‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant ‘Steals’ Final Puzzle & Gets Huge Win
It was a tense game of Wheel of Fortune on Thursday night (March 14) as one contestant swooped in at the last moment to clinch the final puzzle and cement their spot in the Bonus Round.
The contestant in question was Max McGee from Lake Barrington, Illinois, who told host Pat Sajak he watches the show every day at 5:30 am after recording it the night before. He also revealed he was on the musical variety television series Dance Fever back in the 1980s.
McGee had reason to dance after Thursday’s game, where he snuck in at the last second to “steal” an answer from fellow contestant Patricia Blackburn-Hunt from Miami, Florida.
For the final puzzle of regular play, the three contestants, including New Rochelle, New York native Billie Kolinsky, were trying to figure out a five-word puzzle under the “Phrase” category.
With the letters on the board reading, “_ / _ _ _ T _ N _ /_ _ / T_ _ / _ _ N _ _,” Blackburn-Hunt made a bold play, choosing to guess the whole puzzle. She answered, “A Meeting of the Mind,” but was deemed incorrect.
After Kolinsky chose a letter rather than make a guess, it allowed McGee to jump in for the steal, answering correctly, “A Meeting of the Minds.”
Sajak congratulated McGee on the solve, which cemented his spot in the Bonus Round. The iconic host also praised Blackburn-Hunt, telling her, “That was a terrific guess, and I am so sorry. One letter got you there.”
“It would’ve been a great solve,” he continued, turning his attention to McGee. “Obviously, Patricia left that ‘S’ off. But you picked it up, and you end up as the big winner.”
Feeling confident after his victory, McGee decided to select the “Phrase” category again for the Bonus Round. He was faced with a board that read, “_E / _ RE / _O_ _ N_ / _OR_ _RD.”
While initially seeming stumped, his decision to stick with “Phrase” paid off, as he correctly answered “We Are Moving Forward” just before the ten-second timer ran out. Sajak had to check with the judges to ensure McGee answered before the buzzer, and they gave the thumbs up.
In addition to his $32,910 cash in regular play and trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, McGee earned himself a brand new Ford Mustang Convertible valued at $44,735, giving him a grand total of $77,645.
Some viewers felt like McGee didn’t deserve his spot in the Bonus Round, with one fan on X (formerly Twitter) writing, “Max definitely STOLE it from Patricia! He COULDN’T have done it on his own! He would’ve thought the puzzle solve was an “E”! LMAOOOOO!”
Another added, “2 minutes i’m shaking and i don’t think max should be in this bonus round of wheel of fortune.”
“That guy was lucky the blonde woman didn’t guess “a meeting of the minds” after that other woman messed it up,” said another.
What do you think? Did McGee deserve his spot in the Bonus Round? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
If you are going to recreate the puzzle in the article, you need to get the gaps correct. It should have been "_O_ _N_". I wouldn't feel bad for solving a puzzle after someone missed one letter. Especially when you have to wonder how one mind could meet.
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O
Good catch! You can send the author a note using the link at the top.
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O
I must be reading the corrected article.....
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G
Was won fair and square. Read the rules. One person loss is another persons gain
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P
He absolutely won it fair and square! Those are the rules!
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G
There have been several instances where the previous contestant was unlucky in not guessing the answer, unfortunately, and the contestant who is next in line to guess the answer, even though it seems unfair to the previous contestant because they came so close to the answer. But the real question is, whether to deny the contestant who actually knows the answer, the opportunity to solve the puzzle, and therefore earns what’s coming to them? Yes, that’s the chance you take by being on the program, knowing such circumstances can take place, and be prepared for the outcome.
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P
Exactly.....that's the way it's always been!
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C
Rules are rules, he won. That's the problem with the "every child a winner" mentality.
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R
Everyone knows the rules of the game. Its unfortunate that she guessed it without the S, for that it goes on,she knew that when she was solving the puzzle. So yes I believe he did deserved it.
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P
He won fair and square. Although THEY don’t like it, there are rules that need to be followed. Good job Max!
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G
Of course he deserved rved the win.
The whole game is based on building a right guess by fellow contestants.
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C
It's a game people and he won it fair and square!
Sad for the other contestant who made a brilliant stab at it, but, it's a game.
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O
Your answer is either right or wrong.
There is no "almost right" in a game.
You either guess the answer correctly or you don't. Previous contestant didn't give correct answer so no way should they win. Next contestant got correct answer so they should win..
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C
She didn’t give the right answer, which is obvious. He deserved the win. It has happened many times on the show. I honestly don’t understand people begrudging this man . Geez a whiz, get a life!!
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B
Deserving.
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O
I think time ran out for him .Buzzer went off.He should have not won.
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