Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee
Premiere Date (Barker Era)	September 15, 1988 (#6944D)
Premiere Date (Carey Era)	February 18, 2008 (#4211K)
Pricing Game Location	Turntable
Previous Premiered Pricing Game	Credit Card
Next Premiered Pricing Game	$uper $aver
Finale Date (Barker Era)	May 17, 2007 (#3994K)

Spelling Bee is where contestants try to spell the word "CAR" using hexagon-shaped cards to win a car; they can also win a consolation cash prize.

Gameplay

• The centerpiece of Spelling Bee is a large board which conceals 30 cards: eleven each of "C" and "A" cards, six "R" cards and two which say "CAR." To win the car, a contestant must select cards that spell "CAR," either with all three letters or a "CAR" card.
• The contestant is given two free cards from the board at the start of the game, which is kept face-down; they can earn up to three more. Three small prizes are shown, one at a time, for which the contestant must guess the actual price. If their guess is within $10 (inclusive) of the actual price, they win that prize and another card from the board. Guessing the exact price of any of the small prizes automatically wins the three additional cards and all three small prizes, regardless of whether a previous prize has already been lost (as was the case on January 8, 1999, #0965K).
• All cards chosen are kept face-down and each is worth $1,000 while it remains face-down, up to $5,000 for the maximum five cards (prior to February 18, 2008, #4211K, the game's first playing in Season 36, each card was worth $500, up to $2,500 for the maximum five cards). The contestant is offered a chance to quit and take the cash value of the cards. If they decline, the cards are turned over one-by-one, with the contestant given the chance after each one to walk away with the cash value of the remaining face-down cards. If the revealed cards spell out "CAR" or a "CAR" card is revealed, the contestant wins the car; however, the contestant does not keep the value of remaining face-down cards if they win the car.
• If a contestant does NOT bid within $10 above or below the ARP of all three small prizes, however, the game is still not over. Since there are two "CAR" cards, as well as the fact that each card is $1,000 apiece, the contestant can still try to win the car by finding a "CAR" card or leave with $2,000.

History

• Until May 17, 2007 (#3994K), the game's last playing in Season 35 which happened to be under Bob Barker's tenure, the cards were worth $500 each (for a maximum of $2,500). The cards were increased to $1,000 each (for a maximum of $5,000) beginning on February 18, 2008 (#4211K), the game's first playing in Season 36, under Drew Carey's tenure.
• Originally, the strips completely blended into the numbered slots, so there was no way to indicate what card(s) the contestant had picked off the board except for close-up camera shots. Beginning on October 29, 1992 (#8554D), red strips were added behind the number slots to make it obvious what numbers have been chosen. A frequency chart of cards was added to the base of the game board on February 7, 1994.
• On two occurrences, on March 14, 1997 (#0295K) and on December 12, 2005, the electronics were broken; the prices of the small prizes were revealed on price tags.
• On January 8, 1999 (#0965K), a contestant named Amy Vitori played a perfect game, getting one "C," one "A," one "R" and both "CAR" cards; in addition, she won all three small prizes by correctly guessing the price of the fruit hammock after missing the prices of the rice cooker and the candle holder. However, Bob misheard Amy when she had chosen her fourth card. She asked for #26, but Bob placed #27-- which was an "A"-- in the fourth slot.
• On February 4, 1999 (#1004K), a contestant named Christine Gunther only had three cards. After she had two "A"s, she decided to bail out and take $500. However, after she did, she asked Bob to show her the one remaining card she had chosen. Bob declined at first but wondered if Christine should've seen it after he looked himself. After a brief pause, he said to his dismay, "Ladies and gentlemen, she SHOULDN'T SEE IT!!!!" The card said "CAR." Christine and the audience were in total shock. Bob grimaced as he saw Christine blow the car.
• On May 23, 2014 (#6755K), contestant Lori Draves had four cards and Lori decided to take the $4,000. Her first three cards spelled out "CAR" and Drew Carey did not look behind the fourth card.
• On February 15, 2016 (#7411K), during that show's "Dream Car Week", Spelling Bee was played for a $120,265 Aston Martin GT. In addition, the money sides were raised from $1,000 to $5,000 apiece; for a maximum bet of $25,000. Contestant Francesca Penko got all three small prizes right and therefore got the maximum five cards, went for the car, and got a "CAR" on the first card; the other cards were not exposed. (Pictures of this historic event are seen below.)
• On February 19, 2018 (#8221K, aired out of order on February 22), during "Big Money Week", Spelling Bee was played for a $100,000 in cash. In addition, the money sides were raised from $1,000 to $5,000 apiece; for a maximum bet of $25,000 and BIG card instead of CAR.

Foreign Versions

• On Mexico's Atínale al Precio, the word "CAR" was replaced with the word "AUTO". The "A" was given for free and the contestant had to find the "U," "T" and "O" or one of two cards saying "AUTO." Each face-down card was worth M$2,000.
• The Netherlands Cash en Carlo changes the letters to "WIN," and adds four cards worth €1,000; there are 9 "W"'s, 9 "I"'s, 6 "N"'s, 2 "WIN"'s and 4 "€1,000" cards. Drawing a "€1,000" gives that amount to the contestant regardless of the outcome. Each face-down card was worth €200.
• On Vietnam's Hãy chọn giá đúng, the contestant had to find the name of the prize using words on 30 cards. There are 3 cards for the first part, 11 cards for the second part, 15 cards for the third part and only one card has the full name on it. Each face-down card was worth VND300,000. In earlier episodes, this game was played for a motorcycle from Suzuki (The contestant had to find the word "SUZUKI"), while later episodes (starting from 2007), this game was played for VND30,000,000 in cash and the contestant has to find the name of the sponsored company (Ex. Biscafun, Vinasoy,....). When the game was revived in 2018, the contestant had to find the word "Hãy chọn giá đúng" (The name of the show itself). The price was decreased to VND10,000,000. Recently, prizes worth around VND10,000,000 was offered in this game.
• On Colombia's El Precio es correcto, the word "CAR" was replaced with the word "CARRO", and adds four cards worth $300.000; there are 7 "C"'s and "A"'s, 8 "R"'s, 6 "O"'s, 2 "CARRO"'s, and 4 items playing.

Trivia

• Spelling Bee was played once on the primetime Price is Right. On top of that, the game was won.
• Spelling Bee perfect playing (both car cards and spelling CAR) happened twice.
• September 29, 2000 (#1515K) was the only known time a contestant got nothing but R's. The contestant's name in that episode was Michael Finnegan.
• The most number of times this game was played in any season was 32.

Gallery

Bob's Era

Premiere Playing (September 14, 1988, #6944D)

His free cards are #10 and #4.

He bid $30 on the vacuum. A difference of $10. He gets another card and picks #30.

He bid $25 on the containers. A difference of $9. He gets another card and picks #22.

He bid $45 on the paint. A difference of $5. He gets another card and picks #8.

At $500 a card, Bob will offer the contestant $2,500 to forget about the car. He decides to go on.

An R. He will offer the contestant $2,000 to forget about the car. He decides to go on.

An A! He will now offer the contestant $1,500 to forget about the car. He decides to keep going.

A C card! He won the Jeep!!!

Spelling Bee for a Mitsubishi Precis (September 11, 1990, #7702D)

His free cards are #17 and #21.

He bids $10 on the mop. A difference of $5. He picks card #19.

He bids $40 on the flashlight. A difference of $15. Unfortunately, he doesn't get another card.

He bids $35 on the crepe maker. A difference of $5. He picks card #27.

Bob will offer the contestant $2,000 to forget about the car. He decides to go for the car.

A C. $1,500 is now up for grabs. He decides to go for the car.

An R. There's $1,000 still up for grabs. He decides to go for the car.

Another R. There's still $500. He decides to go for the car.

It's an A!!! He won the car!

Spelling Bee for a Plymouth Colt (February 1, 1993, #8681D)

His free cards are #16 and #25.

He bids $18 on the children's clothing. He is correct with a difference of $7. He picks card #9.

He bids $25 on the mug set. He is correct with a difference of $5. He picks card #20.

He bids $25 on the baby crib mirror. He is correct with a difference of $1. He picks card #15.

He decides to go for the car.

An A. He decides to go for the car.

Another A. He decides to go for the car.

And another A. He decides to go for the car.

It's an R! He decides to go for the car.

Unfortunately, it was another A.

Amy's Perfect Spelling Bee Playing (January 8, 1999, #0965K)

This was the price of the candle holder but missed it by $12 by guessing $25.

This was the price of the cooker but missed it by $20 by guessing $30. But--

Amy redeemed the first 2 items by guessing the fruit hammock exactly right.

By guessing the fruit hammock exactly right, in addition to winning the fruit hammock, she redeems herself by winning the cooker and the candle holder. She picks cards #11, #27, and #7.

She gets 5 cards, each worth $500. So she could elect to take $2,500 and stop or go for the car. She elects to go for the car.

The first card had a "C" and when the 2nd card revealed BOOM! She wins the car.

Who can do better than that? 2 cards that read the word "CAR" and finding the 3 letters that spell out the word "CAR".

Christine's Super Painful $500 Bailout (February 4, 1999, #1004K)

Her free cards are #14 and #23.

She bid $25 on the grill pan. A difference of $15. Unfortunately, she doesn't get another card.

She bid $30 on the Betty Boop cookie car. A difference of $5. She picks card #9.

She bids $45 on the garden tools. A difference of $15. She does not get another card.

Bob will offer the contestant $1,500. She decides to go for the car.

An A. Bob now offers the contestant $1,000. She decides to go for the car.

Another A. $500 is up for grabs. She decides to take the cash.

Oh no! She could've had the car!

A Technical Bailout in Spelling Bee (September 29, 2000, #1515K)

His free cards are #20 and #27.

He bids $20 on the water filter. A difference of $30. He gets no card.

He bids $40 on the swing groomer. A difference of $15. He gets no card.

He bids $50 on the double boiler. A difference of $20. He gets no card.

So all he has are his two free cards. At $500 a pop, that's $1,000 he can take. And that's what he does.

We find an "R"...

...and another "R".

But, Bob plodded ahead instead of giving Michael the option to take the $1,000 or go for the car because Bob was interested in finding out whether or not Michael could've won the car or not. So, Bob decided to give Michael the $1,000 in cash.

Spelling Bee for a Cadillac CTS (May 17, 2003, #011SP)

His free cards are #12 and #22.

He bids $22 on the tire gauge. A difference of $18. He gets no card.

He bids $20 on the brushes. A difference of $10. He picks card #16.

He bids $35 on the backpack. A difference of $5. He picks card #27.

Bob offered the contestant $2,000 but the contestant decided to go for the Cadillac and it was a C. $1,500 now is up for grabs but the contestant decides to go for the Cadillac.

An A. Bob offers the contestant $1,000. He decides to go for the Cadillac.

An R! He wins the Cadillac!!!

And no, with that unrevealed card, he doesn't get the $500 in cash for gas money or taxes. If you win the car, you don't get the leftover cash.

Mabel Gets 5 A's in Spelling Bee (October 20, 2005, #3374K)

Her free cards are #8 and #29.

She bids $35 on the sound machine. A difference of $5. She picks card #11.

She bids $35 on the hair twisters. A difference of $10. She picks card #3.

She bids $20 on the desk lamp and is exactly right. She picks card #13.

Bob will offer the contestant $2,500. She decides to go for the car.

An A. Bob now offers the contestant $2,000. She decides to go for the car.

Another A. Bob now offers the contestant $1,500. She decides to go for the car.

And another A. Bob offers the contestant $1,000. She decides to take the cash.

Another A...

...and another A. She made the right decision.

Spelling Bee with the Broken Electronics (December 12, 2005, #3451K)

He free cards are #21 and #15.

She bid $30 on the jump starter and is exactly right. So she automatically wins the mini-fridge and the Worst Case Scenario board game. She picks cards #6, #24, and #7.

Bob will offer the contestant $2,500. She decides to go for the car.

An A. There's $2,000 up for grabs. She decides to go for the car.

Another A. Bob offers the contestant $1,500. She decides to go for the car.

It's a C. Bob offers the contestant $1,000. She decides to go for the car.

It's another A. Bob offers the contestant $500. She decides to go for the car.

It's an R! She wins the car!!!

James' Super Painful Bailout (November 15, 2006, #3763K)

His free cards are #22 and #20.

He bids $25 on the pedometer. A difference of $15. He gets no card.

He bids $35 on the recorder. A difference of $20. He gets no card.

He bids $45 on the stereo. A difference of $12. He gets no card.

Bob will offer the contestant $1,000 to forget about the car. He decides to take the cash.

The first card is an "A". But on the second card...

...he could've won the car!

Drew's Era

The cards have increased to $1,000 each, so a player can bail out with a max of $5,000 if they so choose.

Here's an up-close look of how many "C"s, "A"s, "R"s and the 2 cards that read out the word "CAR" there are in the game.

First Playing with Drew Carey (February 18, 2008, #4211K)

Her free cards are #8 and #4.

She bid $25 on the ice cream maker. She missed it by $9, so she gets another card and picks #30.

She bid $28 on the Sudoku game. She missed it by $2, she gets another card and picks #25.

She bid $20 on the batter dispenser. She missed it by $16, so she doesn't get the fifth card.

Drew will offer the contestant $4,000 to forget about the car. She decides to go for the car.

She wins the car!!!

Spelling Bee for a 1966 Pontiac GTO (May 10, 2010, #5161K)

Her free cards are #14 and #5.

She bid $40 on the blender. Off by $18. She doesn't get an extra card.

She bid $15 on the carafe. Off by $25. She doesn't get an extra card.

She bid $20 on the toiletry bag. Off by $3. She gets another card and picks #19.

He will offer her $3000 to forget about the car. She wants that car.

An R. He will offer her $2000 to forget about the car. She wants that car.

An A! He will offer her $1000 to forget about the car. She wants that car!

She won the car!!!

Spelling Bee for a 1956 Chevrolet Tow-Ten (September 23, 2011, #5635K)

Her free cards are #7 and #12.

She bid $25 on the painting kit. She missed it by $5, so she gets another card and picks #11.

She bid $15 on the measuring cup and got it exactly right on the nose. So she gets that and the vase, and two more extra cards and picks cards #9 and #5.

The vase was $50, by the way.

Drew will offer the contestant $5,000 to forget about the car. She will go for the car.

An A. Drew will now offer the contestant $4,000 to forget about the car. She decides to go for the car.

A C card. Drew will offer the contestant $3,000 to forget about the car. She decides to go for the car.

Another C. Drew will offer the contestant $2,000 to forget about the car. She decides to go for the car.

Another A. Drew will offer the contestant $1,000 to forget about the car. She decides to go for the car.

Sadly, it's another A.

Moses' Super Painful Bailout (January 27, 2016, #7383K, aired out of order on February 3)

His free cards are #17 and #24.

He bids $50 and gets no card, as he missed it by $14.

He bids $10 and gets no card, as he missed it by $13.

He bids $30 and gets no card, as he missed it by $23.

Drew offers the contestant $2,000 to forget about the car. He decides to take the cash.

His first card was a "C", but on the second card...

...he could've won the car!

Spelling Bee for a $120,265 Aston Martin GT (February 15, 2016, #7411K)

Her free card are #28 and #25.

This is the price of the 1st item. She bid $35. She missed it by $7, so she gets another card and picks #4.

This is the price of the 2nd item. She bid $55. She missed it by a buck, so she gets another card and picks #13.

This is the price of the 3rd item. She bid $35. Again, she missed it by a buck, so she gets yet another card and picks #9.

And for this special playing, we've jacked up the stakes: $5,000 for each card, so this player could bail with $25,000 if she so desires. But she's gonna go for the car!

What?!!! The word "Car" is found!

There are streamers everywhere. This is one reason to celebrate. But she won't be celebrating for long when she hears from Uncle Sam, as she has to pay a ton of taxes on that car!

Spelling Bee for $100,000 (February 19, 2018, #8221K, aired out of order on February 22)

Her free cards are #12 and #23.

Here's the frequency chart for the cards, which are altered as we're playing for "BIG" money today.

She bid $25 on the slow cooker. She missed it by $2, so she gets another card and picks #17.

She bid $40 on the hairdryer. She missed it by $17, so she doesn't get another card.

She bid $40 on the ice cream maker. She missed it by $6, so she does get another card and picks #3.

He will offer her $20,000 to forget about the $100,000. She decides to go for it.

A B card. He will now offer her $15,000 to quit. She decides to go for it.

A G card! He will now offer her $10,000 to quit. She decides to go for it.

Another B. He will offer her $5,000. She decides to go for it.

And another B. (buzz, losing horns)

Sarah's Painful $2,000 Bailout (March 11, 2019, #8661K, aired out of order on March 4)

Her free cards are #11 and #21.

She bids $40 and gets another card. She picks #23.

She bids $30 and gets no card.

She bids $40 and gets no card.

Drew offers the contestant $3,000 to forget about the car. She decides to go for the car.

An A. Drew offers the contestant $2,000. She decides to take the cash.

Oh no!

And the last card was another A.

Custom pictures

Videos

Spelling Bee premiere (September 15, 1988, #6944D)
5 Straight same letter playing Spelling Bee
A perfect playing footage of Spelling Bee (January 8, 1999, #0965K)
Spelling Bee for a 1966 GTO (May 10, 2010, #5161K)
Mega Jackpot from Dream Car Week (February 15, 2016, #7411K)