February 4, 1998
IUFB #1:  Trip to Carmel ($1871)

Melinda:  $800
John:  $925
Joan:  $1000
Lawrence:  $1001*

PG #1:  Eazy az 1-2-3 for lamps, a dinette, and golf clubs.

Lawrence puts block #1 by the lamps, block #2 by the golf clubs, and block #3 by the dinette.

The lamps are $700, the golf clubs are $1667, and the dinette is $1068, so Lawrence loses.

LOSS
IUFB #2:  Flatware ($920)

Laurie:  $670*
Melinda:  $600
John:  $475
Joan:  $650

PG #2:  Ten Chances for a jewelry box, recycling cabinet, and a Ford Escort SE.

Laurie claims to know how to play this game, so let's put her to the test--using 2 of these 3 numbers, 0, 2, and 6, write down the price of the jewelry box!

Chance #1--$62:  WRONG!
Chance #2--$26:  WRONG!
Chance #3--$60:  RIGHT!

Did Laurie lie to us?  $62?  $26?  Looks like she may have... using 3 of these 4 numbers, 0, 1, 3, and 9, write down the price of the recycling bin!

Chance #4--$301:  WRONG!
Chance #5--$901:  WRONG!
Chance #6--$390:  WRONG!
Chance #7--$931:  WRONG!
Chance #8--$930:  RIGHT!

Well... still 2 chances left for the car, use 0, 1, 2, 4, and 5!

Chance #9--$14,025:  WRONG!
Chance #10--$15,024:  WRONG!

No, sorry, it was $15,420.
IUFB #3:  Sailboard ($1199)

Matthew:  $800
Melinda:  $850*
John:  $1300
Joan:  $1301

PG #3:  Bullseye for a bedroom group worth $5294.

Melinda must get from $10.00-$12.00 worth of All detergent, JollyTime popcorn, Little Debbie brownies, Reynold's plastic wrap, or SueBee honey.

Melinda first chooses 9 JollyTime, at $2.29 each, for $20.61. 
OVER!
Melinda next chooses 4 All, at $2.64 each, for $10.56!

WIN!
Showcase Showdown #1:

Lawrence:  .05+.45=.50
Laurie:  .35+.65=1.00 
WINNER!
Melinda:  .85+.85=1.70

Laurie's bonus spin:  .75
IUFB #4:  Washer & Dryer ($900)

Haley:  $1000
John:  $1025
Joan:  $850
Matthew:  $851*

PG #4:  Pick a Number for a grandfather clock.

$_887.  The first number is missing, and it's one of these 3 numbers:

2 5 9

Matthew chooses the 9 (!) to make a price of $9887, making this the most expensive grandfather clock in existence!  The price is $5887, still more expensive than most grandfather clocks, but still, he loses, deservingly so.

LOSS
IUFB #5:  Kid's swingset ($610), Francie the dog is shown.

Stacey:  $1300
Haley:  $750
John:  $850
Joan:  $1125

bonk!  bonk!  bonk!  bonk!  bonk!

Stacey:  $600*
Haley:  $525
John:  $650
Joan:  $1


PG #5:  Bonus Game for an entertainment center with 35" TV worth $7047.

Pasta maker is not $130, Stacey says lower, it's $120, and is RIGHT!
Taboo game is not $30, Stacey says lower, it's $23, and is RIGHT!
Roaster is not $36, Stacey says it's higher, it's $25, she's WRONG.
Video lab is not $30, Stacey says it's higher, it's $40, and is RIGHT!

Now, the
only thing that can go wrong is for that bonus to be behind window #3, and that just cannot be!  And where is the bonus?

NO
NO
BONUS
NO


Oh, no!  The one spot it couldn't be, it was!  What bad luck...

LOSS
IUFB #6:  Coats and Jackets ($1000)

Michele:  $425
Haley:  $500
John:  $501
Joan:  $502*

PG #6:  Lucky $even for a Dodge Caravan.

First number is 1.
Second number guess:  5, actual number, 8, loses $3, $4 left.
Third number guess:  5, actual number, 6, loses $1, $3 left.
Fourth number guess:  4, actual number, 8, loses $3, $0 left, loses $18,68_ car.

LOSS
Showcase Showdown #2:

Stacey:  .35+.20=.55
Matthew:  .55
Joan:  1.00 
WINNER!

Joan's bonus spin:  .95
Showcases:  Laurie is the top winner!  Joan is the runner up!

Showcase #1:  The Models try on hats at the Chapeau Chateau:  Power tools, offroad bike, trailer.  Laurie passes to Joan, and Joan bids $22,000.

Showcase #2:  Showcase that Rocks:  2 rocking chairs, diamond bracelet, jukebox, and a trip to the Rock of Gibralter.  Laurie bids $7200.

Laurie bid $7200 on her showcase, actual retail price $17,011, difference of $9811.

Joan bid $22,000 on her showcase, actual retail price $20,689, she's over!  Laurie wins her showcase!
Laurie:  $19,921
Melinda:  $6493
Joan:  $2000
Lawrence:  $1871
Matthew:  $900
Stacey:  $793

WINNINGS: $31,978
COMMENTS

*Not the greatest episode, but it did have some nice moments.
*Lawrence did a little harmonica playing to lead Bob into commercial after his pricing game, which was fun.
*Joan tried a fakeout on Bob after the price of the second IUFB was revealed, trying to go up on stage as if she had won, when she had (stupidly) bid $20 less than the bidder who did win.
*Laurie claimed to know how to play Ten Chances before she started to play... and of course, we find out she's a liar on national TV.  Though I guess she has going for her that they've had a lot worse Ten Chances players...
*Also, Laurie seemed to have a problem using each digit only once when she got to the car.
*There was a shark fin chasing the sailboard (the third IUFB)... that was kinda' strange...
*Guessing 9 JollyTime in Bullseye really wasn't a bad guess... at the time, JollyTime popcorn came in a $1.29 size and a $2.29 size... if it were the $1.29 size, Melinda would have won with $11.61!
*Bullseye did the boring "all flash" when it was won today.
*Pick a Number was tough... how often are grandfather clocks over $5000?
*Not to mention, how often are they over
$9000?! What WAS Matthew thinking?!  Then again, he thought a spinoff at 55 cents with another spinner behind him was a good idea, so I'm guessing he wasn't thinking...
*Sure, Bonus Game has been easy in Season 30... but remember back when they'd put the BONUS by the trickiest prize?  Like this show?
*Yep... back in Season 26, Lucky $even was quite frequently played sixth.  Bob said Joan must be tired of sitting up and getting back down throughout the show, so he'd bring the prize out to her.
*Even back in Season 26, vans were not only $15,000, making 5 a rather bad guess for the second digit... can't feel sorry that Joan didn't win, really.
*Joan was originally going to bid $6500 on her showcase... wouldn't have mattered, she'd have lost either way, though at least what she did bid didn't look so dumb.
*The jukebox music played during the credits.
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