December 12, 1988 recap | Buy a Vowel Boards

December 12, 1988 recap Jul 9, 2022 10:55:53 GMT -5

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Post by mechamind on Jul 9, 2022 10:55:53 GMT -5

Airdate: December 12, 1988

Look at this studio filled with fabulous bonus prizes including:

A $35,000 annuity!
A Cabin Cruiser from Eliminator Boats!
A living room ensemble!

Plus thousands of dollars in cash!

Over $245,000 just waiting to be won on...

Wheel of Fortune!

Pat wishes he could be there at our homes, meet us personally, take us to dinner, and pet our dog...but he doesn't have the time.

Today's contestants:
Sandra Kent: Secretary for one of the "big three" auto makers, from Detroit, MI
Jon Ball: Third-year student at Temple University Law School, also a professional musician; from Philadelphia, PA
Anne Phillips: Retired college teacher, from Johnson City, TN

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

Round 1

PERSON

SANDRA	Jon	Anne
$200: N (DUD!)	$500: T (x2) $750: R -$250: E $400: S (DUD!)	$200: L (DUD!)
	$1,500
$150: D $350: M (DUD!)	$400: K Free Spin! Solve: Correct!
$150	$1,900

PERSON

Jon solves DAVY CROCKETT. He thought about spinning again, but even with a Free Spin token, he couldn't.

Sandra	Jon (FS)	Anne
	$1,900

We wish we could knock on your door to award a prize, but it's one of our contestants who could win a Meade telescope (labeled STARS) worth $2,999.

Will Jon spin again this time? Does the $2,500 space mean enough to him?

Round 2

PHRASE

Sandra	JON (FS)	Anne
	$2,500: R (x2) BANKRUPT! ($5,000)	$700: T (x3) $150: N $2,500: H (DUD!)
		$2,250
$300: D (DUD!)	$500: S (x2) -$250: I BANKRUPT! ($750) (Free Spin used) $450: G $200: M -$250: O $250: C (x2) Only vowels left! Solve: Correct!
	$900

After Jon's first BANKRUPT, he picks up his Free Spin token from the floor but doesn't use it.

PHRASE

Jon solves STRONG-ARM TACTICS.

Sandra	Jon	Anne
	$2,800

So, how could we strong-arm Anne into hitting the pink and sparkly and numbered $3,500 space?

Round 3

THING

Sandra	Jon	ANNE
		$150: T (DUD!)

$150: R (x2) $600: N (DUD!)	$450: L (DUD!)	$400: S -$250: E $400: H -$250: A (DUD!)
$300		$300
Lose A Turn!	$200: C (DUD!)	$150: P (DUD!)
$300		$300
$450: F (DUD!)	$400: D (DUD!)	-$250: I (x2) $200: B $250: G Only vowels left! Solve: Correct!
$300		$500

THING

With a puzzled look, Anne solves IRISH BROGUE.

Sandra	Jon	Anne
	$2,800	$500

It doesn't matter if it's a short or long puzzle, because someone could still pick up a Waldo living room collection (labeled ROOM) worth $15,120.

Pat needs to remember it's a $5,000 space, not a $500 space...though he almost saved Merv Griffin a lot of money.

Round 4

PHRASE

SANDRA	Jon	Anne
$1,500: N $5,000: T (x3!) Lose A Turn!	$300: H -$250: E $250: R Lose A Turn!	ROOM! $300: S (x2)
$16,500	$300	$600+

PHRASE

DING DING! DING DING!

It all comes down to one more solve! Pat gives the Wheel a Final Spin, and consonants are worth... $550 a piece.

Anne: G ($1,150+)

PHRASE

Anne solves GRASP THE SITUATION for the furniture and the win!

Sandra	Jon	Anne
	$2,800	$16,770

Down to the last play, but it was also Sandra's last chance for anything. She goes home with the nice parting gifts.

BONUS ROUND:

One big prize isn't enough for Anne. Now that she takes the walk to Bonus Land, she can try to add one of...

Flexible Advantage Annuity ($35,000)

Car tour of Europe, plus a new car (over $54,000)

Chinchilla coat ($40,000)

Boat ($43,000)

Necklace ($29,500)

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

After picking her prize, M.G. says "Annie, get your cash!" It will be...

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

Again, it all comes down to one more solve.

Bonus Puzzle

THING

RSTLNE gives her:

THING

Annie, get your letters ready! She'll try MCDA.

THING

She solves BOARDING PASS to take the money! Anne leaves with $41,770 in cash and prizes!

In the post-game chat, Pat comments that he likes looking at Vanna's "foil" dress. It's almost like a baked potato. Put some chives and sour cream on Vanna, and she'll be perfect.