December 28, 1999 recap

Airdate: December 28, 1999

Tempted to be on the show? Here's a puzzle; we're looking for...

Look at this studio full of fabulous prizes! So much waiting to be won during Retro Week tonight on...

Wheel of Fortune!

The answer to the Preview puzzle was MARSHMALLOWS.

Today's contestants:
Natalie Kane: Proud grandmother, Bloomfield, MI
Gary Taylor: Newlywed, is a customer service representative, Bellevue, WA
Rachel Buselich: Business consultant and participated in student exchange, Chicago, IL

The top-dollar value on the Wheel is $1,000. We are playing for cash, and here's our first puzzle:


Gary solves TROLL DOLLS ARE INTRODUCED. Can he raise his total by an extra $3,000 from one more puzzle?

A bad hair day for him. The answer was GOOD-LUCK CHARMS.


We now put you in some older shoes: A Shopping wedge is added to the Wheel; win it, and you can pick one of...
Home entertainment package (over $6,600)
Fitness package (over $6,100)
Trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras (over $7,200)

You don't necessarily have to go that far back. We still have cash from the $2,500 and one-third $10,000 spaces.


Rachel solves THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT to keep the $10,000 prize!


A 5-second clip of Vanna's 1982 audition plays before Round 3 is introduced.

A second Shopping wedge goes on the Wheel, which you could use to pick a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and stay at the French Quarters, worth $7,290.

It could also be the Big Week of Cash thanks to the $3,500 and Jackpot spaces, available in this round:


Pat references the "null" cycle by saying "Natalie, try it again." despite what would be only her first aired turn. Also, Pat announced the current Jackpot value later on, but the audio was removed in a somewhat obvious cut.

Brad solves CANDY CORN ON THE COB to become the first "shopper" of the week! He picks...the New Orleans trip!


Short of time again, so Pat will give the Wheel a Final Spin. Again, consonants are $5,000 + $1,000 for $6,000 a piece! Natalie is still in this:

Natalie: T ($6,000)
Gary: R (x2) ($12,000)
Rachel: S ($6,000)
Natalie: M ($12,000)
Gary: A (DUD!)
Rachel: P ($12,000)

Rachel solves MERYL STREEP. Pat says "Is that your final answer?" after walking up to Rachel's area.


We'd prefer to leave behind the limited number of rounds resulting in the occasional blank scoreboard, thank you very much. But we failed, so Natalie leaves with some nice parting gifts.





BONUS ROUND:

For the second night in a row, a contestant could successfully defend their lead from a $6,000 Speed-Up. Thus, Rachel is here.

Now she picks an envelope. It will be L, and her puzzle will be...

RSTLNE gives her...

Rachel will try for a better beginning with CDMA:

With those choices, she instantly solves MICHIGAN...

...and wins the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy worth $15,715! She leaves with an impressive $40,045!