November 22, 1988 recap | Buy a Vowel Boards

November 22, 1988 recap Apr 17, 2021 12:44:58 GMT -5

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Post by mechamind on Apr 17, 2021 12:44:58 GMT -5

Airdate: November 22, 1988

From Radio City Music Hall in New York, it's America's #1 game show! Wheel of Fortune!

With tickets to the best sporting events in the world!
Sparking gold and diamond jewelry!
And a pair of Cadillacs!

Over $291,000 in cash and prizes just waiting to be won as the Wheel takes Manhattan!

Today's contestants:
Tim Murphy: Systems engineer/manager at a major telecommunications company, from Somerville, NJ
Steve Ryan: Regional sales and customer service manager for a major electronics distributor, from Indianapolis, IN
Sharon Wall: Owns a small antique business, from Corpus Christi, TX

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

Round 1

PHRASE

TIM	Steve	Sharon
$200: S (x2) $900: T (x2) -$250: I (x2) $200: H Solve: Correct!
$2,150

PHRASE

Perfection! Tim solves IT'S SHOWTIME.

Tim	Steve	Sharon
$2,150

You had to give us barely enough for this prize, didn't you? Well, we're ready with a ski holiday in Vail, Colorado with a stay at Beaver Creek Manor, plus a pair of sweaters (labeled TRIP) totaling $3,978.

It's time for you to put on a good show with the $2,500 space.

Round 2

PHRASE

Tim	STEVE	Sharon
	$2,500: T BANKRUPT! ($2,500)	$300: N $450: R (x2) -$250: E (x5) $900: H -$250: I -$250: O (x3) BANKRUPT! ($1,350)

$200: L (DUD!)	$300: V $2,500: S (x2) Solve: Correct!
	$5,300

PHRASE

Steve solves GIVE ME THREE GOOD REASONS.

Tim	Steve	Sharon
$2,150	$5,300

Can Sharon recover too? She starts this round, and we have a $3,500 space on the Wheel!

Before introducing this next puzzle, Pat asks for a ball park "Charge!" from the organists.

Round 3

SAME NAME

Tim	Steve	SHARON
		$450: N (x4) $600: D -$250: A (x5) $400: L -$250: E (x2) $500: R (x2) -$250: U $800: T $300: M (DUD!)
		$3,850
Lose A Turn!	Lose A Turn!	$600: C BANKRUPT! ($4,450)

$800: S (DUD!)	$500: P $200: K Solve: Correct!
	$700

SAME NAME

Steve reads what's on the board.

Tim	Steve	Sharon
$2,150	$6,000

We've got another prize to turn some heads! This is a gift certificate for Fred's on Fifth Avenue, featuring tiger-eye and diamond dome ring (labeled JEWELRY) worth $8,000.

Not to distract from the $5,000 space on the Wheel, as you'll also want some extra cash.

Round 4

THING

TIM	Steve	Sharon
$900: S (DUD!)	$900: T $550: N (x2) -$250: E $550: G -$250: I $200: S (Repeat)
	$2,050

Steve accidentally asks to "buy an owl" before calling the I.

THING

DING DING! DING DING!

Watch the board, and watch the clock. Pat will give the Wheel a Final Spin, and consonants are worth... $250 a piece.

Sharon: R ($250)
Tim: L ($250)

THING

Tim solves ERUPTING VOLCANO.

Tim	Steve	Sharon
$2,400	$6,000

Oh, that third round could've gone just a bit better for Sharon. Instead, she takes home the nice parting gifts.

BONUS ROUND:

The crowd could "erupt in a frenzy"! Steve is the big winner, and he will now play for...

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

He must solve this puzzle first:

Bonus Puzzle

THING

RSTLNE gives him:

THING

CDMA only gives him a vowel.

THING

But he instantly solves SQUASH to keep the cash! Steve finishes with $31,000 in total!

In the post-game, Vanna mentions that she has been to some great restaurants. Pat thought the players would be nervous, but they've been cool, calm, and collected. The audience has also been relatively well-behaved.