"Wheel of Fortune" 11/16

$1K T-U: Thing

_ I S T I N G U I _ _ E D

S E _ V I _E

Valerie & Sean show their DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. Here are the last three military teams:

Valerie & Sean Melchert (Vine Grove, KY/Ft. Knox- a married Army couple who'll celebrate their second anniversary next month & are expecting their first child)- She's a hospital lab technician; he's a mechanic in the 15th engineers
Shawnita Cole & Tamica Smithson (sisters originally from Niagara Falls)- Shawnita's an Air Force Master Sergeant stationed at The Pentagon married to Lance (they have two kids); Tamica's an Army vet & currently a Department of Defense teacher (who's married to William for almost 21 yrs. & also have two kids; they also have a dog named Storm)
Lori & Martin Villa (Canyon Country, CA & Huntington Beach, CA respectively- mother & son)- She has two daughters & a son-in-law; he's a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Coast Guard since '03 (to be specific, he works in the logistics department)

$2K T-U: Title

_ _ _ / P _ _ F _ _ T

S _ _ R M

The Villas ID "THE PERFECT STORM".

Featured Prize (partly because the second Secret Santa Sweepstakes starts next week): Pair of sears shopping sprees ($7.5K)

Allegra-D Jackpot R: Before & After

They lead off by saying a $500 N but then Losing a Turn on their second spin. Second for Valerie & Sean are two T's for the same value ($1K total), a $500 H while on Jackpot, five E's, a $600 S couplet, an A triplet & three $500 S's for the his/her Shark online sprees. Now, to the board...

_ _ E S _ _ E N T _ A L

S E A L

T H E / _ E A L

...Valerie solves PRESIDENTIAL SEAL THE DEAL for $4,100 in cash & gift tag.

SOLE LaT: Lori & Martin
FINAL UNWON JACKPOT ON THESE EPISODES: $7,300

Current Scores:

Villas: $2K/Melchirts: $5,100 in cash & sprees/Shawnita & Tamica: $0

Mystery R: Food & Drink

Still in control, they call for first an R that puts an initial $900 deposit into their bank for the round & two S's while on the MW w/ the MDW next to it. They'll lose $2,900 if the $10K's not on the back...but the 10 grand's there! After their purchase of cuatro O's come a $300 T but then the MDW's left Bankrupt to deny them $10,950. Second, Shawnita & Tamica come up w/ two $1K F's, the $700 B to finish the next-to-last word (BEEF), three A's, dos O's, two FP N's for another C-note, the leftover I, double D's for $1,800 additional but then calling V while on the sears wedge doesn't mean victory for 'em, it means a loss of their turn (& the last time this puzzle was used, I remember someone missolving because of that). Following that moment, two $400 C's are wanted by The Villas...

O _ E N - F A C E D

R O A S T / B E E F

S A N D _ I C _

...& Lori doubles their dollars w/ an OPEN-FACED ROAST BEEF SANDWICH.

SOLE DUD: $500 V (Shawnita & Tamica)
SOLE BANKRUPT: Valerie & Sean

Current Scores:

Villas: $4K/Melchirts: $5,100 in cash & cards/Shawnita & Tamica: ZIPPO

Bonus Puzzle Blast from the Past #44 (Fall '01)(Phrase)(a woman called HPMI):

I ' M / S _

_ I _ _ _

A: "I'M SO GIDDY"

Prize Puzzle R: What Are You Doing? (fairly big board)

Shawnita & Tamica are on the comeback trail, first w/ a $1.5K N triple, an I couple, an A set, a $500 G at the end of the first word & four E's, followed by $1K worth of two T's, the other two vowels (both singletons), the $500 H to complete the second line of four (IN THE) but then the other MDW Bankrupt stops them & tears away $2,250. Lori & Martin's consonant calls thereafter are two R's for the G-spot & the WC, which they use right away after calling three top dollar C's...& here's a $3.5K P, but they go Bankrupt next to that valuable space anyway to the tune of 15 G's. Darn. Valerie then goes right ahead...

_ O A _ I N G

I N / T H E

_ P E C T A C U _ A R

_ C E N E R _

...& they'll be SOAKING IN THE SPECTACULAR SCENERY of Jamaica on their two Hotwire.com trips to the Iberostar Premium Rose Hall Beach valued at $10,400.

BANKRUPTS: 2 (Shawnita & Tamica and Lori & Martin)

Current Scores:

Villas: $4K/Melchirts: $15.5K in cash & stuff/S & T: DONUTS

$3K T-U: Place

R _ C _ U I _ I N G

O F _ _ C _

Team Melchirt gets RECRUITING OFFICE.

Speed-Up: Occupation

There are lots of blanks up there & each consonant's worth $1,700. Two L's later...

_ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N _ L

T R _ N _ L _ T _ R

...Shawnita & Tamica don't need a PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR to nail this puzzle for 68 bills! The Villas had $5,100 & our winning duo had $3,400.

SOLE DUD: C (Valerie & Sean)

Final Scores:

Villas: $4K/Melchirts: $18.5K in cash & prizes/S & T: $6,800
GT: $29,300

TONIGHT'S BANKRUPT TRASH: $28,100

Maxwell House Traditional BR #42: Valerie's Bonus Wheel spin screeches to a stop on the S in SPIN.

Subject: Thing

I'm not 100% sure, but I have an idea w/ this setup:

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ N T

PHCA will insert at least a P, I think...

H _ _ H

P _ _ N T

...& they've reached their $30K HIGH POINT & fly out of here w/ $48.5K in cash & merchandise; $152.5K's in the Rebuilding Together bank.

$5K SPIN ID #45: JP2238469

And Vanna's dad is in the military.

EPISODE RATING: 6