October 3, 1994 recap | Buy a Vowel Boards

October 3, 1994 recap Feb 25, 2023 12:21:03 GMT -5

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Post by mechamind on Feb 25, 2023 12:21:03 GMT -5

Airdate: October 3, 1994

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

Today's contestants:
Pat Harmire: Sales representative for a copier and publishing systems, also volunteers with the PTA and Coast Guard Auxiliary; from Metairie, LA
Ben Crumpton (returning with a 2-day total of $42,252)
Jan Garris: Freelance personal assistant who calls herself "Secretary to the World", from North Hollywood, CA

Pat (contestant): Uh, nice to meet you, first of all, Pat.

Pat (host): Well, thank you, Pat. It's a pleasure to meet you. How are you? Thanks for coming.

And as Ben's a postal clerk, Pat went to the post office 10 minutes before taping to talk to his fellow employees and buy stamps.

Pat: This woman went on for 5 minutes about how she loves me, worships the ground I walk, and loves the show, loves Vanna, all the thing; I give her a check, she says "May I see some ID?", I swear- I swear to you.

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

Round 1

CLUE

PAT	Ben	Jan
SURPRISE: S $200: N (DUD!)	$800: T (x2) $700: R (x2) $800: L (DUD!)	Free Spin: D (DUD!)
+	$3,000
$350: C -$250: E (x2) $250: M Solve: Correct!
$350

CLUE

Pat solves MUPPETS' CREATOR. (As of this episode, the puzzle solve cue has been changed to match the new theme, and the puzzle board's spikes no longer flash.)

We've also created an opportunity for him to score an extra $500, and he'll need to answer the clue.

And just like that, he answers Jim Henson.

We've also created another opportunity, this one for Charlie...because our contestant Pat has just claimed the SURPRISE for a Gateway 2000 complete family PC worth $1,495.

Pat	Ben	Jan
$2,345

But Charlie can't rest until we stick on a New York shopping spree at A&S Plaza plus a stay at the Marriott Marquis Hotel and Broadway tickets (labeled NEW YORK) worth $5,950.

Before Ben can rest, he has some more game to play, and he'll get one more round to hit the $2,500 space.

Round 2

BEFORE & AFTER

Pat	BEN	Jan
	$2,500: T (DUD!)	$200: S (x2) -$250: E NEW YORK: L $800: D -$250: A -$250: O (x4) $400: F $450: N (DUD!)
		$850+
Free Spin: V $300: Y $200: R Only vowels left! Solve: Correct!
$500

BEFORE & AFTER

Pat solves SAVE YOUR SOUL FOOD.

Pat (FS)	Ben	Jan
$2,845

Can Jan save herself in this game with a $3,500 spin?

Round 3

PHRASE

Pat (FS)	Ben	JAN
		$800: T (x2) -$250: E (x2) $1,000: H (x2) -$250: A (x2) $500: N Solve: Correct!
		$3,600

PHRASE

Perfection! Jan solves JUMP AT THE CHANCE to jump into the lead.

Pat (FS)	Ben	Jan
$2,845		$3,600

Maybe Pat will be fine, or he might need to jump at the chance to use his Free Spin token if he really wants to hit that $5,000 space or a KONA trip.

Round 4

THING

PAT (FS)	Ben	Jan
$700: T $500: S -$250: O (x2) -$250: A $700: L (x2) $800: H $300: W $800: N Solve: Correct!
$4,000

THING

Double perfection! Ben solves HALLOWEEN COSTUME.

Pat (FS)	Ben	Jan
$6,845		$3,600

How spooked is Ben right now? He knows this will be his last chance to spin (unless we have a sixth round), so he might as well play for the win!

Round 5

THING

Pat (FS)	BEN	Jan
	$1,500: R $250: T (x2) $500: S (DUD!)	$600: D $200: N (DUD!)
	$2,000	$600
$600: M (DUD!)

THING

DING DING! DING DING!

Ben's time is running out fast, so Pat will give the Wheel a Final Spin. Consonants are worth... $5,000 a piece!

Ben: F (x2) ($12,000)

THING

Ben solves FAT-FREE DIET and will retire undefeated!

Pat (...)	Ben	Jan
$6,845	$12,000	$3,600

It would seem our host isn't the only Pat to forget about Free Spin tokens. He did have just enough time to show it to us in that last round.

BONUS ROUND:

Ben's got one more chance to add to his new total of $54,252 in cash and prizes. It's a new week, and some new prizes to be won:

Boat (over $33,000)

Born Free motorhome (almost $40,000)

1995 Volkswagen Passat GLX and Golf GL (over $39,000)
Balloon trip to Austria
"Good ol' American cash" ($25,000)

Pat will need to see some ID before Ben can pick an envelope, and after that, he'll pick the second E. He'll now need to search this puzzle for letters.

Bonus Puzzle

PEOPLE

RSTLNE gives him:

PEOPLE

He finishes his three days with HMBA.

PEOPLE

He says DARE, and with four seconds left, he solves CHOIR...

...and after a sigh of relief, he's got the Austria hot-air balloon trip from Salzburg, plus castle and storybook village stays, and a trip to Vienna, all worth $20,800!

Ben retires with a total of $75,052 including a lot of trips!

In the post-game chat, Pat admits that you just never know in this game. We don't always play to five rounds, and Ben didn't have anything today, but he's suddenly the big winner and solves the bonus puzzle with a few seconds left. It's amazing, isn't it? "That's why we're the programming juggernaut we are."