May 15, 1990 recap | Buy a Vowel Boards

May 15, 1990 recap Jul 18, 2022 23:19:54 GMT -5

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Post by mechamind on Jul 18, 2022 23:19:54 GMT -5

Airdate: May 15, 1990

From Hollywood, It's America's most watched game show! Wheeeeeel Of Fortune!

Over $162,000 just waiting to be won this week!

Today's contestants:
Rita McCord (returning with a 1-day total of $48,900)
Joanne Gimbel: Mother of two, from San Diego, CA
Tom Pitek: Product manager for the major telephone company in Parma, OH

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

Round 1

PHRASE

RITA	Joanne	Tom
$200: R $200: Y -$250: I (x3) $1,000: N $200: S (DUD!)	$450: T $150: L -$250: E $800: G -$250: U (x2) $500: D $400: H Solve: Correct!
$1,150	$1,800

PHRASE

Joanne reads what's on the board. You could clearly see the answer come to her between the spin and the H.

Rita	Joanne	Tom
	$1,800

Pat will now resist the urge to speak during Charlie's time. It's time to win a Schafer & Sons electronic organ (labeled ORGAN) worth $4,185.

Have your consonant ready for a $2,500 spin! At least say something! Anything!

Round 2

PHRASE

Rita	JOANNE	Tom
	$250: T $750: H $200: S $200: L Lose A Turn!	$700: P (x2) -$250: E (x2) -$250: U -$250: A (x5) $500: N (x3) $350: G (x2) -$250: I $400: Y Solve: Correct!
	$1,400	$3,000

PHRASE

Tom solves PLEASE HANG UP AND TRY AGAIN.

Rita	Joanne	Tom
	$1,800	$3,000

It took a few tries, but after several minutes, we were able to invite the $3,500 space to join us.

Round 3

BEFORE & AFTER

Rita	Joanne	TOM
		$400: N $600: D (DUD!)
		$400
$700: R $300: S (x5) -$250: E (x2) $600: L $1,000: T Solve: Correct!
$3,550

BEFORE & AFTER

Rita solves ULYSSES S GRANT ME A WISH.

Rita	Joanne	Tom
$3,550	$1,800	$3,000

Rita wishes for another bonus prize, and we're just wishing for any prize for this round. We end up with an Eastpak luggage set and a 7-day Regency Caribbean cruise (labeled CRUISE) worth $6,020.

Round 4

PEOPLE

RITA	Joanne	Tom
$400: R (DUD!)	$300: T (x3) $200: S (DUD!)	$200: N (x2) -$250: A $300: C (x2) -$250: E (x2) CRUISE! $150: M (x2) -$250: O -$250: I (x3) $250: G $3,500: L (DUD!)
	$900	$550+
Solve: Correct!

As soon as Tom said L, the audience could clearly be heard shouting "No!" just before the buzzer.

PEOPLE

Rita just solves FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE for the house minimum.

Rita	Joanne	Tom
$3,750	$1,800	$3,000

Rita thinks simply solving is a good strategy, and Pat agrees. Even after that, the $5,000 space could still give Joanna or Tom a chance.

Round 5

PHRASE

Rita	JOANNE	Tom
	$550: T (x2) $200: H -$250: E (x2) $1,500: N (x2) -$250: I (x2) -$250: A -$250: O $5,000: S (DUD!)
	$3,300

PHRASE

DING DING! DING DING!

There's not a lot left to reveal, but Pat has to give the Wheel a Final Spin. Consonants are worth... $500 a piece.

Tom: L (x2) ($1,000)

PHRASE

Tom solves LAY IT ON THE LINE, and for just enough to win.

Rita	Joanne	Tom
$3,750	$1,800	$4,000

Rita leaves with a 2-day total of $52,650.

BONUS ROUND:

Tom is honestly relieved to be in Bonus Land after missing out on a cruise, but now he could win something better than that:

Chevrolet Lumina Euro and APV (over $40,000)

African safari (over $26,000)

Pearl and diamond bow ($32,000)

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

And to be honest, we have the envelopes because we like mysteries. Tom takes the H before facing the board:

Bonus Puzzle

EVENT

RSTLNE gives him:

EVENT

CDMA reveals most of the puzzle.

EVENT

He instantly solves CHECKMATE. He worked it out...

...and he captured the safari holiday in Africa for him and 3 friends worth $26,616! Tom has gathered $30,616 in cash and prizes, and he returns tomorrow!

In the post-game chat, Vanna asks Pat about the categories. He announces Person or People, but it doesn't always mean a proper name. Why doesn't he just say it's not a proper name? Pat said it's just part of the code, and he's curious why the show can't be more direct. Somebody wake up our producer Nancy and ask her! It turns out it's just a hint.