5.3 "There's Snow Place Like Home" Official Play-By-Play (You'll Like This!)

In this episode, a military wife and mother takes on the Bankress for a million dollars. The models are in all white, sleeved dresses with red lines stitched in.

Let's introduce Courtney Schlap(?). She is that contestant, from Michigan currently living in southern California and is a military spouse. She misses the snow. If she wins the million, she wants to buy a house to be close to her parents in Michigan.

She picks #4. Remember that #4 was picked already, could it be the million? Brenda gives Courtney a high five. The reason Courtney picked #4 was it is the day she was born.

6 to open.
10: $10,000
18: $400 (Alyssa is used to the cold as well...)
17: BANOODLES.
Then a shimmy. Stephen Curry better not watch.
3: $200
24: $750,000. Oh boy. Strike 1.
25: $100,000

The Bankress delivers the first offer. Before that, the Bankress' assistants bring in snow, or some powdery substance (not crack cocaine) and both poured some over her head. The offer is $16,000. She says...NO DEAL.

Courtney stays at home with parents; a common theme with  millennials and most people nowadays.

5 to open.
7: $75,000
14: $500,000 Strike 2.
26: $300
13: $200,000
1: $5,000

Bankress calls. The offer is $26,000. Her supporters are two family friends and her husband. She says NO DEAL.

After the media time out, 4 to open.

Before that, a "Happy Courtney Day" sign drops behind the supporters' corner.

11: $5
22: $25,000
2: $1
Another shimmy.
23: $500 A.J. does a semi-shimmy!

The million is still up there! 11 cases in play!

Bankress calls. $57,000 is the new offer. That's over twice the offer. 119% increase. Courtney says NO DEAL.

3 to open.

19: $750
5: $25
8: $50

Eight cases in play. Snow falls on Courtney, as a new offer is prepared. Still in play are her case as well as 6, 9, 12, 15, 16, 20, 21. After the media time out, the offer is $92,000. Could Courtney beat the system? She has to, and she will. In order to do that, she must say NO DEAL, and she did.

2 to open.

20: $50,000
9: $1,000

That's okay. Six cases in play. Courtney's case, and 6, 12, 15, 16, 21. After the media time out, Courtney's best friend Amber comes on the stage and unites. Then her parents. An emotional part of the episode. They all join the existing supporters' corner. Nothing more emotional than seeing the $1,000,000 still on the board. The Bankress calls, and her offer is now $173,000. Too hard to counter offer. Therefore, Courtney says NO DEAL!

1 to open.

15: $75!

Bankress calls, Howie whispers in the ear of Courtney's mom. She sits down. Howie tells her the offer, which is $266,000! 2nd highest offer this season. Courtney says NO DEAL. One to open, after the media time out.

To recap, still in play are Courtney's case, plus 6, 12, 16, 21. I feel that Courtney could beat the system.

1 to open.

6: $10. Thought it was a million, based on history.

Four in play. Courtney's case, plus 12, 16, 21. Bankress calls. Highest offer this season? $342,000 it is. But wait, counter-offer? Nope. Courtney says NO DEAL.

1 to open. Howie sits down. I'll host next season. Courtney joins Howie, then picks...

12: (after the media time out, and Howie gets back up) $300,000. Not bad.

Three in play. Courtney's case, plus 16 and 21. Bankress calls. New offer is $425,000. With the million and $400K in play along with $10. Husband calls for Courtney to counter-offer, and does so for $500,000, for what is in the case. Something big is about to happen here. Instead, it's a DEAL for half a million dollars! The leader this season! But where was that million dollars?

Proveouts: 16 had the million. 4 had the $400K, 21 had the $100. Good deal.

TAKEAWAY:
Courtney is one of the richest non-million dollar winners on U.S. soil, and (I think) the fifth highest primetime winner on US soil (counting daytime syndicated version).

Next up, a review of a contestant with ties to the original nighttime version. That's coming up.