November 18, 2015 recap/discussion

$1,000 Toss-Up: On the Map

_ H E / _ R E G _ N
_ _ A _ _

Courtney solves THE OREGON TRAIL.

Courtney Canant, Cypress, TX, former kindergarten teacher, now a stay-at-home mom with one son, married to Jimmy for 4 years, does cooking
Michael Varino, Kenner, LA, former mud engineer, makes Italian sausage
Gemina Stroud, Stockbridge, GA, traffic coordinator, studies twins

$2,000 Toss-Up: Title

N A _ _ _ N _ L
G _ O G _ _ P _ _ C

Courtney solves NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

Round 1: Same Letter

Courtney calls T on $700, buys E and A, then calls N on the Victorinox Swiss Army gift tag. After buying I, she calls M on $650, which is the Same Letter. After buying O and U to finish the vowels, she picks R and S on $550 and $2,500.

M _ S T E R I O U S
M O U N T A I N
M A N

For $10,150 and the Gift Tag, she solves MYSTERIOUS MOUNTAIN MAN.

PERFECT ROUND

Michael: $0
Gemina: $0
Courtney: $14,150
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Mystery Round: Fun & Games

Michael and Gemina dud with T and R on $650 and $650. Courtney gets the ½ Car between $550/$600 with N, buys I and O, then calls G on $600. She then hits the Mystery Wedge between Free Play and Lose a Turn, but calls a bad M.

Michael calls H and K on $800 and the Wild Card, but duds with L on $500 between $650/$700. Gemina picks C on $650 and buys A to clear the vowels before the Bankrupt on the right of the Million Dollar Wedge stops her.

Courtney finishes with Y and Z on $3,500 and Free Play.

H I K I N G / I N
Z I O N / C A N Y O N

She reads off HIKING IN ZION CANYON for $6,600 and the tag.

Duds: T (Michael), R (Gemina), M (Courtney), L (Michael)
Unclaimed: $1,300 (Michael)
Bankrupt: $400 (Gemina)

Michael: $0 + Wild Card
Gemina: $0
Courtney: $20,750 + ½ Car tag
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Prize/Express Round: Things

Gemina gets the ½ Car between $550/$600 with S, buys A, and calls L on $3,500. After buying I, she calls N on $600 and buys E to finish the vowels.

I S L A N _
_ _ E E _ E S

She solves ISLAND BREEZES for $4,350 and a trip to Aruba (Aruba Marriott, $9,128). (The copy includes a trailer for Love the Coopers.)

PERFECT ROUND #2

Michael: $0 + Wild Card
Gemina: $13,478
Courtney: $20,750
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$3,000 Toss-Up: Person

S O C I _ _
B U T _ E R F L Y

Courtney solves SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.

Round 4: Living Things

Courtney calls S on $650, then buys E and A, though the latter is a dud. Michael calls L on $700, and buys a bad I. Gemina follows with R on $650, buys O, then hits Lose a Turn[/clr].

Courtney picks N on $600, buys U to clear the vowels, then Bankrupts between $900/$5000.

Michael hits $5,000 for three D's, then turns in the Wild Card for two H's.

_ L O O D H O U N D S
& / _ R E _ H O U N D S

He solves BLOODHOUNDS & GREYHOUNDS for $25,450.

Duds: A (Courtney), I (Michael)
Lose a Turn: Gemina
Bankrupt: $1,750 (Courtney)
Unclaimed: $450 (Gemina)

Round 5: What Are You Doing?

Final Spin: $500

Michael: N
Gemina: T
Courtney: C
Michael: G
Gemina: R
Courtney: L
Michael: H
Gemina: S
Courtney: U
Michael: W
Gemina: F

F _ N N _ N G
T H _ / F L _ _ _ S

For $6,000, she solves FANNING THE FLAMES.

Duds: C (Courtney), R (Gemina), U (Courtney), W (Michael)
Unclaimed: $7,500 (Michael), $1,500 (Courtney)

End totals:
Michael: $25,450
Gemina: $19,478
Courtney: $23,750
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$100,000 Bonus Round

Michael's sister, Carmela, is in the audience.

He lands on the I in AMERICA'S, and his puzzle is Thing:

_ R _ _ E N
_ _ E / _ _ _ _

G, P, M, I:

_ R _ _ E N
I _ E / P _ _ _

FROZEN ICE PICK is one letter off. He can't solve FROZEN ICE PACK for $33,000. End total: $25,450.

$5K EVERY DAY SPIN ID: TE8202191