December 29, 2010 Game Recap (EPISODE #5343)

$1,000 Tossup - FUN AND GAMES

S _ O R I _ G
_ / _ _ A L

Sarah solves SCORING A GOAL. This is the midweek edition of "New Year's Eve" from Las Vegas, and here are tonight's players...

Sarah Lengyel: promotional model from Vegas (originally from Spokane, WA)
Valerie Trindle: hair stylist from Charleston, SC
Vishal Desai: private academic tutor and vocal percussionist who graduated from a massage therapy school from Buffalo Grove, IL

$2,000 Tossup - PROPER NAME

B _ _
S T _ L _ _ R

Valerie solves actor BEN STILLER.

PRIZE ON THE WHEEL: a $5,200 trip to San Francisco's Palace Hotel

Jackpot Round - EVENT

Valerie starts w/ an N on Jackpot. Later, she calls the only bad vowel of this puzzle (E) on FP but she keeps on going. Two spins later, however, she misses w/ an S. Vishal goes BANKRUPT to lose $2,500. Sarah narrows this puzzle down to two letters...

_ U L L I N G / A
R A B B I T / O U T
O F / A / _ A T

...and solves the popular magic trick PULLING A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT for another $2,200.

DUDS (both by Valerie): E, S
BANKRUPT HIT: Vishal
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $10,050

Pre-Round 2 Scores
Valerie: $2,000
Vishal: $0
Sarah: $3,200

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Round 2 - SONG LYRICS (PRIZE PUZZLE)

Valerie lights up the I's on FP as well as a $3,500 M. But she gets DQed for repeating the R. Vishal immediately decides to solve...

I ' M / _ _ _ _ I _ _
_ _ / _ _ _ _ _ I _ E

He solves "I'M WALKING ON SUNSHINE" (courtesy of Katrina and the Waves) for a $6,700 trip to the Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa.

TRIP SPIN ID: RW3298446 (Richard W. from Wisconsin)

SOLE DUD: R (Sarah)
BANKRUPT HIT: Vishal at the start
DQ: Valerie's R duplication

(NOTE: Vanna did the plugs for both the trip as well as the SPIN ID on this episode.)

Pre-Round 3 Scores
Valerie: $2,000
Vishal: $6,700
Sarah: $3,200

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Mystery Round - BEFORE AND AFTER

In the middle of the round, Valerie picks up the S.F. trip w/ a W and then lands on the Mystery Wedge next to the MDW. After calling two S's, she risks $7,500 cash and trip ()...BAD MOVE. We later get to this w/ one letter unrevealed...

B E L L _
D A N C I N G
W I T H / T H E
S T A R S

I doubt that there'll be such a show called "BELLY DANCING WITH THE STARS", but Vishal does solve this for $2,650.

SOLE DUD: O (Sarah)
BANKRUPT HIT: Valerie

Pre-Tossup #3 Scores
Valerie: $2,000
Vishal: $9,350
Sarah: $3,200

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$3,000 Tossup - FOOD AND DRINK

S _ _ A W _ _ _ _ Y
_ _ _

Valerie's wrong w/ STRAWBERRY TEA while Vishal also whiffs w/ STRAWBERRY PIE.

S _ R A W _ _ R R Y
_ _ M

Sarah solves STRAWBERRY JAM, giving her $6,200.

Round 4 - PERSON (full $1,500 speed-up round)

M _ S T / _ _ L _ _ _ L E
P L _ _ E R

Vishal proves to be the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in tonight's game, so he's won another three grand.

DUDS: N (Vishal), C (Sarah)

FINAL SCORES
Valerie: $2,000
Vishal: $12,350 cash and trip
Sarah: $6,200

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $20,550

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$100,000 Bonus Round
Vishal lands on the E in AMERICA'S.

Category: PHRASE
Starting setup...

_ _ _ _ E R / _ _

Vishal's choices are B, C, M and A...

_ _ C _ E R / _ _

He's way off w/ ROCKER BY and HOCKER BY. He will NOT PUCKER UP to...


















































...$100,000 -- HE'S THE FOURTH SUCH LOSER THIS SEASON (and the third all-time in Vegas). He leaves w/ just $12,350 cash and trip.