Post by pakman on Jul 20, 2020 12:08:51 GMT -5
It's been a long time, but after a year and a half, I'm back and ready to recap the rest of my Wheel of Fortune collection!
Picking up right where I left off, I'll start by recapping the episode that aired January 17, 2000, which was the first show of Ultimate Adventures Week. I actually have all five episodes from this week, so this will be my first complete week of recaps. The episode I'm starting off with is an interesting one, as in recent years the speed-up round has become infamous thanks to an online post from one of the contestants revealing an interesting behind-the-scenes fact.
But before we get to that point, the Preview Puzzle:
Preview Puzzle
Category: Person
_ _ I T _ _ I S T
Pat of course can’t get it right (sensing a trend here) and doesn’t get GUITARIST.
C.C. Willoughby is from Everett, Washington. She loves children, which is supported not only by the fact that she’s a nanny to a three-year-old boy, but is also completing her elementary education degree at Western Washington University (she begins her student teaching in the winter). She is also married to her husband, Jason.
Pat Dodson is from Los Angeles, California, but is originally from Hollidaysburg (in Pennsylvania, though he doesn’t say this). He’s a comedian/writer, though he admits his wife doesn’t always think he’s funny. In his spare time, he collects action figures (“anything Batman”), and when asked by the host if that’s a childhood thing, Pat responds, “Yes, I’m a freak.” The host chuckles and says, “We’ll be the judge of that.”
Eric Dawson is from Clarksville, Tennessee, originally from Kinston, North Carolina. He’s been in the Army for nine years. He’s married to his wife, whom he calls “beautiful,” and loves playing basketball, football, lifting weights and singing for the Lord.
The first puzzle of the evening happens to the Puzzler Round, meaning whoever solves this puzzle has the chance to win an extra $3,000.
Round #1
Category: Title
_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
C.C. kicks off the game with some rotten luck, hitting a BANKRUPT on her first go.
_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
Pat has much better luck, doubling $800 with two T’s. But he can’t score $800 more due to a dud L.
_ _ T _ _
T _ _ _ _
Just like that, we’ve already reached Eric, who very excitedly spins the wheel and gets $900 on a solitary N. He buys a single E before spinning again, but he calls a dud H and can’t get $300.
_ _ T _ _
T _ E N _
Back to C.C., she gets mixed results with her second spin; she lands on the top-dollar $1,000, but calls a dud S, and can’t get any money.
_ _ T _ _
T _ E N _
Pat decides to buy vowel with the money he has, but there’s no I.
_ _ T _ _
T _ E N _
The bad luck continues with Eric hitting LOSE A TURN.
_ _ T _ _
T _ E N _
Finally, C.C. has some good luck with her third spin on the wheel, getting two R’s after hitting $450. But the good luck is short-lived when there are no A’s in the puzzle.
_ _ T _ R
T R E N _
It’s a break for Pat as he hits the top-dollar $1,000 and is able to cash in thanks to a solitary D.
_ _ T _ R
T R E N D
Pat decides to solve, and gets $2,350 thanks to MOTOR TREND. But host Pat reminds contestant Pat that he can win $3,000 more if he solves the Puzzler.
Puzzler Round
Category: Person
_ _ R
B U _ _ R
Pat guesses CAR and TAR but can’t figure out the second word, meaning CAR BUYER goes unsolved and he doesn’t get the additional $3,000.
C.C. - $0
Pat - $2,350
Eric - $0
It’s time for round two, which means Charlie has to introduce the prize being added to the wheel. Proclaiming “Ultimate Adventures!” before starting the spiel, Charlie discusses the skiing and snowboarding trip to Mammoth Ski Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California. This Ultimate Adventures trip is worth $3,612.
Round #2
Category: Headline
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
“That’s quite a headline!” host Pat remarks as contestant Pat gives the first spin of the round, but it proves to be a bad one as he lands on LOSE A TURN.
_ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Eric’s up next and, with his enthusiastic cheering, he doubles $500 thanks to a pair of T’s. He then gets $900 off a single S. Eric buys three A’s before picking up $450 on a single G, followed by $800 on an R. He decides to use his large cash haul to buy four E’s, then doubles his $300 haul on two H’s. Then, Eric hits the $10,000 prize and his able to pick it up thanks to two N’s. He buys a solitary I before spinning $300 again and finding a D, then buying two O’s. He cheers “Go! Go! Go!” and almost hits $2,500 but instead lands on $300. Regardless he still earns some money for two F’s. Eric gets nervous at almost hitting BANKRUPT and stopping on $600, but unfortunately loses his turn and ending his impressive streak by calling a dud B.
H O _ _ E _
H A _ _ / O F / F A _ E
I N D _ _ T S / _ A _ N E
G R E T _ _ _
But as C.C. starts her turn, it’s short-lived once again as she immediately hits a BANKRUPT.
H O _ _ E _
H A _ _ / O F / F A _ E
I N D _ _ T S / _ A _ N E
G R E T _ _ _
Then Pat gets some bad luck with LOSE A TURN.
H O _ _ E _
H A _ _ / O F / F A _ E
I N D _ _ T S / _ A _ N E
G R E T _ _ _
Eric must be the luckiest man in the world, as just like that, it’s his turn again. He doubles $300 on a pair of L’s, then buys the final vowel, a solitary U. Then he hits $2,500 for real this time, and is able to cash in thanks to an M. Two C’s double his $300 haul, then he doubles $550 with two K’s. He has even better luck on $700 thanks to three Y’s. Eric then picks up the FREE SPIN with a single W.
H O C K E Y
H A L L / O F / F A M E
I N D U C T S / W A Y N E
G R E T _ K Y
Eric decides it’s time to solve with one letter left in the puzzle, but he has trouble with the final name, incorrectly solving HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTS WAYNE GRETKTY (he pronounces the last name “Gret-kuh-tee.”) Pat says that’s incorrect, but luckily Eric uses his FREE SPIN and decides to not try to solve it again and to give the wheel another spin. Thankfully, Eric calls a Z on $600, filling in the puzzle completely.
H O C K E Y
H A L L / O F / F A M E
I N D U C T S / W A Y N E
G R E T Z K Y
This time, Eric simply reads off what’s on the board; HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTS WAYNE GRETZKY, and wins one of the most dramatic rounds of Wheel in recent memory. “My guess is you’ve never been inside a Zamboni in your life,” Pat says to Eric, but then adds that him not knowing the puzzle actually helped him, as he wouldn’t have been able to rack up a grand total of $20,900, including the $10,000 prize.
C.C. - $0
Pat - $2,350
Eric - $20,900
After that thrilling round, it’s now time for the Jackpot Round, which Charlie says tonight is brought to us by Lean Pockets. There’s also a new prize on the wheel; a big-screen TV featuring a rear-projection TV monitor, from Runco. It’s worth $9,995.
Round #3
Category: Before & After
_ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ / _ _ _
_ _ _ _
Current leader Eric kicks off the round with a small bit of bad luck, calling a dud T on $600, but after that last round, I don’t think he’s all that upset.
_ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ / _ _ _
_ _ _ _
Finally, after a streak of bad luck, C.C. picks up $300 on a solitary R. Then she hits the big $3,500 space…but calls a dud S and can’t cash in.
_ _ _ _ _ - _ R _ _ _
_ _ _ / _ _ _
_ _ _ _
Pat’s first spin of the round lands on JACKPOT, and while there are two P’s, it’s far too early for him to solve. And unfortunately, his next spin is a BANKRUPT.
_ _ _ _ _ - P R _ _ _
_ _ P / _ _ _
_ _ _ _
Eric’s spin lands on the BIG SCREEN package, which he can pick up thanks to a single G. He then shouts that he wants to buy a vowel and would like some money, and lands on $600, but unfortunately repeats the G he just called. He realized his mistake as he was saying the letter, but it’s too late to take it back.
_ _ _ _ _ - P R _ _ _
_ _ P / _ _ _
G _ _ _
C.C.’s on the board again by calling two N’s on $800. But she doesn’t have that money for long as she hits BANKRUPT and loses the $1,900 she had. “I’m having bad luck!” she says.
_ _ _ _ _ - P R _ _ _
_ _ P / _ N _
G _ _ N
A break for Pat as he calls a single L for $600, but his turn is short-lived by calling a dud E.
_ _ _ L _ - P R _ _ _
_ _ P / _ N _
G _ _ N
Eric’s luck isn’t much better as he hits BANKRUPT and loses the BIG SCREEN TV. “Aw, no, I wanted that!” he yells as Pat comes to take it away. Pat “distracts” Eric before grabbing the wedge in a moment that is admittedly kind of funny.
_ _ _ L _ - P R _ _ _
_ _ P / _ N _
G _ _ N
C.C.’s reign of bad luck continues too when she calls a dud M on $800.
_ _ _ L _ - P R _ _ _
_ _ P / _ N _
G _ _ N
The JACKPOT must really love Pat, as he lands on it again and finds a solitary H. But he still can’t solve it and has to spin again, and this time is able to cash in on $400 by finding two C’s. He’s also able to successfully buy two A’s. He gets a little more money thanks to two D’s on $900, then buys a single I, followed by three O’s.
C H I L D - P R O O _
C A P / A N D
G O _ N
Pat decides now is time to solve, and gets $2,200 by correctly guessing CHILD-PROOF CAP AND GOWN.
C.C. - $0
Pat - $4,550
Eric - $20,900
As round four begins, Eric has a massive lead, and C.C. has no money, but as we all know, nobody should be counted out at this point.
Pat acknowledges the show had a long round or two so he’s going to start off round four by giving the wheel its final spin. Vowels are worth nothing, but consonants will be worth $1,600 apiece after Pat lands on $600.
Round #4
Category: People
_ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C.C. – 2 R’s
_ _ - _ _ R _ _ R _
C.C. immediately yells out CO-WORKERS for $3,200 and the win. “How did you get that?” Pat asks, to which C.C. shrugs and says, “I don’t know!” Pat tells C.C. she didn’t get a lot of luck from “that round thing” then shouts, “Not you, Charlie!” which causes the announcer to crack up. (See the notes section for some information on this infamous round)
C.C. - $3,200
Pat - $4,550
Eric - $20,900
While everybody is taking home some money tonight, thanks to Eric’s domination in round two, he’s going to the Bonus Round with $20,900!
W – H – E – E – L
As it’s the start of a new week, all five Bonus Round prizes are available. Pat says there are a lot of great prizes available as Eric picks the second E.
Bonus Round
Category: Place
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
And with the R, S, T, L, N, E revealed…
L _ _ R _ R _
Eric chooses D, Y, C and O, which reveals…
L _ _ R _ R Y
Despite Pat saying he thinks Eric can get it, he struggles with the puzzle, guessing LUXURY, LEISURE and LAUNDRY, before time runs out and it’s revealed to be LIBRARY. Pat reveals to Eric what he didn’t win, and Eric actually yells, causing Pat to jump and the audience to chuckle, amused at his response. Pat says, “Those are the tightest shorts anyone’s ever worn on this show,” before revealing that, yes, Eric lost out on the $25,000. Still, Eric won a very impressive all-cash total of $20,900 from just a single round, so he can’t be too disappointed.
Additional Notes
- Two null cycles were left in during the main game; one in round one and one in round two. I think the second was left in for drama, since Eric had made all that money and was in danger of not solving the puzzle, but I can’t figure out why the first one was left in.
- C.C.’s name tag can be seen flying off as she takes her third spin of round one. She's wearing it again by the time round two begins.
- After Eric calls his dud B in round two, you can hear a voice say, “Ohhh…” before the audience starts reacting. I can't prove it, but I think this may have been a crew member. Whoever it was obviously knew the puzzle, since they reacted before Pat said there were no B's, and the voice sounds like it's coming from close to the stage.
- Round four has become very infamous in recent years after contestant Pat made a post online about this episode. He revealed that, before the round began, the blanks appeared on the puzzle board before they were supposed to. The crew said the puzzle would be thrown out. After this, Pat turned to C.C. and murmured that he thought the solution was CO-WORKERS. When taping resumed, the blanks appeared when they were supposed to, and Pat said he was stunned that the same puzzle appeared. C.C., remembering this, solved the puzzle based on what Pat told her. It’s kind of intriguing that this happened, but my guess is, since C.C.’s solution didn’t impact the final result of the game, they just let it slide.
- C.C. apparently almost left the stage after Pat congratulated her and Pat on their victories, as while he’s congratulating Eric, Pat says, “Oh, don’t leave!”I'll be continuing my recaps of Ultimate Adventures Week with another episode tomorrow.
