BEST/WORST MOMENTS OF SEASON 32

BEST
1. Both grand prizes of $100K and $1M won by Rick Galten (start of “Wheel Around the World”) and Sarah Manchester (third episode of season premiere week), respectively.
2. A new-record weekly high total of $441K+ was set on California Coast Week (includes Chad Ruter’s maingame and Nicole’s $45K solve of BUBBLY SOAP)!
3. Matt’s $91K+ maingame on Boxing Day even though he didn’t solve his bonus puzzle.
4. The first perfect BR week since the end of the N.O. road trip in S28 (next-to-last week of this season).
5. Melanie Barash from March 12, 2015 scoring the first total clean sweep in almost four years.
6. The record # of car wins (26) and one player Victoria Silcox scored another one in the BR.
7. Donna Lakinger’s well-desrved $50K win for solving HIGH-TECH GADGETS.
8. Feb. 17, 2015: Rufus pulls a Caitlin Burke by solving CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.
9. A man w/ my namesake (Andy Walsh on May 28, 2015) winning big and preventing possible back-to-back shutouts by solving STRIPED AWNING).
10. NOT A SINGLE TRIPLE STUMPER this season!

WORST
1. Whitney’s $1M loss (DISHONORABLE MENTION goes to Michael Taylor for saying a technical win on that) and the other four grand prize losses
2. $32K landed on WAY too often (I’m fearing this is gonna happen next season).
3. A RECORD-WORST BANKRUPT TRASH of $49,175 on Jan. 8 (most of ’em by Alli Zack).
4. The three BR shutout weeks (especially Spin Into Summer week when most of the players including Angela on the Monday episode didn’t keep track of the letters they called in the BR). I’m surprised that Sandals Resorts Week scored a lot even w/ the shutout.
5. Terra Harris on March 3, 2015 screwing up one of the dwarves’ names in the Mystery Round (that went viral).
6. Horrible R2 and R3 (especially Ritz’ big brain fart in the Express Round) on October 1, 2014.
7. We just couldn’t duplicate the magic from the last Hawaii road trip (having somebody win $100K).
8. Ugly R1 on Oct. 15, 2014. Thankfully, Laura Vazquez saved this episode w/ her $45K win of JUICE BAR.
9. Adam Sitte of the Navy still doesn’t get the last letter of his BR puzzle FIGURE IT HOW (April 16, 2015).
10. Why use the generic set for “Viva Las Vegas” and “Wheel Loves NY”?

Feel free to think of something that are best and worst moments of this past season.

FINAL S32 STATS

Don’t you just hate $32K popping up way to often this season? I sure hope their distribution changes significantly for next season. See my custom configuration that I wrote back in April.

Total this Week: $250,020
Total for the Season: $11,517,281
BR Win Record: 74-121 (.380)
Total Car Wins: 29
-1/2 Car: 26 (13 Ford Fiestas, 12 Nissa Versa Note Ss, 1 Chevy Spark)
-BR Car: 3 (Chevy Camaro, BMW x3, VW Beetle Conv.)
Prize Wedge Wins: 50
Gift Tag Wins: 53
Mystery Wedge Wins: 16
Mystery was Flipped-Declined: 68-21
MW was $10K-Bankrupt: 35-33
$10K MW was next to LaT: 35
$10K MW was next to $800: 49
Express was Played-Passed: 38-4
-Successes: 21
-Crashes: 17
Wild Card Usages
-Maingame: 10 (8 on $3,500, 1 on $900, 1 on $5,000)
-BR: 23
FP Vowels/Consonants/Solves: 137/81/0
5-Round Games: 48
6-Round Games: 4
$6K FINAL SPINS: 11
Gooseegg Victims: 46
Red Winners: 65
Yellow Winners: 74
Blue Winners: 56
This Week’s Bankrupt Trash: $9,700 
Total Bankrupt Trash for the Season: $1,278,263 *
Biggest Bankrupt: $20,625* (Jan. 8), $20,600* (Sept. 16), $19,590 * (May 6)
Season-Worst Bankrupt Trashes for One Night: $49,175* (Jan 8.), $29,625* (April 3), $27,980* (March 10)
Top 3 Winning Totals: $1,017,490 (Sept. 17), $130,565 (Feb. 23), $100,623 (Jan. 29)
Bottom 3 Winning Totals: $12,400 (Feb. 16), $11,000 (Sept. 19), $10,950 (Apr. 29)
Highest Maingame Winnings: $93,892 (Dec. 26), $83,743 (Jan. 29), $77,978 (Jan. 27)
Season-High Week: $1,200,274 (Teachers Week)  
Season-Low Week: $171,789 (Disney Sand & Shore Wk.)

Bonus Round Stats

Perfect BR Weeks: 1
BR Shutouts: 3
$1M Bonus Rounds: 16

$32K: 56/143
$40K: 4/14
$45K: 8/18
$50K: 1/6
$100K (or $1M): 2/7 (one of each win, four $100K losses and one $1M loss) 
CAR: 3/7

* includes prizes

WoF Recap: June 12, 2015 — SEASON 32 FINALE

EPISODE #6240: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

$1K Tossup: MOVIE QUOTE

I / _ M / _ O _ R
_ A _ _ _ _

David says Darth Vader’s famous line “I AM YOUR FATHER”. Here are the final three players of S32…

David Hubbard: painting contractor married to Claire w/ daughter Irene from Tucson

Nick Noard: salesman for a major snack co. married to Victoria w/ daughter Olivia from Castro Valley, CA

Christopher Armstead: retired from Army after 21 yrs. and married to Gretchen for 9 years w/ daughter Image from San Antonio (he kinda looks like President Obama)

$2K Tossup: WAYD?

G O _ _ _ / _ _ _
_ X T _ A / _ I L E

Nick’s GOING THE EXTRA MILE.

Round 1: BEFORE & AFTER

The letter search begins w/ him calling two $900 T’s, three E’s, a $900 H, but then A for awful. Second, Christopher calls up two $900 S’s, two L’s for the 1/2 CAR near that orange wedge he last spun, two O’s, two $650 R’s, but then C for critical dud while on the SS. After David BANKRUPTs near $650, Nick spins once for a $650 D…

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

…and solves SLIDE RULE THE ROOST for $2,850, giving him a new total of $4,850.

DUDS: A (Nick), C (Christopher)
SOLE BANKRUPT: David

Mystery Round: PEOPLE

While in the lead-off spot, Christopher takes twin D’s for seven grand, a single O, three $900 S’s, but then a dud of G while on that same 1/2 CAR. Second, David spins his way to a $650 L, three N’s for the other 1/2 CAR, but the sole dud vowel of I stops him in his tracks. Third, Nick captures a $3,600 D quartet, buys two A’s and five E’s…

_ L O N D E S
_ _ _ N E T T E S
A N D / _ E D _ E A D S

…and solves BLONDES, BRUNETTES AND REDHEADS for the $3,100 remainder.

DUDS: G (Christopher), I (David)

David: $1K/Nick: $7,950/Christopher: ZIPPO

---

PP/Express Round: FUN & GAMES

David’s first call of S stands for sorry. Nick secondly LaTs out. Third, Christopher gets the exact same fate as the guy before him after finding a $2,400 T trio. Back to David who picks up the Shop Your Way gift tag w/ three H’s, buys three E’s, lights up a $2,700 N trio, and buys the O, two A’s and twin I’s. Following a $1,950 trio of G’s…

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

…he wins another $5,150 and will be HITTING THE BEACH ON A DUNE BUGGY on a Funjet Vacation to the RIU Bambu in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC worth $8K.

SOLE DUD: S (David)
LaTs: 2 (other men)

David: $14,150 cash & prizes/Nick: $7,950/Christopher: NO LUCK

---

$3K Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

B O _ _ L E / O F
C O _ O G _ E

Nick solves BOTTLE OF COLOGNE.

Round 4: PHRASE

He can’t cash in on $5K w/ a dud of N. Second, Christopher hits the neighboring BANKRUPT. Third for David are a $1,300 T trio, a $550 H, but then the bells for S-U…

_ _ _ / T H _
_ _ _ _ _ T

…and the last Final Spin of S32 is $1,800.

David: L (DUD)
Nick: R
Christopher: S
David: K
Nick: P

_ S K / T H _
_ _ P _ R T

Nick didn’t need to ASK THE EXPERT, because he makes the $3,600 solve and wins the game by just $400.

DUDS: N (Nick before FS) and L (David during S-U)

FINAL SCORES
David: $14,150 cash & prizes/Nick: $14,550/Christopher: LAST $1K GOOSEEGG OF SEASON

GT: $29,700
ZERO BANKRUPT TRASH!

---

Final Bonus Round of S32 

We see Victoria and Olivia, his grandma (name?), and cousin (name?) in the crowd. Nick lands on the second A of AMERICA’S.

Category: PHRASE
The first and last letters of this answer are…

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

HGPO is a great combination, because we now have…

T O O / _ _ _ H
H _ P E

Let’s not put TOO MUCH HYPE in this playing — he falls for the TOO MUCH HOPE trap, goes off course w/ “TOO SUCH…”, and gets the right answer in time…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

...but the $32K has swept a week for the fifth and final time this season, so he leaves w/ $46,550.

$5K SPIN ID: DJ1812453

Well, that’s all she wrote for S32. It sure had its up and down moments. Let’s take a look back at what we saw…

-Following a very dull season that nearly took the whole season for the BW to land on either grand prize, Sarah Manchester became the third-ever millionaire on the program on the very first week of this season w/ $1,017,490 (Whitney Shields, however, got the dubious honor as the first-ever $1M loser on April 2) while Rick Galten became a $100K winner (and the only such winner this season like Molly from last season) at the start of “Wheel Around the World” in February.

-The producers started the tradition of replacing the $30K envelopes and dropping the $35K ones (very bad move, IMO) w/ the new minimum cash envelopes that matches the season number. Next season’s minimum is $33K.

-The cash bonus for the BR cars was thankfully raised back to $5K (though the envelopes for ’em eliminated the manufacturer’s logo and name), but it’s such a shame that an ALL-TIME LOW of three cars were given away in the BR this season (the most expensive one was the BMW x3 given away on Dec. 29). IMO, the producers should have added a few more car envelopes to replace the $35K ones.

-We saw two epic maingame wins by Chad Ruter ($68,623 on the Thurs. episode of California Coast Week that set a new RECORD-HIGH WEEKLY TOTALw/o landing on either grand prize) and Matt DeSantos ($91,892 on Boxing Day; he was one of two people to sweep the maingame).

-This year has got to be the year of the 1/2 CAR. A record of 26 was given away (you’ll see my stat count coming soon).

-A grand total of over $11M in cash & prizes was awarded this season. The final BR win count is 74 (down from 78 last season) and let’s not forget about the PERFECT BR WEEK we got for the first time since the New Orleans road trip in May ’11. The number of BR shutouts this season (3) is the same as last season.

As usual, thanks so much for reading these recaps I’ve provided and we’ll meet again in about three months from now. Have a great summer, people!

MY EP. RATING: 7

WoF Recap: June 11, 2015

EPISODE #6239: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

$1K Tossup: WAYD?

_ R O W _ N G
A / B E A _ _

Looks like Trevor is indeed GROWING A BEARD. Now for Thursday’s manly panel…

Trevor Anthony: owner of a dinner theater that burned down married to Kayla and homeschooling his oldest of the two sons from San Antonio

Harry Limauro: married to Marie for 8 yrs. w/ three daughters from Ventura, CA

Jason DeMilia: sales mgr (and coaches both his sons in baseball) married to Christine for 13 years w/ two sons from Escondido, CA

$2K Tossup: RHYME TIME

T H _ / _ A N
W _ _ H / T _ _ / _ _ _ N

Trevor’s THE (temporary) MAN WITH THE PLAN. And BTW, Pat’s beginning to call the announcer “Jimbo”.

Round 1: PHRASE

He leads off w/ three T’s for $2,700, three N’s to double up, a $900 S, two A’s and two I’s, followed by a $900 H, four D’s for $3,600 more and three E’s (he’s been spinning the yellow $900 every time) before he faces this…

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

…he blows the solve by one letter w/ “AND THEN SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE“, so $10,050 could very well go down the drain for him. Harry then picks a $900 Y and a $2,500 C…

A N D / T H E Y
S A I D / I T
C _ _ _ D N ‘ T
_ E / D _ N E

…he capitalizes on the $3,400 solve w/ “AND THEY SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE”.

SOLE DQ: Trevor’s blown solve

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Harry first takes control of a $650 R, buys two A’s and E’s, but then says F for flunk while on the 1/2 CAR near the orange $900. Jason secondly gets that same plate w/ an N, then he spins his way to an L, I, K, two P’s (all of those consonants came from that same green $500 space), and the BANKRUPT near TD to lose $2,250 and the plate. Trevor then semi-spingles for a $900 Y, buys an O…

L E A K Y
P I P E
O R _ A N

…and redeems himself w/ a LEAKY PIPE ORGAN.

SOLE DUD: F (Harry)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Jason

Harry: $3,400/Jason: NIL/Trevor: $4K

Bonus Puzzle Flashback (last one of season): EVENT (early ’00)
This guy went CDMA…

C A T C _ / A
_ _ _ / _ L _

…but failed to CATCH A POP FLY.

---

PP/Express Round: FUN & GAMES

Jason’s initial choices are two $3,500 N’s, a $900 G, the obvious I, but then the sole dud vowel of A. Second, Trevor BANKRUPTs near TD. Coming Harry’s way third are a $1,500 R trio, two E’s, two $650 T’s, two O’s, and a $2,700 H trio before we look at…

_ _ R _ I N G / T H E
N O R T H / _ H O R E

…he wins another $5K and will be SURFING THE NORTH SHORE while at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki in OAHU courtesy of Apple Vacations worth $7,100.

SOLE DUD: A (Jason)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Trevor

Harry: $15,500 cash & HI/Jason: NADA/Trevor: $4K

---

$3K Tossup: PERSON

B U _ _ N E _ S
T _ A _ E _ E R

Trevor the BUSINESS TRAVELER sweeps those Tossups.

Round 4: MOVIE TITLE

Next on his letter list are a $500 N, three T’s to x4 up, four E’s, $500 H and M singles (he’s spun that same green $500 next to TD every time), and the final vowel of A…

M E E T / T H E
_ A _ E N T _

…he solves “MEET THE PARENTS” for $2,500.

PR

Harry: $15,500 cash & HI/Jason: GOOSEEGG ALERT/Trevor: $9,500

Speed-Up Round: PLACE

Here’s another $1,500 FS for ya (it’s the same one spun last round).

Harry: S (DUD)
Jason: T
Trevor: H
Harry: R (DUD)
Jason: M (DUD)
Trevor: 2 N’s

H _ N T _ N _
_ _ _ _ _

Trevor’s wrong w/ HUNTING FIELD (that was my guess, too) and HUNTING GROUND.

Harry: I
Jason: 2 G’s

H _ N T _ N G
_ _ _ G E

Jason’s guess of HUNTING RANGE is not much better, since the R was already dead. Trevor goofs w/ the C whereas Harry picks the L…

H _ N T I N G
L _ _ G E

…he seals the deal w/ HUNTING LODGE. Had Trevor said either the L or the D, we would have gone to a Tiebreaking Tossup for the first time in over nine years.

DUDS: S (Harry), R (Harry), M (Jason), C (Trevor)
DQs: 3 missolves (two by Trevor, Jason)

FINAL SCORES
Harry: $17K cash & HI/Jason: $1K GOOSEEGG/Trevor: $9,500

GT: $27,500
BANKRUPT TRASH (plate excluded): $2,250

---

$100K Bonus Round

Marie is here along w/ their daughter Maya, his mom Robyn, and a friend named Jaime. The S in SPIN is where the BW stops for this Harry.

Category: PHRASE
Another biggie begins like this…

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

CMPA doesn’t add much…

_ A _ _ L E / _ N
T _ E / _ _ T C _ E N

…he’s stumped on the first word of DABBLE IN THE KITCHEN, so he’s not the third straight $32K winner.

$5K SPIN ID: CG4999114

EP. RATING: 5

WoF Recap: June 10, 2015

EPISODE #6238: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

$1K Tossup: THINGS

C L A _ _ I C
C A R S

Vince knows that Jay Leno is a collector of CLASSIC CARS. Once again, going down the line in meeting the men…

Vince Warsaw: business teacher at Arroyo Valley HS & minister married to Crystal for 10 years w/ two kids from Highland, CA

Michael Ansier: firefighter & Navy vet married to Gwen for 3 years w/ one daughter from Chicago (the firehouse where he works at is about a block away from the HS where Pat attended — Farragut HS)

Alan Bratz: Navy Sonar Tech for 10 yrs. married to Natasha w/ one son and another on the way from San Diego

$2K Tossup: PHRASE

_ Y E / _ Y E
_ _ P T _ I _

Michael goofs w/ “BYE BYE…”.

A Y E / _ Y E
_ A P T _ I _

Alan aptly says “AYE AYE, CAPTAIN“.

Round 1: LIVING THINGS

He gets the WC right away w/ an R, buys an E, but then BANKRUPTs near TD to lose the WC and the other half of his $500 almost instantly. Second, Vince calls up a $900 T, buys two A’s, but then hits the MDW’s right side. Third, Michael takes a $900 L, two I’s, four M’s for another $3,600, and three FP S’s…

S A L M _ _
S _ I M M I _ _
_ _ S T R E A M

…he catches some SALMON SWIMMING UPSTREAM for his first $5,750.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (the other men before him)

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Vince first spots two T’s for $1,600, double A’s, the same number of N’s for $1,800 more, but nothing more w/ an O buy. Second, Michael puts up a $1,300 pair of R’s, the remaining vowels of six E’s and two I’s, and five S’s for another $3,250…

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

Don’t try to rent a movie titled “SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE MARINERS”, but he’s won another $4,050.

SOLE DUD: O (Vince)

Vince: $1K/Michael: $9,800/Alan: $2K

---

PP/Express Round: WAYD?

Michael instantly duds out w/ R while on the EXPRESS. Down Alan’s path second are a $1,400 pair of N’s, two O’s and three E’s, and a G while on EXPRESS. He GOES ON…but his very next call of S costs him $1,900. Third, Vince lights up nothing w/ a P call. Returning to Michael who picks two M’s for the 1/2 CAR near the orange $900 and an $1,800 pair of L’s, buys two A’s, but then purchases the one dud vowel of the board (E). Alan then BANKRUPTs near TD whereas Vince finds himself in LaT territory, so we’re quickly back to Mike who buys that remaining U…

_ _ I L L I N G / O U _
I N / A / _ A M M O _ _

…he makes the $2,050 solve and will be CHILLING OUT IN A HAMMOCK at the Azul Ocean Club in COSTA RICA worth $6,800.

NON-BANKRUPT DUDS: R (Michael), P (Vince), E (Michael)
SOLE LaT: Vince
BANKRUPTS: 2 (both by Alan; he has three so far)

Vince: $1K/Michael: $18,650 cash & C.R./Alan: $2K

---

$3K Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

H _ _ E / _ _ _ _ _ _ R
_ Y S _ E M

Alan doesn’t know it.

H O _ E / T _ _ A _ _ R
_ Y S _ E M

Mike’s up over $21K w/ HOME THEATER SYSTEM.

Round 4: FOOD & DRINK

He falls just short of hitting the big one, but he duds out anyway w/ T. Second, Alan BANKRUPTs next to TD for the third time tonight (and that’s his fourth one overall). Third for Vince are a couple N’s for $1,300, a $550 G, an I, but then L for loss of turn and we go into S-U mode…

_ _ _ N I N G
_ _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _

…w/ the leftover consonants worth $1,500 each.

Michael: R
Alan: T repeat 
Vince: M (there was a jump cut to Pat and maybe because Vince took a long time to call this letter)
Michael: 3 F’s

M _ R N I N G
_ _ _ / _ F / _ _ F F _ _

Michael’s had his MORNING CUP OF COFFEE and takes another $6K heading into Bonusland.

SOLE DUD: T (Michael)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Alan
SOLE DQ: Alan’s T repeat

FINAL SCORES
Vince: $1K/Michael: $27,650 cash & C.R./Alan: $2K

GT: $30,650
BANKRUPT TRASH (WC disregarded): $2,800

---

$100K Bonus Round
Gwen the wife awaits the final result and here comes the W for Mike.

Category: THING
One-wordy alert…

_ R _ _ _ _ _ L _ T _

PHGO gives him a little run of letters at the beginning…

P R O _ _ _ _ L _ T _

…the PROBABILITY of him trying to solve this is pretty decent…he makes it happen for $32K and leaves w/ $59,650 cash & trip.

$5K SPIN ID: TN8265785

MY RATING: 7

WoF Recap: June 9, 2015

EPISODE #6237: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

$1K Tossup: SONG TITLE

L E A D E R / O F
T H E / P A _ K

Just when you thought we finally have a Triple Stumper all season long, James somehow gets “LEADER OF THE PACK”  by the Shangri-Las. Meeting the men from left to right now…

James Ramey: married man to Leah for 8 years w/ four kids (a 6-yr.-old was recently a mutton-busting champion) from Cypress, TX 

Amir Durrani: HR worker married to Saima for 18 years w/ three kids from Cerritos, CA

Jerry Mrozek: retired A.F. pilot and astronautical engineer married to Jody for 49 years w/ three daughters from Orcutt, CA

$2K Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

_ U _ T A C H E
_ _ _ _ M E R

James takes out the MUSTACHE TRIMMER for the tripler.

Round 1: MOVIE QUOTE

He opens up w/ two R’s for the 1/2 CAR near the orange $900, buys five E’s and three A’s, calls up an S and two N’s at $650 apiece, and buys and O before saying B for bad while on the Shop Your Way shopping spree. Second, Amir picks a $700 T, but the MDW’s right side gets him just as quick. Third, Jerry uncovers three F’s for $2,400, a $900 C, and two M’s for the other 1/2 CAR. After he buys the leftover O and U…

M A _ E / _ I M / A N
O F F E R / _ E
C A N ‘ T / R E F U S E

…he exactly recites “MAKE HIM AN OFFER HE CAN’T REFUSE” (from “The Godfather”) for $3,800.

SOLE DUD: B (James)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Amir

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Amir kicks off w/ a $1,400 pair of T’s, but the BANKRUPT near $650 strikes. Second, Jerry can’t capitalize on $3,500 w/ a dud of N. Third, James has the same fate w/ an S call. Amir restarts w/ a $900 R, A and E singles, two $600 B’s, and an H while on the MW near LaT. He risks the $1,600 to find…$$$! But after he buys two U’s, he repeats the B on $3,500 to likely throw away $11,350 — oh boy. After Jerry runs into the other MDW BANKRUPT to hand over his plate, James spingles for a $1K G…

_ / G _ T / _ _ U
B A B E
R U T H

…and solves “I GOT YOU BABE” RUTH.

DUDS: N (Jerry), S (James)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (Amir & Jerry)
SOLE DQ: Amir’s B repeat

James: $4K/Amir: ZERO/Jerry: $3,800

Repeating BP Flashback: WHY ME

---

PP/Express Round: LANDMARKS

Coming Jerry’s way first are a $1,200 pair of T’s, three $650 S’s, two E’s and the same number of A’s, followed by a $1,500 N trio, a $900 D, a $550 L…but then the LaT. James then calls up a $1K pair of M’s while on the 1/2 CAR near the pink $900…

_ A S T L E S / A N D
M _ N _ M E N T S

…he’ll be seeing CASTLES AND MONUMENTS on a $6K trip to IRELAND.

SOLE LaT: Jerry

James: $11K cash & Ireland/Amir: ZILCH/Jerry: $3,800

---

$3K Tossup: PHRASE

_ _ _ I _ G
I _ / B U _ K

James is certainly BUYING IN BULK for the Tossup sweep.

Speed-Up Round: FUN & GAMES

$1,500 is the consonant payoff.

James: 2 R’s
Amir: 2 T’s
Jerry: N
James: 3 L’s
Amir: S
Jerry: W

_ L L _ _ _ T _ R
W R _ S T L _ N _

Jerry blows the solve w/ ALL-STAR WRESTLING when there was no punctuation mark on the board. James then requests the double G’s…

_ L L _ G _ T _ R
W R _ S T L _ N G

…he solves ALLIGATOR WRESTLING for another $10,500.

SOLE DQ: Jerry’s blown solve

FINAL SCORES
James: $24,500 cash & Ireland/Amir: $1K GOOSEEGG/Jerry: $3,800

GT: $29,300
BANKRUPT TRASH (excl. plate): $2,100

---

$100K Bonus Round

Leah the wife is here and the P is James’ potential reward.

Category: FUN & GAMES
The ending letter(s) of each word is/are…

_ _ _ _ E R
_ _ _ L

DFMO is his combination…

_ _ M _ E R
_ O O L

…he successfully sinks a ball in this game of BUMPER POOL and leaves w/ $56,500 cash & trip.

$5K SPIN ID: RH7740044

EP. RATING: 7

WoF Recap: June 8, 2015

It’s gonna be hard to follow last week’s shows that produced a PERFECT BR WEEK, but let’s see how it pans out as we start the season finale week for the second season in a row, “Happy Father’s Day” (and it’s presented by Shop Your Way).

EPISODE #6236: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

$1K Tossup: PHRASE

_ _ U ‘ _ _
_ _ / _ E R O

Vinnie rightly says to Pat “YOU’RE MY HERO”. The first three guys this week…

Vinnie Malafronte: Ronkonkoma MS band teacher married to Michelle w/ two kids Clara and Vince from Holbrook, NY

Matthew Whitney: Santa Barbara HS English teacher married to Mary Pat for 12 years w/ twin daughters Emily & Katie from Goleta, CA

Tony Pantoni: attorney specializing in employment law who has a girlfriend named Cindy and daughters Maggie and Madeline from San Diego

$2K Tossup: CHARACTERS

_ _ E
_ V _ _ _ _ R S

Tony solves “THE AVENGERS”.

FEATURED $7,500 SS ALL WEEK LONG: Shop Your Way (the GT is from that same co.)
1/2 CAR: Versa Note

Round 1: SONG LYRICS

His first takings this evening are a $900 T, two $800 N’s, six E’s, two $700 H’s, and three A’s, followed by a $600 S, three I’s, an L for the 1/2 CAR near the pink $900 and two $650 R’s before we look at…

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

…he exactly recites “THEN I SAW HER FACE, NOW I’M A BELIEVER” (originally by The Monkees and later by Smash Mouth) for $5,550 and a new total of $7,550.

PR

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Vinnie gets started w/ a $700 T, but then N for no. Second, Matthew picks up the other 1/2 CAR w/ a couple S’s, but his next letter of L stands for loss for turn. Third, Tony tries a $2,700 trio of R’s, buys two O’s and four E’s, but then duds out w/ M. Vinnie next says an F while on the MW near LaT and sees under there…$$$! But after his A buy, the sole dud vowel of U stops him. Matthew then buys those remaining I’s, plucks an $1,800 pair of B’s, but then BANKRUPTs near $650 to lose $2,550 and his plate. Tony then puts up a $1,600 pair of H’s…

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

…we don’t have a pair of HEAVYWEIGHT BOXERS OR BRIEFS for him, but we do give him another $3,800.

DUDS: N (Vinnie), L (Matthew), M (Tony), U (Vinnie)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Matthew

Matthew: ZERO/Tony: $11,350 1/2 CAR/Vinnie: $1K

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PP/Express Round: THINGS

Matthew’s off to a bad start w/ a T request. Second in Tony’s direction are a $900 N, three S’s to triple up, three E’s, two A’s, two $600 G’s, and double I’s to wipe out the vowel shop. He follows w/ $650 R, $650 L singles…two M’s for that WC…

G L I M M E R I N G
S E A S _ A _ E S

…and a CRITICAL DUD of H (he was thinking SEASHAPES) so he’s gonna have to give back at least $5,450. Vinnie then SPINGLES for a $600 C…

G L I M M E R I N G
S E A S C A _ E S

…he’ll see some GLIMMERING SEASCAPES on his $8,920 trip to the Galley Bay Resort in ANTIGUA.

DUDS: T (Matthew), H (Tony)

Matthew: DONUT/Tony: $11,350 WC/Vinnie: $10,520 cash & trip

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$3K Tossup: PERSON

W E _ _ _ _ D
W _ _ _ _ _ _

Matthew’s soon to be a WEEKEND WARRIOR, and he’s finally on the board.

Round 4: ON THE MAP

After he starts w/ the frontloading $500 T and a dud of R, it’s S-U time…

T _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

…w/ the remaining consonants worth the big one!

Tony: N (DUD)
Vinnie: C (DUD)
Matthew: S
Tony: 2 L’s

T _ L S _
_ _ L _ _ _ _ _

Tony locates TULSA, OKLAHOMA for $12K and the win.

DUDS: R (Matthew), N (Tony), C (Vinnie)

FINAL SCORES
Matthew: $3K/Tony: $23,350 WC/Vinnie: $10,520 cash & trip

GT: $36,870
BANKRUPT TRASH (excl. plate): $2,550

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$100K Bonus Round

The final car offered this season (and from the same manufacturer like the Versa) is a 2016 Nissan 370Z coupe. Tony, who brought along his bald-headed dad, lands on the R.

Category: THING
The second word should be obvious…

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

GHCA and M only add…

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

…the vowel, and this was NOT an OBVIOUS ($32K) ANSWER to him.

$5K SPIN ID: AH5796306

EP. RATING: 6

Penultimate Week Stats

What a week this has been (despite that pesky $32K showing up so many times as usual)!

Total this Week: $372,977
Total for the Season: $11,270,261
BR Win Record: 71-119 (.374)
Total Car Wins: 29
-1/2 Car: 26 (13 Ford Fiestas, 12 Nissan Versa Note Ss, 1 Chevy Spark)
-BR Car: 3 (Chevy Camaro, BMW x3, VW Beetle Conv.)
Prize Wedge Wins: 50
Gift Tag Wins: 52
Mystery Wedge Wins: 16
Mystery was Flipped-Declined: 66-21
MW was $10K-Bankrupt: 33-33
$10K MW was next to LaT: 33
$10K MW was next to $800: 49
Express was Played-Passed: 37-4
-Successes: 21
-Crashes: 16
Wild Card Usages
-Maingame: 10 (8 on $3,500, 1 on $900, 1 on $5,000)
-BR: 22
FP Vowels/Consonants/Solves: 137/80/0
5-Round Games: 47
6-Round Games: 4
$6K FINAL SPINS: 10
Gooseegg Victims: 43
Red Winners: 63
Yellow Winners: 71
Blue Winners: 56
This Week’s Bankrupt Trash: $16,050*
Total Bankrupt Trash for the Season: $1,268,563 *
Biggest Bankrupt: $20,625* (Jan. 8), $20,600* (Sept. 16), $19,590 * (May 6)
Season-Worst Bankrupt Trashes for One Night: $49,175* (Jan 8.), $29,625* (April 3), $27,980* (March 10)
Top 3 Winning Totals: $1,017,490 (Sept. 17), $130,565 (Feb. 23), $100,623 (Jan. 29)
Bottom 3 Winning Totals: $12,400 (Feb. 16), $11,000 (Sept. 19), $10,950 (Apr. 29)
Highest Maingame Winnings: $93,892 (Dec. 26), $83,743 (Jan. 29), $77,978 (Jan. 27)
Season-High Week: $1,200,274 (Teachers Week)  
Season-Low Week: $171,789 (Disney Sand & Shore Wk.)

Bonus Round Stats

Perfect BR Weeks: 1
BR Shutouts: 3
$1M Bonus Rounds: 16

$32K: 53/138
$40K: 4/14
$45K: 8/18
$50K: 1/6
$100K (or $1M): 2/7 (one of each win, four $100K losses and one $1M loss) 
CAR: 3/7

* includes prizes

WoF Recap: June 5, 2015

EPISODE #6235: AMERICA’S GAME V

This season’s extra episodes ends on the set of the second “Trip of a Lifetime”.

$1K Tossup: EVENT

_ _ I L G _ T E
_ _ _ T Y

Camille’s won some money towards maybe throwing a TAILGATE PARTY. One of these people will try to make the PERFECT BR WEEK happen…

Camille Hall: Univ. of TX grad student in communication studies and church worship leader from San Antonio

Rachelle Street: Amistad Dual Language School art teacher who recently published a gluten-free cookbook and has been with her boyfriend Ben for 10 years from NYC

Jonathan Schrader: senior mgr at sports marketing & media agency who collects comic books and plays video games from L.A. (orig. from Alsip, IL)

$2K Tossup: PERSON

 _ N _ / O _
_ _ _ / _ _ Y S

Rachelle is incorrect w/ ONE OF THE BOYS.

_ N _ / O _
_ H E / _ _ Y S

Jonathan says he’s ONE OF THE GUYS.

FEATURED $6K SS: overstock

Round 1: SHOW BIZ

That man’s opening letters are a $650 R, three $900 T’s, five E’s, an A, a $700 L and the last vowels of two I’s and O’s. Next on his list are two $600 G’s, a $650 V and three S’s for that SS before we turn to Vanna’s board…

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

…one example of the GREAT TELEVISION THEME SONGS is “The Brady Bunch”, and he has the right answer for $12,400 cash & spree.

PR

Mystery Round: FUN & GAMES

Camille first spins her way to a $600 N, a G for the 1/2 CAR near the orange $900, the obvious I, five L’s for $2,750 more, and three A’s. Following an $1,800 pair of B’s…

_ L A _ I N G
B _ A _ _
_ _ L L _ _ B A L L

…she’s not PLAYING BEACH VOLLEYBALL, but rather winning another $5,150.

PR #2

Jonathan: $14,400 cash & SS/Camille: $6,150/Rachelle: ZIP

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PP/Express Round: THING

First up for Rachelle are a $900 T, an H for the same 1/2 CAR, two E’s, but then the MDW’s right side to take away her plate and $1,150. Second in Jonathan’s favor are a $600 R, a FP A, an I, and two O’s, but then the BANKRUPT near TD to give back a Benjamin. Camille next locates a FP F, the last vowel of U, a $900 L, a $650 S, a $900 C, two FP M’s and two B’s while on EXPRESS. Of course she’s GOING ABOARD. After she then says the Y to complete the board…

T H E / M U S I C / O F
B O B / M A R L E Y

…she’ll likely be hearing said puzzle solution at the Iberostar Rose Hall in JAMAICA worth $6,688.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (her opponents)

Jonathan: $14,400 cash & SS/Camille: $19,538 cash & Jamaica/Rachelle: DONUT

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$3K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

M _ X _ _ / G _ _ _ N
_ A L _ _

Jonathan closes the gap w/ a MIXED GREEN SALAD.

Round 4: WAYD?

He first calls the obvious (three $500 N’s, two $700 G’s, and four I’s) before BANKRUPTing near $650 to lose $2,650. Camille secondly takes a $900 T, a single, E, but the same BANKRUPT gets her too. Third for Rachelle are a $1,200 H pair, the last vowel of O while on FP, and S and R singles worth $500 apiece…

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

…Camille may be SINGING IN THE CHOIR, but Rachelle finally wins her first $2,200.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (everybody else)

Jonathan: $17,400 cash & SS/Camille: $19,538 cash & Jamaica/Rachelle: $2,200

Speed-Up Round: PLACE

That was another $1,500 FS.

Camille: N (DUD)
Rachelle: L (DUD)
Jonathan: 2 R’s
Camille: S
Rachelle: M (DUD)
Jonathan: 4 T’s
Camille: H

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

Camille just makes it in time w/ THEATER DISTRICT for $3K and the win.

DUDS: N (Camille), L (Rachelle), M (Rachelle)

FINAL SCORES
Jonathan: $17,400 cash & SS/Camille: $22,538 cash & Jamaica/Rachelle: $2,200

GT: $42,138
BANKRUPT TRASH (excl. plate): $4,550

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$100K Bonus Round

After we see her mom Cathy and two sisters (Chelsea and Cabrielle), Camille appropriately spins the first letter in her name of AMERICA’S.

Category: PERSON
Some end letters to hopefully lead her in the right direction…

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

PCBI is her combo and I think the right vowel may have saved her…

_ I _ _ E S T
B I _ _ E R

…YES IT HAS — SHE MAKES THE PERFECTO HAPPEN!!! And this will be sold to her as the HIGHEST BIDDER…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…the $45K for a final total of $67,538 cash & trip!

$5K SPIN ID: KK9779916

EP. RATING: 8

WoF Recap: June 4, 2015

EPISODE #6234: AMERICA’S GAME V

This is the set where we most recently got a BR SKUNKING — “Spin Into Summer”.

$1K Tossup: ON THE MAP

M A D _ _ _ _
_ _ S C _ _ _ _ N

Charlie locates MADISON, WISCONSIN. In order, the Thursday panel…

Charlie Pevey: L.A. accountant for doctors and hospitals as well as an original co-host of “Net Match-Game Hollywood Squares Hour” from Alhambra, CA; he also has been trying to get on game shows like this one for 35 yrs.

Megan Winterberg: radiology co. mgr. who owns two muscle cars (’66 Pontiac GTO and ’71 Chevrolet Camaro) married to Christopher from Grover Beach, CA

Claire Anderson: teacher on special assignment married to Terry w/ two kids from Alexandria, MN

$2K Tossup: PHRASE

A _ / L _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ D
_ A V _ / I _

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, Charlie triples up.

FEATURED TRIP: ASTON Lakeland Village in Lake Tahoe worth $6,650

Round 1: WAYD?

This guy is off and running w/ three N’s for $2,700, three I’s, the obvious $700 G, two A’s, two $550 C’s, two E’s, and two FP O’s to finish off the vowels. Next up are an $800 R, two $2,500 T’s, and a solve attempt…

_ I T I N G / O _ _
_ O R E / T _ A N
I / C A N / C _ E _

…he’s BITING OFF MORE THAN I CAN CHEW for $9,550 more and an overall total of $12,550.

PR

Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Megan’s chance for greatness begins w/ two T’s for $1,100, an E, a $650 R, two I’s, and a $700 M, but she then buys the sole dud vowel of O. Second, Claire wastes a FP usage by repeating the O and loses a turn w/ an S request. Third, Charlie wants the first letter of his name while on the Lake Tahoe trip…that’s also a dud. Megan’s second turn sees her trying a $550 L, two A’s, a $900 Y, the last vowel of U, but then B for bad while on the 1/2 CAR near the orange $900. After Claire LaTs out, Charlie gets up there a $650 Q but then a CRITICAL DUD on $3,500 w/ the H. Following Megan’s FP dud of F and a P for the WC, here’s the board (and this is gonna bring bad memories)…

Q U A L I T Y
T I M E
_ A R P

…she solves QUALITY TIME WARP (the first half triggered a $100K loss twice in Vegas; Sarah Baxley’s case in Sept. 2010 was a TOTAL TRAINWRECK) for her first $3,150.

DUDS: O (Megan), S (Claire), C (Charlie), B (Megan), H (Charlie), F (Megan)
SOLE LaT: Claire
SOLE DQ: Clarie’s O repeat

Bonus Puzzle Flashback (’91): THINGS
This man chose CDMO…

_ _ N _
_ O N D S

…he nailed JUNK BONDS (I was wrong w/ BANK BONDS).

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PP/Express Round: THINGS

Claire’s opening letters are three S’s for the All American Clothing gift tag, an E, a $900 T, and three A’s. But after a $1,600 pair of P’s is the BANKRUPT near TD to give back $4,500 cash & GT. Charlie then picks three R’s for $1,500 and the leftover vowels (I singleton and two O’s)…

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

…he’s gonna be sending POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE, because he’s won $1K and a $6,700 trip to the Long Bay Beach Club on Tortola in the BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SOLE BANKRUPT: Claire

Charlie: $20,250 cash & BVI/Megan: $3,150 WC/Claire: ROTTEN LUCK

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$3K Tossup: CHARACTERS

S _ _ _ _ _ / &
_ _ _ _ _ _ – _ _ O

Charlie confidently but incorrectly says SCOOBY & SCRAPPY-DOO, so no Tossup sweep for him.

S _ _ _ G Y / &
_ _ O _ B _ – _ O O

Megan capitalizes w/ SHAGGY & SCOOBY-DOO.

Round 4: PERSON

First up for this lady are three R’s for $1,650, three E’s, a $900 T, but then a bad purchase in I. Second for Claire are an $800 N, two $600 S’s, and two FP A’s, but here comes the bell for S-U mode…

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

…and the four remaining consonants are worth $1,500 each. She calls the D but still can’t solve for $3,500. Charlie then lights up the double W’s…

A W A R D / S _ _ W
_ R E S E N T E R

…he solves AWARD SHOW PRESENTER for another three grand.  

SOLE DUD: I (Megan)

FINAL SCORES
Charlie: $23,250 cash & BVI/Megan: $6,150/Claire: $1K GOOSEEGG

GT: $30,400
BANKRUPT TRASH: $4,500 cash & spree

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$100K Bonus Round

After we see his father Carl, Charlie takes the BW to the W.

Category: PHRASE
Looks pretty easy to me…

_ R _ _ E R
_ S _ _ E

He agrees and calls PGCU…

P R _ P E R 
U S _ G E

…sure enough, he shows us the PROPER USAGE on solving a bonus puzzle like this one to become the fourth straight $32K winner and leaves w/ $55,250. It also means that we have a chance at the first PERFECT BR WEEK in a little more than four years!

$5K SPIN ID: NA5758733

EP. RATING: 7