Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestant loses $40,000 after failing to choose the right letters (marketrealist.com)
“Wheel of Fortune” Contestant’s Bonus Round Blunder Leaves Fans Craving “Baked Ziti”
Los Angeles, CA – A night of impressive puzzle-solving and exotic dream vacations on “Wheel of Fortune” took a turn in the Bonus Round for contestant Mandy, who, despite a strong performance, ultimately missed out on a cool $40,000. Her Achilles’ heel? A classic Italian-American dish that left many viewers scratching their heads at her letter choices.
Mandy, accompanied by her sister Marie and friend Kimberly, had a fantastic run leading up to the final round. She kicked off her winnings with $2,600 in the Mystery Round, solving “Bounding father figure.”
She then secured a luxurious Costa Rica trip, valued at $9,798, by deciphering “An Emerald Wonderland” in the Prize Puzzle. Her sharp wit continued through the Triple Toss-Up, adding another $4,000 to her cash pile by solving “First things first” and “If it’s not one thing it’s another.”
Ultimately, she emerged victorious from the main game with $24,048 and the Costa Rica getaway after solving “The moral of the story” in the Final Spin.
However, the “Food and Drink” Bonus Round proved to be her downfall. After receiving the standard R, S, T, L, N, and E, Mandy opted for the consonants C, D, H, and the vowel A.
The puzzle slowly revealed itself as: _, A, _, E, D, _, _, T, E. With just 10 seconds on the clock, Mandy’s guesses included “baked bath” and “baked city salted salt.”
The correct answer, “Baked Ziti,” a beloved pasta dish, remained elusive. This misstep cost Mandy an additional $40,000, though she still walked away with her $24,048 and the Costa Rica vacation.
Fans on social media were quick to react, many expressing disappointment over the missed opportunity and the choice of letters. “@sy-kd6km lamented, “Ziti is a delicious pasta, but the vowel and “Z” made me cry.” Others, like “@scottleung9587,” offered a glimmer of hope, reacting, “I think she said baked, and then ziti, but took too long of a pause in between the words. But still, congrats Mandy!”
The consensus among viewers was clear: the “Z” and the missing “I” were crucial. “@Animegamespublishing pointed out, “The I would have helped Mindy, but baked ziti is definitely my favorite food that I eat during the holidays.” Meanwhile, “@jeffreychen3069 complained, “Like I Said Before, None Of The Contestants Wants To Keep Picking A Z,” highlighting a common trend of contestants avoiding less frequent letters.
While Mandy’s “Wheel of Fortune” journey ended with a bonus round hiccup, her overall performance was certainly noteworthy, leaving her with a memorable trip and a substantial cash prize. But for many viewers, the image of a perfectly “Baked Ziti” might just be a little harder to shake.