Game Show NewsNet

Cash Cab by Chico Alexander, GSNN

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

First passenger/contestant: Sarah DeMero. Destination: Jane & Hudson. She's going to get some coffee. Something tells me she's not going to make it. Or she is, but she's going to make a drama fit of it. She only gets four $25 questions posed, but she makes them all count. Sarah uses her street shout out to find out what fictional astronaut is featured in David Bowie's "Space Oddity." "Is it Major Tom?" Ben: "That is correct!" She gets four $50s for $300, but also gets her first strikes when she can't identify the Clintons' chocolate lab as "Buddy" (she said "Checkers") or what the British refer to as a "boot" on a car (she said "wheel"; correct was trunk). She uses her mobile shout out to call her boss on this: in the 2004 Olympics, Paul Hamm was involved in a scoring dispute in what sport? Her boss says gymnastics... and she's right, getting $400. Will she risk it on the Video Bonus? "I'm going for broke!" OKAY! The question: in what state can you find Old Faithful? She goes with New Mexico... Not it. It was Wyoming, and Sarah ended up talking herself right out of it. And out of Ben's cab.

Next in the Cab: Anthony and his daughter Isabella. Destination: 50th between Broadway & Eighth. Hey, I've been there! Anthony sweeps the $25 questions, but gets his first strike for the Grammy winner for "It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us" (Hillary Clinton, he said Celine Dion). Anthony & Isabella win $200, but will they take the video? Nope. They're walking, and Isabella's off to a baby-sitter.

Finally: Andy & Jon. Destination: 50th & Eighth. They need coffee. They need money. Let's head north! They have to use the mobile shout out for this: what is the name of the talking computer in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey"? Quoth Joey: "Hal." Hal is presented. Hal is right. They get the $100 and the $200 for the first two tiers. But here comes strike one: an omelet filled with ham, onions & green peppers is named for what Western city? It was a Denver omelet, but they go for Santa Fe. They use their street shout out at the Upper West Side to figure out what cancelled the World Series in 1994. They present "strike"... Right! Another strike coming: mohair is a fabric made from the hair of what animal? They say camel. It was goat. Andy & Jon make it to their destination with $1000, but will they walk or watch? They're thinking Steve Miller. "Take the money and run." And now you know the rest of the story.

It's another shift in the cab as we pick up Jada & Tara on their way "round the corner to 22nd between Fifth & Sixth". They dance as they sweep the $25 questions. They get $200 and a red light. You know what that means. It's Red Light Challenge time. This ride: besides Christmas, name seven of the remaining nine federal holidays. MLK Day, President's Day, Columbus Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving will do it for $450. Also doing it: Veterans' Day and New Year's. And here we are at the end of the trip. Will they take the $450 or watch the video? It's on Jada... She's going for it! The question: in the 3rd Century BC, Hannibal defeated the Romans by leading a fleet of elephants over what European mountain range? They go with the Alps.... That's $900!

Next: Gretchen, Mary Anne, and Monique from Minnesota. Destination: Magnolia Bakery. They have a HARD time using their Midtown shoutout in question 1: the Hall of Mirrors is located in what famous French palace? They get someone to say "The Versailles." And that's right! They get the other $25 questions for $100. Gretchen calls her husband to figure out where Bryce Canyon National Park is. They go with Utah... "That is correct!" They're up to $300 as we approach and come to a complete stop on the next Red Light Challenge: name four of the six largest banks in the US. They get Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank One (now part of Chase Manhattan), and Bank of America for another $250, giving them $550. Going into $100 territory... and we have our first strike: what minister was dogged by the Tawana Brawley scandal during his last Presidential bid. They say Jesse Jackson, but it was Al Sharpton. Doesn't matter, though, as they win with $550. Will they give it up for a chance at $1100? No. They leave with the $550!

Night falls and we get John Phillips going to Tribeca, Hudson & Harrison to be exact. He sweeps the $25 tier and the $50 tier. He has to use a street shout out in Tribeca to figure out what sitcom broke ground in 1997 by featuring a lesbian lead character. They go with "Ellen"... and the shout out works! But it's exacted by a strike when he has to name the first stock exchange to go electronic. He says NYSE. It was NASDAQ. Second strike: what color is the American Express Centurion, the most exclusive card they offer? He says platinum. It's actually black, and it's so exclusive that they have to personally invite you to receive one. But he's still a winner with $800. But will he or won't he? He will. The question: more than half the species of chameleons live on what island nation, Africa's largest? He knows it's Madagascar.. and he's walking with $1600!

100 Mexicanos Dijeron by Jason Hernandez, GSNN

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

STAY TUNED...

Family Feud by Chico Alexander, GSNN

Air time: Check listings or familyfeud.com
Host: Richard Karn

Christopherson (David, Shelly, Jenny, Brian, Marles)

Messenger (Brandi, Benita, Jonathan, Laura, Jennifer); $20,000

The Messengers got the message out that they were here to play yesterday. Will the challengers get the same message? Round 1: a place you'd hate to be when you receive a call from your cell phone (5). Church is good for 2 on David's side. Shelly gets 5, work. That's all they get, though, as the Messengers try to steal with a movie theater. Number four for 26. Number one: bathroom. Other answer: car/driving.

Round 2: a phrsase that starts with the word "prime" (7)? A whopping 61 people say "prime time", as Shelly wins the face-off. Prime steak, prime interest rate, and prime real estate build the bank for the Messengers hopefully to steal with "prime of your life." Got it for 117. Other answers: prime example, prime suspect.

Double Round: if you didn't have neighbors, something you might do outside in the nude (5). Jenny gets suntan for number one. They also get swimming, mowing the lawn, making the love, and... that's it. The champs try out exercising. It's good for 271.

Triple Round: an occupation of someone who might be called to a scene of an accident (4). Police is number one, Laura wins it. The ambulance, firemen, and the insurance company seal it, 568-0.

Mother and son Benita & Jonathan try again for the Fast Money... but true to form, they fall short, as they get another $795, $20,795 for two days.

Jeopardy! by Chico Alexander, GSNN

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

Vicky Stanton (school psychologist orig. from Scotland, now living in Sherman Oaks, CA); $19,799, two days

Christi Beard (flight attendant orig. from Gulfport, MS)

James Quintong (sports writer from Atlanta)

We like to think of ourselves as sports writers for game shows here, so James is yet another sentimental favorite, but Vicky is a smart one, she is. In a Monopoly-themed J! round, Vicky starts with $200 "Free" Parking. After Vicky forgets that the subject of the Marvin Gardens category are people named Marvin, James leads with $2400 at the TV time out to her $1800. Christi, meanwhile, is in the red at -$200.

Vicky finds the Daily Double under $600 Go to Jail, Go Directly to Jail. She bets conservatively, $400, on the saint who shares his name with a prison. "Glad I was conservative, Alex. I have no idea." Remember San Quentin? She's still in the lead with $2800. Christi is out of the hole at $800, but still in third to Vicky's $4000 and James' $3600, meaning that SHE will start Double Jeopardy!...

... with $400 Past Irregular. The thing you have to love about Vicky, and we do love it here, is that she genuinely enjoys the game and has fun with it, as is evident in her want not to try Barry Manilow any further (when asked if she did, she said, "No I don't, Alex."). That said, she finds the Daily Double, the first one, under $1200 in "F" in Anatomy. She bets $1000 on the oviducts. "Oh... Umm.. OH!.... Uh, what are the fallopian tubes?" Right for $4200! "Oh, I should know that!" See what we mean? Under $1600 World War II Names is where we find the other Daily Double, and James in the lead bets only $600 on the exile of Ile d'Yeu who died seven years after at age 95. "Who was Maginot?" Nope, it was Petain, as he ends the round with $4200 to Christi's $2000 and Vicky's $1800. Anyone can take this, but it's not going to be that exciting a payday.

Final Jeopardy! in "20th Century Novels": this 1955 novel was originally titled "The Kingdom By The Sea", an allusion to Poe's "Annabel Lee". Correct question: What was "Lolita"?

We have what the good folks at J-Archive.com call a "triple stumper." But James comes out of it in one piece with $4001. Vicky leaves with the heart of a recapper and $20,799.

The Price is Right by Travis Schario, GSNN

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

It's the peak of the week at 7800. Here we go.

Contestant Cindy Atkinson managed to pick up a $2650 Tropica Aquafin day sailer, then had a shot at a $16,000 PT Cruiser playing...SHELL GAME?!? She stumbled on a nacho warmer and knife sharpener, but managed to win two chips with a $49 smoothie maker and a $30 Worst-Case Scenario board game. Problem was, she put the chips next to shells 2 and 3, with the ball under #1.

Well, let's try to give away ANOTHER car to Rosenthal stemware ($775) winner Eino Maninga in Let 'Em Roll. He swept thru Bayer aspirin, Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup, and Super Poligrip to pick up three rolls. First roll: CAR CAR CAR and $1500. Eino takes his second roll and gets $3000! Does he want it? No, the audience talks him out of it. Instead his final roll netted him CAR and $1000. 0/2. Not a good start.

Hopefully things will turn skyward with Joseph Badd. He picked up a Big Green Egg worth a Big Green $900 (C-Note: Wouldn't that be nine big greens?) to play Safe Crackers for a Beachcomber Hot Tub and a Peavey portable sound system, total of $7345. Without hesitation, he set the dials at 8-5-0, and after some wheel turning, he cracked the safe and broke the day's ice.

REPORTER'S NOTE: They showed Safe Crackers before Bob and Joseph got back to the doors. New trend? If so, that's awesome.

Second Half, ONWARD HO! Contestant Christopher Caddock snagged a $706 set of Barbie electronic toys to play Most Expensive for his & her Vulcan golf equipment, a Pintech electronic drum set, and a Jaclyn Smith dinette set. "A True Believer," Christopher knew the game was Most Expensive, and picked the dinette, the LEAST expensive ($1405; $1880 golf; $3060 drums). Bob wanted to change the name, but Roger wouldn't let that happen.

OK, car #3 will be offered to Robin Wilcox after picking up a 3-in-1 wooden game table ($600). Her game: That's Too Much for a 2006 Ford Escape. After a decent rehearsal, and traveling down to $20,902 (the 5th price), she says "Don't go anymore." Disappointing Bob in the process, he tries to get her to say the title by POINTING out the title, she was thinking about GOING ON!! Thankfully, she got her act together and was RIGHT! (ARP: $19,995).

Right now, we're 2/5. We need one more win for break-even. Let's call on Navy Sailor Thao Lee to be that winner after capturing a La-Z-Boy recliner with Alka-Seltzer Plus Liqui-Gels ($629). Her game: Squeeze Play for a Laserstar CD Jukebox. Setup: 6 8 4 9 5. She removes the 8 with little deliberation. But then, Bob extended the buildup by asking where she was stationed and if the jukebox would fit on the ship. She said it would be a birthday present for her mom, which brought a collective tear to the audience's collective eye. The Price: $6495. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THAO'S MOM!

Here we go to the Showcases. Top Winner: Robin, Runner-Up: Joseph. The first Showcase has Rebecca in the desert and seeing mirages. The all-trip Showcase sends us to Las Vegas, Scotland, and a cruise of the Greek Isles.. Robin, who "is overdue for a vacation," bid $18,000.

Showcase #2 showed us some quickly cancelled TV shows: "Lost in Place," "McHale's Gravy," and "Hawaii Five-0-0." The associated prizes: a KeysFitness Ironman 320T treadmill, a gas range, and a 2006 Ford Five Hundred SE. Joseph bid $21,500.

Joseph was only $4523 away (ARP: $26,023). Robin, on the other hand, was $985 OVER (ARP: $17,015). Joseph walks away with a total take of $34,268.

STATS: 3/6; $67,197

Trato Hecho by Gordon Pepper, GSNN

Air time: Noon ET/11a CT on Univision
Host: Guillermo Huesca

Guillermo promises good deals for everyone! Yay! Rosario the Nun, Silvia the balloon clown and Maria the scarf covered woman are the first 3 people to take him up on his offer. Rosario can either give all of the ladies $300, or the box. Rosario chooses the money, and gives up for everyone Conair products - also worth $300. So that's a push, as we go to Sylvia, who can either keep the money or trade is for Curtain #2. Sylvia wants the curtain, so all of the money goes back, and they all now have a washer/dryer worth $818. We're not done yet, though, as Maria can trade that in for a chasco cookbook - and what's connected to it. They keep the washer/dryer and give up a $300 certificate to Benihana's. Finally, the women can now decide for themselves to keep what they have or go for Curtain #1. Only Maria wants the Curtain - and only Maria gets Super Pollo with Dr. Sinestro for a Chasco! Well, so much for the good deals for everyone skit.

It's time to give money away - and we give it to Gloria, who gets to pick one of 4 cards. She picks #3 - which is the same as the curtain number that she is offered. After seeing that #1 and #2 are only worth $100, she keeps the card - and turns down a refrigerator worth $1,149. The money today was behind #4 - $1,000. Only $100 for Gloria behind Bill #3. Oh well.

Luz the geisha and Juan the pirate are next up, as Guillermo offers them $50 - with $500 more for the person who is closer to pricing Derman. Luz says $3.00. Juan says $3.25. The price is...$1.69, and Luz wins $500. Despite having only $50, Juan can still have the box. He takes it and receives a keyboard worth $460. Luz can spend her $550 for Curtain #2. She decides not to, and she gives up Super Pollo Vs. the Alien Chasco in a wrestling ring, complete with dummy wearing rollerskates with a round card.

We're not going to give out any Chascos in the Gran Trato, worth over $5,000. Luz decides to play, as does Juan. Where's the Gran Trato today? Luz says #1 and Juan says #3. No one says #2, and behinds there was a nice living room set worth $2,203. Someone will have a nice raise of money, and that person is...Juan, who gets $800. Luz gets the Gran Trato, and she'll be going on a nice trip to Puerto Vallarta, taking some nice luggage and watches with her. Her total is $5,290. If you're keeping score, everyone has won so far this week. Join us tomorrow to see if we can continue the hot week.

Wheel of Fortune by Chico Alexander, GSNN

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

Our tribute to 5-Star Resorts continues with a Living Thing. Vending machine tech Kareem Cook (full name: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Cook) from LA (orig. from NY) solves PRAYING MANTIS for $1000. Candice Zimmers of Olathe, KS just got married to her high-school sweetheart. ESL publisher Mary Iorio of Waterbury, CT also got married recently.

Second tossup: People. Candice gets $2000 from COLLEGE INTERNS and the chance to start the spinning for a trip to Rome worth $9148. Phrase is the category. Candice and Mary both lose their turns, as Kareem gets a $1000 luggage set from Ricardo Beverly Hills. Too bad he loses a turn. Candice solves PUT YOUR THINKING CAPS ON for $2850 including a previously claimed $1000 gift card from Shari's Berries. That's $5850 so far!

The Brandsource Jackpot Round is a Place, and Pat feels a Prize Puzzle coming on... Well what do you know? Kareem's on a nice clip there, until... No B for $3500. Candice solves THE SHALLOW END OF THE POOL for $2100 AND... a trip to Curacao! And if you're Wheel Watcher TM07749, then you're on your way as well! So far, Candice has $12,735

$10,000 cash money on the line in the Mystery Round. Thing, the category. Kareem spins $3500 again and calls for an S. One lousy S. But a lot of money for it. And... there goes the money. Black wedge. Mary solves AWARD-WINNING BARBECUE SAUCE for $2200 worth of sauce. Everyone's in money now...

Around the House for the $3000 Tossup. Candice gets another $3000 from SHARPENED PENCILS. TV Title is the next puzzle. Some regular play before Pat spins out $1900 for every consonant. Kareem solves THE WEATHER CHANNEL for $3800, giving him $4800. Mary has $2200 today, but the big winner today, with $15,735, is Candice!

Time for the bonus round. It's a title today. After RSTLN E and HYC A, we have..

_ A N _ T Y
_ A _ R

VANITY FAIR's a winner... but not for Candice. The good news, she won a trip to Curacao and $15,735 in cash and prizes... The bad news... she lost the BIGGIE, $100,000. PAINFUL! I'm so glad Jason didn't have to watch that.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire by Don Harpwood, GSNN

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

As Teacher Week progresses, Dean Eastman (Andover, MA) returns today at $200, but with 2 lifelines left. How will he do today?

Dean actually told his class before coming here that he'd miss work on the day of this taping was because he'd be in the Amazon, hunting anacondas! Well, hopefully, upon returning, he won't have to explain anything about actually dealing with a "llama" on Millionaire. The game resumes, and he gets to $300, before facing this for $500...

What cooking ingredient is often sold in packages labeled "all-purpose"?
A: Lemon juice
B: Pepper
C: Flour
D: Brown sugar

Oh, man. When someone uses a second lifeline in the lower tier, that's definitely not a good sign. Dean had used one on the first question yesterday, and now, he's using the 50:50. It leaves A and C. He then says C... and is right. Luckily, he does secure the $1,000 afterwards, saving the Phone-a-Friend for another tier. Now, for the $2,000 question...

What popular children's toy often comes with tiny plastic people called "minifigs"?
A: Lincoln Logs
B: Play-Doh
C: Tinkertoys
D: LEGO sets

Dean goes right to that lifeline, calling his friend Bethany, who is also a teacher. However, she is unable to respond in time. So, with nothing to lose at this level, Dean goes for it, saying C... but it's D! Hey, at least he didn't llama out, and he is going home with $1,000.

Up next is Marianne Mena (Sylmar, CA), who is a special-ed teacher. She gives her students from Harding School, who are likely watching the show, a "sign-out", which is a shout-out in sign language. She signs that she misses them and thinks about them often. That's a nice message. Marianne begins her climb to the million by knowing that in the Bible, God rests "on the seventh day". She breezes through the lower tier, then after a break, Meredith gets a surprise message from her old teacher from Lincoln School at Providence, RI, Ms. McGrath! She thanks her for honouring teachers with this, then says something about Meredith not liking a certain frog lab. She then explains that she didn't like killing animals. I can understand that. Anyway, back to the game, and on the way through the middle tier, Marianne faces this $8,000 question...

Which of these phrases does not appear in the title of one of the best-selling Harry Potter books?
A: Goblet of Fire
B: Order of the Phoenix
C: Chamber of Secrets
D: Flight of the Dragon

Marianne asks the audience. 77% of the studio audience and 86% of the AIM users go with D, so Marianne trusts them... and they're right! On to $16,000...

What unit of measure is still based on a century-old platinum-iridium cylinder maintained near Paris, France?
A: Kilogram
B: Meter
C: Pound
D: Foot

Marianne says that it's not B or D, and is leaning towards A. But she decides to use the 50:50. Guess what? B and D are gone, leaving A and C. Well, Marianne decides then to go for A... and she's right! Next up, the $25,000 question...

Which of these states has only one member in the House of Representatives?
A: Idaho
B: New Hampshire
C: Hawaii
D: Delaware

Marianne calls her friend and colleague, Chet, but the best he can offer is a wild guess, that being C. She goes ahead and says C... but it's D! Darn. Well, she does get $1,000.

In comes Randy Wormald (Salisbury, NH), a high school math teacher. He is actually a popular teacher at his school, and 10% of his class usually ends up in the math club! Now we'll see how he does here, and he starts by knowing that a student who is in charge of patrolling a school's hallways is usually given the title "hall monitor" (though it could also run the risk of the additional label "bully bait"). He then gets to $200.

That's all for today. Randy will go for more money tomorrow.

[And can we please see at least one teacher reach the upper tier at some point this week? Please?]