July 2024 – Page 3 – WHEEL of FORTUNE with Andy Nguyen (2024)

EPISODE #1647: TEEN WEEK

Over $148K just waiting to be won by thesefinal contestants of 1991…

Axel Brutz: about 16-year-old student at Paraclete High School in Lancaster who’s an entrepreneur of sorts with his own stenciling business (he does door-to-door painting of house numbers on the curb) from Palmdale, CA

Steve Ginino: junior at Brother Rice High School in Chicago who enjoys football, baseball, and Wheel with a brother, sister, aunt, uncle (he couldn’t be here), and three cousins from Oak Lawn, IL

Angela Kennedy: sophom*ore at Chandler High School who likes to swim, babysit, and paint and wants to be a flight surgeon from Chandler, AZ

Free Spin Location: $200

Round 1: EVENT

Axel: no S for FS
Steve: $1,600 T pair, $500 N, 4 E’s, $400 W, I, $2,700 R trio, 3 A’s, $800 D, $700 P pair, $350 C, $500 K pair, solve for $6,800…

N E W / _ _ R K
T I C K E R / T A P E
P A R A D E

He solvedNEW YORK TICKER TAPE PARADE.

FEATURED PRIZE: 6-night family trip to the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley (blimp ride courtesy of Goodyear included) (TRIP) worth $3,880

Round 2: THING

Steve: BANKRUPT right away
Angela: $400 T, $200 L, 3 N’s for FS, $400 S, BANKRUPT ($1K lost)
Axel: $500 R pair, no P on $350
Steve: no D on $800
Angela: $1,200 G trio, $700 B, 4 I’s, LaT
Axel: B repeat on $500
Steve: $200 M, $700 V, $400 H (NMC), solve for $1,300…

L I V I N G
B R _ _ T H I N G
_ R G _ N I S M

Us humans are a LIVING, BREATHING ORGANISM, and Steve makes the solve.

Steve: $8,100 | Other teens: $0 each (Angela has FS)

Round 3: BEFORE & AFTER

Angela: $500 T pair, H for TRIP, BANKRUPT near $600 ($500 & TRIP lost)
Axel: no W on $200
Steve: $200 R, no S on $600
Angela: $900 L, 4 E’s, $500 N, no M on $450
Axel: LaT
Steve: $1,400 D pair, 2 A’s, I, $2,800 G quartet, $150 B, solve for $4,050…

G _ L D E N / G A T E
B R I D G E / T H E
G A _

He solved GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE THE GAP to remain perfect.

Steve: $12,150 | Other teens: ZERO A HEAD (Angela has FS)

FEATURED PRIZE #2: General Instrument satellite system + Pulsar Showman digital front projection 72″ TV set (TV) worth $7,890

Round 4: THING

Axel: 2 T’s for TV,$1,500 R, 2 E’s,SPEED-UP

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

Consonants were worth the next best thing at $1,500.

Axel: N
Steve: S
Angela: 2 D’s
Axel: L
Steve: N
Angela: X (SERIOUSLY?!)
Axel: B
Steve: 3 H’s
Angela: W (NMC)

H _ T / _ N D
H _ M _ D
W E _ T H E R

I’m currently dealing withHOT AND HUMID WEATHER in my area (we’re in the middle of a heat wave right now), and Angela solved for her first and only $4,500.

FINAL SCORES
Axel: PARTING GIFTS | Steve: $12,150 | Angela: $4,500 FS

GRAND TOTAL: $16,650
BANKRUPT TRASH (Angela): $5,380 cash & TRIP

Bonus Round

Steve chose _ H E E L.

Category: THING

This is a box-shaped musical instrument…

_ _ _ _ R _ _ _ N

He picked a good time to go for CDMA…

A C C _ R D _ _ N

He gotACCORDION for $25K for an all-cash total of $37,150 and a likely spot in the Friday Finals. He brought his sister Barb, brother John, aunt Mary Ann, and cousin Joanne.

MY RATING: 6 (D+) (too many penalties)

EPISODE #1646: TEEN WEEK

Over$190K just waiting to be won during thestart of Teen Week back then.

Mike Moore: sophom*ore at Brimfield High School who likes to collect baseball cards and is in the drama club which is a class there from Kickapoo, IL

Jules King: 11th grader at Pacific High School in Southern California involved in drama and is a peer leader (it’s someone who listens to people and tries to help them cope with their problems)

Matt Sullivan: sophom*ore at Central Union High School who plays baseball (he’s in the outfield position) and is also a swimmer and interested in agriculture from El Centro, CA

Free Spin Location: $300

Round 1: PHRASE

Mike: BANKRUPT right off the bat
Jules: $400 S, no R on $200
Matt: $700 T, $900 N trio, $500 C, 2 O’s, D for FS, sole dud vowel of A
Mike: $900 K, $800 W pair, 3 I’s, $1K H pair, E, solve for $2,200…

I / D O N ‘ T
K N O W / W H I C H
E N D / I S / _ _

He wrongly admitted“I DON’T KNOW WHICH END IS UP” in a good way.

FEATURED PRIZE: Zenith Data Systems Minisport HD Notebook Computer & 32-volume edition Encyclopedia Britannica (STUDY) worth $4,098

Round 2: BEFORE & AFTER

Jules: $3K T quartet, $300 S, 4 E’s, no L on $500
Matt: $900 H pair (just made it out of LaT), no F on $450 (he took a while to pick that letter)
Mike: $1,500 R trio, 2 I’s, $600 W pair, $800 M, $800 D, U, $350 N, $700 G pair, UNNECESSARY BANKRUPT ($4,250 lost)
Jules: last consonant was DEFINITELY NOT C on $500
Matt: $200 Y, solve for $1,100…

G E T T I N G
_ W _ Y / W I T H
M U R D E R / S H E
W R _ T E

I have no idea what the puzzle writers were thinking, but he solvedGETTING AWAY WITH MURDER SHE WROTE.

Mike: $2,200 | Jules: ZIP | Matt: $1,100 FS

Round 3: CLUE

Matt: no N on $250
Mike: $200 S, no T on $200
Jules: no R on $500
Matt: also missed with L on $400
Mike: 2 B’s for$7K, no E
Jules: $450 D, BANKRUPT near $600 ($450 lost)
Matt: $400 H pair, $550 M, 2 A’s, solve for $700…

S A _ D
B A H
H _ M B _ _

He solvedSAID “BAH HUMBUG” and knew that person wasEbenezer Scrooge (his response of Mr. Scrooge was acceptable) for a $100 lead.

Mike: $2,200 | Jules: NOTHING | Matt: $2,300 FS

FEATURED PRIZE #2: trip to the Eastover Resort (MOUNTAINS) worth $7,972

Round 4: PHRASE

Mike: no S for STUDY
Jules: BANKRUPT near $1,500
Matt: $1K T pair, $800 H, 3 E’s, $1,400 R pair, same BANKRUPT ($2,950 lost)
Mike: N for MOUNTAINS, no W on $300,SPEED-UP

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

Consonants were worth $900. Jules then said F…

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

After Pat asked her to say the answer twice, she was able to READ THE FINE PRINT for her only $900 of the night.

FINAL SCORES
Mike: $2,200 | Jules: $900 | Matt: $2,300 FS

GRAND TOTAL: a pitiful $5,400
BANKRUPT TRASH: $7,650

Bonus Round

Matt choseWHEEL.

Category: TITLE

This would fit under FUN & GAMES nowadays…

_ _ _ S _ _ T _ _

CMPO should do it (the M was likely a precaution)…

_ O P S C O T C _

He salvaged this episode after solvingHOPSCOTCH for the U.S. savings bonds worth $30K at maturity for a total of $32,300 and a likely spot in the Friday Finals. He brought his parents and his little brother.

MY RATING: 5 (D)

Andy is unfortunately experiencing a power outage in his area due to Category 1 Hurrican Beryl (please pray for him), so I’m stepping in for him for this remaining S24 episode as well as #1646-#1650 from S9.

This was the start of Fun in the Sun week.

EPISODE #4641: FUN IN THE SUN

$1K Toss-Up: THING

U N _ R E C E D E N _ _ D
_ _ C C E S _

Susanor one of her opponents hoped to be an UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS (though Pat asked her to say the answer twice)…

Susan Schutz: senior studying marketing and communications at Washington State University who’s hoping to graduate and do a little traveling (and then be an UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS, according to Pat) from Olympia, WA

Sunny Reiner: computer support technician at the University of California who enjoys knitting, singing, and spending time with friends and family from Santa Barbara, CA

Jonathan Hall: works in construction sales industry married to his “smoking hot” wife Courtney who graduated from Florida State from Orlando, FL

$2K Toss-Up: ON THE MAP

O M _ _ A
_ E _ R A _ _ A

Jonathan located OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FEATURED FUN IN THE SUN TRIP: Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino courtesy of Transitions Lenses worth $4,942 (the Mon./Wed./Fri. gift tag is from this company)

Round 1: SHOW BIZ

Jonathan: $3,200 N quartet, $300 R, $800 S pair, 4 E’s, A, $1,500 C trio, solve for $5,300…

_ _ _ _ _ C / S E R _ _ C E
A N N _ _ N C E _ E N _ S

He solved PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS–PR.

Jackpot Round: PHRASE (PRIZE PUZZLE)

Susan: $900 S, $600 L, $800 N, 3 E’s,$3,500 F, $2,400 G trio, 3 I’s, solve for $7,700…

I ’ _ E / G _ _ / _
G _ _ _ / F E E L I N G
_ _ _ _ _ / _ _ I S

Ah, this was the puzzle that Caitlin Burke solved with only the L revealed on Nov. 5, 2010; Susan solved“I’VE GOT A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS” for a trip to the JW Marriott Hotel in RIO DE JANEIRO (airfare provided by American Airlines) worth $5,690-PR #2!

UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $11,600

Sunny: ZIP | Jonathan: $7,300 | Susan: $14,390 cash & Rio

Mystery Round: SAME NAME

Sunny: no S on $300
Jonathan:6 N’s for$21K, A, 3 E’s, sole potentially purchase of U
Susan: no L on $400
Sunny: $1,600 R pair, no D on $400
Jonathan: 3 I’s, solve for $20K…

R A I N _ _ _ / &
I N _ E R N E _
_ _ N N E _ _ I _ N

He solved RAINBOW & INTERNET CONNECTION to take the lead in a big way!

Sunny: SCORELESS | Jonathan: $27,300 | Susan: $14,390 cash & Rio

$3K Toss-Up: PEOPLE

_ _ A T E _ _ _ L
T W _ _ _

Although Susan didn’t haveFRATERNAL TWINS, she was right anyway.

Round 4: EVENT

Susan: no S on $800
Sunny: BANKRUPT near $500
Jonathan: $1,800 N trio, 2 I’s, LaT
Susan: $600 G pair, $1,500 R trio, $900 D, 3 E’s, solve for $2,750…

R E _ D I N G / _ _ E
_ _ R N I N G / _ _ _ E R

She could’ve gone for the P’s, but she wasREADING THE MORNING PAPER.

Sunny: GOOSEEGG ALERT | Jonathan: $27,300 | Susan: $20,140 cash & Rio

Round 5: FOOD & DRINK

Sunny: $800 N pair, A, $500 R, BANKRUPT near $600 ($1,050 lost),SPEED-UP

_ _ R N _ _ _
_ A _ _ / _ _ N

Consonants were worth $1,350.

Jonathan: M
Susan: L
Sunny: 2 H’s

_ _ R N _ _ H
_ A M _ / H _ N

Sunny had a CORNISH GAME HEN for her only $2,700 of the night.

FINAL SCORES
Sunny: $2,700 | Jonathan: $27,300 | Susan: $20,140 cash & Rio

GRAND TOTAL: $50,140
BANKRUPT TRASH (Round 5): $1,050

Bonus Round

The convertibles that week were a Volkswagen Beetle and a Nissan 350Z. After we saw his wife, mom, and aunt, he landed on WIN.

Category: ON THE MAP

This is a beach town in North Carolina…

_ _ T T _
_ _ _ _

HeWIPED OUT with MCPO and failed to locate KITTY HAWKfor $25K.

MY RATING: 7 (C-)

Rest of the week: Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri.

Every week after this have already been covered, so S24 is now officially in the books!

EPISODE #1645: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (FAMILY WEEK)

Over $120 given away so far that week. Now the finalists…

Katie Bushnell & Jolene Springman: won $36,550 on Tuesday

Lanetha & Paul Davis: won $40,660 on Wednesday

Brian & Scott Pearlman: won $29,384 on Monday

Round 1: CLUE

K & J: $1K T quintet, $400 H, three A’s, BANKRUPT (lost $1,150)

Davises: $200 L, $3K S trio, one E, $150 R, $400 P pair, $500 N pair, solve…

P L A N T / T H A T
T R A P S
_ N S E _ T S

Lanetha solved for $4K and Paul correctly said Venus Flytrap as the PLANT THAT TRAPS INSECTS.

FEATURED PRIZE: family trip to Oasis Water Resort Villa Hotel in Palm Springs worth $2,806 (P.S.)

Round 2: PHRASE

Davises: $600 T pair, $500 H pair, four E’s, $1,400 N pair, $800 R, three U’s, three D’s for Free SPIN, $400 S pair, solve…

T U R N E D
T H E / H _ U S E
U _ S _ D E / D _ _ N

LanethaTURNED THE HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN for $3,200 more — PR.

Davises: $7,700 FS/Other teams: $0 each

Round 3: THING

Pearlmans: $200 S, $400 R, D for dud

K & J: $500 N, L for lost turn

Davises: $500 T, $450 P (not quite to P.S.), one O, $3,500 W, three I’s, $1,800 C trio, solve..

C _ I C _ _ N
W I T _ / R I C _
S O _ P

Lanetha had CHICKEN WITH RICE SOUP for $5,750.

Davises: $13,450 FS/Other teams: ZERO a head

FEATURED PRIZE #2: Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Standard electric guitar, Kimball American oak concerto piano, and Lonestar Singalodeon karaoke machine worth $5,564 (SING-A-LONG)

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

K & J: $800 N pair, $2,400 T trio, $250 Y, three A’s, one S for P.S. prize, $300 C, $250 K, two E’s, $400 R pair, three I’s, $250 G, $550 F, $900 M, solve…

_ R I _ I N G / M E
N _ T T Y / A S / A
F R _ I T C A K E

Sometimes, this game can be DRIVING ME NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE, and K & J solved for $5,350 and the Palm Sorings trip — PR #2.

K & J: $8,156 cash & Palm Springs/Davises: $13,450 FS/Pearlmans: ZIPPO

Speed-Up: PHRASE

Consonants were worth $350 apiece.

Davises: T (DUD)
Pearlmans: L (DUD)
K & J: 2 N’s
Davises: S
Pearlmans: R
K & J: P (DUD; Katie said it during the Pearlmans’ five seconds)
Davises: W (definitely NOT SNOW FINGER according to Paul)
Pearlmans: 2 D’s (NMC)

S N _ W _ D
_ N D _ R

The Pearlmans avoided getting SNOWED UNDER for their only $1,050 this game.

FINAL SCORES
K & J: $8,156 cash & Palm Springs (out w/ $44,706)/Davises: $13,450 ($54,110 so far) FS/Pearlmans: $1,050 (out w/ $30,434)

GT: $22,656
K & J’s BANKRUPT TRASH: $1,150

Bonus Round

Paul chose the H.

Category: THINGS

Las three letters of this answer…

_ _ _ _ E T S

MDCA added two more…

_ A D _ E T S

Lanetha got he answer and this team would bring plenty of GADGETS in the back of their 1992 Chevrolet Lumina APV worth $22,629, giving them a final total of $76,739 cash & prizes! Aunt Mary was back along w/ Mary’s friends Bonita and Richie.

Vanna passed out some Perugia chocolates to all the teams while the Davises were presented the Family of the Year Plaque of 1991.

MY RATING: 9

EPISODE #1644: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (FAMILY WEEK)

Over $113K given away so far that week.

Eric & Jevon Stone (brothers): Eric’s a senior at Warren High School in Downey, CA while his brother is a junior at the same high school and likes to play basketball; both boys are Eagle Scouts

Nelson Gam & Nelia Martin (brother/sister): Nelia from Santa Monica is married four years w/ two daughters while Nelson’s married to Evelyn w/ a 15-month-old daughter

Misty & Betty Shaw (daughter/mother): from Jonesboro, AR; Betty’s a housing consultant w/ five children who also breeds horses and has guard geese at her place while the daughter is a senior at Arkansas State University studying public relations w/ a minor in political science and hoping to graduate soon

Round 1: BEFORE & AFTER

Stones: $150 R, $400 S, $400 T, one E, two N’s for Free SPIN, L for lost turn

N & N: $300 F pair, baffling K call

Shaws: $200 G, $700 V (NMC; I thought I heard Betty say B), solve…

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

I don’t have a FAVORITE SON OF A GUN, but Betty solved for $900.

FEATURED PRIZE: Panasonic telephone answering system, Smith Corona XD 4800 typewriter, and Encyclopedia Britannica set worth $3,348 (OFFICE)

Round 2: PHRASE

N & N: $800 S pair, $800 T pair, two O’s, $400 N pair, LaT

Shaws: $200 B, LaT

Stones: $500 R, $450 D, three E’s, FS was a waste (they said L and then M)

N & N: F for flunk

Shaws: LaT again

Stones: $500 C, $500 P, bad I buy

N & N: one I (NMV), LaT yet again

Shaws: one K for OFFICE, solve…

D O N ’ T / B E / S O
P E R S N I C K E T _

Betty solved “DON’T BE SO PERSNICKETY” for $200 and the office.

Shaws: $4,448 cash & office package/Others: $0 each

Round 3: TITLE

Shaws: $750 T trio, $900 H, $250 B (just missed $3,500), S for sorry

Stones: $1,100 R pair, $550 Y, $400 L pair, solve…

T H _ / L _ T T L _
_ R _ _ _ _ R
B _ Y

The Stones named the Christmas carol as “THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY” for $2,050.

Stones: $2,050/N & N: ZERO/Shaws: $4,448 cash & office package

FEATURED PRIZE #2: family trip to Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Resort worth $9,992 (ORLANDO)

Round 4: PHRASE

Stones: BANKRUPT near red $500 right away

N & N: $500 L (not quite to TD), BANKRUPT near $1,500

Shaws: exact same fate

Stones: $500 R

SPEED-UP

_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ L _
_ _ R _ _ _ _

Consonants were worth $200 apiece.

Stones: 2 S’s
N & N: N
Shaws: V
Stones: C
N & N: T
Shaws: O (DUD)
Stones: M (DUD)
N & N: L repeat
Shaws: B

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

Misty relied on some FAST DEPENDABLE SERVICE for $400.

FINAL SCORES
Stones: $2,050/N & N: PARTING GIFTS/Shaws: $4,848 cash & office package

GT: an underwhelming $6,898
N & N’s BANKRUPT TRASH: $500

Bonus Round

The van and the trip to Perugia, Italy were the leftover prizes. Misty chose the E from -HE—.

Category: PHRASE

Lead-offs…

_ _ _ E – _ N _ –
T _ _ E

CDHI didn’t add much besides the D…

_ I _ E – _ N D –
T _ _ E

Betty was quietly incorrect w/ -AND-TIRE, so they didn’t have the GIVE-AND-TAKE on winning the Chocolate Factory tour of Perugia, Italy. With that, they weren’t coming back on Friday.

MY RATING: 4

EPISODE #1643: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (FAMILY WEEK)

Over $109K waiting to be won.

Gigi Hewitt & Jacqueline Neal (sisters): from Kingwood, TX (originally from Marseille, France); Jacqueline’s married w/ three grown-up sons, three daughter-in-laws and two grandchildren while Gigi’s single w/ no children and so she shares her sister’s family

Diane & Linda McKay (sisters): Diane’s a medical secretary for a major hospital in Manhasset, Long Island who loves to go to Atlantic City while Linda’s a client sales associate for a major brokerage firm on Wall Street

Lanetha & Paul Davis (married): from Chicago; he’s a financial planner for an insurance company who enjoys tennis and models on occasion while she’s an appeals auditor for the federal government

Round 1: FOREIGN PHRASE

G & J: $750 N, $500 R, T for turnover

McKays: S for sorry

Davises: $1K L, $200 D, one E and two O’s, solve…

_ O R D O N
_ L E _

It’s a French term translated as “blue ribbon”, and the Davises solved CORDON BLEU for $700.

FEATURED PRIZE: river rafting adventure down Oregon’s Rogue River from Orange Torpedo Trips worth $4,760 (KAYAKING)

Round 2: PHRASE

McKays: $2,400 N trio, $500 T, four A’s, $400 S, BANKRUPT (lost $3,050)

Davises: $400 G, three L’s for Free SPIN, one D for KAYAKING, three I’s, $500 F, four E’s, $250 R, three O’s (NMV), solve…

L I _ E
L O O _ I N G / F O R
A / N E E D L E / I N
A / _ A _ S T A _ _

This married couple winning $400 and the kayaking trip is LIKE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

Davises: $5,860 cash & kayaking FS/Others: $0 each

Round 3: CLUE

Davises: $2,400 T trio (close call), $1,350 S trio, $1,800 L pair, one U, $1,400 R pair, four O’s and three I’s, $1,600 D quartet, $300 W pair, two E’s (NMV), $400 B pair, solve…

W O R L D ’ S
_ O S T / W I D E L _
D I S T R I B U T E D
B O O _

They solved for an $8,250 PR, but did they know the WORLD’S MOST WIDELY DISTRIBUTED BOOK? They sure did w/ The Bible.

Davises: $14,610 cash & kayaking FS/Others: ZERO a head

FEATURED PRIZE #2: family trip via Delta to the Hilton Hawaiian Village worth $8,780 (HAWAII)

Round 4: QUOTATION

G & J: instant dud of T

McKays: BANKRUPT near red $500

Davises: $1,400 S pair, same BANKRUPT and used FS, BANKRUPT near $1,500

G & J: $500 N pair

SPEED-UP

_ _ _ _ / S _ _ _ S
_ _ _ / _ _ N N _
_ _ _ _ _ / _ _

Consonants were worth $350 apiece.

G & J: 3 R’s
McKays: L
Davises: P
G & J: D (DUD)
McKays: F (DUD)
Davises: Y
G & J: 2 G’s
McKays: C (Linda unfortunately said GRAY SKIES ARE GOING TO CLEAR UP, even though it sounds right grammatically speaking)
Davises: K

G R _ Y / S K _ _ S
_ R _ / G _ N N _
C L _ _ R / _ P

Dick Van Dyke introduced this song from “Bye Bye Birdie”, and Lanetha recited “GRAY SKIES ARE GONNA CLEAR UP” for $1,050 and the maingame sweep!

FINAL SCORES
Davises:$15,660 cash & kayaking/Others: DOUBLE PARTING GIFTS

BANKRUPT TRASH (McKays): $1,400

Bonus Round

Lanetha chose the second E from -HEE-.

Category: THING

Just the middle letter to start this five-letter answer…

_ _ S _ _

PDMA only added…

M _ S _ _

Paul’s all over the place w/ MOSES, MOPS, MONSTERS, MULLIGAN, and MOP HEAD, but he and Lanetha got the right one of MUSIC at the last second, and won $25K for a new total of $40,660 and a possible spot in the Friday Finals! Lanetha’s aunt came to greet them.

MY RATING: 7 (rough R4)

EPISODE #1642: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (FAMILY WEEK)

Over $139K waiting to be won.

Patrick & Nicole Fabry (brother/sister): from San Diego; he’s a senior at Mira Mesa High School whose interests include tennis and weight training and wanted to become a broadcaster while she’s a freshman at UCSD (she’s undecided) who enjoys horseback riding and playing tennis

Bert & Walt Nobriga (brothers): from Kaneohe, HI on the island of Oahu; Bert’s a travel director (he escorts groups around the Hawaiian islands) who enjoys singing, dancing, and jogging while Walt does architectural drafting for a small business and enjoys golfing and fishing

Katie Bushnell & Jolene Springman (daughter/mother): from Muscatine, IA; Jolene the mom is an ESL teacher at the middle school level w/ five children (four daughters and a son) and three grandchildren while Katie is a junior at Northern Illinois majoring in chemistry

Jolene passed away at the age of 79 per this obituary note I found HERE.

Round 1: PHRASE

Fabrys: instant BANKRUPT

Nobrigas: $800 N pair, $500 R pair (they looked at the wrong arrow pointing at LaT), $300 S pair, five E’s, T for turnover

K & J: $200 V, $500 C (they looked at the wrong arrow pointing at the FS), $500 W pair, solve…

W _ _ _
W _ N _ E R S
N E V E R / C E _ S E

WILL WONDERS NEVER CEASE? Jolene solved for her team’s first $1,200. Katie, BTW, has a 2-year-old daughter named Desiree.

FEATURED PRIZE: RCA 46” big screen TV worth $2,599 (TV)

Round 2: PERSON

Nobrigas: $250 N, $400 R, $1,800 T pair, three I’s and three A’s, one G for TV, $250 H, S for sorry

K & J: $800 Y, one O, one M for Free SPIN, $400 D pair, two E’s, $800 L pair, solve…

L E A D I N G
M E D I _ A L
A _ T H O R I T Y

The LEADING MEDICAL AUTHORITY in our country is the Surgeon General, and these ladies solved for another $1,500.

K & J: $2,700 FS/Others: $0 each

Round 3: CLUE

All teams: LaT, BANKRUPT near pink $500, and no N, respectively

K & J: BANKRUPT near red $500

Fabrys: $550 S, same BANKRUPT they got before

Nobrigas: $1K T pair, BANKRUPT near pink $500 again

K & J: $3K R trio, one O, C for crud

Fabrys: B for bad

Nobrigas: $1K P pair, L for lost turn

K & J: $900 M, three E’s, $800 F, BANKRUPT near red $500 (lost $4,200) and used FS, $3,500 D, solve for that amount…

_ _ _ _ E S T –
P _ _ D
T _ / P E R F O R M E R

They mercifully solved HIGHEST-PAID TV PERFORMER, but were incorrect on the bonus answer saying it’s Vanna. The Fabrys, however, got the bonus saying Bill Cosby.

Fabrys: $500/Nobrigas: ZERO/K & J: $6,200

FEATURED PRIZE #2: family ski trip to Viking Suite Hotel in Telluride, CO worth $7,816 (SKI TRIP)

Round 4: BEFORE & AFTER

Fabrys: $2,700 T trio, $10K H pair, four E’s, $200 R

SPEED-UP

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

After Pat’s LaT, consonants were worth $350 apiece.

Fabrys: S
Nobrigas: 5 N’s
K & J: P

T H R E E / _ _ _ N S
_ N / T H E
_ _ _ N T _ _ N
P E N

Jolene solved THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN PEN for the Final Spin amount, and furthermore denied the Fabrys a $13K comeback.

FINAL SCORES
Fabrys: $500/Nobrigas: PARTING GIFTS/K & J: $6,550

GT: $7,050
BANKRUPT TRASH: $5,750

Bonus Round

Jolene chose the L from -HEEL.

Category: THING

You can put your feet on this object while you’re sitting…

_ _ _ T S T _ _ L

PHC were no good, but there’s four O’s…

_ O O T S T O O L

They easily solved FOOTSTOOL for the $30K savings bond, giving them $36,550 and a possible spot in the Friday Finals. Greeting them was Jolene’s sister Pat.

MY RATING: 6 (rough R3)

The entirety of S9’s Home for the Holidays/Family Week can be seen on PlutoTV.

EPISODE #1641: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (FAMILY WEEK)

Over $173K waiting to be won this week.

Gregg & Amber McCullough (father/daughter): he’s an auto worker who enjoys reading and bowling while the 14-year-old daughter has a younger brother named Jay and is a freshman in high school; I presume they’re from Illinois since he was found at a contestant search at Jumer’s Castle Lodge in Peoria

Brian & Scott Pearlman (brothers): from Plantation, FL; Brian’s a freshman at the University of Florida studying pre-med and has an interest of bungee cord jumping while Scott’s a senior at Nova High

Albert Plouffe & Deanna Hamilton (father/daughter): he’s a plastic manager in a plastics plant w/ eight children and 14 grandchildren while she’s a legal secretary married to David w/ a 1-year-old daughter named Sarah

Round 1: BEFORE & AFTER

McCulloughs: three T’s for $600 (just missed $1K), $800 S pair, $1K R pair, $900 N pair, three E’s, LaT

Pearlmans: $600 P trio, LaT

A & D: $250 G, LaT

McCulloughs: solve…

P _ T T S _ _ R G _
P _ R _ T E S / _ _
P E N _ _ N _ E

But Gregg’s DQed for leaving out the Z in the last word (he said PITTSBURGH PIRATES OF PENANCE), so $3,050 went to waste for this team, and the Pearlmans capitalized w/ PITTSBURGH PIRATES OF PENZANCE for $600.

FEATURED PRIZE: family trip to Sheraton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort worth $4,448 (TUCSON)

Round 2: EVENT

Pearlmans: $700 R pair (got out of trouble), $2,500 S, E for end of turn

A & D: $400 T, $2,500 N, two A’s, $2,250 C trio, solve…

S T _ C _ / C A R
R A C _ N _

Deanna solved STOCK CAR RACING for $4,900.

McCulloughs: ZIP/Pearlmans: $600/A & D: $4,900

Round 3: BEFORE & AFTER (again)

A & D: instant dud of T, surprisingly

McCulloughs: $1,100 N pair, $500 R pair, $800 S pair, two E’s, $2,400 L trio, three A’s, H for halt

Pearlmans: $200 D, one Y for TUCSON, LaT

A & D: LaT

McCulloughs: $3,500 W, three O’s, unhelpful I, $900 K, PAINFUL LaT ($8,200 at risk)

Pearlmans: $250 V, solve…

L O V E
_ O N _ _ E R S
A L L / I N / A
D A Y ’ S / W O R K

They solved LOVE CONQUERS ALL IN A DAY’S WORK for $450 and the Arizona trip.

McCulloughs: ZILCH/Pearlmans: $5,498 cash & Tucson/A & D: $4,900

FEATURED PRIZE #2: Service Merchandise GC used to buy a 1.58 carat diamond and emerald ring worth $7K (SHOP)

Round 4: THING

McCulloughs: three T’s for $2,700, S for sorry

Pearlmans: $500 R pair, three E’s, N for negative

A & D: $200 W, $400 H pair (NMC), solve…

H _ T / W _ T E R
H E _ T E R

Deanna solved HOT WATER HEATER for $600 and the lead by just $2.

McCulloughs: BAD SHAPE/Pearlmans: $5,498 cash & Tucson/A & D: $5,500

Speed-Up: THING

Consonants were worth $900 apiece.

Pearlmans: R
A & D: N
McCulloughs: 3 T’s
Pearlmans: H (DUD)
A & D: D (DUD)
McCulloughs: L (DUD)
Pearlmans: M (DUD)
A & D: C (DUD)
McCulloughs: P (DUD)
Pearlmans: S

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

The Pearlmans solves this TONGUE TWISTER for $1,800.

FINAL SCORES
McCulloughs: PARTING GIFTS/Pearlmans: $7,298 cash & Tucson/A & D: $5,500

GT: $12,798
NO BANKRUPT TRASH, MIRACULOUSLY

Bonus Round

The non-$25K prizes this week were a camping pckage, a trip to Perugia, Italy, a minivan, and a $30K savings bond. Brian chose the W.

Category: THING

This is something that distributes electricity throughout homes and other buildings…

S _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ R _

CMDA gave them…

S _ _ T C _ _ _ A R D

SCOTCHGUARD is a definite no-no, but Scott powered up the SWITCHBOARD and the brothers won the camping package (1992 Geo Tracker 2WD convertible plus Monterey Travel Trailer by Road Ranger) worth $22,086, giving them $29,384 and a possible spot in the Friday Finals. They took their dad to see those vehicles.

MY RATING: 6

EPISODE #1540: COLLEGE WEEK

Over $127K given away so far this week. Here’s who’s competing for a chance at a $50K scholarship for their school…

Univ. Of Kentucky: Randy Vance

NYU: Nelson Ornelas

UNLV: Vince Izzolo (he’s the first to describe some things about his school)

Round 1: PHRASE

Randy: $1,400 T quartet, S for sorry

Nelson: $1K N, $400 R pair, four E’s, $400 H pair, solve…

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

MY TEETH ARE CHATTERING on which school would be the ultimate winner that week, and Nelson solved for $1,550.

Round 2: THING

Nelson: $2,500 T, the S was no good again

Vince: $900 R, $2K N quartet, five E’s, $2,400 G trio, $500 C (NMC), solve…

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

He solved GENETIC ENGINEERING for $5,550. Before they went to break, Nelson described some buildings of NYU.

Randy: NIL/Nelson: $1,550/Vince: $5,550

Coming out of the break, Randy’s the last to describe some buildings of the Univ. Of Kentucky.

Round 3: PERSON

Vince: instant BANKRUPT near red $500

Randy: $1K T, $1,200 F pair, buys of O and SEVEN E’s, $400 S pair, solve…

S E _ _ E T _ _ _
O F / _ E F E _ S E
_ _ _ _ / _ _ E _ E _

He quickly IDed SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DICK CHENEY for $2,100.

Randy: $2,100/Nelson: $1,550/Vince: $5,550

Round 4: EVENT

Randy: $300 N pair, T for turnover

Nelson: $400 S, $1,800 R pair, one O, $800 F pair, E for end of turn

Vince: P for phooey

Randy: $1K C, $1,600 M pair, solve…

C R _ M M _ N _
F O R
F _ N _ _ S

He might have been CRAMMING FOR FINALS, but he solved for $2,900.

Randy: $5K/Nelson: $1,550/Vince: $5,550

Round 5: THING

Nelson: $800 T, $400 S pair, $600 R, two E’s, $5K N, one O, CRITICAL DUD OF L ($6,300 at risk)

Vince: $300 P, $600 C, $800 J (NMC), solve…

S _ P E R S O N _ C
J E T

He solved SUPERSONIC JET for $1,700.

Randy: $5K/Nelson: $1,550/Vince: $7,250

Speed-Up: PHRASE

Consonants were worth $300 apiece.

Vince: N (DUD)
Randy: 2 T’s
Nelson: 2 S’s
Vince: R
Randy: C

S T _ T _
_ _ _ R / C _ S _

STATE YOUR CASE, Randy…it’s good for $900. Had the Final Spin went to $800, he would’ve won by just $150.

FINAL SCORES
Randy: $5,900/Nelson: $1,550/Vince: $7,250

GT: $14,700
NO BANKRUPT TRASH

Bonus Round

Vince is joined by his teammates Tracy and Gregg, and they’re trying for that $50K scholarship for UNLV.

Category: PLACE

Here’s a couple to start…

_ _ _ _ T _ R _ _ _

After these three discussed amongst themselves, Vince chose CDMA…

A _ D _ T _ R _ _ M

…and they knew their school had an AUDITORIUM for the $50K, giving UNLV a final total of $57,250 for their scholarship fund! After the last commercial break, Vince was presented the official WoF College Week trophy!

MY RATING: 8

That’s all of the latest of S8 for now.

Even though the Wednesday episode of this week wasn’t added to PlutoTV, I can tell you the BR was lost.

EPISODE #1539: COLLEGE WEEK

Over $135K waiting to be won this time. The all-male panel this game…

Randy Vance (Univ. of KY): sophom*ore studying theater and telecommunications hoping to become a newspaper journalist and is a Star Trek fan from Lexington, KY

Brad Smith (Ohio State Univ.): junior studying business marketing hoping to go on for an MBA or get into politics from Fremont, OH

Nelson Ornelas (NYU): junior studying marketing who’s interested in stand-up comedy (but he’s not going to make it a career, though) from New York

Round 1: PERSON

Randy: four T’s for Free SPIN, $500 H, three E’s, $800 S pair, one I, A for awful

Brad: $900 N pair, $150 L, one O (NMV), B for bad

Nelson: $200 R, $400 G, $1K Y, solve…

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

Nelson looked like he was THE STRONG SILENT TYPE for $1,600. And he thinks his money “goes to Visa” — LOL!

FEATURED PRIZE: Mermaid Beach Hotel from Redmond Sport & Travel worth $2,770 (BERMUDA; no luggage thrown in)

Round 2: SAME NAME

Brad: instant dud of T

Nelson: one S for BERMUDA, $500 N pair, $1,800 R pair, three A’s and three E’s, solve…

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

He solved ARSENIO & CARNEGIE HALL for $1,800 and the Bermuda trip.

Randy: FS/Brad: ZIP/Nelson: $6,170 cash & trip

Round 3: PEOPLE (top line not used)

Nelson: $1,200 T trio, $1,200 S trio, two A’s, $200 D, $800 N pair, two O’s, L for lost turn

Randy: $800 R quartet, $3,500 F (NMC), solve…

F R A T _ R N _ T _ _ S
A N D
S O R O R _ T _ _ S

He solved FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES for $4,300.

Randy: $4,300 FS/Brad: ZILCH/Nelson: $6,170 cash & trip

FEATURED PRIZE #2: Yamaha Clavinova keyboard worth $6,995 (MUSIC)

Round 4: PHRASE

Randy: $400 T, BANKRUPT near pink $500 and used FS, $3,500 S, three E’s, $400 R, one U and two A’s, $800 L quartet, one I, $300 N, unnecessary purchase of the last vowel of O, solve…

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

Hopefully he didn’t have TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP, as he solved for $3,750 — PR.

Randy: $8,050/Brad: BUPKIS/Nelson: $6,170 cash & trip

Round 5: PERSON

Brad: $500 S, $250 T, R for rats

Nelson: N for negative

Randy: $700 L pair, one E and three A’s, $500 B pair, $250 K, last vowel of O, solve…

B A S K E T B A L L
_ O A _ _

He solved BASKETBALL COACH for $700.

Randy: $8,750/Brad: STILL NOTHING/Nelson: $6,170 cash & trip

Speed-Up: THING

Look out, it’s a $5K Final Spin!

Nelson: T
Randy: S (DUD)
Brad: R
Nelson: L (DUD)
Randy: C (goofed w/ OUTREACH)
Brad: H (TRAP)
Nelson: 2 N’s

_ N T R _ N C _
_ _ _ _

The SAT is an example of an ENTRANCE EXAM, as Nelson scored $15K and the victory!

FINAL SCORES
Randy: $8,750/Brad: PARTING GIFTS/Nelson: $21,170 cash & trip

GT: $29,920
NO PENALTY SPINS!

Bonus Round

Nelson chose the first E from W-EE-.

Category: OCCUPATION

It’s someone who takes control of an aircraft…

_ _ L _ T

VCPA added just the consonant, but I had no doubt he would get this…

P _ L _ T

He knew it’s PILOT and won the Jeep Wrangler Renegade worth $17,532, giving him $38,702 cash & prizes!

And the Friday Finalists…

• $11,650: Univ. Of Kentucky
• $42,100: UNLV
• $74K+: NYU

Ohio State University got left out.

MY RATING: 8