FULL RECAP - TPiR 03/25/2010

[TPIRGuru]

Drew did not do a good job at all of explaining Gas Money.

Stack the Deck is about as much fun as That's Too Much! these days.

I agree.

Today's show was just inexcusable and extremely painful to watch. From evil setups, to not too smart contestants, to a not-so-great lineup. I really hope tomorrow is a LOT better.

[whinbaby]

The 7,240th episode (128th for Season 38)

Showcase #1, besides the cash
Wii & DJ Hero - $360
Plasma TV - $1,800
Outdoor Furniture - $4,450
Beachcomber - $5,233
Trip to the Barbados - $6,072

Showcase #2
Steam Shower - $3,590
Trip to Dubai - $20,929
Ford Mustang - $27,725

Your Modeling Scorecard for March 25, 2010
Manuela Arbelaez
Total:  9/$54,659 (5/$6,310, 4/$48,349)
Cars:  1/$17,470 (0/$0, 1/$17,470)
Trips:  1/$20,929 (0/$0, 1/$20,929)

Amber Lancaster
Total:  8/$39,582 (5/$6,308, 3/$33,274)
Cars:  1/$27,725 (0/$0, 1/$27,725)
Trips:  0/$0 (0/$0, 0/$0)

Gwennie Osborne
Total:  11/$80,119 (7/$28,019, 4/$52,100)
Cars:  1/$24,673 (0/$0, 1/$24,673)
Trips:  1/$6,072 (1/$6,072, 0/$0)

And for the season
Manuela Arbelaez (74 shows)
Total:  616/$3,830,997 (395/$1,729,998, 221/$2,100,999)
Cars:  66/$1,527,338 (35/$817,968, 31/$709,370)
Trips:  75/$680,009 (43/$356,324, 32/$323,685)

Amber Lancaster (47 shows)
Total:  384/$2,389,052 (246/$986,567, 138/$1,402,485)
Cars:  41/$970,731 (13/$292,806, 28/$677,925)
Trips:  45/$356,865 (23/$172,036, 22/$184,829)

Gwennie Osborne (62 shows)
Total:  542/$3,104,349 (321/$1,333,644, 221/$1,770,705)
Cars:  55/$1,182,342 (23/$511,818, 32/$670,524)
Trips:  60/$524,339 (33/$313,258, 27/$211,081)

[catdogwheel]

Drew did not do a good job at all of explaining Gas Money.

I was wondering if someone else would say the same thing. When he was explaining it I was like "huh?"

[pricefan1991]

I had a thought recently that doesn't really relate to this episode specifically:  If Drew could be convinced to cut the recaps of the showcases (both by him and by Rich), they'd probably get enough time back to follow the first four contestants all the way to Contestants' Row.

If Drew and/or Rich refuse to do so, there is a very easy solution that the show has been utilizing a lot lately: Edit them out completely.

[TPIRSteven]

I share many of the same feelings with Kev right now, so I'll emphasize again that we desperately need to get rid of these $20,000+ MegaTrips in the showcases ASAP.

Less than a year ago, it was not uncommon for entire showcases to fall in the $15K range.  Now it's rare to see any showcase go for less than $20K, partially due to these elaborate trips that nobody in their right mind would pay the taxes on.  I still believe that this ridiculous inflation in showcase prices is what is forcing all of the pricing games to be lost.

That $20K Dubai trip could have and should have been replaced with a cheaper trip in the $4-7K range.  Having two $20K+ prizes in the same showcase is just plain not necessary.

[TPIRighteous]

Stack the Deck would be winnable every time it is played except for the one thing that makes it impossible: not the GPs, but the fact that there is a 5 that isn't even used in the price of the car. I can't even remember seeing the game played the last two years without a 5 in the setup, and 9 out of 10 times it's a fake (the tenth time, it's the third or fourth number). It's amazing to me what a fine job the producers have done exploiting the fact that everyone still seems to think every car price ends in 5. And I know I've said this before, but it's becoming more and more blatant and aggravating. It's like putting 35, 65, and 80 in Money Game when the answer is 54. Amazingly, the show still has cars that end in 0 and 5; it's just that they only show up in games like Spelling Bee, Line 'em Up, 5 Price Tags, or today's Gas Money, games where it doesn't really matter. I think it's a cruel way to bite average viewers in the behind.

[Wayoshi]

Stack the Deck would be winnable every time it is played except for the one thing that makes it impossible: not the GPs, but the fact that there is a 5 that isn't even used in the price of the car. I can't even remember seeing the game played the last two years without a 5 in the setup, and 9 out of 10 times it's a fake (the tenth time, it's the third or fourth number). It's amazing to me what a fine job the producers have done exploiting the fact that everyone still seems to think every car price ends in 5. And I know I've said this before, but it's becoming more and more blatant and aggravating. It's like putting 35, 65, and 80 in Money Game when the answer is 54. Amazingly, the show still has cars that end in 0 and 5; it's just that they only show up in games like Spelling Bee, Line 'em Up, 5 Price Tags, or today's Gas Money, games where it doesn't really matter. I think it's a cruel way to bite average viewers in the behind.

This post is 100% correct and wonderful.