January 30, 2014 recap

$1,000 Toss-Up: Thing

P _ _ _ _ / _ E _ R
C L U B

Rob solves POLAR BEAR CLUB.

Rob Mrozinski, Hackettstown, NJ, director of a research company, first time in California
Megan Bendtzen, Lomita, CA, "sells drugs to animals", heads a charity for veterinary care, writing a book about it
Katie Hoody, Garland, TX, piano teacher, freelance pianist, graduate of University of North Texas studying musicology, blogs about her mom's ovarian cancer, married to Karl for 10 years

$2,000 Toss-Up: Event

_ U I L _ _ _ G / A
_ O _ F _ R E

Katie solves BUILDING A BONFIRE.

Prize on Wheel: Alaskan cruise, American Cruise Lines, $9,000

Round 1: Before & After

Katie Bankrupts next to $650, and Rob hits Lose a Turn. Megan picks up the ½ Car next to the orange $300 with T, but duds with R on the Aspen Ski and Board gift tag. Katie calls H on $300 and buys E, then duds with N on ½ Car next to the pink $900.

Afterward, it's a bit of déjà vu. Rob hits Lose a Turn again, so Megan calls S on $500 next to the orange $300. She buys O, picks up the Aspen Ski and Board gift tag with L, then buys A.

T H E / _ A L L
O _ / T H E
_ _ L _ -
_ O O S E / _ H A S E

She solves THE CALL OF THE WILD-GOOSE CHASE for $4,000 and her cardboard.

Bankrupt: Katie ($0)
Lose a Turn: Rob (2×)
Duds: R (Megan), N (Katie)

Megan: $4,000 + ½ Car tag
Katie: $2,000
Rob: $1,000
====
Mystery Round: Same Letter

Rob duds with R on $400, as does Megan with T on ½ Car next to the pink $900. Katie calls N on $900, then buys a bad E.

Rob calls L on $500 next to $400, but after buying A and I, he Bankrupts on the left edge of the Million Dollar Wedge. Megan then Bankrupts next to $650.

Katie calls G on $800 but buys a bad O. Rob picks up the Million Dollar Wedge with S, then duds with H on $600.

Megan picks P on $650, buys U, then calls C on $300 before dudding with B on $500. Katie Bankrupts next to $3500, so Rob gets to find a quintet of F's on the Mystery Wedge next to the orange $800. He doesn't flip it (the $10,000 is on the back)…

F L I P P I N G
F L U F F _
F L A P _ A C _ S

…instead solving FLIPPING FLUFFY FLAPJACKS for $5,000 and the Million Dollar Wdge.

Dud: R (Rob), T (Megan), E (Katie), O (Katie), H (Rob), B (Megan)
Bankrupt: Rob ($1,000), Megan (½ Car tag), Katie ($1,200)

Megan: $4,000
Katie: $2,000
Rob: $6,000 + MDW

Retro Bonus Round

It's an Event from the week of February 2, 1998 (Las Vegas), and this pair chose P D W O:

D _ _ _ R E _ _

They did not solve DAYBREAK.
====
Prize/Express Round: What Are You Doing?

Megan calls N on $800, but gives it back to the Bankrupt next to $650.

Katie tries G on the same wedge, then buys I and calls T on $650. After buying E, she calls H and S on $300 and $800. Finally, she buys U and A to clear the vowels.

_ A S _ I N G / I N
T H E / _ A _ I A N T
S U N S H I N E

She solves BASKING IN THE RADIANT SUNSHINE for $4,100 and a trip to Nicaragua (Pelican Eyes Resort & Spa + Sony Alpha NEX-5T, $8,199).

Bankrupt: Megan ($4,000)

Megan: $4,000
Katie: $14,299
Rob: $6,000 + MDW
====
$3,000 Toss-Up: The 90's

_ _ M _ / _ _ O _ E

Katie solves HOME ALONE.

Round 4: Phrase

Final Spin: $500

Katie: T
Rob: R
Megan: H
Katie: W

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

For $9,000, Katie solves HOW THE WEST WAS WON.

Dud: R (Rob)

End totals:
Megan: $4,000
Katie: $26,299
Rob: $6,000
====
$100,000 Bonus Round

Katie's husband and two friends are in the audience.

She stops at the P in SPIN, and her puzzle is Thing:

_ _ T S _
_ _ _ _ _ E

G, C, H, O are all accounted for:

G _ T S _
C H O _ C E

She solves GUTSY CHOICE for $30,000. End total: $56,299.

$5K EVERY DAY SPIN ID: DE9212875