‘Wheel of Fortune’ Audience Boos ‘Unfair’ Puzzle as Contestant Misses $1 Million Jackpot
Audience members at the taping of the May 22 edition of Wheel of Fortune were openly disappointed on behalf of finalist Paul Dodson who lost out big-time when faced with a devilishly difficult puzzle. They outright booed when Dodson was unable to complete the puzzle and the answer was revealed to be a near impossible-to-guess word under the category “What Are You Doing?”
At that stage of the game a $1 million jackpot was up for grabs.
With the usual accompanied R, S, T, L, N, and E, the puzzle board read: “_ _ _ _ _ L _ N _.” Dodson guessed the letters C, H, P, and A, none of which appeared on the board.
The final answer was revealed to be “Quibbling” to which the audience first gasped at then proceeded to boo. (Fittingly so, the definition of quibbling is “arguing or raising objections about a trivial matter” according to Oxford Languages.)
Dodson, beside host Pat Sajak, encouraged audiences to boo louder, using his arms to encourage them to raise the volume, before laughing in jest shortly after.
Sajak, however, did not find the uproar funny.
The often-sassy host turned to the audience and said point-blank, “Who asked you?”
The audience responded in laughter and applauded the host.
Sajak then presented the card that Dodson had picked for his final spin, revealing that Dodson had lost out on an Infiniti car. The veteran host also pointed out where the $1 million card was, not too far away from Dodson’s choice.
Dodson, a married dad-of-two from Aurora, Ohio, had amassed $33,550 against his opponents Venetia Brown from Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania and Jessica Huffman from Moore, Oklahoma. Huffman finished in second with $7,550. Brown finished in third with $2,000.
For his final round category, Dodson picked “What Are You Doing?” over “Thing” and “Phrase.”
Fans have taken to the game show’s social media pages to echo the upset felt by the in-person audience, seconding that “quibbling” was too difficult a word for anyone to guess.
“I gotta agree with the audience there,” wrote a fan. “That was terrible.”
“Evil bonus round puzzle!” wrote another. “Evil!”
“That was unfair beyond belief,” expressed one fan. “They’re right to boo.”
What did you think of Dodson’s final puzzle? Let us know in the comments section below.
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R
Kind of a misleading headline, don't you think? He didn't land on the million dollar space. Although he "lost out on a million" that wasn't what he was playing for. Not to quibble, but.......
32 2
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I agree it was too hard. They also knew that the RSTLNE was almost useless. That's what makes it even more unfair.
21 3
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R
Great point! The majority of those 6 letters should show up.There was no second word for any reference either.
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The audience was right to boo. The bonus round puzzles this season have been more difficult than past seasons.
23 6
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A ridiculous puzzle. I booed at home as well. Come on Wheel of Fortune you can certainly provide better entertainment than this. We are all "quibbling" over the solution to this puzzle!
19 3
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BTW, has anyone but me noticed how 9 times out of 10, and more, when a contestant lands on the $10k/bankrupt space it turns up bankrupt? Wheel needs to reveal what's under the other space, right away!
15 3
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R
It was a horrible puzzle
13 1
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One would have had to be very lucky on that puzzle. Almost impossible.
13 1
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R
"Quibbling" is the most difficult word I have seen as a final puzzle.
13 1
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Bogus solution. I booed at home when it was revealed.
9 2
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R
I practically stopped watching when the show appeared rigged and not when Pat would give the wheel its final spin, but more to the point when certain contestants could win a puzzle with one or two letters, or the bonus puzzle with less hard words to figure out in 30 seconds. I ve been watching these last few because Pat Sajack is retiring as host. He's always had a spunky; funny, sassy attitude and will be missed! Seacrest isn't a game show host, he's eyecandy to keep the younger generations tuned in. My thought overall on tonight's game? Either keep these types of words on ALL the puzzles after June 4th, or not at all, but give the contestants you screwed out of a real possible win, the chance to really try
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R
Imagine someone saying they were quibbling. 🤨
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R
Wheel... has certainly had had some really bogus, ridiculous even, clues these days. Like concrete driveway and gravel walkway for place?? C'mon, Wheel, between this and Pat leaving, I may just switch to books and save the power to run the TV until something better comes on.
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D
I never would have thought that wheel of fortune would use that type of word just so Paul wouldn’t be able to guess it! I can see why the audience Booed I did at home
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R
A rarely used word is a cheap trick,,Big Boooo
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I BOOED along with the audience. WHEEL OF FORTUNE at times will pick puzzles that they assume that the contestant will never pick letters to solve puzzle.
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No body says QUIBBLINGWHEEL DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE AWAy money!!!!!!!
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It will be a while before I watch again! The trust factor has been broken. It's no longer an honest game.
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No one uses the word Quibbling not even Pat Sajak
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Ridiculous no one would have guessed that. I don't know of anybody that uses that word
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R
I usually get tired of these ridiculous, whiney articles about the puzzles on WoF! But this WAS horrible. I bet even if the letters came up QUI_ _ING that NO ONE would have guessed QUIBBING! They would have quickly dismissed "B" and gone down the alphabet to "L" - QUILLING! I've always wondered the purpose of these tvinsider videos complaining about the show. Probably gets more views and responses because of the outrage and tenacity of WoF fans!
5 3
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Quilling doesn't even fit. There aren't that many words that start with Q, if they started it with your example it would have been easy
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R
The word is quibbling, not quibbing
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Absolutely unfair!
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Impossible to come up with that answer. Boo
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Way too difficult word ! Who even generally thinks of Q word being used on the show for the bonus round?The guy should get a second chance, for sure. Shame on you, W.O.F. !
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R
I think it was very unfair. How often do you use the word quibble? I also think that it is time for old Pat to pack his vowels and attitude and go.
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Boycott the show
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I don't watch Wheel or Jeopardy anymore.When Alex died it was over.
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R
Why say such ugly things? I will never understand this sort of thing.
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Horrible puzzle!!!! Never heard of the word!
3 2
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Horrible puzzle! Totally unfair!!
2 1
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R
Is that even a word in the dictionary ?? That would not have been something you would think of. It's almost like one of those words made of when you can't think.of anything else to say.
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It is a business. They don't give away money easily!
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R
It is fair. He chose the category. He did not lose a million so where is the issue. Just the possibility. It’s not the first time for a tough word.
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R
I think as many others, that was a terrible word to put on the puzzle!With words like quibbling there won't be many people going home a winner! Not sure who picked the word, but you deserved a big boooooo! For your choice.
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I don't agree. Apparently these people have not been watching The show. I can think of quite a few shows where I thought the puzzle was extremely difficult. His was no different. The chances are you pick the right letters are 50/50. Sometimes people can read the letters they pick and Sometimes they can't. It's a crap shoot. What Are You Doing, is a hard topic. I would have chosen, Phrase. I think he would have done better with choosing Phrase.
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The average person would not even know this word as it is rarely used. This was totally unfair, as most game shows are. It's not like their going to make giving a million dollars easy. 😜
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It's a game show not free government money.
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R
It was there way of insuring he didn't win the million. Pretty underhanded
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R
Terrible puzzle as alot have horrible lately....
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Not all final puzzles are easy. I would have guessed that there was a double letter, but probably still wouldn't solve it.
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QUIBBLING IS A LEGITIMATE WORD
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On the flip side, many puzzles are way too easy!
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R
As long as the show has been on, and having to come up with completely different answers for every game.....words like that have surely come up before! There are many that get a groan out of me.
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If he had guessed other letters, like b, q,u i then maybe he would have guessed the word. Those just aren't common choices.
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I agree with the comment about the totally misleading headline, but then again, that's SPAM for ya. He WASN'T going for a million!
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R
“As Contestant Misses $1 Million Jackpot”…Your headline is misleading.🙁. He would not have won the million dollars, even if he had gotten the puzzle right.
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After all, it was the BONUS round. Has to be tough.
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Well after all what are we doing here, but quibbling over quibbling. This is not a trifling matter to quibble over I must agree though with the audience. To be fair though Pat Sajak does not pick the clues or answers to the games.
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