The episode showcased three contestants: Michael Soltis from Pittsburgh, Eimi Smith from Austin, and LaShauan Swift from Chicago. Soltis, who has dedicated over twenty years to his career as a union carpenter, started off slowly while Smith took the lead early on. The Texas soccer enthusiast dominated both toss-ups and then increased her total by successfully solving the first full puzzle, “Accidentally on Purpose,” bringing her score to $9,050. She extended her lead to $10,350 by also solving the phrase “Sleeping Bag of Tricks.”The evening continued to favor Soltis. He successfully solved the final puzzle, “The Wild Wild West,” even with only three letters revealed. “You got that one quickly,” remarked host Ryan Seacrest as the round concluded. Soltis wrapped up the regular game with winnings of $20,240. Smith left with $10,350, while Swift walked away with $2,000 and the joy of checking off a bucket-list appearance
The tide turned during the Prize Puzzle round. Soltis secured a Wild Card and accurately identified the song title “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” earning himself a trip to Africa and raising his total to $14,690 — suddenly putting him in the lead. He later secured two out of three triple toss-ups, while Swift — a retired paramedic from the Chicago Fire Department — finally made her mark by solving one of them.
Then came the intense Bonus Round. Before the letters were unveiled, Seacrest engaged in some light conversation and asked Soltis about the dog he takes hiking. Soltis hesitated, saying, “He just turned three — half-wiener, half-beagle,” before correcting himself and awkwardly repeating the mix. Seacrest playfully asked, “Have you met him?” Soltis laughed it off, referring to the dog as his “best friend,” but his nerves were evident.
With the timer ticking down, Soltis made several guesses — “My Old Plants,” “My Old Points,” “My Old Chonts.” None were correct. When the buzzer went off, Seacrest revealed the correct phrase: “My Old Haunts.” If he had solved it, Soltis would have driven away in a Jeep Wrangler.
