November 16, 2011 Game Recap (EPISODE #5503)

EPISODE #5503 - SECRET SANTA SWEEPSTAKES

$1,000 Tossup - PLACE

_ I R P L A N E
H A N G A _

Mike solves AIRPLANE HANGAR. Let the interviewing begin w/ him...

Mike French: real estate worker from San Diego
Sarita Cowins: expectant food service manager from Miami, FL
Jill Trotter: saleswoman from the suburb of Ahwatukee in Phoenix, AZ

$2,000 Tossup - PROPER NAME

K _ _ _ _ S / _ I _ Y
_ _ I _ _ _

Mike solves the NFL's KANSAS CITY CHIEFS fairly quickly.

Jackpot Round - FAMILY

Mike instantly duds out w/ T. Secondly, Sarita picks up the Sears gift card w/ two R's. It's all her from here...

_ _ L E _ / A N D
B _ L L _ / R A _
_ _ R _ S

...and she solves MILEY AND BILLY RAY CYRUS for $8,850 cash and spree.

SOLE DUD: T (Mike)
UNCLAIMED JACKPOT: $8,350

Pre-Round 2 Scores
Sarita: $8,850
Jill: $0
Mike: $3K

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Mystery Round - BEFORE AND AFTER

Sarita starts w/ a T for the green 1/2 KIA, but she and Jill dud out w/ S and R, respectively. Mike purchases the only bad vowel of this puzzle (A), so we're coming back to Sarita...but she goofs w/ B. Coming down Jill's alley are the K and the G's before we see...

K I N G / O _ / T H E
_ U N G L E
G _ _

She solves KING OF THE JUNGLE GYM for $2,700.

DUDS: S (Sarita), R (Jill), A (Mike), B (Sarita)

Pre-Round 3 Scores
Sarita: $8,850
Jill: $2,700
Mike: $3K

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PRIZE PUZZLE Round - PHRASE

Jill instantly BANKRUPTS on the MDW's left side. Second, Mike puts up the N and E, but then strikes out w/ R. Next, Sarita gets the same fate as Jill. Speaking of the lady in the middle, she gets LAT two spins later. Mike picks things up from here...

_ _ / L U C _ / I S
A _ O U T / T O
C _ A N _ E

Why is he saying "MY LUCK IS ABOUT TO CHANGE"? Well, that's because he'll likely gamble another $1,100 on his $5K trip to LAS VEGAS at the Mandalay Bay Hotel; he's won $6,100 that round.

TRIP SPIN ID: JD8229822 (Jessica D. from Texas)

SOLE DUD: R (Mike)
BANKRUPTS: 2 (both ladies)
LAT: Jill

Pre-Tossup #3 Scores
Sarita: $8,850
Jill: $2,700
Mike: $9,100

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$3,000 Tossup - TV TITLE

B _ _
B _ O T _ _ R

Mike solves the CBS reality show "BIG BROTHER" to go to $12,100.

Round 4 - OCCUPATION

Mike immediately BANKRUPTS. Secondly, Sarita puts up an R and two T's, but it's time for speed-up mode...

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ R _ T _ / _ _ _ R _

The remaining consonants are worth $1,300 each (Mark Corwin makes the rare mistake of labeling this puzzle as a TV TITLE instead of OCCUPATION when we get to this point).

S _ _ P P _ N _ / M _ _ _
S _ _ _ R _ T _ / _ _ _ R _

Sarita outsmarts this SHOPPING MALL SECURITY GUARD for $4,850 and the win by $1,600.

BANKRUPT: Mike

FINAL SCORES
Sarita: $13,700 cash and spree
Jill: $2,700
Mike: $12,100 cash and Vegas

TOTAL MAINGAME WINNINGS: $27,900

JILL SPIN ID: PE8017950 (Pam E.)
MIKE SPIN ID: PM5250476 (Patti M.)

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$100,000 Bonus Round
That Camaro convertible still awaits a lucky Secret Santa for five more episodes of this sweepstakes. Sarita lands on the C in AMERICA'S.

Category: THINGS
RSTLNE gives her...

_ E R _ S / _ _
T _ E / _ _ _

H (waste), B, C and I give her...

_ E R _ S / _ _
T H E / _ _ B

She fails one of her PERKS OF THE JOB -- winning another $30K. That sends her home w/ $13,700 cash and spree.

SARITA SPIN ID: BK8644867 (Bruce K.)