Game Show NewsNet

Cash Cab by Chico Alexander, GSNN

Air time: 6p ET/5p CT on Discovery
Host: Ben Bailey

Let's take a ride with Robin, Brian, and 3-year-old Olivia as we go to 38th & Ninth. They get their first strike when they can't name Fargo's state (North Dakota) and the second when they can't name who said "Speak softly and carry a big stick" (Teddy Roosevelt). They get $225 at their Red Light Challenge: name four of the seven countries that end in "Stan". They get Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan (the others were Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan). They have $475 and end up at their location with $575! But will they take the money or go onto the Video Bonus? They're going for it! The San Fermin Festival and the Running of the Bulls occurs on what European city? They go with Barcelona... Pamplona. So they leave the Cash Cab empty-handed... and Olivia's laughing about it.

Off to 63rd & Columbus with Nico, who was so deadpan that Ben had to ring the alarm THREE times. First strike: what galaxy is home to our humble solar system? Milky Way. Second strike: what creature from Greek mythology had the body of a horse and the torso of a human? Centaur. Third strike: the ancient Aztec city of Tulum can be found on what peninsula? "Montezuma!" The correct answer is have a nice walk, Nico! It was Yucatan.

Finally, we go downtown with Paul, Chad, and Marcos. They get their first X when they run out of time on what MRE stands for (meal ready to eat) and their second when they can't name the current name of Leningrad (St. Petersburg). They need a mobile shoutout for this: known for his coonskin cap, what frontiersman blazed Kentucky's Wilderness Road? Forrest says "Daniel Boone"... Correct for $225, going into a Red Light Challenge: the five greatest movies of all time according to the AFI. They get "Citizen Kane", "Gone with the Wind"... and that's it. They missed "Casablanca", "The Godfather," and "Lawrence of Arabia". They use their street shoutout on this: the first female prime minister of Israel in 1969. They waste the shoutout, but get Golda Meir for $425. They win $525, but will they walk with it? Nope, they're going for it! The Video Bonus: This 1267-foot peak in Wyoming was designated a national monument 100 years ago. What is its hellish name? "The Devil's Tower?" ... .... ... That is correct! They leave with the only $1050 that this episode gave out.

100 Mexicanos Dijeron by Jason Hernandez, GSNN

Air time: 7p ET/6p CT on Telefutura
Host: Marco Antonio Regil

STAY TUNED...

Jeopardy! by Chico Alexander, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or jeopardy.com
Host: Alex Trebek

Tom Kavanaugh (writer from St. Louis); $136,602, seven days

Marty Miller (pharmacist from Bridgeport, PA)

Carolyn Proulx (caregiver from Pawtucket, RI)

Tom was given the scare of his life yesterday, but wagering put him at #1. Let's see if that helps him out today. First up, a Coryat-list favorite, State Capitals for $200. Tom is leading at the TV time out, $3000 to Marty's $2400. Carolyn has $200.

Tom his first win: his wife's "Supergirl undies" are his good-luck charm. He's not wearing them, but she is. Marty finds the Daily Double under $800 the Sport of Kings. Leading by $400, he fronts $1500 on the grandson of Man O' War who had more newspaper coverage in 1938 than any public figure. "Who is Seabiscuit?" Right for $5900. He tops off at $7900 to the champ's $4000, certainly something he can escape. Carolyn with $2200 starts Double Jeopardy!...

... with $400 European Authors. Tom, who hasn't gotten into a rhythm and has allowed Marty to take a big lead, finds the first Daily Double under $1600 Bring Out Your Dead. He goes $6000 on this: this Shakespeare rival & possible secret agent got the point on May 30, 1593. "Who is Christopher Marlowe?" Right for $12,800! Now it's Carolyn's turn to play spoiler with the Daily Double under $1600 Howdy, Pilgrim. She bets $2900 of her $3400 on the Arabic term for the pilgrimage to Mecca. "What... I can't!" She has $500. Correct: the Hajj. She ends the game in the red by $2300. So it's Tom's $14,000 against Marty's $15,900 in...

Final Jeopardy! in "Bodies of Water": this sea's south boundary is a line from the south tip of India to the eastern tip of Africa. Correct question: What is the Arabian Sea?

Tom writes "What is the sea of me?" Sounds like he came out drowned. Marty also gets it wrong... and bets the farm on it! Once again, Tom manages to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, winning another $4000 and pushing his eight-day total to $142,602.

The Price is Right by Travis Schario, GSNN

Air time: 11a ET/10a CT on CBS (markets may vary)
Host: Bob Barker

What do these four people have in common: Joyce Sheridan, Timothy Iafe, Jonna Malatacca, and Christine Mitchell. They ARE the First Four today! So, who has the privilege of getting on stage first? Joyce, by claiming a $2299 Bowflex TC5000 Treadclimber. Her game: The Dreaded Switcheroo for a Jeep Wrangler SE 4X4, an RC Car, a smoothie maker, a Hummer bank, and a Senseo coffee maker. With the five blocks: 3-4-5-6-7, and the board set like this:

1 9 1 _ 5
_ 0
_ 9
_ 0
_ 7

Joyce placed the blocks: 7-6-3-5-4. She got one right, and from the audience comes a shout, "IT'S THE CAR!" So, using that knowledge, she keeps the car the same (and the coffee maker): 7-5-6-3-4. How many right? ZERO! She shoulda placed them: 3-7-4-5-6. She did have A car right on the first go-round...the bank.

Next, Timothy attacks the Safe after picking up a Johnston Casuals steel baker's rack, valued at $1683. In the Safe today, a Chevy HHR and his/her tennis equipment from Dunlop (total value $17,640). The digits on the dials: 0 5 6. Quickly, Tim sets the combo to 650 and BINGO! opens the Safe!

To round out the half, Jonna takes her place next to the Rangefinder after capturing a pair of patio heaters ($599) following TWO overbids. For the Range Game today, we have a Little Guy Worldwide 5-wide retro compact trailer (how's that for a long description). The trailer is at least $5000. Jonna stopped the Red Block between $5158 and $5308. ARP: $5195 and a WIN!

After all that, Joyce made it to the Showcases with a one-spin 95¢.

Alright, let's keep this hot streak going into the 2nd half. Joan Kahros, who when called, ran to the back, THEN to the front, captured a $999 Whirlpool side by side fridge/freezer. Her game: Clearance Sale for a Vintage Tub(.com), a Howard Miller 79th anniversary grandfather clock, and a Sonor Force 3005 drum set with Sabian Cymbals. The sale prices: $1500, $1850, $2900. Without hesitation (and possibly without a knowledge of how to play the game), she places the $1500 on the drums, $1850 on the tub, and $2900 on the clock. To her credit, she did properly place the clock tag (ARP: $3285), but had the other two flipped (Tub: $1608, Drums: $2854).

OK, hit a dry patch. Gotta pick it up with the last of the First Four, Christine. She picked up a carolinachair.com glider rocker ($845), and played a little Blackjack for a trip to Monte Carlo (only fitting, right?). With the house sitting on a Jack of Clubs, she takes the $8.90 Goldfish for a Queen of Diamonds. Then, she goes about 21 the LONG way: $2.78 Oatmeal Cream Pies for a 2 of Diamonds; $6.99 Jelly Bellys for the Ace of Clubs; and $39.92 TheraGesic for the 8 of Spades. 21 with the house total of 14 (4 of Diamonds hole card).

To end the Gauntlet, contestant Katie Flynn claimed a home theater stereo system, valued at $999, and took her shot at a kitchen china cabinet from Broyhill or a Chevy Malibu Maxx LT in Any Number. It took her only three picks to win...THE PIGGY BANK at $4.80. Car: $22,675 and Cabinet: $913. To her credit, she did light up the bank in order.

In the 2nd Showdown, Wrong Way Joan made it to the Showcase with an extra $1000.

Top Winner: Joyce. Runner-Up: Joan. Our first Showcase shows us how Shelly Shyness comes out of her shell; using a Wurlitzer jukebox, a 4-night trip to NYC, and a Ford Mustang V6 Convertible Premium. Joyce bids "35-50;" or $35,500.

Next Showcase: a Broyhill Elk River bedroom with Bemco Posture Fairfax mattress set, a set of Kelty backpacking equipment, and a 6-wheel amphibious ATV. Joan's bid: $38,000 and a groan from the crowd.

Joan's Showcase: $19,548...WAY over. Joyce's Showcase: $40,818; for a difference of $5318. She walks with a total of $43,117.

STATS: 3/6; $80,397.80

Wheel of Fortune by Jason Block, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or wheeloffortune.com
Hosts: Pat Sajak & Vanna White

No more Guilty Pleasures after today, I'm afraid. Steve Mitchell, a brother lab technician from West Mifflin, PA, is a ONE-HIT WONDER for $1000 in the Tossup. Joining him today are Lucia Castello from Redwood City, an architecture student, and Linnell Steib, a mother and granddaughter originally from New Orleans, now living in Lubbock, TX. Interesting fact: Linnell is currently engaged to her ex-husband. Second tossup is a Living Thing, and Linnell gets a $2000 FRENCH POODLE, and a chance to spin for a Broadway getaway to New York City (say hi to Block and Pepper while you're there). The first puzzle is a Slogan. Rather short puzzle as Linnell solves IT'S THE COLA for $3250. Can she convert with "Pepsi" for $3000 more? YES! That's $8250 total so far.

The Tums Jackpot/Prize Puzzle is Things. Steve misses on an O, but Lucia picks up $1000 from Spafinder.com. And it's hard to buy a vowel with no money. She also picks up a Free Spin en route to a solve of SUNSHINE AND BLUE SKIES for $400 and a trip to the Caribbean! Lucia's going to St. Lucia! And if you're Spin ID number is CM 16506, you're going to St. Lucia! So far, she's got $8400.

Guiltiest pleasure is still cash, and we've got $10,000 in the Mystery Round, On the Menu. Lucia lands in Mystery Territory, but will she bet $2800 on a peek at the wedge (she'll win $10,000 if she does)... She will and she does. She redeems her Free Spin for a vowel, then solves CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH PESTO SAUCE for $13,600, giving her $22,000 even!

Steve gets his second toss-up, On the Map, with THE BALTIC SEA for $3000. Next puzzle is Around the House. Lucia spins out $5000 for one M, allowing her to solve FORMICA COUNTERTOPS for $6200 more, $28,200 total. We've got another puzzle with... an event. Pat moves into Speedround mode with $1300 a consonant. Steve solves SAFETY DEMONSTRATION for $3900, $7900 total. Linnell leaves with $8250. But the big winner tonight is Lucia with $28,200!

But we all really want her to win the 2006 Pontiac Solstice... or maybe some cash. Cash would be nice too. The Bonus Puzzle is a Phrase. After the normal six and DMB A, we get...

A _ E A D _ _
T _ E _ _ R _ E

She was three-quarters right, but it was simply way too AHEAD OF THE CURVE for her. She misses a Hummer H3, but still, she gets to go to St. Lucia, with $28,200 in cash and prizes!

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire by Don Harpwood, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or millionairetv.com
Host: Meredith Vieira

It's a new year, and there's more money to be given away. I'm sure the show has plenty of it in the budget, so let's see some big winners!

The first player to enter the hot seat in 2006 is Bill O'Connor (Suffern, NY). He lived a dream in 1998, when as he was working security at that year's World Series, he was on the field when the Yankees won. What's weird about this, though, is that he's actually a fan of the Mets. That had to be a bit awkward for him. Anyway, Bill starts by knowing that someone who is motionless with fear is commonly said to resemble a "deer in headlights". He manages to complete the lower tier, and he moves through most of the middle tier without much of a problem. Soon enough, this comes up...

[$25,000]
Before the switch was made to helium, what gas was originally used to inflate blimps?
A: Hydrogen
B: Oxygen
C: Nitrogen
D: Carbon dioxide

Bill remembers the Hindenburg, and he knows that it's A... and he has $25,000! Now, with 4 lifelines available, he is in very good shape right now. Could he go all the way? We'll see...

[$50,000]
What landlocked state's official bird is the sea gull?
A: Arizona
B: Utah
C: Kansas
D: South Dakota

Bill decides to ask the audience. 45% of the studio audience says B, with D in second at 23%. But the AIM poll is much closer, with D at 31% and B at 30%. He then uses the 50:50, which takes away D, along with A. Now, with just B and C left, Bill considers using another lifeline, but he isn't sure which. Eventually, though, he decides to just go for it, and says B... and it's B! Good thing he saved those other lifelines. Moving on...

[$100,000]
The name of the notorious WWI spy Mata Hari is a Malay phrase that literally means what?
A: Gift of light
B: Heart of the earth
C: Sound of the heaven
D: Eye of the day

Bill considers calling someone, but he isn't sure if anyone on his Phone-A-Friend list would know this, so he switches it out. After finding out that the answer was D, he has this...

[$100,000] (Q)
The dog that played Toto in the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" was what kind of terrier?
A: Norfolk
B: Sealyham
C: Scottish
D: Cairn

Bill calls his future brother-in-law George, but he doesn't get a response in time. With that, Bill walks. He would have thought C, but it was D, so it's a good thing he walked. And he's going home $50,000 richer!

Next up is Mark D'Angelo (North Brunswick, NJ), who is looking quite sharp. He calls himself a "professional student". And he's also a shopaholic, meaning he also calls himself a "professional shopper". Let's see if he can add "professional trivia wiz" to that. Mark starts by knowing that athletes traditionally wear protective face masks in fencing (if there was such an event as "Franco-Roman kissing", face masks would probably make it a tad bit difficult). He has no problems with the lower tier, and he soon gets to $2,000.

And time is up for today. Mark will return tomorrow, and if today is any indication, 2006 is looking like a good year for Millionaire (I hope it is, since I'm still hoping for someone to get at least $250,000 this season).