‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Shocked By Player’s Solve With One Letter
Sometimes it only takes one letter to figure out the puzzle on Wheel of Fortune, but most of the time, that letter goes with at least a few more. It’s rare to see someone solve a puzzle with just one letter on the board, but that’s exactly what happened in the March 25 episode.
Tom Stednicki was already having a great game even before the final puzzle ahead of the bonus round. In fact, he was the one to spin the wheel when it came time to see how much each letter would be worth for everyone and he landed on $5000. “I don’t know if he’s happy about that or not because he’s got a big lead,” host Pat Sajak remarked. The category was On the Map, and with just an S on the board (pictured above), Tom solved it: Glacier Bay Alaska.
“Of course,” Sajak said. “How’d you do that?” According to Tom, “I looked a lot at maps before this game.” Still surprised, Sajak replied, “Oh, did you? That’s exactly what I would have said. I would have said it like eight letters down the road.” With a total of $33,048, Tom went to the bonus round, “unless you’d like to solve the puzzle now,” Sajak quipped.
That wasn’t the first time the host commented on the player’s game play. After Tom solved a puzzle, Living Things, earlier (Large Herd of Caribou), Sajak noted, “there was a hesitancy that scared the caribou out of me there.”
And Sajak echoed that sentiment when, during the bonus round, Tom (who chose Phrase) slowly selected his letters (I, M, G, and B) with the board reading _ T _ _ S _ _L_ _E. “You know, for a really good solver, you sound perpetually confused,” the host said. Though Tom’s selection only gave him an I in front of the T, Sajak thought, “if anyone can pull this out, maybe it’s him.” He was wrong; Tom only got as far as “It was a…” and kept trying “plane.” (The correct answer was It Was a Fluke.)
After time ran out, Sajak told him, with a laugh, “No, it wasn’t, no matter how many times you say it. That was a good try. I love your style. It’s rather chaotic.” He then showed him that he lost $50,000 and noted, “he kind of deserved that the way he solved puzzles there.” As the show went to commercial break, Sajak said to Tom, “I thought you were going to pull that out.”
What did you think of Tom’s game play, his solve, and the bonus round puzzle? Let us know in the comments section, below.
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P
The highlight of this episode wasn't this solve though, it was when this guy solved the prize puzzle and found out that he won a trip...to South Dakota. The look on his face went from "I won the prize puzzle" to "South Dakota? really?' in a flash. It was hilarious.
9 1
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B
Plenty of good things to see in So. Dakota; Mount Rushmore(them faces), the Badlands, Chief Crazy Horse, etc.I've danced with the Rosebud Sioux, and don't forget Deadwood and Sturgis.
5
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C
The Black Hills are beautiful.
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C
This is one of those times (which seem to be often this season) when Sajak makes a somewhat snarky comment. It's as if he tries to embarrass the contestant. I, for one, will not miss his presence next season.
8 1
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B
Yayyyyy, RYAN SEACREST! Can't wait.
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R
Please take Vanna with you Pat! She çan get another job, doesn't have to retire, just leave and let Ryan help select a letter toucher he likes!
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P
Leave Pat alone. He keeps the show alive!
10 4
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G
They've had a few of those super players lately. It feels like the fix is in. JMO
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R
The rigging is to make every month 'bhm', not just February, if you catch my drift.
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C
Very impressive!
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C
Tom Stednicki
Any relation to Ricky Stanicky? 😜
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O
Crazy.
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R
If people can’t see that it’s rigged than. Pat talks down on one race of people and when another race hits bankrupt he carries on as if someone died. It’s so biased now can’t wait till he’s gone. He’s like the fun makers I went to school with that act as they are smart and you are stupid
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R
Impossible to get that from one letter , ridiculous!!! It had to be fixed. I will never watch this phony show !
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O
The other answer was on caribou so there was an Alaskan theme- maybe a trip to win?
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R
Like terry said, he knew there was an Alaskan theme. But anyhow, maybe they're trying to help the pale contestants, too, sometimes.
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G
The fella seemed a bit odd, tbh
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R
Maybe an autistic savant?
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P
probably high functioning Asperger’s. It’s a lot more common. Often have aspects of photographic memory for certain things like maps. A little disjointed with connecting with people, but not as obvious as a savant. Lots of people in IT are on the spectrum.
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