Every S41 Episode in 10 Words or Less (and some concluding words)

Hello, again. It is I, @nickskapower. Inspired by @adamrocks05259 and @jliu23232, here is every S41 episode in ten words or less. However, this time, I will do it in the style of @jliu23232 (without whom this style would not be possible) and each date will be colored based on a rating of ABYSMAL, TERRIBLE, BAD, MEDIOCRE, WILD, GOOD, GREAT, or AMAZING. Finally, I will give an overall seasonal rating at the end. And this is going to be a looooooooooooong post, so grab a Coca-Cola (or Pepsi, whichever you prefer. 🤪) and enjoy!

We’ll begin our journey down memory lane w/…

Every S41 Episode in 10 Words or Less

September 11: Pretty eh start…
September 12: Another $50K loss already?!
September 13: Lord, the Wheel was horrific.
September 14: Don’t tell me we’re about to have an instant SKUNKING
September 15: …and we did.

September 18: Could’ve been better.
September 19: Jason made up for a slow first half.
September 20: Finally, a BR win!
September 21: An unlucky day for grand prize losses…
September 22: Oh, hi, $75K

September 25: Dining… JAR?
September 26: The maingame was quite rocky.
September 27: Too bad I was sick…
September 28: Not to good of a follow-up episode.
September 29: The BR should have been an EVENT.

October 2: The Triple Tossup Sweep was the only highlight.
October 3: Quite a bit of conservative gameplay.
October 4: Sam and Jenni had the battle.
October 5: And another decent match.
October 6: I really don’t have anything to say.

October 9: Created a duplicate of this episode. Whoopsie!
October 10: Thank goodness for the $6K Final Spin…
October 11: Picking up the TD space? Really?
October 12: What’s w/ that Z call?!
October 13: Tough call, but what a wild night this was.

October 16: Tiffany really cleaned up!
October 17: POISED is a tricky word.
October 18: Not even the BR win could save it.
October 19: What an ugly game this was…
October 20: There were too many duds.

October 23: Long time no see, Halloween Week!
October 24: Better maingame this time.
October 25: What in the Sam Hill was the Wheel’s Problem?!
October 26: I’m hoping for our first 4-1 week…
October 27: …spooky week, but we achieved just that.

October 30: Yet another somewhat scary game.
October 31: Enough with the penalties already!!!
November 1: This one took us on the gamut of emotions.
November 2: At long last, our first BANKRUPT-free episode all season!
November 3: Another tough call.

November 6: Not too exciting of a start to this week…
November 7: Ugh, first prize puzzle trip below $7K…
November 8: Wow, impressive BR solve!
November 9: One of the most random BRs ever.
November 10: Messy gameplay impacted by a horrific loss…

November 13: No penalty spins, but questionable gameplay.
November 14: Liz‘s sharp solves were enjoyable though.
November 15: HANGOUT strikes again…
November 16: Can we win a bigger amount for once?
November 17: YAY, THANKS!!!

November 20: DUDS. That is all.
November 21: That was just dreadful…
November 22: I could easily have given this episode a 0.
November 23
: Head-scratcher of an episode.
November 24: Worst week of the season thus far.

November 27: Andy wrote the BR combo line like Bobby McBride.
November 28: The Final Spin made up for the bad maingame.
November 29: SPOILER: No more early feeds this week…
November 30: Definite forced loss material in the BR.
December 1: Enough w/ the abysmal episodes already!!!

December 4: The magical time once again, Secret Santa Sweepstakes…
December 5: Nice $20K+ match!
December 6: Nick‘s EXPRESS crash was hard to watch…
December 7: Okay, BAKED has SIX letters?!
December 8: Well, BAH HUMBUG.

December 11: Not a favorable outcome at all.
December 12: Beware The British Ogre!
December 13: Too wild for me to give a rating or grade.
December 14: Since when is “thumb” a verb?
December 15: It’s a Christmas miracle!

December 18: The Monday losing skid is over, folks!
December 19: Norway, Sweden, AND Finland in the Prize Puzzle trip?!
December 20: Welcome back, Andy!
December 21: Another good match but not a Prize Puzzle concern.
December 22: CARRIAGE PROPOSAL?!

December 25: Jill‘s exchange w/ Pat went viral.
December 26: Finally, a $75K win!
December 27: I hate $0 Prize Puzzle wins.
December 28: QUITE ALIKE is kind of fun to say.
December 29: WAY too many duds in this episode also.

January 1: That Speed-Up was… something.
January 2: Bad first half, good ending.
January 3: R1 was just excruciating…
January 4: Slam DONK.
January 5: What an embarrassing BR loss that was.

January 8: As if last week wasn’t bad enough already…
January 9: How much more BANKRUPT TRASH is there gonna be?!
January 10: Well, at least this episode is SLIGHTLY decent.
January 11: Whoa, an ampersand in the BR?
January 12: Our first car sweep since S28!

January 15: If they use VIVID one more time…
January 16: What in the world did I just recap?!
January 17: The BR made up for lost time.
January 18: Could Tina really only think of MINOR?!
January 19: I’m not surprised that the RHYME TIME puzzle was slammed.

January 22: Just what I needed after the last two weeks…
January 23: I think Micah meant “BLOOD orange slices”.
January 24: I wish Dustin would have won.
January 25: Andy using the sunglasses emoji made me grin.
January 26: “Who jumps at the chance these days?” — Mario Cantone

January 29: Did it have to end w/ a post-buzzer solve?!
January 30: Oh dear lord, not another bad game…
January 31: Only because of the five-figure match.
February 1: Welcome aboard, Justin!
February 2: Here we go, SKUNKED again…

February 5: “The MVPs of our show”.
February 6: The maingame could have been better.
February 7: Two PRs AND a Triple Tossup sweep?!
February 8: Welp, automatic all-female sweep.
February 9: I love Friday Finals in modern episodes.

February 12: Rest in peace, Grandpa…
February 13: Not so romantic of an episode…
February 14: INVESTMENT FIRM has NO CHANCE of fitting.
February 15: Slightly below average.
February 16: Good match to end the week.

February 19: This episode marks Justin’s first-ever recap.
February 20: ANOTHER. PENALTY. FILLED. EPISODE.
Febraury 21: Hats off to Alexis for her comeback win.
February 22: Great, now I wish COLOR BEAR CUBS were real.
February 23: Guess who’s back? 🦨

February 26: That moment when you see “Whitepages” in Andy’s comment.
February 27: I thought the short intro would spell disaster.
February 28: What a way to end a losing streak!
February 29: I have actually heard of the word SHINDIG.
March 1: At least there was a minimum sweep.

March 4: Finally, I get to recap my favorite week!
March 5: Joey cleaned up nicely in the front game!
March 6: Wow, AND back-to-back MDBRs?!
March 7: Now that’s what you call a MAJOR PR!!!
March 8
: Four WCs in a row AGAIN?

March 11: And my second favorite week immediately after!
March 12: What a game between Marsha and Dylan!
March 13: Australia is a COUNTRY. OCEANIA is the continent.
March 14: Once again, we needed the $6K Final Spin.
March 15: Now it’s my turn to vacation… 😌

March 18: It’s a bird… it’s a plane… its… SUPER-JERRY!!!
March 19: “Avengers… ASSEMBLE!!” – Jerry Liu, 2024
March 20: I would have loved to recap this episode.
March 21: ‘Sup, Spider-Man?
March 22: Jerry was the real hero by filling in for me.

March 25: A one-letter solve…
March 26: …three $50K losses in a row…
March 27: …and a grand prize win w/ one second left?!
March 28: The maingame was too shaky.
March 29: Thank HEAVENS Emma saved our bacon this week.

April 1: I was afraid Alicia would say DRIED BANANA.
April 2: I’m surprised Andy didn’t give this a 1.
April 3: At least this was an improvement from last night.
April 4: R3 was just EXCRUCIATING.
April 5: Phew, thank the almighty WC.

April 8: What a rotten birthday present for Andy…
April 9: Welcome back, Louise!
April 10: Well… THAT’S never happened in a while.
April 11: Andy’s special week is turning sour again…
April 12: Now that’s better.

April 15: Looks like they’re still on a budget…
April 16: The maingame could’ve been smoother.
April 17: WHOA, now what are the odds of THAT?!
April 18: Who misses a sight word in the BR?
April 19: Fan Friday Word Of The Day: My home country.

April 22: Nice five-figure match with few penalties.
April 23: Things are getting back on track…
April 24: This is A FEEL-GOOD TELEVISION SERIES indeed.
April 25: JP loves all-cash winners.
April 26: This is the pure definition of “Abysmal”.

April 29: The less said about Friday’s EPIC FAIL, the better.
April 30: See you next season, Andy…
May 1: A pretty wild start to May.
May 2: Flat-out lackluster episode.
May 3: “Arr”. I’m weak after that pirate impression! 🤣

May 6: Finally, a THING(S) win.
May 7: Another subpar game.
May 8FUDDY DUDDY. I cannot.
May 9: A decent improvement.
May 10: The EXPRESS run was the main highlight.

May 13: Pat’s last compilation week…
May 14: A Triple Tossup sweep could’ve made a difference.
May 15: Honestly, there’s not much to write about this season.
May 16: Oops, someone forgot the “OF“…
May 17: “Thanks For The Memories” in the final compilation week?

May 20: Charles recovered nicely from his G repeat.
May 21: Hooray, a jackpot win!
May 22: It’s unimaginably rare to hear this audience booing.
May 23: Right in the butt!!!
May 24: Happy 8,000th, Wheel! Now the countdown commences. Ten…

May 27: …nine…
May 28: …eight…
May 29: …seven…
May 30: …six…
May 31: …five…

June 3: …four…
June 4: …three…
June 5: …two…
June 6: …one…
June 7: …thank you for everything, Pat.


And that, my friends and fellow admins, is every S41 episode reviewed in 10 words or less. Before we get to the stats, some notes about this season, etc., I would like to talk about my TOP 5 and BOTTOM 5 episodes. Do keep in mind that this is based solely on the episodes’ qualities themselves and not all major wins/losses will be factored into the lists. We’ll begin with…

TOP 5

5. May 21

Blake dominated the second half of this episode with a lucrative EXPRESS run, leading to a well-deserved INFINITI win in the BR after last night’s unclaimed prize. A reminder to Susan: Signaling devices are only for Tossup puzzles!

4. March 20

In a thrilling episode, Melinda‘s early MDW win wasn’t enough to secure victory. Berto‘s PP win, a much-needed cruise, ultimately turned the tide in his favor.

The BR was solvable by me with RSTLNE, a familiar pattern for long-time viewers. Luckily, Berto didn’t need any help and walked away with an impressive $100K! His genuine excitement made the win even more enjoyable.

3. May 24

@jliu23232‘s recap of this milestone episode perfectly captured the excitement, despite a few hiccups. Michael‘s infectious enthusiasm and incredible DJ win made it a truly unforgettable celebration!

2. June 6

In a thrilling episode, Hannah dominated the main game with a strategic EXPRESS run, racking up a significant lead. The excitement continued into the BR, where she landed a whopping $75K win, sending confetti and streamers showering down in what could be one of the final celebrations of the Pat Sajak era. To top it all off, viewers were treated to a delightful surprise – no SKUNKING during Pat’s final week!

1. NOVEMBER 17!!!

Despite a few missed puzzles, this episode delivered redemption with the season’s FIRST $100K WIN! Congratulations to V&T on their incredible victory!


But of course, the show is impossible without its bad moments and there were a handful of episodes that made me want to shut off the TV, but we just have no choice but to accept the fact and move on. Because of this, here we go w/ the section of this post we all dread…

BOTTOM 5

5. April 10

Well, this Wheel of Fortune episode was a rollercoaster. I was shocked that HOLLYWOOD stumped all three contestants in R1, but thankfully Laura quickly figured it out and capitalized on the opportunity. Laura continued her winning streak with another impressive solve in R3… AND THEN THE $100K TOTAL TRAINWRECK HAPPENED (FIRST SINCE KAYAKER FROM S35). It was heartbreaking to see her miss out on a guaranteed win by only $150. Those A’s would have been a lifesaver. 😖

4. January 16

After two lackluster episodes, my hopes for the rest of the week were dwindling. James‘ R1 guess of “HOTEL ROOF” after calling “F” was a head-scratcher. Extravagant hotel roofs? Not likely. And “APPLAUDING” just wasn’t going to work — another Triple Stumper? Seriously? Oh, and Jane, why risk another spin? That LaT was painful to watch. I nailed R5 right away just like Angela did and, thanks to a @jpgenius recap, I knew the BR answer with RSTLNE, but alas, perfection wasn’t meant to be.

3. April 2

This episode was a trainwreck from start to finish. R1 ended prematurely, setting a dismal tone. Things worsened in R2 with Sarah‘s devastating LaT, leading to a lackluster house minimum solve by Willie. With abysmal scores entering the Triple Tossup round (which was equally chaotic), disaster was imminent. Ultimately, Lauren‘s forgetfulness about collective nouns sealed the deal, resulting in a season-low $40K loss. The only silver lining? None of the big money wedges were hit.

2. December 1

The first episode in December was a tough one. Despite two players solving puzzles before the BR, the winner, Kristen, only managed to secure a meager $10,250. With no BR win to boost her total, she not only became the lowest-winning contestant of the season but also TIED THE RECORD-LOW WINNING TOTAL SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRIPLE TOSS-UP FORMAT.

1. APRIL 26.

This episode takes the crown for WORST OF THE SEASON. It gave that chaotic February 8 episode from last season a run for its money. Kate‘s risky R1 spin cost her dearly, and the following rounds were riddled with penalties, including a T repeat by Ellie on the MDW. Kate‘s surprising comeback win after a throwaway guess in the Speed-Up was short-lived, as her BR bankrupt solidified this episode as a true disaster. She’s the EIGHTH PLAYER TO MISS OUT ON THE $100K GRAND PRIZE. What started as a decent week ended on a sour note.

As a bonus, the Wildest Episode Of The Season award goes to…

OCTOBER 13. Jack dominated the maingame, securing a massive $14K PP trip and hitting the jackpot with five P’s in the Speed-Up round. His impressive performance earned him the FOURTH-HIGHEST MAIN GAME WINNINGS EVER! Unfortunately, the episode also featured the season’s first TRIPLE STUMPER. In the BR, Jack‘s letter choices matched the correct answer, but he couldn’t solve the puzzle, missing out on a substantial prize. This means we didn’t see a minimum sweep this week, and Keri (Tuesday’s contestant that week) avoided becoming the lowest-scoring winner at the time.


Next, I’d like to go over some notes about this season (apart from the season’s changes):

  • All five BRs are lost on the week of September 11 (part of a seven-day losing streak), which means we had our first INSTANT SKUNKING since S23.
  • Due to Vanna testing positive for COVID-19, Bridgette Donald-Blue (named 2023 Teacher of the Year by the California Teachers Association) filled in for her. This was the first time since 1991 A.D. that Vanna had missed an episode. Jim introduced just Pat, who then introduced Bridgette. The opening chant was done by children. This was the first time since the 2011 A.D. Teen Best Friends week that the normal opening chant was not used (not counting several Halloween episodes where it was lowered in pitch). Due to Vanna’s absence, no sixth episode was taped.
  • On October 17, Nadine Cedro added an S to the last word in the R1 Crossword Puzzle FLY FINGERS BEAN NUT (in the category BUTTER____), but was still accepted. The closed captioning also displayed “nuts”. This did not affect the outcome.
  • For the first time since 2016 A.D., scary sound effects replaced the BR envelope chime during Halloween Week.
  • On October 26, Rhachel Royal-Fortune recited a poem congratulating Pat on his retirement. A clip of this was posted on the show’s social media and included in media articles before the episode aired.
  • During the closing and credits on Halloween, Pat, Vanna, Maggie, and Jim handed out candy to various staff members’ children, including Bellamie Blackstone’s daughter. Maggie wore a Wheel-shaped blanket modified as a skirt.
  • During the $100K win on November 17, the confetti did not fire. This appeared to have been a malfunction; during the closing segment, Pat jokingly wrote a letter of complaint to the “Johnson Confetti Machine Company”.
  • On November 22, when Vanna activated the second Triple Tossup MIAMI BEACH, the second M lit up first instead of the H.
  • On November 30, the NMC beeps did not sound in the Speed-Up.
  • On December 4, the closed captioning wrote all three contestants’ last names as “[indistinct]”.
  • December 7 is only the second known time that two puzzles on the same episode are solved with only one letter showing.
  • During R3 on December 28, Pat does not prompt Michael Merritt to use his WC on TD despite earning it only two turns prior. This affects the outcome, as he later solves the puzzle, loses the card to BANKRUPT in R4, then finishes in second place.
  • In R1, Carla Antonino picks up the WC before calling a letter. Pat instructs her to put it back, after which she calls an incorrect letter. When the card ends up being hit by Tiffiney Lee on the next turn, Pat walks over and readjusts the card before she calls her letter, which is in the puzzle.
  • Pat and Vanna celebrated Maggie’s birthday with a cupcake from Vanna and a $5 bill from Pat.
  • For the first time since 4/17/2009 A.D., an ampersand appears in the BR (BAGELS & DOUGHNUTS).
  • NFL Superfan Tournament Week was the first NFL week played since January 2006 A.D..
  • Not one, but two same-sex couples competed during Sweethearts Week.
  • From March 5-8, four contestants in a row took the WC to the BR, and the first two of those contestants also took the MDW.
  • As an April Fools’ Day prank, Jared Leto walked out with Vanna instead of Pat, and introduced the $1K Tossup.
  • On April 23, the camera cut away too soon during the $1K Tossup, showing a brief shot of Vanna getting in place at the puzzle board before the wipe appears. Vanna was shown on-camera during the contestant interviews, due to Laura Trombino saying that she met Pat and Vanna shooting promos while on her honeymoon. Mikeya Bates‘ microphone shorted out when the R’s were revealed in R2. As a result, there was about a five-minute pause in recording before her microphone was fixed and the reveal of the R’s was re-shot. During the pause, stage manager Jimmy McGuire told Pat “the R’s have been populated” when explaining the situation, and Pat referenced this comment by saying “let’s get the O’s populated there” later in the round. After R2, there was a bumper where a partially-revealed puzzle themed to travel is shown (similar to the Puzzler), with Jim saying via voiceover, “Can you solve this special Holland America Line puzzle?”
  • After Alex Harrell wins the Prize in R2, Pat began to throw to Jim before realizing he has already read the copy, at which point Jim was shown on-camera a second time. A clip of this uploaded to Facebook edited out Pat’s mistake and Jim’s subsequent comment by splicing in the Prize copy afterward.
  • During the closing chat on April 30, Pat and Vanna drank margaritas made with the Margaritaville Portable Frozen Margarita Maker. The segment was re-shot due to Pat getting salt on his lips and tripping over his words on the first take.
  • The audience booed the Bonus Puzzle QUIBBLING after Paul Dodson fails to solve it.
  • On May 23, Tavaris Williams guessed RIGHT IN THE BUTT! on the $1K Tossup THIS IS THE BEST!, a moment which goes viral.
  • On May 28, Brian Davis spun a BANKRUPT during Final Spin.

That’s all I have for now. If anyone has any more notes about this season, please feel free to let me know in the comments.

Portions of the materials used in this segment are trademarks and/or copyrighted works of the Wheel of Fortune History Wiki. This material is not official and is not endorsed by the Wheel of Fortune History Wiki. All rights reserved by the Wheel of Fortune History Wiki.


And now, let’s take a look at the stats:

meta-chart-1

As you can see, approximately 3/8 of the episodes were Mediocre and there were almost twice as many bad episodes as there were good. There were only five episodes under the Amazing rank, two of which contained $100K wins. This season was also almost a carbon copy of the awful S35 and S36.

In spite of this, however, I will say that this was a MEDIOCRE season. I was this close to giving it a BAD (and for a while, that seemed to be the final seasonal rating). The early portion of the season may have been lackluster for the most part and I gave a rating of 0 on the bottom three episodes this season in my humble opinion, but everything near the end of the season (as well as the Pat Sajak era) made for some great television.

SEASONAL RATING: 5.5
SEASONAL GRADE: E


Closing Remarks

In closing, my dear friends and esteemed fellow admins, as we bid adieu to Pat’s final season, let us reflect on the journey we’ve shared and the remarkable evolution of the show. With Alex Van Wagner taking the helm as director, we anticipate exciting new chapters ahead.

Season after season, we’ve witnessed changes, and this one is no exception. From adjustments to the Bonus Wheel to the return of the studio audience, each modification has added a fresh layer to the iconic game show experience. As we embrace these shifts, let us cherish the memories we’ve created together.

I extend heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering dedication and support. Special thanks to @jliu23232 for his invaluable contributions, stepping in seamlessly during pivotal moments. Your commitment has been the cornerstone of our success.

As we look back on Pat’s illustrious tenure spanning 43 remarkable years, let us honor his legacy with fond memories and deep appreciation. Though he bids farewell as host, his influence will endure as he continues to guide the show in his role as consultant.

As we eagerly anticipate Ryan Seacrest’s stewardship in the upcoming season, let us remain open to the possibilities it holds. What are your reflections on Pat’s final season, and what do you envision for S42? Share your thoughts, for it is through our collective insight that we shape the future of this beloved show.

In closing, I extend warm wishes for an unforgettable summer ahead. Let us embark on this new chapter with optimism, unity, and the enduring spirit of Wheel of Fortune. Again, on behalf of myself, @jliu23232, @jpgenius, @jbeaugard01, and especially @andynwof as the big cheese of this website himself, thank you, Pat, for a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.


Ending Song

Scene: A group of friends (Jerry, JP, Justin, Nick, Danny, Antwan, Corey, Malek) and the mascot, Friendship Feed, are gathered at a cliffside, watching the sunset. A television nearby plays the final episode of Pat Sajak hosting Wheel of Fortune.

[Background sound of waves crashing]

Jerry: (Sighs) Man, this isn’t the same without Pat. Wheel of Fortune just won’t be the same.

JP: You’re telling me. Feels like the end of an era.

Nick: (Nods) Definitely. Though hey, gotta give a big welcome to the new guy!

Justin: (Smiling) Thanks, Nick! Happy to be here.

Danny: Speaking of new beginnings, Nick had an interesting idea for next season…

Nick: (Looks at Corey) How about Corey becomes the first-ever female admin?

Corey: (Surprised) Oh wow, Nick! Thanks! I… I don’t know what to say.

Antwan: You deserve it, Corey. Great call, Nick.

Malek: Absolutely!

[Suddenly, Jerry points excitedly]

Jerry: Hey! Guys, look behind you!

(Everyone turns around)

All (except Andy): Andy!

Andy: (Grinning, holding a suitcase) Hey everyone! Back from vacation!

Nick: (Pulls out his guitar) Welcome back, man! Perfect timing. How about we sing our usual ending song, make it extra special for Pat’s last hurrah?

Danny: Great idea!

JP: Sounds good!

Nick: ♫♫ Hey, this was really fun! ♫
Jerry: ♫ We hope you liked it too! ♫
Andy: ♫ Seems like we’ve just begun ♫
Andy, Jerry, and Nick: ♫ When suddenly, we’re through… ♫

Andy: ♫ Goodbye, goodbye, dear Pat Sajak ♫
Andy, Jerry and Nick: ♫ ‘Cause now it’s time to go ♫
Nick: ♫ But hey, I say, well, that’s okay ♫
Jerry: ♫ ‘Cause we’ll see you very soon, I know! ♫
Andy: ♫ Very soon, I know! ♫

JP: ♫ Oh, when Pat Sajak goes away ♫
Justin: ♫ It’s kind of sad, but then ♫
Danny: ♫ So sad, but then ♫
Antwan: ♫ It’s nice to know ♫
Corey: ♫ It won’t be long ♫
Malek: ♫ ‘Til we get to see the new host Ryan! ♫
Friendship Feed: ♫ The new host Ryan! ♫

(key changes from A to C)

All: ♫ Goodbye, goodbye, good friends, goodbye ♫
Andy, Jerry, JP, Justin, and Nick: ♫ Next season will be grand, we pray! ♫
Danny, Antwan, Corey, Malek, and Friendship Feed: (♫ Goodbye, we pray! ♫)

All: ♫ The hosts, the Wheel, and the studio will be waiting for you to come and play! To come and play! To come and play! ♫♫

All (spoken): Bye now!

(I end the song before performing one last quick strum of the C chord and quickly muting my guitar before everybody compliments and applauds each other’s performances.)


And then, Pat Sajak took his final bow… or did he?

WoF Recap: June 7, 2024 — 🔚PAT’S LAST EPISODE🔚

Well, folks, this is it… Pat’s final show… let’s make it a good one. I would also like to send out a BROBDINGNAGIAN thanks to @jliu23232 for allowing me to recap one of the most memorable episodes there is, ever was, and ever will be.

EPISODE #8010: 📖THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES📖

Flashback (1981): Pat’s debut on the daytime show

$1K Tossup: ON THE MAP

_ H _ C _ G _
_ _ _ _ N _ _ S

Tammi knows Pat’s from CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. The very last contestants playing in the Pat Sajak era…

Tammi Barker: part of a moms group and loves doing mom’s night out dinners every month from Livermore, CA

Nino Ortiz Toro: Marine for five years and currently a firefighter married for 10 years with two children from Augusta, GA

Adrienne Bean: aspiring singer despite her family saying that she can’t from Memphis, TN

$2K Tossup: OCCUPATION

_ _ V _ R T _ S I _ G
_ X _ C _ _ _ V _

I wonder who Ryan’s ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE will be on this show? Nino makes the solve.

FEATURED TRIP: The Crane in BARBADOS

The first round is actually skipped due to a special message from Pat Sajak reflecting on his long hosting career at the end of the show, so he does his Final Spin landing on the MW in between $650/$700 and then adds $1K, which means everybody gets $2K, but Pat decides to make it $5K instead.

Prevagen Mystery Round (after we get a shot of Jim): BEFORE & AFTER

Nino: T ($600), four N’s ($550), A
Adrienne: R ($850), two O’s, S (same MWBANKRUPT; -$600)
Tammi: Two B’s ($850), two L’s (BARBADOS)

S _ _ L L _ N _
B _ _
_ N / _ O _ R
B O N N _ T

She solves SPELLING BEE IN YOUR BONNET for $14,890 cash & Barbados.

Adrienne: $5K/Tammi: $20,890 cash & Barbados/Nino: $7K


PP/Express Round: EVENT

AdrienneN (MDW)
Tammi: Two S’s ($700), A
NinoB ($500)
Adrienne: Two R’s ($600), E, I, H ($650), two O’s (NMV), two W’s ($500)

_ I R E W O R _ S
S H O W

She wins $2,100 and might see a FIREWORKS SHOW in FINLAND on her collette tour worth $12,498.

Adrienne: $19,598 cash & Finland/Tammi: $20,890 cash & Barbados/Nino: $7K


Last Fan Friday Word of the Week this season: PAT (enter for your chance to win an ultimate WoF fan collection featuring classic props from the show and classic Wheel merch)

Triple Tossup: WAYD?

1.

S _ _ D _ _ _ / A
T _ A N K – _ _ U / _ _ _ E

Tammi botches the last word w/ CARD when the last letter is an E.

S _ _ D _ _ _ / A
T H A N K – _ _ U / _ _ _ E

Adrienne’s SENDING A THANK-YOU NOTE to take the lead.

2.

S _ _ _ _ N G
A / _ A R _

Adrienne’s also SENDING A CARD.

3.

_ E N _ I N _ / _
_ E X _ / _ E _ S _ _ E

Adrienne’s SENDING A TEXT MESSAGE for the Tossup sweep!

Round 3: THING

Adrienne: Two T’s ($600)

DING DING! DING DING!

The very last Final Spin Amount in the Pat Sajak era: LaT $1,500

_ T _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ T _ _ _

Adrienne: R
Tammi: S
Nino: Three N’s

S T _ N _ _ N _
_ _ _ T _ _ N

He gets a STANDING OVATION after solving for $4,500; he finishes w/ $11,500.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSDUDS
MYSTERY ROUNDAdrienneA (Nino)
PP/EXPRESS ROUNDN (Adrienne), A (Tammi), B (Nino)
ROUND 3R (Adrienne)

FINAL SCORES
Adrienne
: $29,598 cash & Finland/Tammi: $20,890 cash & Barbados/Nino: $11,500

GT: $61,988
BANKRUPT TRASH: $600

The final BR category list of the Pat Sajak era…

  • THING
  • PLACE
  • LIVING THINGS

As a side note, THING(S) has unfortunately been offered all 195 episodes this season for the first time like I feared.


$100K Bonus Round

Adrienne brought sister Aisha.

SPIN: First A of AMERICA’S

This is a recycled BR from 2/26/2001…

_ _ _ _
_ _ R _ _

CMPA is a very good combo…

_ A C _
P _ R C _

While Pat’s sitting on his BACK PORCH she wins $50K for a final total $79,598 cash & trip!

Pat’s final message

MY RATING: 8.5
MY GRADE: B+


(While “Pomp and Circumstance” plays) Thanks are truly and most certainly in honor to the legendary Pat Sajak. Words cannot simply describe how much of an honor it was to have him as the host of the game show we all know and love. This was indeed his final show and he is deciding to step back from the long-running game show we all know and love and words cannot simply describe how much of an honor it was to have him as the beloved host of Wheel Of Fortune. He will still remain a consultant for the show for three years after he retires as the host. His service on Wheel of Fortune marks 43 wonderful years, from December 28, 1981 to today. He was among the most famous and successful game show hosts to ever roam the face of the planet. Again, on behalf of myself, @jliu23232, @jpgenius, @jbeaugard01, and especially @andynwof as the big cheese of this website himself, we at WordPress cannot thank you enough, Pat, for absolutely everything you have done for us all. And Pat, to you: Cheers!

WoF Recap: May 23, 2024

EPISODE #7999: 💰BIG MONEY💰

No intro montage tonight.

$1K Tossup: PHRASE

_ _ _ _ / I _
T _ E / B _ _ T !

Tavaris is so wrong w/ “RIGHT IN THE BUTT!” — Great horny toads… Image result for monkey facepalm

VIDEO BONUS: Tavaris’ NSFW answer

_ _ _ S / I _
T _ E / B _ S T !

Female Blake says “THIS IS THE BEST!”. Thursday’s contestants…

Blake Young (♀️): proud mom of an outgoing, athletic 18-year-old son Jack who will be attending Salve Regina University in Newport, RI and he’ll be playing lacrosse as the goalie from Hampton, N

Tyra Ware: tour guide of a popular music museum who does volunteer work for St. Jude for the last eight years that has a lot of radiothons and a lot of the galas that they put on to raise money from Detroit, MI

Tavaris Williams: gamer who won a rib-eating contest from Port St. Lucie, FL

$2K Tossup: PLACE

_ N _ – _ A Y
S T R E E _

Blake crosses a ONE-WAY STREET.

Round 1: SAME LETTER

Blake: Two T’s ($700), A, three E’s, four S’s ($700; SL), two I’s, R (WC), O, two U’s (NMV), three N’s ($550), three G’s ($900), C ($550)
Tyra: Two P’s ($900), MDW’s RIGHT SIDE (-$1,800)
Tavaris: Three D’s ($500)

S P _ E N D I D
S T A G G E R I N G
S T U P E N D O U S

He solves SPLENDID, STAGGERING, STUPENDOUS for $1,500.

Just before the first break, there is an update on Alex from the start of the third XL Week who won a BMW X1 for solving his BR puzzle of THAT IS FUNNY.


AARP Mystery Round: EVENT

Tyra: Three N’s ($650), four E’s, BANKRUPTS NEAR TD (-$1,700)
Tavaris: Two T’s ($650), OTHER BANKRUPT (-$1,300)
Blake: H ($900), I, G ($600), three A’s, V ($500), O (NMV)

A N / E V E N I N G
A T / T H E / O _ E _ A

Have you experienced AN EVENING AT THE OPERA? She apparently has for another $1,250.

Tavaris: $1,500$Blake: $4,250 WC$Tyra: ZIP


PP/Express Round: RHYME TIME

TavarisR ($650)
Blake: BANKRUPTS NEXT DOOR TO TD
Tyra: OTHER ONE
TavarisS ($500)
Blake: Four T’s ($500), four A’s, three E’s (NMV), two H’s ($800), two K’s (EXPRESS)

Alllllllllllllllllllllllllll aboooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOARD!!!

Letters: C, N (-$6,100)

Tyra: M ($850), Y ($900)

T H A T / M A Y / T A K E
T H E / C A K E

She reads the answer for $1,750 and a trip to Windjammer Landing in ST. LUCIA worth $10,588.

Tavaris: $1,500$Blake: $4,250$Tyra: $12,338 cash & trip


Triple Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

1.

F R _ _ C H
_ _ _ _ S

Not FRENCH CAKESTyra.

F R _ N C H
_ _ _ _ S

Tavaris eats some FRENCH FRIES.

2.

H _ _ E / _ _ I E S

Tyra has some HOME FRIES.

3.

_ R _ _ D / _ P _ L E
F _ I T T E _ _

Blake gets some FRIED APPLE FRITTERS for dessert.

Speed-Up: THINGS

Final Spin Amount: $1,500

Blake: Two S’s
Tyra: N
Tavaris: L
Blake: D
Tyra: Two R’s (there was a cut to Pat before her thinking time)
Tavaris: Two T’s
Blake: C
Tyra: M
Tavaris: Two P’s

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

He solves IMPORTS AND EXPORTS for $6K.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSNON-BANKRUPT DUDS
ROUND 1TyraC (Blake)
MYSTERY ROUND2 (Tyra, Tavaris)
PP/EXPRESS ROUND3 (ladies incl. 2 by Blake)R, S (Tavaris)
SPEED-UPL (Tavaris), C (Blake)

FINAL SCORES
Tavaris
: $9,500$Blake: $6,250$Tyra: $14,338 cash & trip

FINAL JACKPOT TONIGHT: $21,800

GT: $30,088
BANKRUPT TRASH (excluding WC): $10,900

Tyra has a pretty good chance to turn this episode around w/…

  • EVENT
  • THING
  • FOOD & DRINK

$100K Bonus Round

Tyra brought her friend Toya.

SPIN: E of AMERICA’S

Recycled BR Alert (1/20/2015)…

_ _ E _ _
T _ _ _ _

HMCA gives her…

C H E _ _
T A _ _ _

…but she’s not even close to biting on CHEWY TAFFY (she could only guess CHEF’S TABLE) for the Jackpot and the INFINITI.

MY RATING: 2.5
MY GRADE: F-


I was originally thinking of having @jbeaugard01 end the tradition of Andy recapping milestone episodes by recapping tomorrow’s episode since @jliu23232 ended the tradition of Andy recapping season premieres last season and I’m ending the tradition of Andy recapping season finales this season, but he works late on Fridays. Therefore, @jliu23232 will have the honors of doing tomorrow’s episode.

WoF Recap: May 22, 2024

EPISODE #7998: 💰BIG MONEY💰

$1K Tossup: PHRASE

(The chime didn’t sound.)

T A _ E / T H E / _ _ N E Y
A _ _ / _ U _

Jessica and her opposition are here to TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN

Jessica Huffman: married to Brian (their moms were best friends growing up and neighbors and their backyards touched) with three kids and wants enough money to buy a minivan with sliding doors from Moore, OK

Venetia Brown: will be turning 50 in 20 days with three children and says she feels like Danny Glover in “Lethal Weapon” from Tobyhanna, PA

Paul Dodson: married to Rachel for almost a decade with two children (Venetia and Pat trade places when interviewing him Image result for monkey facepalm) from Aurora, OH

$2K Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

C R _ _ T A _
C _ A N D _ _ I E R

Venetia might not have a CRYSTAL CHANDELIER, but she’s right anyway.

Round 1: PLACE

VenetiaBANKRUPTS NEAR $650
Paul: Two T’s ($600), R ($650), four E’s, S ($700), two A’s, I
Jessica: N (WC), three O’s (NMV), F ($700), two H’s ($550)

A _ E S O _ E
_ E A _ H F R O N T
H O T E _

She wins $2,050 and might stay in an AWESOME BEACHFRONT HOTEL if she wins tonight’s Prize Puzzle.


AARP Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Paul: Two T’s (TD), three S’s ($900), A
JessicaR ($550)
Venetia: L (DJ IN BEWEEN $650/$800), three I’s, N ($650)
Paul: E, two C’s ($900), two P’s ($900), O (NMV), K (DJ)

P O P S I C L E
S T I C K
S _ I _ T

He controls a POPSICLE STICK SHIFT for $13,550.

Paul: $13,550 DJ$Jessica: $3,050 WC$Venetia: $2K


PP/Express Round: OCCUPATION

Jessica: Two T’s ($650), E
VenetiaSAME BANKRUPT
PaulMDW’s LEFT SIDE
Jessica: Two R’s ($700), O, C (TD), U, two N’s ($500), G ($850), two S’s ($900), three I’s, M (EXPRESS)
VenetiaW ($650)
Paul: L (MDW; NMC)

S _ I L I N G
I N S T R U C T O R

He might see a SAILING INSTRUCTOR on his trip to The Springs Resort & Spa in COSTA RICA worth $10K.

Paul: $23,550 cash & trip MDW$Jessica: $3,050 WC$Venetia: $2K


Triple Tossup: LIVING THING

1.

W I L _ / H O _ S E

All of these start w/ “wild”; Paul solves WILD HORSE.

2.

W I L D / _ O _ S E

Paul also WILD GOOSE

3.

_ I L D _ L O _ _ R

...and he smells a WILDFLOWER for the Triple Tossup sweep!

Speed-Up: FOOD & DRINK

Final Spin Amount: $1,500

Paul: Two F’s
Jessica: Two N’s
Venetia: L
Paul: R
Jessica: SOLVE ATTEMPT B

_ / B _ _ _ L _ / _ F
F _ N _ / _ _ N _

She drinks A BOTTLE OF FINE WINE for $4,500.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSDUDS
ROUND 1VenetiaI (Paul)
MYSTERY ROUNDA (Paul), R (Jessica), N (Venetia)
PP/EXPRESS ROUND2 (Venetia, Paul)E (Jessica), M (Jessica), W (Venetia)
SPEED-UPR (Paul)

FINAL SCORES
Paul
: $33,550 cash & trip MDW$Jessica: $7,550 WC$Venetia: $2K

FINAL JACKPOT TONIGHT: $31,350

GT: $43,100
NO MONETARY BANKRUPT TRASH!

The DREADED TRIO strikes again…

  • WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
  • THING
  • PHRASE

MILLION DOLLAR BONUS ROUND #11

Paul brought father-in-law Donald.

SPIN: A of GAME

This could pose problems…

_ _ _ _ _ L _ N _

He WIPES OUT of the game w/ CHPA and he misses w/ FUNNELING and FINDING. We would be QUIBBLING about the difficulty of this puzzle…

…and he’s not the second INFINITI owner this week (the audience was right to boo at this answer).

$1M LOCATION: ‘ (4 away) (you can enter the Bonus Puzzle for your chance to win that Jackpot regardless of result)

Pat showed off a scrapbook at the end, which contains thank you messages from past contestants, 

MY RATING: 6
MY GRADE: D-

WoF Recap: May 21, 2024

EPISODE #7997: 💰BIG MONEY💰

$1K Tossup: THINGS

_ I _ _ T – C L _ S S
_ I C _ _ T S

Brittany and her opposition have probably bought FIRST-CLASS TICKETS to the studio…

Brittany Collins: children’s hospital facilitator and Bingo player (she plays it all the time and she tells Pat that she’s going to the store if her husband is watching) from Louisville, KY

Susan Meissner: married to “the sweetest man in the world” (they’re not sure if he loves them or golf more) and owns a dog named Ziggy and a 14-year-old car from Charleston, SC

Blake Swoboda: man diagnosed w/ cancer 2 years ago but by God’s grace, is in remission who’s married to Julie with four kids from Houston, TX

$2K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ R

Susan buzzes in way too early.

C R _ _ _ E _
_ E _ / _ _ _ P _ R

Brittany sprinkles some CRUSHED RED PEPPER to be two-for-two.

Round 1: PHRASE

When Pat announced the category, Susan grabbed her Tossup device. Image result for monkey facepalm

Brittany: Two N’s ($500), three I’s, three S’s ($500), A, G (DJ IN BETWEEN $650/$700), E, O (NMV), P ($700), T (WC), BOMBS OUT w/ R ($500)- just where do you think it would go?! -__-

A N _ T _ I N G / I S
P O S S I _ _ E

As Kevin Garnett would say, “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE” for Susan.


AARP Mystery Round: SAME NAME

Susan: S ($550), BANKRUPTS NEAR TD (-$550)
Blake: Two T’s ($700), E, two A’s, MDW’s LEFT SIDE (-$900)
Brittany: Two B’s ($900), two L’s ($650), I
Susan: K ($550), C (TD), R ($850), three O’s, M (MW in between $650/$700)
Blake: F ($850), D ($500; NMC- just missed the big one)

B A S K E T B A L L / &
F O O D
C O _ R T

He solves BASKETBALL & FOOD COURT for $1,350.

Susan: $1K$Blake: $1,350$Brittany: $3K WC


PP/Express Round: SHOW BIZ

Blake: Three N’s (EXPRESS and the audience cheered for no reason causing Pat to have a reaction similar to the “PILL-PUSHERS“, “RIDING A HORSE“, and “KITCHEN OVEN” fiascoes from S17, S32, and S38 respectively Image result for monkey facepalm)

Alllllllllllllllllllllllll aboooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOARD!!!

Letters: S, three A’s, three E’s, three T’s, H, two R’s, C, M, G, Y (NMC)

C _ M _ N G / S _ _ N
T _ / A / T H E A T E R
N E A R / Y _ _

He says “COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU” for $13,500 and a trip to Fairmont Mayakoba in RIVIERA MAYA worth $10,400 — MAJOR PR!!!

Susan: $1K$Blake: $25,250 cash & trip$Brittany: $3K WC


Triple Tossup: PLACE

1.

P O P U L _ _
D _ _ T _ N A T I _ N

Blake can’t wait to go to a POPULAR DESTINATION.

2.

F A M O _ S
_ O C _ T _ O N

Susan’s at a FAMOUS LOCATION.

3.

_ O M E W H _ R E
O F _ / T _ E / _ R _ D

Blake totally blows it w/ NOWHERE TO TURN– what in the world, sir?! -___-

_ O M E W H _ R E
O F _ / T _ E / G R _ D

Susan’s not living SOMEWHERE OFF THE GRID.

Speed-Up: EVENT

Final Spin Amount (she tried to grab her Tossup device again causing Pat to ask her to hold it while she performs the Final Spin Image result for monkey facepalm): $1,500

Susan: S
Blake: R
Brittany: Two T’s

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

Appropriately, she solves THE KENTUCKY DERBY for $3K.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSDUDS
ROUND 1R (Brittany)
MYSTERY ROUND2 (Susan, Blake)I (Brittany), M (Susan)
SPEED-UPS (Susan)

FINAL SCORES
Susan
: $5K$Blake: $27,250 cash & trip$Brittany: $6K WC

FINAL JACKPOT TONIGHT: $22,750

GT: $38,250
BANKRUPT TRASH: $1,450

Blake’s category list…

  • THINGS
  • PHRASE
  • LIVING THINGS

$100K Bonus Round

Blake brought parents Dennis and Peggy.

SPIN: The dreaded &

The bottom word is the decider…

T _ _ T ‘ S
_ _ _ _ L _ N _

HCBA is a decent combo…

T H A T ‘ S
B A _ _ L _ N _

THAT’S BAFFLING… he takes longer than I thought but does make the solve to win that Jackpot and an INFINITI QX50 PURE AWD worth $46,750 which brings his total winnings to $96,750 cash & prizes! Now, enter that bonus puzzle solution for your chance to win that Jackpot!

MY RATING: 9
MY GRADE: A-

WoF Recap: May 20, 2024

EPISODE #7996: 💰BIG MONEY💰

$1K Tossup: THINGS

F _ O _ T – _ O W
_ E A _ _

Those who got FRONT-ROW SEATS to the final tapings were very lucky; Charles is the first to score among these first contestants…

Charles Berger: aspiring public address announcer for high school football and basketball games (Jim Thornton is a big inspiration of his) from Thornwood, NY

Vickie Parilla: married to Ron with three kids (they’re all basketball fanatics) from Union City, CA

Valerie Martin: claims to be a big crybaby (every little sweet thing just makes her tear up) from Philadelphia, PA

$2K Tossup: PROPER NAME

A _ _ X _ _ _ E R
H _ M _ _ _ _ N

Charles IDs ALEXANDER HAMILTON to go two-for-two.

The Jackpot is back for this week only thanks to BetMGM. It starts out each night at $8K and will increase w/ each spin of the wheel. Any BR winner this week will win the Jackpot in addition to whatever’s in their bonus envelope. Also, there are two Double Jackpot wedges (which also act as $1K wedges) and if somebody wins the BR w/ one in their possession they’ll win double the Jackpot in addition to their bonus prize.

Round 1: PLACE

Charles: Three T’s (WC), three E’s, A, two I’s, two O’s (NMV), H ($700), S ($600), H repeat ($600)
Vickie: Three P’s (DJ IN BETWEEN $650/$800)

T H E / P E _ _ E _ T
S P O T / _ O _ / A
P I _ _ I _

She finds THE PERFECT SPOT FOR A PICNIC to tie things up.


AARP Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Vickie: Two R’s ($600), four E’s, T ($650), two M’s (MW in between $650/$700 and PASSES), two O’s, H ($600), three S’s ($500), G ($700)

M E T E O R
S H O _ E R
M _ S S _ G E

She survives a METEOR SHOWER MASSAGE for $6,150 — PR!

Valerie: ZIP$Charles: $3K WC$Vickie: $9,150 DJ


PP/Express Round: FOOD & DRINK

For this week only, the $5K wedge is used for this round instead of the $3,500 one.

ValerieS ($500)
Charles: T ($650), three E’s, three A’s, H ($600), I, two O’s, U (NMV), W ($600), C (OTHER DJ and his nametag fell off resulting in Pat requesting someone from the audience to take his place Image result for monkey facepalm), K ($500), R ($700), two N’s ($500), P ($500), two G’s ($600)

P O U N _ / C A K E
W I T H / O R A N G E
G _ A _ E

He wins $5,500 and might have some POUND CAKE WITH ORANGE GLAZE on his trip to the Pineapple Beach Club in ANTIGUA worth $8,460.

Valerie: GOOSEEGG ALERT$Charles: $16,960 cash & trip DJ WC$Vickie: $9,150 DJ


Triple Tossup: PHRASE

1.

A _ _ W E R / T H E
F O _ L O _ I N G

Charles’ able to ANSWER THE FOLLOWING.

2.

W H _ T ‘ _ / T _ E
B _ S _ / C _ _ _ _ E ?

Vickie asks “WHAT’S THE BEST CHOICE?”.

3.

_ L _ / O _
T _ _ / _ B O _ E

Valerie answers ALL OF THE ABOVE.

$8K is the top dollar value in this round for this week.

Speed-Up: ON THE MAP

Final Spin Amount: $1,500 (the Jackpot doesn’t increase on the Final Spin)

Valerie: Two L’s
Charles: T
Vickie: R
Valerie: N
Charles: S
Vickie: M
Valerie: B

M _ L _ B _
_ _ L _ _ _ R N _ _

She locates MALIBU, CALIFORNIA for $6K.

PENALTY BOXDUDSREPEATS
ROUND 1H (Charles)
PP/EXPRESS ROUNDS (Valerie)
SPEED-UPT, S (Charles)

FINAL SCORES
Valerie: $8K$Charles: $18,960 cash & trip DJ WC$Vickie: $11,150 DJ

FINAL JACKPOT TONIGHT: $21,600

GT: $38,110
NO PENALTY SPINS!

Unfavorable categories for Charles

  • PEOPLE
  • WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
  • THING

$100K Bonus Round

Charles is married to Susan.

CUV: 2024 INFINITI QX50
SPIN: Second A of AMERICA’S

You do this at the entrance or on board the mode of transportation for which this was purchased…

_ _ L _ _ _ T _ N _
_ _ / T _ _ _ E T

CHPO and M don’t add much…

_ _ L _ _ _ T _ N _
M _ / T _ C _ E T

He misses the top word w/ FOLLOWING and COLLECTING, so he’s not VALIDATING MY TICKET for the INFINITI and any jackpot.

MY RATING: 5.5
MY GRADE: E

WoF Recap: May 10, 2024

EPISODE #7990: 🧳GRAND GETAWAYS🧳

This is the only time this week the short intro is used.

$1K Tossup: THING

T H _ / _ D _ A L
_ _ M _ E R _ T U R E

Tony totally blows it w/ THE IDEAL NUMERATOR.

T H _ / I D _ A L
_ _ M _ E R _ T U R E

Edna feels like it’s THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE inside. Last teams this week from left to right…

Lauren Mims & Edna Brown (granddaughter/grandma): they try to see each other as much as they can; Lauren drives three hours about once a month and she finished her dissertation from New York City, NY and Fairfax, VA respectively

Sarah Lord & Syd Fischel (grandson/grandma): they get to see plenty of each other and have as much fun as possible from Los Angeles, CA

Grace Pepperel & Tony King (granddaughter/grandpa): she started an organization helping families with infant loss after she lost her little brother shortly after birth so her passion project last year was to create a bereavement room for families to grieve; he helps her fundraise and make connections and make it possible from Dallas, TX and Peoria, AZ IL respectively

$2K Tossup: ON THE MAP

_ _ O U _
S _ _ T _ / K _ R _ A

Syd can’t come up w/ anything.

_ _ O U _
S _ _ T / K _ R E A

Tony IDs SEOUL SOUTH KOREA.

FEATURED TRIP: The Crane in BARBADOS

Round 1: EVENT

G&TBANKRUPT NEAR $650
L&E: Two T’s (BARBADOS), three N’s ($600), four A’s, I
S&S: S ($800), L ($900)
G&T: R ($500), two E’s, F ($650) (NMC)

A N / A F T E R N _ _ N
A T / S E A

They remember spending AN AFTERNOON AT SEA for an $1,100 bonus.


Eggland’s Best Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

L&E: T ($500), two R’s (WC), three N’s ($850), D ($650), three A’s, G ($500), I, S ($600), three E’s, OTHER BANKRUPT (-$5,050)
S&SMDW’s LEFT SIDE
G&T: Three F’s ($500), L ($700), four O’s (NMV), C ($650), Y ($700), LaT ($3,300 gone to waste)

F O O T L O O S E
A N D / F A N _ _ –
F R E E
_ A R _ I N G

Lauren & Edna then solve “FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE PARKING” for the house minimum.

L&E: $3K/S&S: ZIP/G&T: $4K

You know we’re in bad shape when we have scores like this going into the next round… -___-


PP/Express Round: PHRASE

S&S: Four T’s ($500), H ($500), R ($650)
G&TB ($600)
L&E: L ($500), S (EXPRESS)

Allllllllllllllllllllllllll abooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOARD!!!

Letters: Two O’s, four A’s, two W’s, Y, two D’s, V, N (NMC)

_ ‘ V _ / A L W A Y S
W A N T _ D / T O
D O / T H A T

Lauren says “I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT” for $8K and a railbookers trip to AUSTRIA AND BAVARIA worth $8,499.

L&E: $19,499 cash & rail trip/S&S: GOOSEEGG ALERT/G&T: $4K


Triple Tossup: PERSON

1.

D _ D _ C A _ _ D
P _ O F E S _ _ _ N A L

Syd says DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL but Grace & Tony beat him to the punch.

2.

E M P _ O _ _ _ / _ F
T H E / _ O N _ H

Edna solves EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

3.

A / T O _ A L
L _ _ F _ R

Tony says he’s A TOTAL LOAFER.

Speed-Up: WAYD?

Final Spin Amount: $1,850

G&T: S
L&E: G
S&S: Two R’s
G&T: N
L&E: S repeat
S&S: Two T’s
G&T: H
L&E: Two E’s

T _ _ _ N G / _
_ R _ _ T H E R

We’ll be TAKING A BREATHER after we announce L & E solve for the $2K house minimum.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSLaTsDUDSREPEATS
ROUND 1G&TI (L&E), L (S&S)
MYSTERY ROUND2 (L&E, S&S)G&T
PP/EXPRESS ROUNDR (S&S), B (G&T)
SPEED-UPS (G&T)S (L&E)

FINAL SCORES
L&E
: $23,499 cash & rail trip/S&S: $2K GOOSEEGG/G&T: $8K

GT: $33,499
BANKRUPT TRASH: $5,050

The TROUBLESOME TRIO awaits us again…

  • WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
  • THING
  • PHRASE

Fan Friday Word of the DayIRELAND (enter for your chance to win a railbookers trip to said country)


$100K Bonus Round

L&E brought cousin Margaret, mom Robin, friend Jasmine, and one other friend.

SPIN by Edna: N of SPIN

Lead-offs…

_ _ _ _ L _ N _
_ N / _ _ S _ _

GMWO is an interesting combo, but that doesn’t add much besides the obvious G…

_ _ _ _ L _ N G 
_ N / M _ S _ _

They’re wrong thinking the top word was PLAYING, so they’re not DABBLING IN MUSIC and we have another $40K sweep.

MY RATING: 4.5 (bad first half)
MY GRADE: F+

WoF Recap: May 9, 2024 (✝️Ascension✝️)

EPISODE #7989: 🧳GRAND GETAWAYS🧳

$1K Tossup: WAYD?

_ E A _ _ _ _ / _ U T
_ F / _ O _ _

Kayla was HEADING OUT OF TOWN to come here and so were these Thursday teams…

Kayla Diallo & Joslin Massenburg (granddaughter/grandma): Joslin is a firecracker; she’s active and loves sports f and Kayla likes to think she has all of Joslin’s best qualities; they’ve been discussing strategies with each other such as buying vowels from Richmond, VA

Sydney King & Landon Pendill (granddaughter/grandpa): they like to get ice cream together (peppermint is their favorite flavor) and have 13 grandchildren (Landon chose Sydney to come with him on the show by putting all the names in a hat and letting the Vice President of Human Resources pull a name out of the hat) from Cape Girardeau, MO and St. Albans, MO respectively

Kennedi & Clarence Coats (granddaughter/grandpa): foodies like yours truly all the way down to the seafood broil and like to talk about the generation gap from Marietta & Milwaukee respectively

$2K Tossup: LIVING THING

_ _ S _
G R _ E _ / _ R A S S

Landon goes through the LUSH GREEN GRASS.

FEATURED TRIP: ICELANDAIR (ICELAND)

Round 1: SAME LETTER

S&L: R (WC), two E’s, N ($700), four S’s ($650), O, three A’s (NMV), four T’s ($500), four P’s ($700; SL and they wanted to solve immediately after spinning)

P O T S
P A N S
P _ A T E S / &
P _ A T T E R S

They get their POTS, PANS, PLATES, & PLATTERS together for $8,850 — PR!


Eggland’s Best Mystery Round: RHYME TIME

Coatses: Two T’s ($700), BANKRUPT NEAR $650 (-$1,400)
K&JS (MW in between $650/$700)
S&LR ($700)
Coatses: N ($500), three O’s, K (other MWBANKRUPT; -$250)
K&J: Two H’s ($500)

_ O / _ _ T H / _ H _ T
_ O _ / K N O _

They tell us to GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW to double their $1K.

S&L: $10,850 WC/Coatses: ZIP/K&J: $3K


PP/Express Round: PHRASE

K&JSAME BANKRUPT
S&L: Three N’s ($500), four T’s ($700), O
Coatses: H ($900), four I’s, U
K&J: Four G’s ($650), three E’s

T H I N G _ / _ _ E
G E T T I N G
E _ _ I T I N G !

THINGS ARE GETTING EXCITING! They’ve taken the lead w/ $2,350 and a railbookers trip to CANADA worth $7,499.

S&L: $10,850 WC/Coatses: GOOSEEGG ALERT/K&J: $12,849 cash & Canada


Triple Tossup: THING

1.

E L _ _ _ _ I C
G U I T A _

Kayla strums an ELECTRIC GUITAR.

2.

_ _ _ _ _ T _ C
G _ I T _ _

Kayla plays an ACOUSTIC GUITAR

3.

_ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ R

…and she nails AIR GUITAR for the Triple Tossup sweep!

Speed-Up: PERSON

Final Spin Amount: $1,550

K&J: S
S&L: R
Coatses: N
K&J: C
S&L: T
NULL CYCLE
Coatses: M
K&J: P
S&L: G
Coatses: Two K’s
K&J: Y (NMC)

K _ Y N _ T _
S P _ _ K _ R

Kayla also solves KEYNOTE SPEAKER for $4,650 more.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSDUDS
MYSTERY ROUND2 (Coatses)S (K&J), R (S&L)
PP/EXPRESS ROUNDK&JO (S&L), U (Coatses)
SPEED-UP (aired)C (K&J), M (Coatses), G (S&L)

FINAL SCORES
S&L: $10,850 WC/Coatses: $2K GOOSEEGG/K&J: $27,499 cash & Canada

GT: $40,349
BANKRUPT TRASH (Coatses): $1,650

K&J will choose from…

  • THING
  • PERSON
  • LIVING THINGS

$100K Bonus Round

K&J brought their mom.

SPIN by Joslin: C

Sam Hill is an example of this…

_ _ _ N T _ _ N
_ _ _ E R

HPMI gives them…

M _ _ N T _ I N
_ I _ E R

They miss the second word with RIDER, SKIER, ZIER, CIDER, JOKER, and GIDER; it was MOUNTAIN BIKER and they lose $40K.

MY RATING: 6
MY GRADE: D-

WoF Recap: May 8, 2024

EPISODE #7988: 🧳GRAND GETAWAYS🧳

$1K Tossup: RHYME TIME

_ _ U D Y
_ U _ D Y

FUDDY DUDDY, Linda?! No way. -__-

S _ U D Y
B U D D Y

Katherine and/or one of these midweek teams have probably had a STUDY BUDDY

Rex Moal & Katherine Wang (grandson/grandma): he loves to play chess (his late grandfather was a chess master); they’ve watched this show since Feb. 1979 from San Ramon and Palo Alto respectively

Samantha “Sam” Johnson & Linda Vian (granddaughter/grandma): Sam’s ears were pierced together and Linda is a very adventurous woman and likes to hunt a lot (she has a bow and will climb up the tree to bow hunt; they also cook together

Jovanni White & Joan Bradshaw (granddaughter/grandma): planning to cruise to Jamaica; Joan is a funny grandma, even if she isn’t doing it on purpose and is very caring (she likes to do a lot of things for people and would give one the shirt off her back) from Hattiesburg, MS

$2K Tossup: PEOPLE

_ E G U L _ R
_ U S T _ M _ R S

Rex & Katherine are REGULAR CUSTOMERS because they’re two-for-two.

FEATURED TRIP: Hyatt Regency Maui (HAWAII)

Round 1: PHRASE

R&K: Two T’s (WC), two A’s, two I’s, S (MDW), four E’s, O, F ($800)
S&L: Two M’s ($700– they thought of solving before they changed their mind), D ($600)

I T ‘ S / _ I _ E
A / D _ E A M
_ O M E / T _ _ E

Linda knows IT’S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE for $2K.


Eggland’s Best Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

S&L: Two N’s (MW in between $650/$700EMPTY)
J&J: T ($600), LaT
R&KG (HAWAII)
S&L: S ($700), I
J&J: L ($550), two O’s, R ($850)
R&K: Three D’s ($800), two A’s, three E’s, two M’s ($500)

L E M O N A D E
S T A N D –
_ _ / _ O M E D _

Katherine blows the last word w/ LEMONADE STAND-UP COMEDIAN, allowing Linda to solve LEMONADE STAND-UP COMEDY for the $2K house minimum.

R&K: $3K/S&L: $4K/J&J: ZIP


PP/Express Round: THING

J&JB ($700)
R&K: Two T’s ($650), two A’s, two N’s ($600), two E’s, two M’s ($500), two I’s, O, U (NMV), two C’s ($600)

_ U I T E / A N
A C C O M _ _ I _ _ M E N T

This is QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT (sounds more of like a PHRASE to me), Rex – winning $3,450 and a railbookers trip to SWITZERLAND worth $11,299.

R&K: $17,749 cash & Switzerland WC/S&L: $4K/J&J: GOOSEEGG ALERT


Triple Tossup: WAYD?

1.

_ R A D _ _ T _ _ G
_ R O _ / S _ _ O _ L

Linda remembers GRADUATING FROM SCHOOL.

2.

A _ P _ _ I _ _
F O _ / _ / _ O B

Linda also recalls APPLYING FOR A JOB.

3.

_ T _ R T I N G
_ / F A M _ L _

Jovanni & Joan know about STARTING A FAMILY.

Speed-Up: LIVING THING

Final Spin Amount: $1,700

J&J: S
R&K: R (They tried to call T during their three seconds)
S&L: M
J&J: Two L’s (They tried to call H afterwards; I think that’s the first time that’s ever happened more than once in a Speed-Up… -___-)
R&K: Two D’s
S&L: I
J&J: B (NMC; they thought of solving without calling a consonant)

L _ B R _ D _ _ D L _

This LABRADOODLE fetches $5,100 for Jovanni.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSLaTsDUDSMISSOLVES
ROUND 1F (R&K)
MYSTERY ROUNDS&LJ&JG (R&K), I (S&L), R (J&J)Katherine
PP/EXPRESS ROUNDB (J&J)
SPEED-UPS (J&J), M (S&L), I (S&L)

FINAL SCORES
R&K
: $17,749 cash & Switzerland WC/S&L: $8K/J&J: $7,100

GT: $32,849
NO BANKRUPT TRASH!

R&K‘s category list…

  • PLACE
  • THING
  • EVENT

Oh, come on, not again. -___-


$100K Bonus Round

R&K brought mom and a friend.

SPIN by Rex: G

The bottom word’s the decider…

_ _ N T _ _ E
_ _ N _ _ _ _

CHMA and K are very good choices…

_ _ N T A _ E
H A N _ _ A _

…but they STILL DON’T collect $40K from the VINTAGE HANDBAG. NO WAY this should’ve been lost.

Boy, this has NOT been a pleasant week so far…

MY RATING: 3
MY RATING: F

WoF Recap: May 7, 2024

EPISODE #7987: 🧳GRAND GETAWAYS🧳

$1K Tossup: RHYME TIME

A / _ L _ _ T / _ R O M
_ H E / P A _ T

Dave solves A BLAST FROM THE PAST. Tuesday’s teams…

David & Dave Stango (grandson/granddad): Dave has seven grandchildren including David and they like to think they’re pretty funny (Dave teaches David all his jokes) and go to an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse about once a month from Norwood, PA

Taylor Garcia & Linda Weaver (granddaughter/grandma): Linda’s a retired retail management worker and Taylor’s a student at Texas A&M Corpus Christi majoring in mechanical engineering; Taylor always calls Linda about what Vanna White is wearing from and Ontario, CA and Houston respectively

Da’Miah Steele & Angelia Carr (granddaughter/grandma): planning to go on a family cruise with 20 members for their first time from Louisville, KY (not mentioned on air)

$2K Tossup: LANDMARK

_ _ _ C _ L N
_ E _ T E R

Taylor IDs the LINCOLN CENTER.

FEATURED TRIP: Eastern European cruise from Grand Circle Cruise Line (EUROPE)

Round 1: WAYD?

T&L: Three N’s ($600), three G’s (EUROPE worth almost $9K), four I’s, S ($500)
D&A: Two T’s ($700), two E’s, two H’s (TD– just barely hung on), A

G A T H E _ I N G
I N / T H E
_ I _ I N G / _ _ _ _

While we’re GATHERING IN THE LIVING ROOM to watch this episode, they solve for $5,900.


Eggland’s Best Mystery/Crossword Round: GOAL ________

D&A & D&DBANKRUPT NEAR $650
T&L: Three T’s ($700), five E’s, SAME BANKRUPT GETS THEM (-$1,850)
D&A: G ($900), two I’s, THAT SAME BANKRUPT GETS THEM AGAIN (-$650)
D&D: S ($550), P ($500), R (TD), O (NMV), N ($550), K ($650), L ($700)

KEEPERL
OI
SETTING
TE

They read the answer for $6,200.

D&D: $7,200/T&L: $2K/D&A: $5,900


PP/Express Round: PHRASE

D&D: N (WC), three E’s, three T’s ($600), two A’s, L ($800), I
T&L: B ($600), three S’s ($650)

_ A S T E N / _ _ _ _
S E A T / B E L T S

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS as they earn $2,550 and a railbookers trip to ALASKA worth $7,099.

D&D: $7,200 WC/T&L: $11,649 cash & AK/D&A: $5,900


Triple Tossup: THINGS

1.

E _ _ _ C I S _ / B _ L _ S

Angelia goofs w/ EXERCISE BIKES, and she says the correct answer too late.

E _ _ _ C I S _ / B A L _ S

Dave solves EXERCISE BALLS.

2.

_ E N _ I S / _ _ _ L S

Taylor hits these TENNIS BALLS.

3.

M O _ H _ A L L S

Dave avoids the MOTHBALLS.

Speed-Up: LIVING THING

Final Spin Amount: $1,600

D&D: N (they tried to call L during their thinking time)
T&L: Three T’s
D&A: M
D&D: S
T&L: L
D&A: R
D&D: G (NMC; guesses GIANT TURTLE)
T&L: Two I’s

G I _ N T
T _ R T _ I S _

Taylor solves GIANT TORTOISfor $4,800 and the game.

PENALTY BOXBANKRUPTSDUDSMISSOLVES
ROUND 1S (T&L)
MYSTERY ROUND4 (2 by D&A)
PP/EXPRESS ROUNDI (D&D)
SPEED-UPM (D&A), L (T&L)Men

FINAL SCORES
D&D: $11,200 WC/T&L: $18,449 cash & AK/D&A: $5,900

GT: $35,549
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,500

T&L will choose from…

  • FOOD & DRINK
  • PLACE
  • THING

$100K Bonus Round

Taylor & Linda brought their parents, a grandpa, and uncle Beck.

SPIN: C

Very stingy RSTLNE help…

_ _ _ E _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

FMDO gives them…

D _ _ E D 
_ _ O _ _ D O

Taylor says DYED and DRIED for the first word, so they don’t eat this DICED AVOCADO for $40K.

MY RATING: 4
MY GRADE: F+