two L’s (she’s panicking and wonders if Ryan’s talking to her)
Taye: two E’s (Meghan apparently knows it, and Taye asks to solve before blurting out, “I love this game”)
Sebastian: T
Meghan: F (she can’t believe that’s a dud)
Taye: one B (Ryan reiterates the category, and Taye responds, “no idea”)
Sebastian: one O (NMV) (Taye’s stumped)
Meghan: one W (she tried calling S after)
Taye: H (oh brother)
Sebastian: last letter of two D’s (he blew air before picking that)
B L O W I N G / A
D E A D L I N E
After that MESS of a round, Sebastian’s not doing the above and wins $23,600.
FINAL SCORES
Sebastian: $31,600/Meghan: $12,150 MDW/Taye: $15K
| PENALTY BOX | DUDS | BANKRUPTS | DQs |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5K Round | P (Taye) | Sebastian and Meghan | |
| $10K Round | U (Sebastian) | Meghan and Taye | |
| $20K Speed-Up | M and H (Taye); C and T (Sebastian); F (Meghan) | Meghan’s missolve | |
| 12 TOTAL | 7 | 4 | 1 |
GT: $58,750
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,400
So far, Sebastian has won $57,650; Meghan, $23,150 (rounded up to $30K); and Taye, $32,250. The champ hopes to salvage things with a third of THAT trio…
- THING
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- PHRASE
Uh, that category?
$100K Bonus Round
Even Meghan doesn’t think that was a good choice. Anyway, Sebastian lands on the E in AMERICA’S. This puzzle actually seems easy…
E _ _ _ _ T E _
_ _ E S S
PDMO only lights up two D’s…
E D _ _ _ T E D
_ _ E S S
…but they’re enough for Sebastian to make an EDUCATED GUESS! He’s already moving around the stage, but he’ll walk in even more circles after winning $100K (spray the confetti) and a final take of $157,600 ($131,600 from this half alone)! Talk about redemption!
MY RATING: 7
Sebastian claims he’ll “go have a beer” after this, and we see a slow-motion instant replay of his confetti moment.
WHEEL of FORTUNE with Andy Nguyen 