October 1, 2015 recap/discussion

$1,000 Toss-Up: Place

H _ S _ _ _ _ C
D _ S _ R I C _

Kerrie solves HISTORIC DISTRICT.

Kerrie Zigler, Phoenix, AZ, registered dietician, married to Bob, likes to hike and travel
Margaret Occhiogrosso, Baltimore, MD, recently engaged to Dave, event coordinator for a restaurant
Mike Ejiogu, Staten Island, NY, pursuing a master's in public health at University of Albany, likes to travel and play sports

$2,000 Toss-Up: Thing

S _ _ I A L / _ E D I A

Mike solves SOCIAL MEDIA.

Prize on Wheel: Las Vegas, vegas.buzz, $6,473

Round 1: Before & After

Mike calls T on $600, buys E and I, then calls S on the same wedge. After R and V both on $600, he gets the Cooper Tire gift tag with C before calling a wrong D on $600.

Kerrie calls N on $500 between $550 and $600, then repeats the E. Margaret tries L on $650, buys U and A, then calls W on $600 before the Bankrupt on the left of the Million Dollar Wedge stops her.

Mike doesn't spin again…

T A _ L _ R
S W I _ T
R I V E R / C U R R E N T

…and solves TAYLOR SWIFT RIVER CURRENT for $6,000 and the Gift Tag.

Dud: D (Mike)
Repeat: E (Kerrie)
Bankrupt: Margaret ($750)
Unclaimed: $250 (Kerrie)

Kerrie: $1,000
Margaret: $0
Mike: $9,000
====
Mystery Round: Landmark

Kerrie calls T on the Mystery Wedge between $700 and $650. She flips it, and the $10,000 is on the back! She then picks up the ½ Car between $550 and $600 with H, and buys E. After R on $800, she buys O and A, then calls S and F on $600 and $550. But after buying I and U to finish the vowels, she hits Lose a Turn.

Margaret then tries G and C on Wild Card and $550.

G E O G R A _ H I C
C E _ T E R / O F / T H E
U _ I T E _ / S T A T E S

For $2,100 and the Wild Card, she solves GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE UNITED STATES.

Lose a Turn: Kerrie
Unclaimed: $3,100 + $10,000 Mystery Prize + ½ Car tag (Kerrie)

Kerrie: $1,000
Margaret: $2,100 + Wild Card
Mike: $9,000

Retro Bonus Round

This man chose C M D A on a Proper Name from Fall 1996 (pastel category strips):

M _ _ A R T

He solved MOZART.
====
Prize/Express Round: Living Things

Margaret duds with S on $500 between $650 and $700. Mike tries T on Free Play, then buys E and A, but the latter is not in the puzzle. Kerrie also duds with R on $800.

Margaret goes for L on $600, then buys I and O to clear the vowels, but her next call of M on $500 between $800 and $650 is a dud. Mike finishes with X and C on $650 and $600.

E X O T I C
_ I L _ L I _ E

He solves EXOTIC WILDLIFE for $1,250 and a trip to Costa Rica (Peace Lodge, $6,100).

Duds: S (Margaret), A (Mike), R (Kerrie), M (Margaret)
Unclaimed: $700 (Margaret)

Kerrie: $1,000
Margaret: $2,100 + Wild Card
Mike: $16,350
====
$3,000 Toss-Up: On the Map

M E _ P _ _ S
_ _ N N _ _ _ _ E

Mike solves MEMPHIS TENNESSEE.

Round 4: Song Lyrics

Final Spin: $600

Mike: T
Kerrie: H
Margaret: N
Mike: G
Kerrie: S
Margaret: L
(null cycle)
Mike: Y
Kerrie: M
Margaret: D

H _ _ D / _ _ T / _ N
T H _ / H _ G H _ _ Y

She solves HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY just ahead of the buzzer for $3,200.

Aired duds: S (Kerrie), L (Margaret), M (Kerrie)
Unclaimed: $6,400 (Kerrie), $6,400 (Mike)

End totals:
Kerrie: $1,000
Margaret: $5,300
Mike: $19,350
====
$100,000 Bonus Round

Mike's father is in the audience.

He lands on the W in WIN, and his puzzle is Things:

_ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ E _
_ _ _ S

D, C, H, A:

_ A C _ _ _ - _ A C _ E D
_ A _ S

PACKED BAGS is right, but he can't get the first word of VACUUM-PACKED BAGS for $33,000. End total: $19,350.

$5K EVERY DAY SPIN ID: RB5381457