Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ contestant loses a car because of one word, then lets out a loud groan (marketrealist.com)
So close, yet so far! A “Wheel of Fortune” contestant experienced the agony of defeat in a recent episode, narrowly missing out on a brand-new Mercedes-Benz.
Contestant Wanda had a stellar run, racking up over $21,300 and a trip to Portugal. Her success propelled her to the Bonus Round, where she chose the “Thing” category.
Despite a helpful selection of letters, the five-word puzzle remained stubbornly obscured, showing only a few Ts. With the chance to choose additional consonants and a vowel, Wanda opted for H, C, D, and A.
This unveiled “A ATCH _ _ TH_C _ _ _,” leaving Wanda tantalizingly close to solving the puzzle.
She correctly guessed portions of the phrase, but stumbled on the final word, offering guesses like “a match of thick” and “a watch of thick.” Time ran out before she could land on the correct answer: “a patch of thick fog.” Host Ryan Seacrest commiserated with Wanda, highlighting how close she’d come.
The sting of defeat was amplified by the knowledge that the puzzle’s solution held the key to a new Mercedes. Wanda’s audible groan and gesture of despair captured the heartbreaking moment. Seacrest, ever the gracious host, reminded her of her impressive overall winnings, which seemed to lift her spirits.
This unfortunate loss added to a string of Bonus Round defeats last season, frustrating fans who watched 15 consecutive contestants fall short. Online comments sections buzzed with viewers lamenting the streak and expressing hope for a future winner.