January 18, 1993 recap | Buy a Vowel Boards

January 18, 1993 recap Mar 11, 2021 9:20:08 GMT -5

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Post by mechamind on Mar 11, 2021 9:20:08 GMT -5

Airdate: January 18, 1993

From Hollywood, it's America's game! Wheeeeeel Of Fortune!

Today's contestants:
Mark Clendaniel (returning with a 2-day total of $86,100)
Amy Nataly: Recent graduate of Penn State University, currently works at a Jewish community center; from Ocean City, NJ
John Heiner: Freelance writer, researcher; from southern California (originally from Bronte, TX)

The top-dollar value on the Wheel is $1,000. We are playing for cash, and here's our first puzzle:

Round 1

SAME NAME

MARK	Amy	John
Free Spin: T $400: H -$250: E (x3) $400: N $400: F -$250: O (x3) $400: R $400: C $400: P (x2) $400: D (DUD!) (Free Spin used) Lose A Turn!	BANKRUPT! ($0)	$1,000: L (x4) $400: B (x2) Only vowels left! Solve: Correct!
$2,300		$4,800

SAME NAME

John solves POPCORN & BELLE OF THE BALL. He knew there were two B's remaining so he went on.

Mark	Amy	John
		$4,800

Now this prize is a beauty! It's a trip to Connecticut with Mystic tours and a stay at Mystic Hilton Hotel (labeled TRIP) worth $4,195.

(Aw, why couldn't the prize wedge say "Mystic" on it?)

Perhaps someone with an attitude like John will score more from the $2,500 space.

Round 2

PHRASE

Mark	AMY	John
	$350: S $500: T (x4) $500: N (x2) -$250: O (x3) -$250: I (x2) $250: D (x2) -$250: A $350: H (x2) Solve: Correct!
	$3,800

PHRASE

Perfection! Amy solves DON'T GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT.

Mark	Amy	John
	$3,800	$4,800

Okay, now we can put John to the test. Will he keep spinning for the $3,500 space?

Round 3

EVENT

Mark	Amy	JOHN
		$500: N (x4) -$250: I (x4) $200: T (x2) $450: G (x3) Solve: Correct!
		$3,500

EVENT

Double perfection! John solves ONGOING INVESTIGATION. "So, what happened to Mr. Guts?"

Mark	Amy	John
	$3,800	$8,300

While we question John, we'll bring in another prize. Here comes a Hammerman Sticks and Stones "fire and ice" pendant necklace with diamonds and rubies (labeled JEWELRY) worth $7,500.

Mark has to be the real "Mr. Guts" and possibly score what he can from the $5,000 space.

Round 4

BEFORE & AFTER

MARK	Amy	John
$500: T (DUD!)	$350: R (DUD!)	BANKRUPT! ($0)

$400: N (x2) SURPRISE: D (DUD!)	BANKRUPT! ($0)	$250: L -$250: I JEWELRY: G : E (Early Vowel)
$800		+
$300: S (x3) $300: Y $500: M -$250: O (x3) $700: W -$250: E (x3) $350: C TRIP: K $300: J (x2) Solve: Correct!
$3,650+

John simply said "I'd like to buy an E", and since a letter was called, it was ruled as a lost turn. It is not seen if Vanna started moving.

BEFORE & AFTER

Mark solves JESSE JACKSON HOLE WYOMING.

Mark	Amy	John
$7,845	$3,800	$8,300

Suddenly, it's a close game, and we have time for another round!

Round 5

PHRASE

DING DING! DING DING!

Suddenly, we're almost out of time! Pat will give the Wheel a Final Spin, and consonants are worth... $1,500 a piece. Amy still has a chance.

Amy: T (x2) ($3,000)
John: H (x2) ($3,000)

PHRASE

Suddenly, John solves THE SHOW MUST GO ON to win the game!

Mark	Amy	John
$7,845	$3,800	$11,300

Mark is leaving with a 3-day total of $93,945.

BONUS ROUND:

John is now in Bonus Land! We've got plenty of new prizes available:

New car (over $37,000)

Audio/stereo home entertainment system (over $27,000)

GMC truck (over $27,000)

Pair of South Sea pearl and diamond ear clips ($28,000)

"Good ol' American cash" ($25,000)

Let's keep it moving! John will take the H, and he has one last puzzle:

Bonus Puzzle

THING

RSTLNE gives him:

THING

He will try BCMO (although his first choice briefly displays as V).

THING

He guesses BLUE DOT, BLUE GUM, BLUE HOG, BLUE PIG, and BLUE VAL. He does not solve BLUE JAY. "Did you have bacon this morning, or something?"

This means he won't get the $25,000, which can't even be split in half. John still has $11,300 and is playing again!

In the post-game, Vanna wants an explanation about calling a vowel without any money. Pat explains that you just say "Buy a vowel", Pat can stop you before you go further. The rule is that if you call the letter, you simply lose your turn.