December 23, 1985 recap | Buy a Vowel Boards

December 23, 1985 recap Mar 15, 2023 22:57:34 GMT -5

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Post by mechamind on Mar 15, 2023 22:57:34 GMT -5

Airdate: December 23, 1985

Look at this studio filled with glamorous prizes!

Over $103,000 just waiting to be won on...

Wheel of Fortune!

Today's contestants:
Helen Gendler: Mother of three, graduate studying linguistics, and teacher of English as a second language; from San Jose, CA
Anna Conn: Administrative secretary with a major investment banking firm on Wall Street, from Brooklyn, NY
Gene Bruskiewicz: Sales rep for a major tool company, selling machine shop tools, and most customers manufacture parts for the aerospace industry

The top-dollar value on the Wheel is $1,000. Try not to hit Bankrupt, or you will lose all your cash, but once you buy a prize, it's yours to keep. Here's our first puzzle!

Round 1

PHRASE

HELEN	Anna	Gene
$450: S (x2) $250: T (x2) -$250: A (x4) $1,000: R (x3) Solve: Correct!
$4,150

PHRASE

Perfection! Helen solves STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW.

$4,150 to spend

Bassett secretary desk and 2-door hutch (-$737)
Pilliod Cabinet Company sofa tables (-$509)
Pearl grandfather clock (-$1,430)
26-inch color TV and cabinet (-$1,350)
Remainder on a gift certificate (-$124)

Helen	Anna	Gene
$4,150

Anna didn't have to wait that long! Straight to our next round, and we start by pointing at a Panasonic home video cassette recorder (labeled VIDEO) worth $1,250.

Round 2

EVENT

Helen	ANNA	Gene
	$450: T $200: S $200: R (DUD!)	$300: L $250: P (DUD!)
	$650	$300
VIDEO! $150: H (x2) (Stopped spin) $600: F Solve: Correct!
$900+

Helen gave a "meek" spin after calling the H, though it is not clear where Pat stopped it.

EVENT

Helen solves HALF TIME SHOW and wins the video package with the cash.

$900 to spend

Benrus his-ans-hers gold tone watches with diamonds (-$500)
Maine Woods American his-and-hers shoes (-$350)
Remainder on a gift certificate (-$50)

Helen first says that she wants the money on account, but she catches herself and changes to a gift certificate. "This is America. You can change your mind whenever you want."

Helen	Anna	Gene
$6,300

In America, you can also spin the $5,000 space whenever you want. You'd better do it with this many letters on the board!

Round 3

PHRASE

Helen	Anna	GENE
		$500: T (x2) $500: L -$250: E (x6) $500: H (x3) -$250: I -$250: O (x4) Lose A Turn!
		$2,250
$350: R (x2) BANKRUPT! ($700)	$900: D (x2) $550: Y $1,500: V (x2) $500: C (x2) Solve: Correct!
	$6,350

Gene almost repeated the L, but he changed to H and was apparently just in time, according to Pat. It was clearly gonna be an L before that.

PHRASE

Anna solves YOU COULD HAVE KNOCKED ME OVER WITH A FEATHER.

$6,350 to spend

Portavideo cassette player (-$299)
Tappan 2-door refrigerator (-$1,190)
Char-Broil barbecue (-$300)
Olympus automatic camera (-$325)
Allister garage door opener (-$320)
Cartier Sterling Silver bracelet with gold sunburst * (-$675)
Kangaroo athletic shoes and suit (-$350)
K2 5500 skis and Salomon boots (-$695)
Sierra hearth stove (-$649)
Folding table (-$620)
Coleman backpacking package (-$510)
Toblerone chocolate bar (-$125)
Remainder on a gift certificate (-$292)

Anna may choose the bracelet as part of a gift certificate.

That knocks out the rest of our time.

Helen	Anna	Gene
$6,300	$6,350

Even though it could've been much worse for Gene, things still could've been much better as well. He's stuck with the nice parting gifts.

BONUS ROUND:

"Look who overtook the leader!" Anna is the big winner, and she's gonna finish by winning this...

1986 Dodge/Plymouth Conquest ($16,569)

A very short puzzle surprises us!

Bonus Puzzle

TITLE

RSTNLE is still quite helpful.

TITLE

She instantly solves DALLAS to keep the car! Anna leaves with $22,919 in prizes!

In the post-game chat, Anna is in the driver's seat, and she doesn't need any more tissues. However, Pat does as he congratulates her.