Note how at this point, the $25,000 on the Plinko sign still has its original purple shading, and not its pale pink "glitter" effect which would be introduced shortly before Johnny's passing.
It seems that it's possible that a perfect playing could result in less than $15,000. What if different prices were called out by the person on the phone? Or, are the prices purposely matched up with the 3 prizes that will automatically win $15,000?
I don't want to jinx it but I just checked and Tom Kennedy is still alive at the age of: 93! It is surreal that the late Johnny Olson was on this show. He was awesome.
Unfortunately, twotonedearly, after the end of season 16, the show's producers decided they would retire Phone Home Game, because rarely, if ever, did anyone win much money playing the game. In fact, this particular playing was the *ONLY* time a contestant and home viewer shared the full maximum amount a team could win ($15,000). There were a few who won about $12,000, maybe $13,000 tops, but again, this was the only time a contestant and home viewer shared the full $15,000. Also, the game took too long to play, plus, there's no way, even if it was brought back, the producers could find any other medium, aside from a home phone, to make it work. There's no way it would work on a cell phone, much less Skype or any other video calling website.
they should've invented the free play wedge back then to give Terri a second chance after picking the wrong letter "S". she could've won $62,400 plus the extra $20,000 worth of 1 C, 1 V, and 2 L's and $10,000 from the speed-up round. Mind you she could've actually won $92,400 worth of 2 cars and another bonus prize. $92,400 could've been a highest record over a different contestant last year whom actually had $91,692. Need I say more?
I worked out the puzzle with only 2/3 of the puzzle revealed. Why couldn't she work out the puzzle? For all that money, I would have solved the puzzle. That money would have been partly invested and the rest would have helped me to do things as I'm on a pension.