Post by pakman on Mar 17, 2019 18:51:43 GMT -5
I'm back again for my second recap! Thank you to everyone for your feedback on my first post! Starting with the next episode, I will color code the wheel spaces, but since I'd already taken notes on this episode, they won't be colorized here.
It's Best Friends Week on Wheel of Fortune, and before the top three money winners return on Friday, we still have one more day of gameplay to get through.
Let's meet our teams!
Shari Barts and Dana Kenyon are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They met in high school and now attend Concordia University together. Shari is a junior studying business and marketing and is also on the dance team, while Dana is majoring in nursing with a psychology minor.
Michelle Dailey and Eric LaScala met at Arizona State University. Michelle is from Schenectady, New York and is a medical nutrition representative, while Eric is from Redondo Beach, California and works for a "very large" company that makes art products.
Misha Hennessey and Maria Gillespie met through a mutual friend and bonded after they spent two months in Costa Rica together. Misha is studying acting and makeup artistry while Maria goes to San Francisco State University. Both women are wearing bright, neon clothing and Misha tells Pat "you’re our favorite."
Pat reminds the contestants that they're playing for cash before kicking off the game.
Round #1
Category: Proper Name
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
Shari and Dana drew #1 just before the show (Pat says he wasn't there) so they get to start. Their first wedge is $300 and they get $600 from it by calling two T's. The next spin gets them $700 for a single M. They spin again and get $350 for a solitary H. They buy their first vowel of the game, an E, and they're in luck because there are two of them in the puzzle. The pair spins the wheel again and get $800 from a single W.
M _ T T H E W
_ E _ _ _
_ E _ _ _
The best friends decide to solve the puzzle, calling out MATTHEW PERRY, who knows a lot about friends himself thanks to a TV show he's on. Shari and Dana's successful first round gets them on the board with $2,200.
Shari & Dana - $2,200
Michelle & Eric - $0
Misha & Maria - $0
Before round two can begin, there's a prize being added to the wheel that Charlie needs to talk about. It's a trip for two to Las Vegas, which includes three nights at the MGM Grand Hotel and two VIP tickets to FX, "the world's largest production." Whoever wins this will add $3,440 to their total.
Round #2
Category: Fill in the Blank
? -_ _ _ _ _
? _ _ / _ / _ _ _ _
? -_ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _
Michelle and Eric get their first shot at the wheel. They hit $250 and cash in on a solitary R, then get $700 after calling a single N. Their next spin gets them $250 and are able to double their take with two T's. Eric buys three E's, then they get an additional $550 thanks to a single S. But they run into some bad luck after hitting BANKRUPT, wiping out their $1,750.
? -_ _ _ E _
? _ _ / _ / _ _ N _
? -_ _ _ / S T R E E T
? _ _ / _ / _ _ N _
? -_ _ _ / S T R E E T
Misha and Maria are up with their first spin of the game, but they lose out on $400 thanks to a dud H.
? -_ _ _ E _
? _ _ / _ / _ _ N _
? -_ _ _ / S T R E E T
? _ _ / _ / _ _ N _
? -_ _ _ / S T R E E T
Current leaders Shari and Dana give the wheel a spin and hit the top dollar value of $2,500, which they earn thanks to one W. They also get $300 on one Y. The best friends buy three A's, then land on the LAS VEGAS trip for their next spin. They pick it up thanks to two D's. They spin again and get $250 on a C, then hit $250 again and are able to double their success with two F's.
? -F A C E D
? _ F / A / _ _ N D
? -W A Y / S T R E E T
? _ F / A / _ _ N D
? -W A Y / S T R E E T
With the combination of cash and the trip to Las Vegas, Shari and Dana decide to solve the puzzle, going with ?-FACED / ? OF A KIND / ?-WAY STREET. They have $3,300 plus the prize, but Pat reminds them they can add more if they can correctly guess what links those three phrases together. They shout TWO at the same time, and add $2,000 to their total just like that. Combined with the Las Vegas trip, that round was worth $8,740.
Shari & Dana - $10,940
Michelle & Eric - $0
Misha & Maria - $0
Heading into round three, Pat reminds the contestants that the player who wins the Bonus Round on Friday will win an $18,000 Hawaiian vacation. Charlie talks about what the actual Hawaii trip will entail, which includes a week of unlimited golfing at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii's Big Island.
It's time for the Jackpot round, and according to Pat, everybody knows how it works by now so he won't bother confusing people by trying to explain it.
Round #3
Category: Before & After
_ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
Misha and Maria kick off round three, but their bad luck continues when they can't win $550 thanks to a dud T.
_ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
Shari and Dana, on the other hand, continue their stream of good luck by hitting $3,500 and correctly guessing three N's. They decide to buy a couple vowels with their cash haul, first getting two E's and then a solitary A. Their next spin lands on JACKPOT, which Pat says it's probably too early for. Although there are three S's, it's nowhere near enough to solve the puzzle, so Shari and Dana spin again, landing on $250. They net $750 from it thanks to three R's. They spin again and are able to double up on $500 with two L's. They also get $400 on a C. But the best friends hit their first bit of bad luck by buying an A, which has already been called.
_ _ _ _ - _ L _ S S
L A C _ _ E R
_ _ N _ S _ / _ _ _ R
_ _ N N E R
L A C _ _ E R
_ _ N _ S _ / _ _ _ R
_ _ N N E R
Michelle and Eric give it another go and get $250 on a D, but it's taken right back after they hit BANKRUPT for the second time this game.
_ _ _ _ - _ L _ S S
L A C _ _ E R
_ _ N _ S _ / _ _ _ R
D _ N N E R
L A C _ _ E R
_ _ N _ S _ / _ _ _ R
D _ N N E R
The bad luck keeps going for Misha and Maria too, as they get a dud M on $600.
_ _ _ _ - _ L _ S S
L A C _ _ E R
_ _ N _ S _ / _ _ _ R
D _ N N E R
Back to Shari and Dana who land on $250 and get three H's. They buy four I's, then earn their money back by finding an F on $250. They buy two O's, but they have another stroke of bad luck after they hit BANKRUPT, losing $12,400.
L A C _ _ E R
_ _ N _ S _ / _ _ _ R
D _ N N E R
Back to Shari and Dana who land on $250 and get three H's. They buy four I's, then earn their money back by finding an F on $250. They buy two O's, but they have another stroke of bad luck after they hit BANKRUPT, losing $12,400.
H I _ H - _ L O S S
L A C _ _ E R
F I N I S H / _ O _ R
D I N N E R
L A C _ _ E R
F I N I S H / _ O _ R
D I N N E R
Michelle screams, thinking they've hit LOSE A TURN, but she was looking at the wrong arrow - she and Eric actually hit $350. Eric calls G, and a laughing Pat says there are two in the puzzle. But Michelle screamed too soon, as their very next turn they hit LOSE A TURN for real. A frustrated Michelle smacks Eric on the shoulder, causing Pat to comment, "Welcome to Former Best Friends Week."
H I G H - G L O S S
L A C _ _ E R
F I N I S H / _ O _ R
D I N N E R
L A C _ _ E R
F I N I S H / _ O _ R
D I N N E R
Finally, after guessing nothing but duds the entire game, Misha and Maria pick up $250 thanks to a lone Q.
H I G H - G L O S S
L A C Q _ E R
F I N I S H / _ O _ R
D I N N E R
L A C Q _ E R
F I N I S H / _ O _ R
D I N N E R
Pat asks if they want to get some more, but they decide to solve and guess HIGH-GLOSS LACQUER FINISH YOUR DINNER. They dance around to celebrate, leading Pat to point out all they won was $250. Misha and Maria tell him that's okay because at least they won something. Pat then makes a verbal faux pas by saying, "They're not only fun, they're easy. And that's the important thing." Maria sinks down in embarrassment as Misha wags her finger at Pat and the audience groans. Pat swats Misha's hand away and then tells the women that they've actually won $500, which is the show's house minimum. Misha and Maria are happy again as Pat awkwardly sends the show to commercial.
Shari & Dana - $10,940
Michelle & Eric - $0
Misha & Maria - $500
Michelle & Eric - $0
Misha & Maria - $500
Going into round four, Shari and Dana have a huge lead, while Michelle and Eric remain in third with no money. Pat says there's not a lot of time left for the fourth round, so he's going to give the wheel a final spin. He'll ask for a letter, and if it's in the puzzle, contestants have five seconds to solve it. Vowels are worth nothing, while consonants are worth $600 apiece.
Round #4
Category: Things
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ / &
_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ / &
_ _ _ _ _
Shari & Dana - 1 S
Michelle & Eric – No R
Misha & Maria – No T
Shari & Dana – 1 N
Michelle & Eric – 1 L
Misha & Maria – 1 P
Shari & Dana – 1 D
Michelle & Eric – 2 K’s
Misha & Maria – 1 H
Shari & Dana – No B
Michelle & Eric – 2 Y’s
Misha & Maria – No T
Shari & Dana – 1 N
Michelle & Eric – 1 L
Misha & Maria – 1 P
Shari & Dana – 1 D
Michelle & Eric – 2 K’s
Misha & Maria – 1 H
Shari & Dana – No B
Michelle & Eric – 2 Y’s
D _ N _ H Y
S L _ _ P / &
K _ Y _ K
S L _ _ P / &
K _ Y _ K
About three seconds before the buzzer rings, Michelle calls out DINGHY SLOOP & KAYAK, giving her and Eric a second-place victory with $3,000.
Shari & Dana - $10,940
Michelle & Eric - $3,000
Misha & Maria - $500
Michelle & Eric - $3,000
Misha & Maria - $500
With a total that includes cash and a trip to Las Vegas, Shari and Dana are headed to the Bonus Round!
Pat highlights the four remaining prizes for the week, which include a trip to the West Indies, an annuity, a pair of cars and $25,000 in cash. The best friends make their prize pick and Pat reveals the category and puzzle.
Bonus Round
Category: Thing
_ _ _ _ _
The R, S, T, L, N and E are revealed.
_ _ _ L _
Those letters don't give Shari and Dana a ton of help, but they ask for a D, C, M and A.
C _ A L _
The two start whispering to each other, and as soon as the timer starts, both yell out CHALK for the second Bonus Round victory of the week! Pat opens their prize envelope as Dana quietly whispers, "Please be the cars." Sure enough, the best friends have won the PAIR OF CARS. Charlie explains the cars are two Toyota Rav-4's, one for each player. The combined total of both cars is $34,410.
Family members come down to help celebrate, which includes Shari's mom as well as Dana's mom and brother.
As both families walk towards the new cars, Pat says Shari and Dana have won a grand total of $45,350 cash and prizes.
Additional notes:
- There may have been a null cycle edited out of the speedup round. At one point after the buzzer sounds on Michelle and Eric, the camera unusually changes angles for a quick second to show just the contestants and Pat letting Misha and Maria know it’s their turn. It then cuts back to the normal setup with the contestants on top and puzzleboard on the bottom.
- There may have been a null cycle edited out of the speedup round. At one point after the buzzer sounds on Michelle and Eric, the camera unusually changes angles for a quick second to show just the contestants and Pat letting Misha and Maria know it’s their turn. It then cuts back to the normal setup with the contestants on top and puzzleboard on the bottom.
- As the winning team is walking to their new cars, Dana's microphone picks up her telling Vanna, "We have something for you after the show." My copy doesn't have Pat and Vanna's post-show talk, so I don't know what Shari and Dana may have given them, but it's not something you usually hear a contestant say.
That's the last Best Friends Week episode I've got. The next episodes I plan on recapping are both from European Vacation Week in April 1997 (aka, the same week Pat and Vanna played for charity while Alex Trebek hosted). I've got 4/5 episodes from that week, but two of them (April Fools Day and Friday Finals) are already recapped, so I'll focus on the two that aren't.
