WoF Retro Recap: April 23, 1996

One episode from S13 recently surfaced. You’re looking at an episode from their two-week road trip in the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA.

Applicable: Wed.

EPISODE #2497: OLYMPIC KICKOFF WEEK

Claude Brennan, Jr.: student at Fort Valley State College who also made a little money at a major theme park from Atlanta

Jessica Blasberg: student at Colorado State University and tennis player for the campus who has an identical twin studying in Spain from Cincinnati, OH

Tracey Patton: secretary for 16 years with a major insurance company from Elizabeth, PA

Round 1: PERSON

Claude: $500 T pair, LaT (he tried to call N)
Jessica: $900 N, 2 E’s, no S on $750
Tracey: $1,500 R trio, LaT
Claude: no L on $800
Jessica: $1,500 H trio, $400 Y, 3 A’s, 2 U’s, solve for $2,050…

A U T H _ R
H E N R Y / _ A _ _ _
T H _ R E A U

She IDed AUTHOR HENRY DAVID THOREAU.

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FEATURED PRIZE: Gap gift certificate (GAP CLOTHING) worth $1,500

Round 2: THINGS

Jessica: 3 N’s for DP, 3 R’s for SURPRISE, $800 S pair, 2 A’s, 3 E’s, $600 F, solve for $900 & SURPRISE…

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

She IDed some of the gameplay elements of this show as FREE SPIN, LOSE A TURN, & BANKRUPT for a holiday at the St. George’s Club Bermuda worth $6,893.

Jessica: $9,843 cash & trip DP | Others: $0 each

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Round 3: FILL IN THE BLANK

Tracey: LaT right away
Claude: $900 N, $550 T, 3 E’s, $1,050 R trio, A, $1,600 S pair, 3 O’s, $900 C, $200 G, no L on $250
Jessica: used DP, $1,200 W, $250 F, no M on $800
Tracey: no H on $200
Whole panel: missed with V ($500), B ($600), & D ($550), respectively (the buzzer didn’t sound on the V)
Claude: LaT
Jessica: $250 J, solve for $1,700…

? / W A T E R
? / J O _ E
? / F O R
/ / / C O N G R E S S

She finally solved ? WATER ? JOKE ? FOR CONGRESS, but her answer of run wasn’t accepted; it was running.

Jessica: $11,543 cash & trip | Others: ZERO A HEAD

Speed-Up: PHRASE

Pat’s Final Spin just barely hung on to $500.

Claude: T
Jessica: N
Tracey: 3 L’s
Claude: S
Jessica: R
Tracey: C (only said PARTICULARLY)
Claude: P
Jessica: Y
Tracey: M
Claude: D
Jessica: 2 A’s
Tracey: 4 E’s
Claude: G
Jessica: H (NMC)

H E R M E T _ C A L L Y
S E A L E D

Jessica finally solved HERMETICALLY SEALED for $1,500 and the maingame sweep!

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	MISSOLVES
Round 1	S (Jessica), L (Claude)	2 (Claude, Tracey)
Round 2	PERFECT ROUND
Round 3	L, V (Claude); M, B (Jessica); H, D (Tracey)	2 (Tracey, Claude)
Speed-Up	N (Jessica); P, G (Claude)	N/A	Tracey (incomplete)
16 TOTAL	11	4	1

FINAL SCORES
Jessica: $13,043 cash & trip | Others: PARTING GIFTS EACH

NO BANKRUPTS

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Bonus Round

Jessica chose W H E E L.

Category: THING

Here’s one in each half of this hyphenated puzzle…

_ _ L _ – _ _ _ R

PBHA added an important consonant and vowel.

H A L _ – H _ _ R

In this HALF-HOUR show, Jessica had COMPLETED THE SWEEP! Her reward was the 1996 Ford Taurus wagon worth $21,665. Her parents joined her in the celebration.

MY RATING: 6 (awful Round 3)

WoF Retro Recap: June 7, 1996 — UNOFFICIAL SEASON 13 FINALE

After this episode w/ regular contestants, there was a new week of shows during the week of July 15 taped at the Fox Theater in Atlanta and had former Olympic stars playing for charity. According to the timeline, it was also the second instance since 1983 of new episodes airing outside the usual September-May/June cycle, and the last time until 2009. And during the week, the three-round structure is used. Despite the tournament only lasting four episodes (as confirmed by the Associated Press), the Friday Finals are used. We’re not gonna worry too much on that July week since we don’t have video.

EPISODE #2530: ENDLESS SUMMER

Jeannette Russo: 1-day champ w/ $37,550 (click HERE for her first show)

Dwight Berg: financial analyst married to Shannon who was also a former L.A. Kings mascot after one season from Tustin, CA

Chet Cieszkowski (sp?): retired on-call pharmacist married 40+ yrs. to Jean w/ four kids and four grandkids and Cubs fan who collected paperweights from Woodstock, IL

Round 1: PEOPLE

Jeannette: insta-dud of R on $1K

Dwight: $200 T, $400 H pair, two E’s, N for negative

Chet: M for mistake

Jeannette: $300 S, LaT

Dwight: L for loss of turn

Chet: BANKRUPT

Jeannette: $1,500 B pair, solve…

T H E
B E _ _ H
B _ _ S

They’re the group that formed in Hawthorne, CA in the 1960s and she knew that’s THE BEACH BOYS for $1,800.

The hosts plugged the opening ceremonies for the Olympic games and wanted everyone to purchase the WoF Olympic T-shirt.

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FEATURED PRIZE: trip to Malibu Beach Inn + Variflex in-line skates w/ helmet worth $3,436 (MALIBU)

Round 2: PHRASE

Dwight: five N’s for $2,750, bad O buy (I’m surprised about that)

Chet: two T’s for DOUBLE PLAY and used right away…$400 x2 and one G, one A, $500 H, six I’s, $600 Y pair, two V’s for MALIBU, seven E’s, solve…

I ‘ V E / N E V E _
_ E E N / A N Y T H I N G
_ I _ E / I T / I N
_ Y / _ I _ E

He would reply the words “I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN MY LIFE” in regards to the Malibu trip and the skates he won; he’s also won $1,150.

Jeannette: $1,800/Dwight: NIL/Chet: $4,586 cash & Malibu

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Round 3: THING

Chet: $3K T pair, S for sorry

Jeannette: five N’s for $1,250, one E, $1,500 G trio, six I’s, $350 D, $550 R, $1,500 C, two O’s and two A’s, $5K H, $600 B, last vowel of U, solve…

_ _ U _ B I N G
H E A T I N G / & / A I R
C O N D I T I O N I N G

She solved PLUMBING, HEATING, & AIR CONDITIONING for $9,500.

Jeannette: $11,300/Dwight: NADA/Chet: $4,586 cash & Malibu

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

Jeannette: insta-dud of R

Dwight: $5K N, S failed a man again

Chet: $900 T, one E, two H’s for SURPRISE

SPEED-UP

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

Consonants were worth $5K apiece!

Chet: D (only got HOLD)
Jeannette: 2 L’s
Dwight: 2 C’s (missed w/ HOLD THE DOOR on the buzzer)
Chet: 2 I’s

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

Chet likely squandered $5,650 and the SURPRISE after saying HOLD THE OPEN CLINIC. Jeannette then said M (though she wanted to solve)…

H _ L D
T H E / M _ _ _
C L I N I C

…she’s right w/ HOLD THE MAYO CLINIC for $15K!

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	R (Jeannette), N (Dwight), M (Chet), L (Dwight)	Jeannette	Chet
Round 2	O (Dwight)
Round 3	S (Chet)
Round 4	R (Jeannette), S (Dwight)			3 (incomplete solve by Chet, missolves by the men)

FINAL SCORES
Jeannette: $26,300/Dwight: PARTING GIFTS/Chet: $4,586 cash & Malibu

GT: $30,886
NO BANKRUPT TRASH

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Bonus Round

From -H-EL, Jeannette chose the L.

Category: THING

Here’s a couple…

_ _ _ T _ _ N

CPDA only added…

_ _ C T _ _ N

She fell for the AUCTION trap, but she rebounded w/ FICTION and won the cash for a 2-day total of $88,850! Her man Ricky came back to greet her.

Jeannette would return September 4 on the next season. Click HERE.

MY RATING: 7

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Well, it’s been quite the journey through S13. 181 episodes covered, though 14 of ’em were unaccounted for. Who knows if they would show up on Pluto TV? Next time, we’ll revisit S15 and cover the remaining episodes that season.

WoF Retro Recap: May 24, 1996

EPISODE #2520: ALASKAN CRUISE WEEK

Ben Martin: student and financial advisor who’s engaged and won $13,390 cash & ranch trip

David Kaufman: worker for the largest seminar producing company in the country married 10 months to Sandra from Longmont, CO

Kari Diaz: nail tech who enjoys hiking and married to John w/ three kids from Phoenix, AZ

Last Prize Wedge This Sweepstakes: marked CAROUSEL

Round 1: PERSON

Men: back-to-back BANKRUPTS

Kari: $600 R pair, S for sorry

Ben: $300 T, $1,500 N trio, one O and E, $500 G, $800 C, solve…

R E T _ R N _ N G
C _ _ _ _ _ O N

Ben’s the RETURNING CHAMPION here, and he solved for $2,600.

Round 2: QUOTATION

David: $1K S, $1,350 T trio, two E’s, $1K R pair, one O (that’s red/blue), $750 L trio, $500 J (also red/blue), $700 C, solve…

_ _ T _
L _ _ E R T _ / _ _ _
J _ S T _ C E
_ O R / _ L L

He recited “WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL” (from “The Pledge of Allegiance”) for a $4,800 PR. What’s the final Olympic-themed word of this sweepstakes?

_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ D
J U _ _ _ _ _
_ O _ / _ _ _

Ben: $2,600/David: $4,800/Kari: ZERO

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Round 3: BEFORE & AFTER

Kari: four T’s for $2,400, $550 H, five E’s, $1,500 N, $500 F, four O’s, one S for $10K, two I’s and two A’s (NMV), six R’s for $5,400, solve…

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

She solved SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DECORATOR for $19,350 — BIG PR!

Ben: $2,600/David: $4,800/Kari: $19,350

Round 4: THINGS

Ben: two S’s for $400, $200 R, BANKRUPT near red $500 (lost $600)

David: $10K T pair, buys of E and A, P for phooey

Kari: $5K N, C for crud

Ben: no L

SPEED-UP

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

The two remaining consonants were worth $5K to end this sweepstakes! David said one of them, the V…

T R _ V _ A
_ _ E S T _ _ N S

…and answered TRIVIA QUESTIONS for $14,500! Too bad he still lost by $50…

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	S (Kari)		2 (men)
Round 2	PERFECT ROUND
Round 3	BIG PERFECT ROUND! (#2)
Round 4	P (David), C (Kari), L (Ben)		Ben

FINAL SCORES
Ben: $2,600 (out w/ $15,990)/David: $19,300/Kari: $19,350

GT: $41,250
BANKRUPT TRASH: just $600

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Bonus Round

Kari’s picking that L.

Category: PLACE

Here’s one of five…

_ R _ _ _

She WIPED OUT w/ CMPA and wouldn’t be using a new boat to move through the BROOK (and the boat BTW was from ProCraft according to the prize listings at the end).

MY RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: May 23, 1996

EPISODE #2519: ALASKAN CRUISE WEEK

Debra Allen: domestic goddess and mom of four kids who loves baking and wanted to open a bakery eventually from Sacramento, CA

Aaron Long: probation officer and newlywed of six months who won $13,615 cash & prizes

Ben Martin: financial advisor going for his Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering who’s engaged and planned to be married in the summer from Moscow, ID

PRIZE WEDGE: marked RANCH

Round 1: PHRASE

Debra: $700 T, LaT

Aaron: three S’s for $1,350, $400 N, five E’s, $900 F, $1,500 R trio, solve…

_ _ _ _ R R E
S E R _ E S
_ F / E _ E N T S

Some episodes of this show may have a BIZARRE SERIES OF EVENTS, and he solved for $3,900.

Round 2: THING

Aaron: LaT right away

Ben: S for sorry

Debra: $450 T, $2K L pair, bad I buy

Aaron: N for negative

Ben: $2,400 C trio (one red/blue), $450 H (it’s red/blue), one R for DOUBLE PLAY, two O’s (one red/blue), $300 Y (that’s red/blue), solve…

C H O C O L _ T _
L _ Y _ R / C _ _ _

He solved CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE for $2,900. Name this scrambled Olympic-related sport…

_ H O C _ _ _ _ _
_ _ Y _ _ / _ _ K E 

Debra: ZIP/Aaron: $3,900/Ben: $2,900 DP

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Round 3: CLUE

Ben: used DP right away…$300 x 2 (just missed $5K) and two S’s, $2,100 T trio, three E’s and three O’s, $350 R, one A, three N’s for RANCH, two I’s (NMV though not announced), $700 L pair, $3K F pair, solve…

F R E _ / &
_ I L _ A
F L I N T S T O N E ‘ S
_ O _ E T O _ N

Ben solved for a $6,350 PR and knew that FRED & WILMA FLINTSTONE’S HOMETOWN was Bedrock. He’s also won the ranch trip to the Roseland Ranch in Stanfordville, NY worth $3,140.

Debra: ZILCH/Aaron: $3,900/Ben: $13,390 cash & ranch

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

Debra: $1,800 T pair, $3K H pair, $2,100 R trio, three E’s, $2,400 N trio, L for loss of turn

Aaron: $900 C, LaT

Ben: $10K’s left side

Debra: bought other four vowels (two O’s, A, I, and two U’s)

SPEED-UP

_ _ / C U _
R U N N E T H / O _ E R
T H E / R A I N _ O _

After Pat’s LaT spin, consonants were worth $5K each! Debra then said M at the beginning…

M _ / C U _
R U N N E T H / O _ E R
T H E / R A I N _ O _

…and solved MY CUP RUNNETH OVER THE RAINBOW for $13,050! Too bad she fell $340 short, though.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1		Debra
Round 2	S (Ben), I (Debra), N (Aaron)	Aaron
Round 3	PERFECT ROUND
Round 4	L (Debra)	Aaron	Ben

FINAL SCORES
Debra: $13,050/Aaron: $3,900 (out w/ $17,515)/Ben: $13,390 cash & ranch

GT: $30,340
NO BANKRUPT TRASH

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Bonus Round

Ben got that W from WHE-L.

Category: THING

Here’s a trio…

_ _ R _
_ R _ S _

DCMO only added…

_ _ R M
_ R _ S _

He didn’t have a FIRM GRASP on this puzzle (he could only get to FIRM CRUNCH). And after Pat threw the envelope (added sound effect and all), we learned in the end chat that he too lost the precious metals.

MY RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: May 22, 1996

EPISODE #2518: ALASKAN CRUISE WEEK

Randy Webb: claim specialist for a large insurance carrier married to Denise w/ two kids (the name of his daughter eluded him for a moment, but he remembered and said Taylor Kate Webb, causing the audience to laugh) from San Marcos, CA

Aaron Long: probation officer who enjoys thrill seeking (skydive and bungee jump) married 6 months to Amy from Sacramento

Tom Sanderson: 1-day champ w/ $36,945 cash & Ford Explorer also from Sacramento

PRIZE WEDGE: marked COMPUTER

Round 1: THING

Randy: $300 N, BANKRUPT

Aaron: $400 S, two T’s for Free SPIN, $200 P, one E, BANKRUPT

Tom: $200 R, $600 L pair, one A and two I’s, $1,400 G pair, LaT

Randy: $500 Y, $300 V, solve…

L _ V E L Y
P A R T I N G
G I _ T S

Randy didn’t want to go home w/ the LOVELY PARTING GIFTS, so he solved for $800.

Round 2: FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

Aaron: three R’s for COMPUTER (one red/blue), $900 T (also red/blue), one B for SURPRISE, $1,400 S pair, two E’s and A’s (both A’s are red/blue), solve…

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

Aaron IDed the fictional yellow family of BART, HOMER & MARGE SIMPSON for $1,800, the $2,500 computer (it’s really a $2,500 Service Merchandise gift certificate used to purchase a PC) and the SURPRISE of a Yamaha digital piano + some cash for lessons) worth $4,465 — PR. Unscramble this Olympic event…

_ A R T
H _ M _ _ / &
_ A _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ O N

Randy: $800/Aaron: $8,765 cash & prizes FS/Tom: ZIP

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Round 3: QUOTATION

Tom: four R’s for $800, $10K’s left side

Randy: $750 T trio, F for flunk

Aaron: $1,500 G, $800 H pair, two I’s and three A’s, $1,500 S quintet (just missed $5K), $500 B pair, $350 N, two E’s, $700 D pair, $500 P, two O’s (NMV), solve…

_ H O S E / B R O A D
S T R I P E S / A N D
B R I G H T / S T A R S

For a moment, I was thinking he would mess up these words from our national anthem, but he correctly recited “WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS” for $4,850. And that’s the end of this maingame.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1		Tom	2 (Randy, Aaron)
Round 2	PERFECT ROUND
Round 3	F (Randy)		Tom

FINAL SCORES
Randy: $800/Aaron: $13,615 cash & prizes/Tom: SHUTOUT (out w/ $36,945)

GT: $14,415
BANKRUPT TRASH: $1,450

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Bonus Round

From WHE-L, Aaron chose the L.

Category: PLACE

Here’s a couple…

_ E L _ _ _ _

DPMO added one at the end…

_ E L _ _ _ M

He was way off w/ his quiet guesses of SMOKEM, DALCOM, BELTUM, and FELCRUM. It was the European country of BELGIUM, and he lost the precious metals.

MY RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: May 21, 1996

EPISODE #2517: ALASKAN CRUISE WEEK

Mayur Desai: student going to a medical school in India who has two more years to finish and do his practice here in the U.S and a big sports fan from Williams, AZ

Tom Sanderson: U.S. Air Force civilian computer analyst who makes wax hamburger candles and a charity bingo collar from Sacramento, CA

Geri Bader Saltzman: 2-day champ w/ $47,842 form Denver, CO but no BR wins

PRIZE WEDGE: marked GOURMET

Round 1: SAME NAME

Mayur: two T’s for $500, two R’s to double up, four E’s, $500 N pair, $250 S, two U’s, $350 L, $800 H pair (NMC), solve…

H E L E N / &
T R E _ S U R E
H U N T

Mayur solved HELEN & TREASURE HUNT for a $2,400 PR.

Round 2: PLACE

Tom: three R’s (one in red/blue) for $600, $200 S, $2K N pair, two E’s, $200 W, two A’s (one in red/blue), $1K Y pair, $400 K pair (one red/blue), one O, $250 P, solve…

N E W / Y O R K
_ _ _ Y ‘  S
_ E N _ R A _ / P A R K

He IDed NEW YORK CITY’S CENTRAL PARK for $3,900 — PR #2. Unscramble the name of this Olympic sport…

_ _ _ / _ _ _ K
C _ _ _ ‘ _
_ _ _ T _ A _ / _ _ R _

Mayur: $2,400/Tom: $3,900/Geri: ZIP

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Round 3: EVENT

Geri: $10K’s right side

Mayur: $250 R, $500 L, $5K N , one and two A’s, T for terrible on $5K

Tom: $500 F, $350 P, $500 D, solve…

F _ N A L
_ E _ P A R D _

Hmm, were they doing a crossover episode w/ the other show? Anyway, Tom solved FINAL JEOPARDY! for $1,350 (and he was chanting “big bucks”– this is NOT Press Your Luck, sir.)

Mayur: $2,400/Tom: $5,250/Geri: ZILCH

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Round 4: THING

Mayur: insta-dud of N

Tom: $350 R, T’s no good again

Geri: one L on DOUBLE PLAY and used right away…BANKRUPT near $1,500 (Her reaction: “You can’t go BANKRUPT twice!”)

Mayur: P for phooey

Tom: $500 S, one E, C for crud

Geri: F for flunk

Mayur: D for dud on $10K

Tom: $550 K, baffling dud of Y

Geri: spun as the SPEED-UP BELLS rang and no H

S _ _ K E
_ L _ R _

Consonants were worth the measly $200 minimum. Mayur then said two of the first letter of his name…

S M _ K E
_ L _ R M

He silenced the SMOKE ALARM for $400.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	PERFECT ROUND
Round 2	PERFECT ROUND #2
Round 3	T (Mayur)		Geri
Round 4	N, P, D (Mayur) T, C, Y (Tom) F, H (Geri)		Geri

FINAL SCORES
Mayur: $2,800/Tom: $5,250/Geri: SHUTOUT (out w/ $47,842)

GT: a measly $8,050
NO BANKRUPT TRASH

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Bonus Round

Tom chose the second E.

Category: TITLE

Just an S to start…

_ S _ _ _ _

CPMA gave him a chance…

P S _ C _ _

He successfully IDed the horror/thriller “PSYCHO” and wanted a car…and he got one in the 1996 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer worth $31,695, giving him a 1-day total of $36,945 cash & SUV.

MY RATING: 6

WoF Retro Recap: May 20, 1996

It’s the final day of their Olympic Sweepstakes and the featured trip in the BR was an Alaskan Cruise.

EPISODE #2516: ALASKAN CRUISE WEEK

Michael Crow: sales rep for a local supply house married w/ a daughter named Sarah (born 8 days before taping day) from Riverside, CA

Geri Bader Saltzman: 1-day champ w/ $21,800 from Denver

Kashay Jackson: secretary at Houston Community College who enjoys cooking from Houston, TX

PRIZE WEDGE: marked CRYSTAL

Round 1: EVENT

Michael: LaT right away

Geri: N for negative

Kashay: BANKRUPT

Michael: T for turnover

Geri: $900 S, $1K D pair, two A’s, one M for SURPRISE

A _ M _ D
_ _ _ _ _ S
D A _

Geri solved ARMED FORCES DAY for $1,650 and the SURPRISE, which was a gourmet restaurant tour of Paris from Mansour Travel Co. worth $8,742.

Round 2: THINGS

Geri: $200 S, $400 N, two R’s (both red/blue) for DOUBLE PLAY, three O’s, $500 T, $900 D, two A’s (one red/blue), $450 Y (one red/blue), one M for $10K, solve…

_ A M / &
_ _ _ _ S _ / O N
R Y _ / _ R _ A D
T O / _ O

Geri would enjoy some HAM & CHEESE ON RYE BREAD TO GO for $11,950! Unscramble the name of this sport…

_ _ _ / &
C H E _ _ _ / _ _
R Y _ / _ R _ A _
_ _ / _ _

Geri: $22,342 cash & Paris DP/Others: $0 each

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Round 3: BEFORE & AFTER

Kashay: $200 R, S for sorry 

Michael: $2,400 T trio, E for end of turn

Geri: used DP…$600 x 2 and one N, L for loss of turn

Kashay: D for dud

Michael: two C’s for $500, buys of A, I and six O’s, $250 F, last vowel of U, LaT

Geri: four H’s for $800, solve…

C H O O – C H O O
T R A I N / O F
T H O U _ H T

Geri’s CHOO-CHOO TRAIN OF THOUGHT won her $2K more.

Geri: $24,342 cash & Paris/Others: ZERO a head

Round 4: PHRASE

Michael: three T’s for $600, S was no good again

Geri: $900 R

SPEED-UP

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

Consonants were worth a measly $200 apiece.

Geri: 2 N’s
Kashay: S repeat (not acknowledged as a repeat)
Michael: L (DUD)
Geri: M (DUD)
Kashay: D
Michael: C (DUD)
Geri: 2 H’s

_ _ _ N / T H _ R _
D _ N _ / T H _ T

Geri rightly stated she’s “BEEN THERE, DONE THAT” for $1,700 and the maingame sweep!

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	N (Geri), T (Michael)	Michael	Kashay
Round 2	PERFECT ROUND
Round 3	S (Kashay), E (Michael), L (Geri), D (Kashay)	Michael
Round 4	S, L, C (Michael) M (Geri)			Kashay‘s S repeat

FINAL SCORES
Geri: $26,042 cash & trip ($47,842 so far)/Others: PARTING GIFTS EACH

NO BANKRUPT TRASH

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Bonus Round

This week’s non-$25K prizes…

• Ford Explorer ($31K+)
• Alaskan Cruise ($21K+)
• $18K+ boat
• $30K precious metals package

Geri chose the second E.

Category: THING

It’s what a cat or mouse has…

_ _ _ S _ E R S

She WIPED OUT w/ CDMA and wasn’t even close w/ QUASARS, BLAZERS, PLAZERS, PHAZERS, PHASES, and CLASERS before she wondered why she couldn’t do this after time’s up. It was WHISKERS and she lost the $$$ again.

MY RATING: 7

WoF Retro Recap: May 17, 1996

EPISODE #2515: HOLLAND WEEK

Geri Bader Saltzman: married recruiter who works with attorneys and also written a book on how to find work (she also does public access TV where she interviews crazy people) from Denver, CO

Kimberly Proxter: school bus driver married w/ one daughter (Ayzha) from Oceanside, CA

Melody Anderson: 1-day champ w/ $33,450 cash and trips to Holland, Belgium & Paris

PRIZE WEDGE: SILVER tea sea

Round 1: THING

Geri: BANKRUPT right away

Kimberly: $300 S, N for negative

Melody: $350 T, $2K R pair, three E’s and I, $200 F, buy of U, sole dud vowel of A

Geri: no L on SURPRISE

Kimberly: no B on SILVER

Melody: one O (NMV), BANKRUPT (lost $1,300)

Geri: $1K M, missed out on SURPRISE again w/ C

Kimberly: one H for Free SPIN, $900 D (NMC), solve…

S U R E – F I R E
M E T H O D

She read the answer for $1,200.

Round 2: BEFORE & AFTER

Kimberly: $200 T, $500 S, $2,400 R trio (one red/blue), one E and two A’s, $1K N (it’s red/blue), one I (also red/blue), two P’s for SURPRISE, SOLE DUD VOWEL of U ($3,100 + SURPRISE at risk)

Melody: $500 B pair, BANKRUPT near pink $500

Geri: $400 W (also red/blue), $1K G (also red/blue), $400 C, solve…

B R _ W N
P A P E R / B A G
_ _ / T R I C _ S

Geri earned her first $1,800 for her BROWN PAPER BAG OF TRICKS. Here’s that scrambled Olympics word…

_ R O W N
_ _ _ _ _ / _ _ G
_ _ / _ _ I _ _ _

Geri: $1,800/Kimberly: $1,200 FS/Melody: ZERO

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Round 3: EVENT

Melody: LaT

Geri: $10K’s left side

Kimberly: $500 S pair, BANKRUPT near $1,500 and used FS, $2,400 T trio, $400 H pair, one A and six E’s, M for mistake

Melody: $900 C, R for rats

Geri: four N’s for $20K

SPEED-UP AT A CRITICAL TIME

_ _ N C E
_ E / _ E _ N / S E E _ S
T H E / _ _ _ N T A _ N
_ _ / _ _ _ T H

Consonants were worth $250 apiece. She then said I…

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

She said the name of the explorer, stammered, and then said the rest of the answer of PONCE DE LEON SEEKS THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH…which was accepted as a solve for $20K and the win!

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	N, B (Kimberly) A (Melody), L & C (both by Geri)		2 (Geri, Melody)
Round 2	U (Kimberly)		Melody
Round 3	M (Kimberly), R (Melody)	Melody	2 (Geri, Kimberly)

FINAL SCORES
Geri: $21,800/Kimberly: $1,200/Melody: SHUTOUT (out w/ $33,450)

GT: $23K
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,300

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Bonus Round

Would Geri earn more $$$ or drive off the Thunderbird? After Geri clarified that her public access show is for “crazy” people w/ unusual lifestyles, she chose the L from -H–L.

Category: THING

The middle letter was…

_ _ _ L _ _ _

CMYO added two more…

_ _ _ L O M _

She’s way off w/ A PLUM, PALAMONI, BALONEY, PALOMI, BOLOGNA, and PALOMA. It was DIPLOMA and she lost the $$$.

MY RATING: 5

WoF Retro Recap: May 16, 1996

EPISODE #2514: HOLLAND WEEK

Melody Anderson: attorney who enjoys volleyball, and country dancing (but not line dancing) from Redondo Beach, CA

Staci Lopossa: senior at Chico Sate getting her B.A. in May (but she also had another year) form Orange, CA

Angel Parr: 1-day camp w/ $8,200 from Houston, TX

PRIZE WEDGE: marked HI-TECH

Round 1: PHRASE

Melody: two T’s for $400, $400 H, three E’s, R for rats on SURPRISE

Staci: D for dud

Angel: $600 C pair, N for negative

Melody: three S’s for $3K, solve…

T H E / _ E _
T _ / S _ C C E S S

THE KEY TO SUCCESS on this show is to choose smart letters and solve puzzles, and Melody solved for $3,550.

Round 2: PERSON

Staci: one R for SURPRISE, baffling dud of Y

Angel: LaT

Melody: $1,600 N pair (both red/blue), $600 S (that’s red/blue), dud vowel of O

Staci: $200 L, another baffling dud of K

Where is she getting them from?! -___-

Angel: Y repeat

Melody: C for crud

Staci: $900 T pair (one’s red/blue), two I’s (one red/blue), W for worthless on $1K

Angel: $200 B (NMC)

_ L B _ R T
_ I N S T _ I N

She IDed ALBERT EINSTEIN for the house minimum. And here’s your Olympic-themed word…

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

Melody: $3,550/Staci: ZERO/Angel: $200

---

Round 3: THING

Angel: $10K’s right side right away

Melody: two N’s for $10K, $200 G, two R’s for DOUBLE PLAY and used right away…$900 x 2 but no T

Staci: no D on $1,500

Angel: $700 S pair, one I, C’s no good here

Melody: $200 M, A for awful

Staci: $550 H, yet another headscratching call of Y

Angel: BANKRUPT near $1,500 (lost $450)

Melody: one P for HI TECH, CRITICAL DUD of B for bad ($10,150 + HI TECH in jeopardy)

Staci: two O’s, $500 L, F for flunk

Angel: $500 W, $200 V (NMC)

O V _ R W H _ L M I N G
R _ S P O N S _

My OVERWHELMING RESPONSE to this round is…what happened?! Angel mercifully solved for $700.

Melody: $3,550/Staci: BIG TROUBLE/Angel: $900

---

Speed-Up: BEFORE & AFTER

Consonants in this ugly affair were worth $500 apiece (not quite to the big one).

Melody: 3 R’s
Staci: S
Angel: 3 T’s
Melody: L (DUD)
Staci: D (DUD)
Angel: 2 C’s
Melody: F

F _ _ T _ _ R
_ _ _
C _ _ S T R _ C T _ R

Before Vanna lit up the F, Melody solved FEATHER BOA CONSTRICTOR for $2K.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	R (Melody), D (Staci), N (Angel)
Round 2	Y, K, W (Staci) O, C (Melody)	Angel		Angel‘s Y repeat
Round 3	T, A, B (Melody) D, Y, F (Staci) C (Angel)		2 (Angel)
Round 4	L (Melody), D (Staci)

FINAL SCORES
Melody: $5,550/Staci: DESERVING PARTING GIFTS/Angel: $900 (out w/ $9,100)

I didn’t want to do this Staci, but your trajectory in picking letters was well off the mark. -___-

GT: a dismal $6,450
BANKRUPT TRASH: $450

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Bonus Round

From -HE-L, Melody chose the E.

Category: THING

Just the T so start this short one…

_ _ _ T

She picked a great time to frontload the alphabet (CBDA)…

B A _ T

She scared us w/ BAT, but she thankfully didn’t fall as live BAIT, and she won the trip to Holland & more (this is to Holland, Belgium and Paris) from Bombard Balloon Adventures worth $27,900, giving her a 1-day total of $33,450 cash & prizes. She was greeted by her friend Kristin.

MY RATING: 5

WoF Retro Recap: May 15, 1996

EPISODE #2513: HOLLAND WEEK

Yarone Levy: a guy who helps his family in his business and singer/guitar player for a band called Windward Circle from Agoura Hills, CA

Mike Dahl: 1-day champ w/ $32,825

Angel Parr: sales executive for a direct mail advertiser who has a three-year-old son (Collin) who enjoys country and western dancing (not line dancing, though) from Houston, TX

PRIZE WEDGE: MYRTLE BEACH

Round 1: PHRASE

Yarone: $1,800 N pair, W for worthless on Free SPIN

Mike: $900 T pair, A for awful

Angel: $2,700 S trio, triple O’s, solve…

N O T / S O _ _
_ N / S T O _ _ S

Partly because of her occupation, Angel knew about some things NOT SOLD IN STORES for $2,450.

Round 2: THINGS

Mike: two S’s for $400 (one red/blue), three T’s for $3K more (one red/blue), $900 H trio, two I’s (one red/blue), two O’s, one W for MYRTLE BEACH, LaT

Angel: N for negative

Yarone: BANKRUPT near pink $500

Mike: just solved…

H O T / _ O _
W I T H / _ _ S T _ _ _
& / _ _ _ I S H

He’s won $3,800 and might’ve ordered a HOT DOG WITH MUSTARD & RELISH on the Myrtle Beach trip he just won (it’s to the Myrtle Beach Hilton Oceanfront Golf Resort) worth $4,100. And the Olympic-themed word…

_ _ _ / _ _ _
_ _ T _ / M _ S _ A _ D  
& / _ E L I _ _

Yarone: ZIP/Mike: $7,900 cash & M.B./Angel: $2,450

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Round 3: FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

Angel: two S’s for $1,100, $900 T, $500 R, three E’s and two A’s, $700 N pair, $1,050 P trio, triple O’s, $900 D, $500 C, four I’s, $500 H pair, solve…

R I C H I E
_ O N _ I E / &
P O T S I E / O N
H A P P _ / D A _ S

She paused after saying the third word because it sounded weird to her, but she did solve RICHIE, FONZIE & POSTIE ON “HAPPY DAYS” worth $5,750 — PR.

Yarone: ZILCH/Mike: $7,900 cash & M.B./Angel: $8,200

---

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

Yarone & Mike: insta-duds of T and S, respectively

Angel: $1,600 N pair, $350 R, $550 D, triple A’s, $350 L, $600 F pair

SPEED-UP

F _ N A N _ _ A L
_ _ _ A R D
_ F / _ _

Consonants were worth $350 apiece.

Angel: M (DUD)
Yarone: 2 Z’s

F _ N A N _ _ A L
_ _ Z A R D
_ F / _ Z

This FINANCIAL WIZARD OF OZ paid Yarone his only $700 of the night.

PENALTY BOX	DUDS	LaTs	BANKRUPTS	DQs
Round 1	W (Yarone), A (Mike)
Round 2	N (Angel)	Mike	Yarone
Round 3	PERFECT ROUND
Round 4	T (Yarone), S (Mike), M (Angel)

FINAL SCORES
Yarone: $700/Mike: $7,900 cash & M.B./Angel: $8,200

GT: $16,800
NO BANKRUPT TRASH

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Bonus Round

From -HE-L, Angel chose the L.

Category: THING

One N and two T’s to start this one-wordy…

_ _ _ N T _ T _

PMCA only added the vowel…

_ _ A N T _ T _

PANTRY ain’t gonna fit, so she didn’t have enough QUANTITY of letters to solve this one for the Holland + more package.

MY RATING: 6