When it comes to memorable moments onWheel of Fortune, it isn’t always about the wins. As exciting as it can be to watch someone celebrate their hard-earned success,occasionally,it is the losing momentsthat stick in the mind, especially when the contestant is particularly endearing. The perfect example of this was introduced last October.Jesse Larson, a nurse from Kentucky, had such a charming backstory and competed so well throughout the episode that it was almost impossible to root against her.
From the start of the episode, Larson’s cheery demeanor was on display. As she gradually gained supremacy during the game, it was exciting for viewers to see her come into possession ofthe coveted million-dollar wedge. Although this wedge was not a guarantee of the prize money and instead acted only as a chance to win the amount in the final round,it was the thought of the chipper nurse possibly winning this life-changing amount that made the episode so entertaining. But that was what made her ultimate loss after the final spin so gutting, if also memorable.
Nurse Larson Came Close to the Million Dollar Prize
There were high stakes in this game asLarson came close to earning the top prizeafter gaining the million-dollar wedge during a prize puzzle round. Admittedly, Larson had a slow start in the initial rounds, as fellow contestantSteve Wileyraced ahead by solving the first two tossups and the first puzzle. But Larson finally began to catch up, earning a wild card and the prestigious million-dollar wedge along the way. Everyone loves rooting for an underdog, and that’s what Larcon’s story seemed to be, and fans watched it build to a tense ending. Since she eventually won the game without landing on a bankrupt wedge, when Larson advanced to the final spin,the $100,000 envelope was replaced with the $1,000,000 card on the Bonus Wheel, putting even more on the line.
EvenWheel of FortunehostRyan Seacrestwas excited over the prospect of Larson competing for such high stakes, saying that his heart was pounding as Larson prepared to spin the Bonus Wheel. With the potential to earn the highest cash prize available in the series, Larson spun the wheel and prepared to solve the puzzle in the category “Phrase.” Unfortunately, Larson wasn’t able to solve the final puzzle, which turned out to be “Ahead of the Curve.” It may have been a small comfort when Seacrest revealed that while the million-dollar prize had been in play, the envelope Larson’s spin had landed on turned out to hold the $40,000 prize instead, as the top prize had been elsewhere on the wheel. Since she missed solving the final puzzle, Larson ended up walking away with the $16,400 she had previously earned.
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An Endearing Contestant Makes ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Better
Even though Larson didn’t winthe million-dollar prize, the possibility was that much more interesting to viewers because the Kentucky nurse was such an endearing figure. When introducing herself to the audience, Larson recounted how she met her firefighter husband,Adam, when a patient set them up on a blind date. The pair went on to make a strong match, spending the next eleven years together and coming to share two children. After Larson had provided her family backstory,Seacrest gushed that her relationship sounded likethe plot of a real-life Hallmark movie.
With her chipper persona, her profession helping people, and her charming family story,Larson is exactly the kind of contestant viewers can’t help but root for,right along with her firefighter hubby, who cheered her on during her Bonus Wheel spin. Even though Larson didn’t walk away with the million-dollar prize in the end, the thought of someone seemingly so deserving actually winning such an outrageous amount made the episode that much more interesting. Endearing contestants like Larson make game show series likeWheel of Fortunemore entertaining by giving the audience someone to root for.
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