Often, when a contestant doesn’t know the reply to their Wheel of Fortune bonus puzzle, it’s plain as day as a result of they’ll’t cover their puzzled facial features when the timer begins. However in a uncommon occasion final week, a participant had viewers satisfied she would resolve what many dubbed an “simple” bonus puzzle based mostly on her response — earlier than continuing to do something however.
The swift flip of occasions occurred on Tuesday, November 26’s episode, and it concerned contestant and “large hugger” Katheryn from Arlington, Tennessee. She gained the sport after racking up $14,176 in money, a visit to Costa Rica, and barely overtaking opponent Oleh after Ryan Seacrest’s controversial host transfer of not reminding Oleh to select a letter. She chosen “Meals & Drink” as her class.
Together with her husband of 16 years cheering her on off-sides, Katheryn was confronted with a three-word puzzle. She chosen an “MDCO” as her extra letters. The puzzle learn as, “‘_RO_EN’ ‘ORN_E_’ ‘_ _ _CE.’” Earlier than the 10-second timer began, Katheryn burst into a huge grin. Vanna White appeared to take discover, mirroring her confidence with an enthusiastic smile from the puzzle board.
However when the 10-second timer started, Katheryn didn’t say the reply. “Orange?” she uttered, understanding the center phrase. “Brown, floor?” she guessed attempting to sound out what the primary phrase may very well be. White’s smile pale and the timer ran out, making for a jarring juxtaposition to how issues began out.
The puzzle crammed in and Seacrest assured her, “You had been onto one thing with ‘Orange,’.” The puzzle was displayed in full to be, “FROZEN ORANGE JUICE.” The viewers moaned and Katheryn exclaimed, “Juice!” upon the conclusion of the third phrase, it turning into abundantly clear she really solely knew the center one all alongside.
The sport present shared the large miss on YouTube, the place many followers shared they acquired the reply immediately and others thought she had carried out the identical based mostly on how she was smiling.
“How may she not get it?!” the highest remark learn.
“Idk she was smiling like she knew it however didn’t I assume,” wrote one other.
“That is simple resolve…” wrote a 3rd.
“Her smiling made me assume she was going to get it however apparently not,” agreed a fourth.
“I acquired orange juice immediately however ngl i’ve by no means heard of FROZEN orange juice so possibly she was caught on that,” wrote a fifth.
“Acquired this off the RSTLNE. Doesn’t occur fairly often for me,” flexed a sixth.
“I’m sorry Kathryn, you might be strolling away with $14,176. Congratulations!” yet another surmised.
After the staggering 1/5 bonus spherical week on Friday, the least profitable for Seacrest as host up to now, followers took to a different YouTube feedback part questioning what was occurring. Many blamed the “powerful” puzzles whereas others urged the producers to select stronger contestants (admitting strain performs a component).
“Right here we go once more! Yet one more unhealthy week of Wheel of Fortune,” one fan wrote beneath the clip of Friday’s miss.
“What’s flawed with the contestant pool this week? 4 blown Bonus Rounds in a row on simple puzzles for the minimal!” wrote a second.
“That is loopy that these puzzles are usually not being solved,” a 3rd wrote.