Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ fans are upset after contestant loses $100,000 over an ‘impossible’ puzzle (marketrealist.com)
“Rummaging in the Backyard”? Wheel of Fortune Fans Cry Foul Over “Impossible” Puzzle
Another Wheel of Fortune contestant, another heartbreaking loss in the Bonus Round. This time, it’s Kristyn Hobbs who felt the sting of defeat, missing out on a $100,000 prize. While she’d already secured $18,000 and a trip to Peru, the Bonus Round puzzle proved too much of a challenge.
Presented with the category “What Are You Doing?” and the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E, Kristyn chose G, C, H, and I.
The resulting puzzle: “R_ _ _ _GING IN THE _ C _ R.” Even with 10 seconds on the clock, Kristyn couldn’t crack the code, which was ultimately revealed to be “Rummaging in the backyard.”
Fans online quickly voiced their frustration, arguing the puzzle was unreasonably difficult. Many questioned how often the phrase “rummaging in the backyard” is actually used, suggesting alternatives like “closet,” “garage,” or “junk drawer” would have been more common. One commenter even pointed the finger at the puzzle writers, asserting the loss was due to their “ridiculous” choice of phrase, not Kristyn’s inability to solve it.
This incident echoes a previous controversy earlier this year when contestant Jim Venckus failed to solve “Popping the cork” for the $100,000 prize. Adding insult to injury, host Ryan Seacrest was criticized for seemingly laughing at Jim’s misfortune, sparking further outrage among viewers. Some fans speculated that Seacrest’s high salary made the contestant’s loss seem less significant to him, while others simply found his reaction inappropriate given the substantial sum of money at stake.