Mapleton, UT
Shannon was watching the show and decided one day to audition. Three days later, she hopped on the red-eye, and now she's in the hotseat (of course, they didn't say how much time had passed between the audition and taping, but they did say "it happened so fast").
Her category tree:
All of Us
The Supreme Court
Wish Me Luck
Moving the Pen
Statuesque Models
Mixed Heritage
Talking Heads
Fuzzy Wuzzy
Across the Pond
Coming and Going
On Time
Snappy Slogans
Barkeep
Hollywood Holidays
Little Children
$100 (Little Children): Parents typically "burp" a baby by doing what?
A. Tickling his feet B. Patting his back
C. Stroking his ear D. Giving him a Mountain Dew
Spoiler
$200 (Hollywood Holidays): The classic films "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" both conclude with celebrations of what holiday?
A. Independence Day B. Easter
C. Valentine's Day D. Christmas
Spoiler
A. Aromatherapist B. Financier
C. Mixologist D. Ventriloquist
Spoiler
A. Anbesol B. Preparation H
C. Secret D. Visine
Spoiler
(N.B. Meredith almost stole my joke for this...I thought "If it's B, I've been using it in the wrong place for years". Her comment was "Yeah, don't put Preparation H in your mouth....")
A. Hockey puck B. Tennis ball
C. Basketball D. Golf ball
Shannon seems to not know, so she decides to use her ATA (9).
ATA Results
B. Tennis ball - 1%
C. Basketball - 96%
D. Golf ball - 3%
Spoiler
A. Agriculture B. Defense
C. Labor D. State
Spoiler
A. Eating rapidly B. Kissing
C. Napping D. Drinking alcohol
Obviously, Shannon is not a fan of Harry Potter (where, in "Half-Blood Prince" this word is used about 30000 times), and she decides to ATE (14).
Meredith asks if Will has spent any time in England, to which he replies that he lived there for a year. When he gets the question, he says, "Oh, that's pretty easy. I'd say it's
Spoiler
Spoiler
Meredith says that Shannon is known to her grandchildren as "Grandma Sparkle" because she's so bubbly and full of life. They show a picture of the 10 grandkids all sitting on a couch. Thirty years after Shannon left college, with only a few credits remaining for her degree, she went back and finished it as "empty-nest therapy". She finished her degree in two years and was valedictorian.
$8,000 (Fuzzy Wuzzy): Which of these fruits is typically covered with a fuzzy skin?
A. Kiwi B. Papaya
C. Mango D. Guava
Spoiler
A. Fox News B. PBS
C. MSNBC D. CNN
Shannon chooses to PAF (20). Standing by are her sister, Cynthia (Mapleton, UT); her son-in-law, Todd (Springville, UT); and her friend Roy (North Richmond Hills, TX). She calls Todd.
Shannon abbreviates the question by asking what network "The Rachel Maddow Show" is on, finishing with 20 seconds left, then spells Maddow (which leaves 16). Todd immediately answers
Spoiler
Spoiler
The only banter after the break is Meredith's introduction of Shannon's husband, Jim, who is in the audience.
$25,000 (Mixed Heritage): The offspring of a male donkey and female horse is called a "mule," and the offspring of a female donkey and male horse is called a what?
A. Jenny B. Dunny
C. Ronny D. Hinny
Shannon says she's hardly ever been on a farm, and has no clue, so she decides to take the $16,000 home.