NO WORDS
Pat Sajak admits ‘that’s frustrating’ as Wheel of Fortune contestant misses out on big prize by one letter in brutal end
He said so many pronouns, except the correct one
A WHEEL of Fortune contestant has botched Monday's prize puzzle in such a shocking fashion that even the often prickly Pat Sajak felt for him.
The bonus round took a brutal spin for mechanical engineer and world traveler Ryan, who fell just one letter short of a new Infinity.
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With the highest score of $11,550, Ryan proceeded to the bonus round, where the biggest prizes awaited.
Joined by his girlfriend, he selected “Phrase” as his category and chose "DCGA" as his additional letters.
The four-word puzzle read as: “_E' 'CAN' '_ _ _ _CE' '_AC_’” and with that, the ten-second timer began.
Ryan talked it out: “He Can Chance Back, 'He can bounce back?' 'He can bounce back!?'” he repeated as the audience cheered, seeming to think he was on the money.
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However, the timer continued as Ryan tried to figure out what he said wrong: “Me Can Bounce Back?!”
The timer ran out, and he could not get to the right pronoun in time.
Before the full puzzle was even displayed, Ryan realized his flub.
“We Can Bounce Back,” he somberly said as Vanna White reeled in disappointment.
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“The one [letter], it’s okay,” Ryan uttered.
“You know, that’s frustrating,” Pat, 77, had to admit.
“You did it just the right way. You figured out what it was. You knew you were missing a word there.”
“You tried every letter and left one out.”
Pat revealed the prize wedge he plucked was a new Infinity, adding: “I know that’s disappointing, but you got that close!”
'FACE PALM'
Fans similarly felt for the contestant but were also shocked by the miss on social media.
One X user wrote: "Final puzzle on wheel of fortune was “we can bounce back.” Guy guessed “me” and “he” for the first word but his brain froze before he could say 'we'."
Another posted: "He’ll never bounce back from that botched bonus puzzle try. That aired on #NationalPuzzleDay no less!"
A third simply reacted with a series of face palm GIFS.
SASSY SENDOFF SEASON
The soon-to-retire Wheel of Fortune warhorse has been much harsher to other contestants during his sendoff 41st season.
Last week, Pat mocked a contestant who struggled with a puzzle, comparing it to "pulling teeth."
He told another contestant who missed their bonus puzzle: "You were so not close."
And just recently, fans slammed Pat as "disrespectful" for screaming "shut up" at a contestant.
Last month, an unvictorious bonus prize saw a player snap: “What kind of puzzle is that?”
Pat looked shocked by the pushback and zinged back: “It’s a puzzle you didn’t solve.”
In November, the host gave it to the contestants after each made an incorrect guess on a puzzle.
He snarked to the player who solved it: “You were bound to get there eventually. There are only so many words in the English language.”
“Aw!” another contestant could be heard yelling off-screen as the audience nervously laughed.
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A winner from earlier this season exclusively told The U.S. Sun that he was apparently outshining Pat with his showmanship, causing the host to pull him aside and warn: "This is my show."
Pat is retiring at the end of the now-airing season in June 2024 to make way for Ryan Seacrest, who will begin hosting next fall.
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