Fans of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune were left in sh0ck after a recent episode in which a player appeared to deliver the correct answer but lost out on a large cash award. Megan, a married high school choir director from California, found herself in the spotlight when she attempted to solve a riddle in the ‘Living Thing’ category. With $40,000 on the line, Megan faced the daunting task of interpreting a two-word answer.
Host Pat Sajak guided Megan to the puzzle board, revealing the partially filled phrase: ‘_ _ n _ ‘ _ R _ _ _ ‘. Despite having only a few letters to work with, Megan managed to make significant progress, transforming the puzzle into ‘P _ N ‘ ‘ RC _ D’. With the timer ticking down, Megan hastily offered her final guess, uttering what sounded like ‘pink orchid’ or perhaps ‘something orchid’.
As the countdown ran out, the correct letters appeared on the board, spelling out ‘pink orchid’. To Megan’s dismay, Pat Sajak gently advised her that she may have been overthinking her answers, hinting that it was not totally correct. Megan was then shown to have missed out on a huge $40,000, opting instead for a much lower award of $14,007.
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Despite Megan’s apparent acceptance of her windfall, many took to social media to express their surprise and support for her. Many others insisted Megan had spoken ‘pink orchid’, and some even rewatched the piece several times to corroborate their concerns. Fans agreed that Megan earned the full prize for her obviously correct answer.
This incident brought to mind a similar moment from a previous episode, where contestant Gishma Tabari gained viral attention for her unconventional response to a puzzle. Faced with the challenge of completing the phrase ‘TH- -RITI-S_-GR-E’, Tabari confidently guessed ‘THE BRITISH OGRE’, much to the amusement of both the audience and host Pat Sajak. Despite being given a second chance to reconsider her answer, Tabari stuck to her initial response, leading to a memorable moment on the show.
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When asked about her viral moment, Tabari acknowledged to feeling both embarrassed and amused by her own goof. She remained grateful for the opportunity to realize her lifetime dream of starring on Wheel of Fortune, a show she had followed since she was a youngster. Tabari’s imaginative estimate may not have won her any honors, but it left an indelible effect on both the audience and host.
In both Megan’s and Tabari’s cases, these incidents serve as reminders of the unpredictability of live television and the continued popularity of game programs such as Wheel of Fortune. Despite the rare blunders and missed opportunities, contestants and spectators continue to tune in, attracted by each episode’s thrill and suspense.