Wheel of Fortune Recap: 10/16/1989

I've recapped 5 episodes of Season 7 so far and I ain't stopping there!

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The middle of October is full of money and fabulous prizes, the studio is filled with great items and cash, over $214,000 just waiting to be claimed! And these three contestants would certainly like that amount, let's meet them!

Martha Brewer: A medical student from UCLA and also the returning champion, $26,850, cash and prizes.
Karen Thompson: Part-time student and... a member of the NYPD for four and a half years!
Donna Hennings: Secretary for a home owners association.

Will Martha have another victory? Will Karen stop Martha's run? Will Donna pwn Karen? Find out right now on...

WHEEL! OF! FORTUNE!



$1,000 is on the wheel, like usual, but there's a Bankrupt that needs to be avoided. The first puzzle is Star & Role, which from Pat's commentary, it may have debuted this episode. (Can someone clarify this? Thanks.)



Well, Martha immediately lights up FIVE Ss... on $150 though. She completely controls the round...



And solves PETER SELLERS AS INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU for $3,700 and an early lead.

Martha: $3,700
Karen:
Donna:

EARLY PERFECTION!

Bankrupts: 0
Lose a Turns: 0
Duds: 0
Missolves: 0



$1,000 is upgaded to $2,500 and a prize is now on the wheel, a diamond knot decorated on an 18 karat gold neckace, a luxurious piece of jewelry worth $4,800 (marked JEWEL on the wheel). And that jewelry might be won, but for now, the Round 2 puzzle is Things.



Karen gets to spin first, but it's a bad spin, a Bankrupt. Donna gets an S up there before calling a bad T... on $2,500. Martha then spins and misses with an N on the red $300. Karen then has the rest of the round all to herself.



And since she's a police officer herself, I don't think she would have any ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS. She solved this one for $2,250!

Martha: $3,700
Karen: $2,250
Donna:

Bankrupts: 1 (Karen - $0)
Lose a Turns: 0
Duds: 2 (Martha - N - $0), (Donna - T - $200)
Missolves: 0



A little over $5,000 earned so far by Martha & Karen, but I'm sure Donna would want some money, so there's a $3,500 wedge on the wheel. The category is a SIX word Same Name.



And immediately, Diane gets the big one again! She wants an N... and she can have FOUR of them! And after a lot of work, she is ready to solve...



RHODE & NO MAN IS AN ISLAND for $17,100, all cash!

Martha: $3,700
Karen: $2,250
Donna: $17,100

PERFECTION!

Bankrupts: 0
Lose a Turns: 0
Duds: 0
Missolves: 0



The $3,500 wedge is here to stay this round, and there's also a collection of raincoats and a trip to London out there worth $6,130 (marked LONDON on the wheel, the raincoats come with London)! And this puzzle is another rare 3-liner, and it's an Event, apostrophe included.



Martha spins and immediately misses with a T on $700. Then, Karen bankrupts after she calls the Ss. After that, Donna calls a bad R on the orange $400. After a bit of work, Martha lands on $3,500, but misses with a C. And shortly after that, Karen couldn't have a D on $800. Donna then calls the Xs...



And adds another $1,200 to her total by solving EXXON'S ALASKA OIL SPILL.

Martha: $3,700
Karen: $2,250
Donna: $18,300

Bankrupts: 1 (Karen - $1,800)
Lose a Turns: 0
Duds: 4 (Martha (2) - T, C - $0, $1,800), (Karen - D - $250), (Donna - R - $0)
Missolves: 0



Now the $5,000 wedge is on the wheel and the next puzzle is a Title, with another apostrophe.



Karen is the first person to spin and her first spin is $5,000! And then she calls $10,000 worth of Ss! But after some buying, she calls a dud L on the blue $500. Right after that, speedup begins. Pat gives the wheel a final spin and it had a close call... but MADE IT to $5,000! Donna lights up two Rs for $10,000, but doesn't know it and then Martha calls a $5,000 T...



And then she's reading READER'S DIGEST for that $5,000!

Martha: $8,700 (2-day winnings: $35,550)
Karen: $2,250
Donna: $18,300

Bankrupts: 0
Lose a Turns: 0
Duds: 1 (Karen - L - $9,500)
Missolves: 0



Onto the Bonus Round with Donna, available today is a convertible worth over $51,000, an Orient Cruise worth $36,000, a sedan worth over $32,000, a necklace worth over $58,000, and the $25,000 cash. She goes for the first E card and the category for this puzzle is Person. And Person ain't always Proper Name, so she keeps that in mind.



Can RSTLNE be a big help tonight?



A bit of help there, but Donna needs some more help. She'd like a P, a D, an M, and an I.



Not much help, but can Donna get it?



No... she couldn't think of anything and lost the cash. But she still has $18,300 and she is a 1-day champion!