EPISODE #7909: 🛂PASSPORT TO FUN🛂

$1K Tossup: THINGS

S O _ V _ N _ R
P O S _ _ _ R D S

Tina and/or these Thursday panelists could purchase SOUVENIR POSTCARDS if they win a trip tonight…

Tina Meier-Nowell: married lady to Rob who she’s known since she was 11 with a 15-year-old daughter Clover who just started high school who’s an art museum fan (she came with her daughter last summer and all they did was go to art museums in L.A.) and avid reader (she needs a bigger nightstand since she’s got piles of books) from Portland, OR

Dan Finnerty: golf caddie at country clubs who’s hit 14 holes-in-one and is a Cubs fan from Los Angeles, CA (grew up in Chicago)

Tonya Brown: road trip person who collects cookbooks (she has about 47 of them) and has a boyfriend (she gives a shoutout to her mother, sister, niece, nephew, boyfriend, and his daughters) from Houston, TX

$2K Tossup: FOOD & DRINK

H _ _ E _ _ _ L E
B _ _ _ K _ _ _ _

Tonya knows it can’t be HOMEMADE BREAKFAST.

H _ _ E _ _ Y L E
B R _ _ K _ A _ _

Dan eats up a HOMESTYLE BREAKFAST.

FEATURED COLLETTE WEDGE: Portugal

Round 1: WAYD?

Dan: N (TD), BANKRUPTS NEXT TO IT (-$2,500)
Tonya: G ($550), three I’s, M ($800)
Tina: Four T’s ($850), two O’s, two H’s ($650), three R’s ($600), three A’s, P ($550)

_ A T _ H I N G
A / R I _ _ / T O
T H _ / A I R P O R T

She’s CATCHING A RIDE TO THE AIRPORT for $6,550.

Prevagen Mystery/Crossword Round: ________ WASH

Tonya: T ($650), H ($500), E, A
Tina: D ($650), two O’s, N ($600)

Dan goes for an unnecessary house minimum solve, but he blows it anyway w/ BODY, MOUTH, EYE. Tonya then solves BODY, MOUTH, HOG, EGG for the house minimum.

Tina: $7,550/Dan: $2K/Tonya: $1K

PP/Express Round: MOVIE TITLE (I no-lettered this one)

Tina: T ($900), H ($550), five E’s, four R’s ($800), N ($900), two A’s, five S’s ($500)

S _ _ _ E R – _ A N :
A _ R _ S S / T H E
S _ _ _ E R – _ E R S E

She IDs “SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE” to double her cash and win a vacation to bolongo bay in the U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS worth $8,210 — BIG PR!!

Tina: $23,310 cash & trip/Dan: $2K/Tonya: $1K

Triple Tossup: PERSON

1.

S E _ I O _
P A R T N _ R

Tina solves SENIOR PARTNER.

2.

_ _ N _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ R

Dan quickly gets JUNIOR PARTNER.

3.

_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ R

Tonya nails DANCE PARTNER.

Round 4: PLACE

Tonya: N ($600), R ($650)
Tina: T ($650)
Dan: S ($500), A, C ($650), two O’s, I (NMV), L ($800)

C A S I N O
L O _ _ _

He enters a CASINO LOBBY for $1,200.

Tina: $25,310 cash & trip/Dan: $5,200/Tonya: $3K

Speed-Up: ON THE MAP

Final Spin Amount: $1,500

Tina: R
Dan: T
Tonya: C
Tina: S
Dan: Two L’s
Tonya: G
Tina: Three N’s

_ _ L L _ N G S
_ _ N T _ N _

Tina locates BILLINGS, MONTANA for $6K more.

FINAL SCORES
Tina: $31,310 cash & trip/Dan: $5,200/Tonya: $3K

GT: $39,510
BANKRUPT TRASH: $2,500

Tina’s category list…

• PHRASE
• THING
• EVENT

$100K Bonus Round

In addition to Rob the hubby, Tina brought along her dad, stepmom Elsa, and daughter Clover.

SPIN: First A of AMERICA’S

Here’s what she gets to start…

_ _ _ _ R
_ L _ _ _ _ R _

DPMO gives her…

M _ _ O R 
_ L _ _ _ _ R D

She painfully misses w/ MINOR BLIZZARD when there’s no N, so the $40K gets frozen solid by a MAJOR BLIZZARD.

MY RATING: 6
MY GRADE: D-

Take it away, @andynwof.

EPISODE #7894: 6️⃣🛍️SIXTH EPISODE WEEK II🛍️6️⃣

We’re going on another “Shopping Spree,” so the BMW X3 returns.

$1K Tossup: WAYD?

R O _ L _ N G / U P
_ Y / S L E E _ E S

While I’m ROLLING UP MY SLEEVES, Ellie’s about to introduce herself…

Ellie Wilson (Villa Park, CA): wine saleswoman who’s never had a salad in her 22 years of living (though she’s recently eaten lettuce and tomatoes on burgers)

Michael Merritt (Oakland): research/development manager for a large charcoal company and former breakfast cereal developer who received a patent for an hourglass marshmallow; he’s married to Alexis and has a dog named Frazier

Kelly Tien (Lafayette, LA): women’s clothing business owner of five years (who hopes to stay in business for another ten); she’s engaged to Lance with an 11-month-old son (she almost forgot his age)

$2K Tossup: PLACE

C O S M E T _ C S
C _ U _ T _ R

Whether Kelly has a COSMETICS COUNTER at her business, she’s spinning first.

FEATURED TRIP: Krystal Grand Los Cabos in MEXICO (likely worth $7,100)

Round 1: FOOD & DRINK

Kelly: T for trouble on $650

Ellie: two R’s for $1,200, five E’s, T repeat on $650

Michael: two C’s for $1,800, an H for $600, two U’s, sole dud vowel of I

Kelly: LaT (she pouted)

Ellie: an S for $700, a single A, three B’s for $7,500, last vowel of two O’s, solve for $8,650…

B A C O _ / _ O U B _ E
C H E E S E B U R _ E R

Pat suggests Ellie eat a BACON DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER with a side of salad after shaking off her repeat and reaching $9,650.

Prevagen Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Ellie: a $700 T, A for awful

Michael: MDW’s left side

Kelly: two $650 H’s, a $650 W, an I, three E’s, an O (she took a while to pick that), solve for $1,200…

E _ _
W H I T E
H O _ _ E

Kelly imagines an EGG WHITE HOUSE (could’ve gone for the G’s, though).

Ellie: $9,650/Michael: ZERO/Kelly: $3,200

PP/Express Round: PHRASE

Michael: an N for the WC, two O’s, a T on TD (no WC prompt from Pat), five E’s, an H for $500, last vowels (a single U and A), solve for $3,500…

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

Hey, Michael, since you’ve been able to KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL, you’re staying at the Holiday Inn Resort ARUBA (a trip worth $8,882) – PR.

Ellie: $9,650/Michael: $12,382 cash & Aruba WC/Kelly: $3,200

Triple Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

1.

S T A _ _
C O _ L E _ T I O N

Ellie asks about a STAMP COLLECTION… and she inches closer to the lead.

2.

_ _ _ N
_ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ N

Michael quickly pads his lead with a COIN COLLECTION.

3.

_ U S T
C O L _ E C T O R

Michael might buy a DUST COLLECTOR.

Round 4: THING

Michael: BANKRUPT near TD (so long, WC)

Kelly: two $550 T’s, a $550 H, four E’s, two I’s, A for awful (she took her time choosing this vowel, too)

Ellie: a $500 N, remaining vowels (O and U singles), two TD D’s (she almost slipped with that spin), solve for $10K…

T H E / D E _ U _ E
E D I T I O N

Ellie gives THE DELUXE EDITION of an answer to take the lead back.

Ellie: $21,650/Michael: $16,382 cash & Aruba/Kelly: $3,200

Round 5: OCCUPATION

Kelly: an S for $850, same BANKRUPT

_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ S _

SPEED-UP

Ellie gives us a $1,500 FS.

Ellie: two R’s
Michael: two T’s

NULL CYCLE

Kelly: two A’s (she tried picking M afterward, which would’ve been a dud)
Ellie: one C (she can’t solve for $4,500)
Michael: one G

G R A _ _ _ C
A R T _ S T

Michael knows a GRAPHIC ARTIST or two for another $4,500, which isn’t quite enough for the win.

FINAL SCORES
Ellie: $21,650/Michael: $20,882 cash & Aruba/Kelly: $3,200

GRAND TOTAL: $45,732
BANKRUPT TRASH (Kelly, sans WC): $850

Well, a certain category won’t sweep this week…

• PLACE
• THING
• PHRASE

…and Ellie scares Pat with her quick pick of PHRASE.

$100K Bonus Round

After Ellie introduces her dad Shawn, best friend Peyton, and brother Billy, she lands on the E in AMERICA’S (and hopes for a new car). I know this one-liner already…

_ _ _ T E / _ L _ _ E

…but Ellie strikes out with CPMO and a guess of BLADE for the second word (as well as CUT BLADE and FAKE), so she and $40K aren’t QUITE ALIKE.

MY RATING: 6

Pat’s Fun Fact: If you gave every person in the world (eight billion people) a 6×6 plot of land, you could fit them in the state of Maryland, although “bus service would be slow.”

Thanks, @andynwof. It’s all yours.

Teeeeeeeeeeen-HUT!

Five-star general @nickskapower is back again this year and I will step in for five-star general @andynwof for the next three episodes. W/ that being said…

Forwaaaaaaaard MARCH!

EPISODE #7857: 🎖️VETERANS WEEK🎖️

$1K Tossup: AROUND THE HOUSE

P A _ R / _ F
_ I _ O C _ L A _ S

Pete takes out a PAIR OF BINOCULARS. Two men among these Tuesday vets from left to right…

Pete Digeronimo: Coast Guard and Air Force member for 23 years (he was a K9 dog handler in the Air Force and an admin assistant person in the Coast Guard) who just got married to Lorrianne with two daughters and a son from East Falmouth, MA

Shaniece Rory: Army vet for six years who joined the army at 17 (that’s the minimum age for joining) after graduating high school at 16 who has an older brother who’s an Army officer and an older sister who’s a non-commission officer; recently graduated from Howard University doing research for audiology for service members with hearing loss from Washington, D.C.

Benny Lorenzo: Marine vet for about seven years as an artilleryman; his last duty station was at Quantico where he was a war fighting instructor; married to fiancé Lindsay in Santorini and has the same birthday; also rented a Harley from Washington, D.C. and rode all the way to Seattle and back (he’s done 49 states so far and is missing Alaska) from Alexandria, VA

$2K Tossup: WAYW?

_ _ _ _ C _ E
H E L M _ T

Benny apparently still had motorcycles in his mind because he goes overboard w/ MOTORCYCLE HELMET.

_ I _ _ C _ E
H E L M _ T

Pete steals a BICYCLE HELMET.

FEATURED TRIP: Agua Caliente in PALM SPRINGS

Round 1: SONG/ARTIST

Pete: Two T’s ($900), four E’s, BANKRUPTS NEAR TD (-$1,550)
Shaniece: Two Y’s ($600), two B’s ($600), LaT (she tried to call M on that space)
Benny: Two M’s (TD), A
Pete: C (PALM SPRINGS worth $13K), two O’s, two S’s ($650), I

M Y / _ O M E T O _ _
B Y / B _ _ C E
S _ _ I _ _ S T E E _

“MY HOMETOWN” BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN is right for $14,300 cash & Palm Springs and a total of $17,300.

Eggland’s Best Mystery/Crossword Round: ________ HEARTED

Shaniece: L (MW in between $650/$700…EMPTY)
Benny: N ($650), E
Pete: S ($650)
Shaniece: Two D’s ($500), C ($900), four O’s, CRITICAL DUD of M (TD) (she apparently thought the bottom across word was MOOD, which doesn’t make any sense) and Pete tried to spin after her — ah ah ah!
Benny: K ($700)

LION, GOOD, and KIND are the other words for $1,100.

Pete: $17,300 cash & Palm Springs★Shaniece: GROUND ZERO★Benny: $1,100

PP/Express Round: PERSON

Benny: N ($700), two T’s ($700), H ($700), four E’s, C ($550)
Pete: P ($600), O
Shaniece: X ($600), R ($800), two I’s (NMV)

E X P E R T / I N
T H E / _ I E _ _

She proves to be an EXPERT IN THE FIELD for $1,150 and a Viking River Cruise to EUROPE worth $6,698.

Pete: $17,300 cash & Palm Springs★Shaniece: $7,848 cash & cruise★Benny: $1,100

Triple Tossup: WAYD?

1.

B U _ I N G
N _ W / _ I R E S

Shaniece might be BUYING NEW TIRES.

2.

P _ _ _ _ N _ / A _ R
_ _ / _ _ _ / T _ R _ S

Pete’s PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES…and is right.

3.

_ _ X I _ G
_ / _ _ A _

Benny thinks of FIXING A FLAT…right.

Speed-Up: PHRASE

Final Spin Amount: $1,650

Benny: Two R’s
Pete: M
Shaniece: Three N’s
Benny: S
Pete: G
Shaniece: Two C’s
Benny: Four T’s

_ ‘ M / T R _ _ N G / T _
C _ N C _  T R _ T _

While I’M TRYING TO CONCENTRATE Benny solves for $9,900.

FINAL SCORES
Pete: $19,300 cash & Palm Springs★Shaniece: $9,848 cash & cruise★Benny: $13K

GT: $42,148
BANKRUPT TRASH (Pete): $1,550

We have nothing but generic categories for the other man. To make matters worse, he’s going for…

• THING
• PEOPLE
• PHRASE

$100K Bonus Round

Pete also brought daughter Tori.

SPIN: First A of AMERICA’S

Lead-offs…

_ _ L _ _ _ L E
_ _ R _

CDPA adds just two of the vowel…

_ A L _ A _ L E
_ _ R _

He’s well off the mark with PARALLEL CARD and he doesn’t realize that he did some VALUABLE WORK when serving in the Army for $40K.

MY RATING: 5.5
MY GRADE: E+

EPISODE #7839: WHEEL ACROSS AMERICA

$1K Tossup: PERSON

_ _ M _ T _ W N
_ E _ O

Debra could be a HOMETOWN HERO and so are the rest of these Thursday contestants…

Debra Mollé: married lady for 15 years who’s good at bowling (her bowling ball is clocked at 19 mph by combining fast pitch pitching and her bowling ball release) from China Spring, TX

Carylee Carrington: tutu wearer (she has 27 of them) from Bristow, VA

Tom Biuso: big concert guy who has seen over 200 concerts in his lifetime (the best concert he saw was Pink Floyd) from Rochester, NY

$2K Tossup: PHRASE

T _ E / R O _ A L
_ _ E _ T _ _ N T

Tom’s getting THE ROYAL TREATMENT.

FEATURED AMERICAN TRIP: StayPineapple CHICAGO plus Chicago Pizza Tour

Round 1: WAYD?

Tom: Four T’s ($700), three O’s, E, two H’s ($500), MDW’s RIGHT SIDE (-$3,300)
Debra: R ($700), BANKRUPTS NEXT WEDGE OVER TO TD LIKE CARYLEE (-$700)
Tom: D ($500), MDW’s RIGHT BANKRUPT AGAIN (-$500)
Debra: G ($800), three I’s, two W’s ($700), three N’s ($550), U

T H R O W I N G
_ _ U T I O N / T O
T H E / W I N D

She’s THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND for $3,350.

Eggland’s Best Mystery Round: BEFORE & AFTER

Debra: T ($500)
Carylee: B ($500), OTHER REGULAR BANKRUPT (-$500)
Tom: D ($500), E
Debra: MDW’s OTHER BANKRUPT
Carylee: Four N’s ($700), O, three A’s, two G’s ($850), VERY FOOLISH DUD of Z (seriously, ma’am?! -__-) ($500)
Tom: Two L’s ($500), two I’s (NMV), MDW’s LEFT SIDE (-$1K)
Debra: Two P’s (MW near LaT…$$$)

P I N G – P O N G
B A L L
A N D / _ _ A I N

She throws a PING-PONG BALL AND CHAIN for $10K.

Carylee: NADA/Tom: $2K/Debra: $14,350

PP/Express Round: SHOW BIZ

Carylee: T ($600), S ($500), two A’s, E, H ($700), BANKRUPTS ADJACENT TO TD (-$1,300)
Tom: N ($700), three O’s, G ($600)
Debra: L ($800), two I’s and an unnecessary purchase of U, RE-BANKRUPTS NEXT TO TD (-$300)
Carylee: Two R’s ($900), two M’s ($650), two C’s ($500)

H I L A R I O U S
R O M A N T I C
C O M E _ _

She wins $4,100 and may watch a HILARIOUS ROMANTIC COMEDY during her collette national park tour of UTAH worth $8,800.

Carylee: $12,900 cash & tour/Tom: $2K/Debra: $14,350

Triple Tossup: THING

1.

_ O _ _ A _ B _ N E

Carylee passes.

_ O L _ A R B O N E

Debra solves COLLARBONE to add to her lead.

2.

W _ I _ T / _ O _ E

She also solves WRIST BONE.

3.

_ _ _ _ Y
_ _ _ _

Carylee nails FUNNY BONE.

Speed-Up: FOOD & DRINK

Final Spin Amount: $1,900

Carylee: T
Tom: H
Debra: N
Carylee: G
Tom: S
NULL CYCLE
Debra: M
Carylee: L
Tom: C
Debra: B

_ _ _ _ _ / B _
T H _ / S L _ C _

Debra enjoys some PIZZA BY THE SLICE for $1,900 more.

FINAL SCORES
Carylee: $14,900 cash & tour/Tom: $2K/Debra: $20,250

GT: $37,150
BANKRUPT TRASH: $7,600

Debra will be selecting from…

• PHRASE
• LIVING THING
• THING

$100K Bonus Round

She brought neighbor Angela.

SPIN: R

We should know what the second word is already…

_ L _ _ _ _
R _ _ _ _ T

FMJO is an interesting combo…

F L _ F F _
R _ _ _ _ T

She’s able to pet this FLUFFY RABBIT for $40K more and a final total of $60,250, but we’re also on the verge of our first minimum sweep of the season.

MY RATING: 6
MY GRADE: D-

Take it away, @andynwof.