BAV's Wheel Into Summer 2017

I am interested in this.

A reminder that ALL ANSWERS MUST BE PRIVATE MESSAGED TO ME, since I will be keeping score throughout this series.

The first puzzle of this series is called:

"To Sing the Least"

This introductory game will combine the premises of two Tom Kennedy game shows from the 1970s--one true classic ("Name That Tune") and one short-lived gem ("To Say the Least"). You must identify the 20 hit songs below. It won't be that easy, obviously. I have eliminated most of the lyrics and replaced them with dashes. As the game progresses, one fewer word will remain in each song. Song #1 will have twenty words intact, song #2 will have nineteen words intact, on down to only one word intact for song #20. In keeping with the theme, all of these songs were hits in the 1970s and each year will be represented twice. I will give you the year for each song.

This game will end next Monday, July 17, at 5 PM Eastern.

#1. (1973)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Montreux
---- ---- Lake Geneva shoreline
---- ---- records ---- ---- mobile
---- ---- ---- much time
Frank Zappa ---- ---- Mothers
---- ---- ---- best place around
---- ---- stupid ---- ---- flare gun
Burned ---- place ---- ---- ground

#2. (1975)
Oh ---- ---- ---- never know
---- ---- ---- mean ---- me
Oh ---- ---- ---- ---- so much
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- energy
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- telling ---- lies ----
Good lovin' ---- ---- ---- ---- eyes
Nobody believes ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- in the way

#3. (1973)
Every ---- ---- ---- ----
Every ---- ---- ---- still shines
Every ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- sing's so fine
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- part
---- ---- breaking her heart
---- ---- ---- make me cry
Just like before
---- ---- ---- ----

#4. (1977)
---- nickels ---- dimes
Working ---- ---- sun ---- shine
---- ---- happier times
---- ---- ----
---- ---- back some day
Come what may
---- ---- ----
---- ---- folks ---- fine
---- ---- world ---- mine
---- ---- ----

#5. (1974)
----
---- ---- defeated ---- won ---- war
----
Promise ---- love you ---- ---- ----
----
Couldn't escape ---- ---- ---- ----
----
Knowing my fate ---- ---- be with you
----
Finally facing ---- ----

#6. (1976)
---- ---- ---- young
---- ---- ---- anyone
---- making love ---- ---- ---- fun
---- ---- ---- gone
---- alone
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- dial ---- telephone
Nobody's home
---- ---- ----
Don't wanna be ---- ---- ----
Anymore

#7. (1970)
---- ---- giant ---- cartwheels
---- statue ---- high heels
---- ---- ---- ---- happy creatures
---- ---- ---- lawn
---- ---- Victrola
---- ---- Buck Owens
Doo doo doo
---- ---- ---- ---- ----

#8. (1971)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- dance ---- ----
---- ---- ---- shoes
Silver hair ---- ---- ---- ---- baggy pants
---- ---- soft shoe
---- ---- ---- high
---- ---- ---- high
---- ---- ---- touch down
---- ---- ---- ---- dance

#9. (1978)
---- ---- ---- neon lights ---- bright ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- magic ---- ---- air
---- ---- ---- walking ---- ---- street
---- ---- ---- ---- enough ---- eat
---- glitter rubs ---- ---- ---- ---- nowhere

#10. (1972)
Lord Almighty ---- ---- ---- temperature ----
Higher ---- higher ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- soul
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- fire
---- brain ---- flamin' ---- ---- ---- which way ---- ----

#11. (1978)
---- ---- ---- pressure
---- ---- throw away
Conventionality ---- ---- yesterday
---- ---- ---- chance
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- be who we are

#12. (1971)
---- ---- possessions
---- wonder ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- greed ---- hunger
---- brotherhood ---- man
---- all ---- people
Sharing ---- ---- ----

#13. (1970)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- around
---- pretty faces ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- crowd
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- bunch
---- glance ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- second look

#14. (1975)
---- ---- ---- ---- man ---- ---- back
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- sun
---- ---- girl ---- ---- corner
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- passionate one

#15. (1979)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- sensible ---- responsible practical
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- dependable ---- clinical ---- ---- cynical

#16. (1974)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- anatomy
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- peek
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- physique
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
---- public critique

#17. (1972)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- cried
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- bride
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- music died

#18. (1979)
---- ---- ---- ---- afraid ---- ---- petrified
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- strong ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

#19. (1977)
---- ---- ---- ---- highway ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- colitas ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

#20. (1976)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Scaramouche ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Let's move straight away to the second round of this series. Let's call it:

"Say That Again?!"

If you've played the game Mad Gab before, you're already familiar with the rules to this week's puzzle. Below are 25 nonsense phrases that will actually become familiar names and phrases when sounded out quickly. You'll receive 1 point for each phrase that you can decipher, for a maximum of 25 points. The category for each solution is given in parentheses.

This round ends on Tuesday July 25 at 7 PM Eastern.

1. Bellows One (fictional character)

2. Shah Kilo Kneel (person)

3. Cause Sick Stone (place)

4. Psycho Medic Poems (thing)

5. Heart Cough Uncle (person)

6. Phonics Sorry Sonar (place)

7. Knees Annul Tumor (thing)

8. Search Yeoman Daze (person)

9. Bench Humming Budding (fictional character)

10. Chef Aloof Tuba Fallow (phrase)

11. Show Deep He Cold (person)

12. Cinch Hurry Length Healed (place)

13. Egg Aim After Hones (title)

14. Holly Fear Why Old (person)

15. Thief Rash Print Safe Blare (fictional character)

16. Grant Halved Odd Dove Hive (title)

17. Cap Hook Eat Heed Ore (thing)

18. Bug Killed Hound Wince Hockey (title)

19. Ready Hose Idiom Whose Sinkhole (place)

20. Gourd Deans Off Decal Dixie (title)

21. Bruise Fill Hunch Fort Hub Lark (phrase)

22. Loose Seam Achilles Cut Eerie Cargo (fictional character)

23. Sighed Huff Rise Width Rushing Duress Ink (thing)

24. Eye Wooden Taft Messed Hit Forty War Rolled (title)

25. They Rained Nose Hutch Think Gas Off Reel Hunch (phrase)

Again, everything will make sense once I reveal the answers. I had to play loose with the English language on a few of these, as I couldn't think of some exact soundalikes.

1. Bellows One (fictional character)
Bella Swan

2. Shah Kilo Kneel (person)
Shaquille O'Neal

3. Cause Sick Stone (place)
Kazakhstan

4. Psycho Medic Poems (thing)
Zygomatic bones
"Poems" was about as close as I could get to "bones" without giving away too much of the original word.

5. Heart Cough Uncle (person)
Art Garfunkel

6. Phonics Sorry Sonar (place)
Phoenix, Arizona

7. Knees Annul Tumor (thing)
Nissan Altima

8. Search Yeoman Daze (person)
Sergio Mendes
The legendary Brazilian bandleader, best known for his Top 10 hits "The Look of Love" and "Never Gonna Let You Go".

9. Bench Humming Budding (fictional character)
Benjamin Button

10. Chef Aloof Tuba Fallow (phrase)
Shuffle off to Buffalo

11. Show Deep He Cold (person)
Jodi Picoult
Bestselling author, whose books include Songs of the Humpback Whale and My Sister's Keeper.

12. Cinch Hurry Length Healed (place)
CenturyLink Field
Home of my Seattle Seahawks.

13. Egg Aim After Hones (title)
A Game of Thrones

14. Holly Fear Why Old (person)
Olivia Wilde

15. Thief Rash Print Safe Blare (fictional character)
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

16. Grant Halved Odd Dove Hive (title)
Grand Theft Auto V

17. Cap Hook Eat Heed Ore (thing)
Kabuki theater

18. Bug Killed Hound Wince Hockey (title)
"Buckle Down Winsocki"

19. Ready Hose Idiom Whose Sinkhole (place)
Radio City Music Hall

20. Gourd Deans Off Decal Dixie (title)
"Guardians of the Galaxy"

21. Bruise Fill Hunch Fort Hub Lark (phrase)
Bruce Vilanch for the block

22. Loose Seam Achilles Cut Eerie Cargo (fictional character)
Lucy McGillicuddy Ricardo
Lucille Ball's character on I Love Lucy.

23. Sighed Huff Rise Width Rushing Duress Ink (thing)
Side of fries with Russian dressing
While you could certainly have a side of rice, as my two players offered, you would not put Russian dressing on that rice... so I can't give a point for rice.

24. Eye Wooden Taft Messed Hit Forty War Rolled (title)
"I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World"

25. They Rained Nose Hutch Think Gas Off Reel Hunch (phrase)
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch

We have a new leader!

Scores
BrainBoggler - 0 + 23 = 23
Bryce L. - 11 + 10 = 21
woffan9821 - 1 + 0 = 1

Part One is over... so let's go to Part Two of "Scrabble Battle!" Even if you did not play Part One, you can still pick up points in Part Two. Those who responded to Part One have already been informed of the Part Two rules.

In this half of the game, you may now pick letters from the "letter pools" next to each word. Correct letters will drop into place. Incorrect letters are stoppers. If you draw all three stoppers on any one word, you will be locked out of that word and cannot score on it.

--On the 5-letter words (#1-#5), you may draw 3 letters.
--On the 6-letter words (#6-#10), you may draw 4 letters.
--On the 7-letter words (#11-#15), you may draw 5 letters.
--On the 8-letter words (#16-#20), you may draw 6 letters.
--On the 9-letter words (#21-#25), you may draw 7 letters.

You may draw your letters individually or all at once. It may be better to draw your letters all at once since you're still on a deadline, but you may play it however you wish. In either case, you get only one guess on each word. Each correct guess is worth one point.

This puzzle officially ends on Wednesday August 9 at 8 PM Eastern.

1. THE CAPITAL OF FRANCE -- _ _ R _ _ (NUTPOSE)
2. HE'S BEEN SEEN DRIVING AROUND LATE AT NIGHT WITH A REAL VIXEN -- _ _ _ T _ (HASWANE)
3. KEVIN DURANT HAS ONE THAT IS TWELVE INCHES LONG -- _ _ _ _ R (LURKBEN)
4. SOME OF THEM ARE TOTAL RIPOFFS -- _ _ _ _ S (BYQUEST)
5. MOST PEOPLE CALL HIM A HIGH ROLLER -- _ _ O _ _ (LEPTONS)
6. ONE WAY TO TELL A STORY -- _ _ O _ _ _ (DIMJEANS)
7. ALMOST EVERYBODY GETS IT FROM DONALD TRUMP -- _ _ _ _ E _ (CLAIMSOD)
8. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GRAB A QUICK BITE TO EAT WILL FIND THEMSELVES UNDER IT -- _ _ R _ _ _ (GANTRIES)
9. AFTER NEARLY THIRTY YEARS, SHE STILL SUCKS -- _ _ _ _ _ E (GLEAMSIG)
10. CHIHUAHUAS HAVE A LOT OF THEM -- _ _ _ _ _ S (LOPWAVER)
11. LeBRON JAMES IS A REAL SON OF A ONE -- B _ _ _ _ _ _ (DUCKMYSEE)
12. A BAD RAP ARTIST -- _ _ _ _ _ _ R (VOUCHCASE)
13. THEY ALWAYS HAVE NARROW VIEWS -- _ _ _ _ _ _ S (UNIQUESET)
14. HE BLEW THE WHISTLE ON TOM BRADY'S BALLS -- _ _ _ E _ _ _ (FEARGREED)
15. A FAMOUS FOLLOWER OF NAPOLEON -- _ _ _ _ _ E _ (PLUMPCOAX)
16. A MAJOR AMERICAN FOREST -- _ _ _ _ _ _ E _ (KNITWEARHO)
17. THIS IS YOUR FINAL NOTICE -- _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ (DIREBAYOUS)
18. A NOTABLE FIRE PLACE -- _ _ _ _ _ _ E _ (DISRUPTMEN)
19. SOMETIMES, IT'S PART OF A RETIREMENT PLAN -- _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ (MOPCHASING)
20. ALL THE KIDS SAY IT'S A GAS -- _ _ _ _ _ _ E _ (SOHUNGYARD)
21. THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO SAY IT -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T (IGILDCUFFER)
22. SOME WOMEN GET A REAL THRILL WHEN IT'S LONG AND HARD -- _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ (XENOLITHRAT)
23. STARGAZERS -- _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ (NAZIZAPPERS)
24. IT PROVIDES EXCELLENT COVERAGE -- _ _ _ _ _ _ L _ _ (PARFAITRUNE)
25. THE MOTHER OF ALL NBC GAME SHOWS -- _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ _ (ZITCAMESUNK)

We're past the halfway point with only one month until the DPG season premiere. Since the Scrabble clues weren't tricky enough for Sean, let's really amp up the difficulty. Puzzle #4 is called:

"Truth in Advertising"

Do you ever watch a commercial and wish that the company would be more honest in what they're peddling? This week, we're going to make that wish a reality. Below are 25 fictional slogans that I've written for actual products and services. Some are parodies of notable ad slogans. Others expose something stereotypical about a company or an item's usage. You'll have to use your intuition to determine the brand name that I'm talking about.

This round will be played in two parts. In this first part, each correct company or product name is worth 3 points. If you have the wrong brand name, but you have the correct general area of commerce, you'll get 2 points. I will PM each player individually on how many answers they've gotten correct or partially correct.

Part one will expire on Thursday August 17 at 5 PM Eastern. Afterward, I'll explain part two of this puzzle.

1. The square bottle makes it taste better.
2. It's obviously not delivery.
3. Which ad experience would you prefer to ignore?
4. Slime posing as meat.
5. Aliens and Hitler, 24/7.
6. You don't care about the wings.
7. We know why your eyes are red.
8. Oops! I crapped my pants!
9. You've never actually been on a boat, have you?
10. Come see the softer side of 1972.
11. Your source for cat videos and food porn.
12. Let's get the prom queen drunk.
13. Don't expect luggage to arrive.
14. We include extra parts just to f**k with you.
15. Destroying families and friendships since 1935.
16. No experience driving a big truck? Good luck!
17. Help yourself to obesity.
18. They'll still know that you didn't read the book.
19. Cancer with a refreshing taste of menthol.
20. Drive yourself into a lake.
21. Slip into a nice coma for a few hours.
22. When you're out of Heinz.
23. Smells like old people.
24. Just try leaving us.
25. The real reason limos have tinted windows.

And now for the answers:

1. The square bottle makes it taste better. -- Fiji
All bottled water tastes like water... but Fiji comes in that square bottle.

2. It's obviously not delivery. -- DiGiorno
It's the familiar frozen pizza slogan, but with "obviously" added to it.

3. Which ad experience would you prefer to ignore? -- Hulu
Hulu subscribers should be familiar with the phrase, "Which ad experience would you prefer?"

4. Slime posing as meat. -- SPAM
The first letters in each word of the slogan should have given this one away.

5. Aliens and Hitler, 24/7. -- The History Channel
Giorgio Tsoukalos would certainly approve of this new slogan. In case you don't know who Giorgio Tsoukalos is, he's this guy:


6. You don't care about the wings. -- Hooters
Famous for wings, more famous for breasts.

7. We know why your eyes are red. -- Visine
It's a weed reference.

8. Oops! I crapped my pants! -- Depend
SNL fans would recognize this one immediately.

9. You've never actually been on a boat, have you? -- Sperry
They make those boating shoes.

10. Come see the softer side of 1972. -- Sears
Another classic slogan--"Come see the softer side of Sears"--with just one item swapped out.

11. Your source for cat videos and food porn. -- Facebook
It's also where your racist uncle gets all of his fake news.

12. Let's get the prom queen drunk. -- Bartles & Jaymes
They make those wine coolers that were shilled by the two old guys who always ended their commercials with "Thank you for your support".

13. Don't expect luggage to arrive. -- Delta
Another answer that was pretty much given away by the first letter in each word of the slogan.

14. We include extra parts just to f**k with you. -- IKEA
"Swedish kindling" was too easy.

15. Destroying families and friendships since 1935. -- Monopoly
Scrabble has also wrecked its share of relationships--over 1.4 million if you believe The Onion.

16. No experience driving a big truck? Good luck! -- U-Haul
They let anybody drive those trucks--including me.

17. Help yourself to obesity. -- Golden Corral
They once used the slogan "Help yourself to happiness".

18. They'll still know that you didn't read the book. -- CliffsNotes
Legal cheat sheets.

19. Cancer with a refreshing taste of menthol. -- Newport
I wasn't sure if they made Kool cigarettes anymore, so I attached this to Newport instead.

20. Drive yourself into a lake. -- Garmin
Now your smartphone can lead you into a lake.

21. Slip into a nice coma for a few hours. -- NyQuil
If you're looking a laugh, do a YouTube search on "Denis Leary NyQuil". His bit on NyQuil is absolutely classic.

22. When you're out of Heinz. -- Hunt's
Nobody voluntarily buys Hunt's ketchup.

23. Smells like old people. -- Ben-Gay
Ben-Gay, bay rum cologne, Brylcreem, Polident, and a Hoveround... you'll be there one day, too.

24. Just try leaving us. -- Comcast
If you have ever been a Comcast subscriber, you know how impossible it is to cancel.

25. The real reason limos have tinted windows. -- Grey Poupon
Pardon me...

Scores
BrainBoggler - 0 + 23 + 45 + 47 = 135
Bryce L. - 11 + 10 + 0 + 0 = 21
woffan9821 - 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 1

There was going to be a fifth puzzle, but there's really no point in doing it because Sean is the only one actually participating in this series. Therefore, I'll throw it away and let everybody deal with the WOF puzzles that I have waiting in the wings for this season's Daily Puzzle Game.