April 6, 2016 recap/discussion

$1,000 Toss-Up: Place

_ _ _ E / N E S T

Daniel solves LOVE NEST.

Daniel Gonzalez, South Gate, CA, English teacher, engaged to Rebecca, plays clarinet trumpet saxophone drums piano guitar and violin
Erica Shannon, Ashland, IL, has taught 2nd grade for 18 years, married 17 years to Chad, has two sons
Ashley Schilperoort, Kent, WA, has a fiancé and a son, marketing manager for an orthodontic practice, likes to cook and try new recipes

$2,000 Toss-Up: Phrase

_ ' M
O _ _ I _ I S _ I C

Daniel solves I'M OPTIMISTIC.

Prize: Sandals resort of your choice, $6,000

Round 1: What Are You Doing?

Daniel calls G on the Million Dollar Wedge with G, then calls E on Free Play before calling N on $500 between $650/$900. After buying I, he calls R and S on $700 and $700, he buys A, then finishes with T on $500 between $550/$600.

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

He solves TRYING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE. for $4,100 and the Million Dollar Wedge.

PERFECT ROUND

Erica: $0
Ashley: $0
Daniel: $7,100 + MDW
====
Mystery Round: Before & After

Erica calls T on $700, then L on the Mystery Wedge between Free Play/Lose a Turn, which she flips for $10,000. After buying A and O, she calls M and H on $600 and $650, buys E, then finishes with C on Wild Card.

H O M E - C O O _ E _
M E A L
T _ C _ E T

She solves HOME-COOKED MEAL TICKET for $13,500 and the Wild Card.

PERFECT ROUND #2

Erica: $13,500 + Wild Card
Ashley: $0
Daniel: $7,100 + MDW
====
Prize/Express Round: Thing

Ashley duds with S on the Maui Jim gift tag, and Daniel Bankrupts between $600/$650. Erica picks R and N on $500 between $800/$650 and $650, but after buying O and I, she hits Lose a Turn.

Ashley duds with H on $500 between $3,500/$900. Daniel picks T on $700, buys E, then picks a wrong D on ½ Car between $550/$600. Erica picks C and L on $800 and $500, then buys A to clear the vowels.

_ A C A T I O N
_ L A N N E R

She solves VACATION PLANNER for $3,000 and a trip to Turks & Caicos (Beaches Turks & Caicos, $6,000).

Duds: S (Ashley), H (Ashley), D (Daniel)
Bankrupt: Daniel (Million Dollar Wedge)
Lose a Turn: Erica
Unclaimed: $450 (Daniel)

Erica: $22,500 + Wild Card
Ashley: $0
Daniel: $7,100
====
$3,000 Toss-Up: In the Kitchen

W _ I S T _ I N G
T _ A K _ T T L E

Erica solves WHISTLING TEAKETTLE.

Round 4: Rhyme Time

Erica calls R and C on $500 between $650/$700 and $800, then buys A, the only vowel in the puzzle.

A _ R A C A _ A _ R A

She solves ABRACADABRA for $1,550.

PERFECT ROUND #3 (Surprisingly, I couldn't spot any null cycles here.)

Round 5: Person

Ashley duds with R on $700. Daniel picks T on $500 between $550/$600, buys E, and calls a bad S on $800, after which Erica finds an N on $5,000.

_ _ _ E _
_ _ T _ _ E N

Final Spin: $500

Erica: L
Ashley: H
Daniel: D
Erica: C

_ _ D E L
C _ T _ _ E N

He solves MODEL CITIZEN for $8,000.

Duds: R (Ashley), S (Daniel), H (Ashley, in Speed-Up)
Unclaimed: $1,750 (Daniel)

End totals:
Erica: $35,050 + Wild Card
Ashley: $0 -> $1000
Daniel: $7,100
====
$100,000 Bonus Round

Erica's husband, Chad, is in the audience.

She lands on the *, and her puzzle is Thing:

_ _ _ L _ _ _ T E
_ E _

C, B, D, I, G:

D _ _ L I C _ T E
_ E _

DELICATE and DUPLICATE BED are her guesses, but not DUPLICATE KEY for $33,000. End total: $35,050.

$5K EVERY DAY SPIN ID: CO9776009