Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Ryan Seacrest’s jaw drops as contestant solves puzzles in seconds to win big (marketrealist.com)
Local Contestant Wows on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ With Lightning-Fast Puzzle Solving
Carmetta Wells, a local contestant, stunned viewers and host Ryan Seacrest with her incredible puzzle-solving skills on “Wheel of Fortune.” Wells dominated the competition, solving toss-up puzzles in mere seconds and securing an early lead against her rival, Nease. A critical misstep by Nease, who incorrectly guessed “New York Cheesesteak” instead of “New York Cheesecake,” further cemented Wells’ advantage, earning her a trip to the Conrad New York Downtown and a VIP experience at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
Wells continued her winning streak, sweeping the Triple-Toss-Up round and even achieving a remarkable one-letter solve. Entering the Bonus Round with $28,250, she selected “Phrase” as her final category.
After choosing her letters and using her Wild Card, the puzzle revealed “I H _ _ E _ N I D E _.” With the timer ticking, Wells instantly declared, “I Have An Idea,” winning an additional $40,000 and bringing her total winnings to $68,250, plus the New York trip.
A visibly impressed Seacrest congratulated Wells, remarking on her speed and expressing his excitement to celebrate with her in Times Square. Fans online echoed Seacrest’s amazement, with one YouTube commenter praising Wells’ quick thinking and wishing her a happy birthday and New Year.