When it comes toTV game shows,Wheel of Fortuneis definitely in a league of its own. For decades, the show has been astaple for people of all ages with its iconic format.In every episode, contestants spin a massive wheel to land on various prize amounts, and then, they have tosolve world puzzlesto take the jackpot home. WithWheel of Fortune,what you see is what you get. There areno game-changing twists or last-minute betrayals,and that’s what makes the show refreshingly simple and easy for everyone to follow.
The Worst Two Minutes of ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Wheel of Fortunehas featured quite a fewunforgettable puzzles in its 50-year run,but some of them manage to create a frenzy that goes beyond the fans’ usual excitement. During a March 2022 episode of the show, the contestants had to solve the phrase,“Another feather in your cap.”A contestant namedLaura Machadostarted by buying the vowel “o,” after which, she was able to guess the first four words of the rather common phrase. But things came to a halt for Laura when she confidently yelled out, “Another feather in your hat,” which was pretty close to the answer, but not quite.
But moments like these are exactly what makeWheel of Fortuneas entertaining as it is. Watching contestants fumble over what seems like a simple puzzle builds a tension that feelsjust as intense as the challenges onhigh-stakes competition shows. Machado throwing out one incorrect guess after the other was frustrating, but it kept the viewers hooked till the very last minute. Some of them even found themselves rooting for her,against all odds, and outlandish answers.
On the other hand, some guessed that Lipcombknew what the right answer was all along,but the poor guy just wouldn’t land on the right wedge of the wheel. Coleman, of course, was a different case altogether and decided to keep guessing alphabets, even though it was clear to most viewers that the puzzle was already practically solved. His guesses, “g,” “d,” and “p,’ seemed increasingly random, and evenPat Sajakcould barely contain his disbelief. It was almost as if he wasdetermined to make the puzzle more difficultthan it already was. But of course, none of the contestants were actually trying to fumble their shot at taking the prize home. It’s just that the pressure of knowing the answer was just a spin away really got to them.
Third-Grade Teacher Wins Car on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in Less Than a Second
Ryan Seacrest didn’t even have time to start the clock!
The Audience Couldn’t Peel Their Eyes Away From the Trainwreck
This two-minute clip of the three contestants struggling to solve one of the easier puzzles to have been featured on the show immediately went viral.The internet was torn, with some viewers in sheer disbelief at how three people could make so many incorrect guesses, while others found the whole thing absolutely hilarious. Now, it’s never unusual for viewers to take to social media and have intense discussions about TV shows. ButWheel of Fortuneis generally considered a pretty low-stakes show that doesn’treally spark such intense reactions.It’s an easy watch for the audience, something for them to casually enjoy without investing too much energy.
How Simple Mistakes Create Viral Moments
It might not feel like it, but all the social media traction this moment attracted just means that theshow accomplished what it’s supposed to.As mentioned before, the brilliance ofWheel of Fortunelies in the mindless mistakes contestants sometimes make, and this phenomenon is not a one-off. In a June 12, 2025, episode of the game show, a differentcontestant made yet another absurd guessthat had the internet in fits of laughter.Will Jordan, a Coast Guard veteran from Connecticut, guessed the phrase, “Treat Yourself a Round of Sausage,” when the correct answer was the very famous saying, “Give Yourself a Round of Applause.” The phrase becamea viral memeon the internet with viewers declaring it asone of theworst answers in game show history.
This moment emphasizes that,to viewers,Wheel of Fortuneis as simple as it gets.They know that the show is about straightforward problem-solving instead of complex strategy or random luck. But to the contestants, thepressure of performing in front of a live audiencemakes or breaks their experience, and that’s the chaotic genius of the show. This tension is what often leads them to forget even the easiest of phrases in the English language.
The combination of a universally known phrase and the increasing frustration from minor mistakes is relatable to just about everyone.Something as simple as one incorrect lettercan cost the contestants everything, turning even mundane moments into something much bigger. These little moments become viral because they highlight the human element of the game, proving that sometimes thesmallest missteps create the most memorable television.
Wheel of Fortune
