January 12, 2011 Game Recap (EPISODE #5353)

I know you Wheel Watchers are very frustrated with a long losing streak to start the year, but I'm sure they'll finally get a win tonight. Let's see if I'm right. This is Day 3 of "Picture Perfect".

$1,000 Tossup - RHYME TIME

W _ _ E L I N G / _ N D
_ _ _ L I _ _

Sara's WHEELING AND DEALING for her first grand. Here's Wednesday's trio...

Sara Strozinsky: server & group fitness instructor from Isanti, MN
Jaime Allison: an accountant who runs a non-profit organization about children with her sister from Concord, NC
Jon Huber: financial software company worker & triathlon runner from Hoboken, NJ

$2,000 Tossup - PROPER NAME

O P _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ Y

Jon quickly solves the soon-to-be retired talk show host OPRAH WINFREY.

PRIZE ON THE WHEEL: from Aer Lingus, a $5,500 trip to Ireland

Jackpot Round - SHOW BIZ

Jon immediately misses with an S. Next, Sara lights up two T's, one N and four E's, but she BANKRUPTS to lose $950. As we get back to her late in the round, she BANKRUPTS again via the MDW's left side. Jaime then calls the H's, and the board now reads...

H _ _ H L _
A N T _ C _ P A T E D
_ _ L M / P R E M _ E R E

She solves this puzzle for $1,200, which can be used to buy tickets to see a HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FILM PREMIERE.

DUDS: S (Jon), O (Jaime), B (Jon)
BANKRUPT HITS: 2 (both by Sara)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $11,500

Pre-Round 2 Scores
Jamie: $1,200
Jon: $2,000
Sara: $1,000

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Round 2 - BEFORE AND AFTER

I / _ A N T / T O
_ O _ _ / _ O U R
_ A _ _
_ A N I T I _ _ R

The first half is a Beatles song as Sara dominates and solves "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" SANITIZER for $11,600 ($10,500 from three N's)!

PERFECT ROUND!

Pre-Round 3 Scores
Jamie: $1,200
Jon: $2,000
Sara: $12,600

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Mystery Round - PLACES (PRIZE PUZZLE)

Jamie lands on the Mystery Wedge next to the MDW. After calling two S's, she doesn't risk $2,000 (good move -- that had a BANKRUPT). After buying the I's and O's, here's the board...

_ O _ _ E O _ S
_ _ I _ A T E
_ E A _ _ E S

She dominates this round for $1,500, and she'll be seeing the GORGEOUS PRIVATE BEACHES in CABO SAN LUCAS at the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa worth $5,400; she wins $6,900 that round.

TRIP SPIN ID: SB3089567 (Sharon B. of Michigan)

PERFECT ROUND #2!

Pre-Tossup #3 Scores
Jamie: $8,100
Jon: $2,000
Sara: $12,600

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$3,000 Tossup - WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

_ _ _ _ _ N _ / T _ E
_ I G H T _

Jamie is incorrect with SEEING THE SIGHTS, because that's one letter short.

D _ M _ _ N _ / T H E
_ I G H T S

Jon's DIMMING THE LIGHTS for a new total of $5,000.

Round 4 - PHRASE

H I _ T O R _ / I N
T H E / _ A _ I N _

This week of course is HISTORY IS THE MAKING thanks to Lora Cain, and Sara solves this puzzle for another $1,600, and $14,200 overall.

LAT HIT: Jon after a lot of work

Round 5 - THING (full $1,800 speed-up round)

M _ _ _ R
_ _ _ _ M _ L _ S _ M _ N T

Sara makes her MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT of solving this puzzle for $3,600 (she initially said BIGGER ACCOMPLISHMENT) and a trip to the Bonus Round!

FINAL SCORES
Jamie: $8,100 cash and Cabo
Jon: $5,000
Sara: $17,800

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $30,900

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$100,000 Bonus Round
Sara lands on the apostrophe.

Category: EVENT
Starting setup...

N _ _ _ T _ _ L L

Looks like the seven episode losing streak is over because Sara quickly goes with G, H, F and A...

N _ G H T F A L L

...and easily solves this puzzle! But what does she win at NIGHTFALL?...
















































...the Dodge Challenger SE worth $24,290! In addition to the $5,000 bonus, she's driving home with $47,090 cash and car!