January 6, 2015 recap

$1,000 Toss-Up: Title

_ U _ _ I V E _ ' S
_ R A V _ _ _

Alex solves GULLIVER'S TRAVELS.

Alex Itskov, New York City, NY, works in an investment firm, married to Kimberly, has two kids, transhumanist
Stephanie Brophy, Philadelphia, PA, married to Brian for 2 years, works for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, formerly a news reporter in Florida
Nishat Hamid, Reseda, CA, attends UC Irvine, studying psychology and social behavior, likes to decorate cakes and play basketball, hopes to be a teacher

$2,000 Toss-Up: Thing

_ _ _ _ / _ _ _ N D
_ _ _ _ O

Alex solves BABY GRAND PIANO.

Prize on Wheel: Beacon Hotel, Miami, $6,000

Round 1: Before & After

Alex calls T on $700, buys E, and call R on $900 before buying a bad I. Stephanie then hits Lose a Turn.

Nishat gets the Maui Jim gift tag with S, buys A, then duds with C on $800. Alex buys O to finish off the vowels, then calls L on $600.

L A _ O R / O _
L O _ E
L E T T E R S

He solves LABOR OF LOVE LETTERS for $4,250.

Duds: I (Alex), C (Nishat)
Lose a Turn: Stephanie

Stephanie: $0
Nishat: $0
Alex: $7,250
====
Mystery Round: Food & Drink

Stephanie calls T on $550, buys A, and calls S on the ½ Car between $650 and $900. She buys O, calls F on $550, and buys E to clear the vowels. After N on $3,500, she duds with G on $650.

Nishat calls L on $700. She hits the Mystery Wedge between Free Play and Lose a Turn for H; she flips it, and the $10,000 is on the back! After that are D and M on $800 and $800. Next is R on $500 between $800 and $700, then Y on $650. She hits the ½ Car between $550 and $900, but can't find a W.

Alex picks up the Florida trip with C…

M A R Y L A N D
S O F T - S H E L L
C R A _ S

…and solves MARYLAND SOFT-SHELL CRABS for $500 and the trip.

Duds: G (Stephanie), W (Nishat)

Stephanie: $0
Nishat: $0
Alex: $13,750

No retro Bonus Round.
====
Prize/Express Round: Phrase

Nishat calls T on $900, buys O, and calls R on $900. She buys A, calls I on Free Play, then duds with S on $800.

Alex calls U on Free Play, M on $650, then buys E to clear the vowels. He then calls H and L on $600 and $900, but the latter is a dud.

Stephanie doesn't spin…

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

…instead, she solves HERE TODAY GONE TO MAUI for nothing but the trip to Maui (Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, $6,424).

Duds: S (Nishat), L (Alex)

Stephanie: $6,424
Nishat: $0
Alex: $13,750
====
$3,000 Toss-Up: What Are You Doing?

_ A _ T I N G / A
_ H O _ S A N D

Alex solves BATTING A THOUSAND.

Round 4: Rhyme Time

Alex calls N on $500 between $550 and $900, then buys A and I, the only two vowels. He then calls D on $800 and G on $500 between $5,000 and $900, but after K on $600, he hits Lose a Turn.

Stephanie calls W and B on $500 between $550 and $900, and $5,000.

W I N K I N G / A N D
B _ I N K I N G

She solves WINKING AND BLINKING for $5,500.

Lose a Turn: Alex

Round 5: Song Lyrics

Final Spin: $550

Stephanie: N
Nishat: S
Alex: T
Stephanie: H
Nishat: R
Alex: C
Stephanie: E
Nishat: K
Alex: L

R _ C K / _ R _ _ N _
T H E / C L _ C K

He solves ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK for $7,750.

Dud: S (Nishat)

End totals:
Stephanie: $11,924
Nishat: $0 -> $1,000
Alex: $24,500
====
$100,000 Bonus Round

Alex's wife and friend are in the audience.

He hits the ★★, and his puzzle is Phrase:

R _ _ S E / _ _ _ R
_ _ _ _ E

H, G, D, O:

R _ _ S E / _ O _ R
_ O _ _ E

He solves RAISE YOUR VOICE for $32,000. End total: $56,500.

$5K EVERY DAY SPIN ID: MC0316412·······················NvtGWiwZ