‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans React After Contestant’s Controversial $56,000 Win
A Wheel of Fortune player’s game has sparked controversy with some viewers saying she answered incorrectly before winning $56,000. In fact some fans claim the game show contestant said the wrong thing in two puzzles and shouldn’t even have made it to the Bonus Round.
Vanessa Torres, from West Covina, California, played against Pam Mayberry, from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Mike Cook, from Jekyll Island, Georgia, on Monday, September 22. Torres is a woman whose friends and family say her love life should be turned into a movie.
Mayberry, a retired pediatric hospital social worker, solved the first toss-up. Cook, a retiree who takes land turtles on walks with his wife, solved the second.
However, Torres took the lead when she solved the first puzzle — “Unsupportive Customer Support” — for $3,800. Mayberry solved the next two puzzles, putting her in the lead after winning a trip to Tuscany, Italy, and a total of $14,795.
Torres solved the first two Triple Tossups. The second one was “Love Note.” However, some fans thought she said “Love Notes” even though her exact answer on replay seemed to suggest she said “Love Note” singular before Cook solved the last one.
“Did anyone noticed that she solved the puzzle wrong? she said Love Notes- where it should have said Love Note? $2,000 put her towards the final round,” a YouTube user wrote.
With the final puzzle solve of “Loaded Potato Skins,” Torres added $8,500 to her bank and surpassed Mayberry for the lead with $16,300. Mayberry had $14,795. Cook went home with $4,000.
Torres chose “What Are You Doing?” for the Bonus Round. She brought her mom, Zuli, with her. After being given “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” she picked “D,G,F, and A.”
The puzzle then looked like “_ND_LG_NG _ _SELF.” When the clock counted down, Torres said, “I’m Indulging Myself.”
“‘Indulging Myself’ is correct,” Ryan Seacrest responded. “I knew you would know it.”
However, some fans thought that she shouldn’t have been ruled correct since she added another word that wasn’t in the puzzle.
“She picked the right letters for an easy solve, but Ryan shouldn’t have let her fly till she said it correctly. There is no ‘I’m’ in the puzzle. Pat [Sajak] would not have allowed that for the win. She would have then noted her error and solved it correctly,” a viewer commented on YouTube.
“She added an extra word to the puzzle,” a fan said.
But, she was ruled correctly, and won $56,300, after having $40,000 added to her total.
Do you think she was ruled correctly? Let us know in the comments.
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
Anyone who watches on a regular basis knows the bonus round is different from the other rounds, as the contestant is allowed to "talk it out." So, as long as they say the phrase completely along the way, it counts. If she had said "um" first, instead of "I'm," or "Indulging itself," followed immediately by "Indulging myself," it would count. There's technically no difference, as long as they don't stick an extra word in the middle. The puzzles during the main show (except for the final one), are different, as they have to announce they are going to solve -- then it must be exact, because their incorrect guess would automatically start the next player's turn.
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P
Wrong, she said I'm not "um". I had my closed caption on and she definitely did not solve it right. She added a word which is blatantly against the rules. The producers should have relayed that to Ryan. The producers wear headphones, I know how it works because I've been in that business. They gave it to her plain and simple.
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C
I haven’t watched since the new host started but hasn’t Pat always said “talk it out”. I would anticipate her response to naysayers being something like “gee, I’m supposed to talk it out, right?” Smh
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O
She should have been ruled INCORRECT as she said I'M INDULGING MYSELF, instead of saying INDULGING MYSELF...It appears that Ryan and the judges MADE A LARGE BLUNDER 🤔.
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G
No I agree with what other people said, she added a word and Ryan should have cautioned her to say the other 2 words again to actually win. They bent the rules again because of Ryan's goofup! Are they even following the rules anymore? This isn't the first time for this borderline situation. I love Ryan but sometimes he really messes up!!
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G
I agree that you're supposed to say only what's on the board and don't add anything. But Ryan reacted and granted her the win. You can't take it back. It's a game show folks. Sometimes, in game shows, and in life things happen that don't seem fair. Guess what sometimes LIFE ISNT FAIR!!. Ryan is doing an amazing job. He's personable, friendly, outgoing,charming and perfect for the job as host. Everyone makes mistakes. Let it go.
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O
I don't watch Wheel, but the stories I see in my Google feed indicate to me that Ryan Seacrest is not that great of a host.
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G
It's always been "Say what you see, don't add anything!" She should have corrected what she said and Ryan shouldn't have said anything, until the clock counted down to zero.
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M
Just like in the "crossword" puzzles. They would add an "and" and be wrong. They are told not to add any other words.
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O
He cut a contestant off about there not being vowels left during the final puzzle last week as the guy went to answer the puzzle, then the guy ran out of time losing the guy the bonus round. The next contestant immediately answered the puzzle.
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C
He asked what was she doing? She said, I’m indulging myself.
He should have asked her, what is the answer to the puzzle? Which is Indulging Myself. It is the way he asked the question, which is why she said, “I’m” indulging Myself. Yes all need listen and not be so judgmental. You would have said something about it either way. The fact is, she answered the question he asked pertaining to the answer being correct 🍾
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P
She was wrong
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C
She should have been ruled out incorrect.
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B
I have mixed thoughts on this.
She did state the exact 2 words in the puzzle. Indulging myself,. She said the word "I'm" first which is not in the puzzle.
What if she had said "um"..indulging myself.. would that count as incorrect?
But if every word out of the contestants mouth, has to match EXACTLY with what's in the puzzle, then YES, Ryan Seacrest made a mistake!
I dont know what the rules state.
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O
Your first thought was exactly right, the bonus round is different from the other rounds, as the contestant is allowed to "talk it out." So, as long as they say the phrase completely, it counts. If she had said "um" first, like you mentioned, or "Indulging itself" then right after, "Indulging myself," it would count. There's no difference, as long as they don't stick an extra word in the middle.
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B
She added a word. Not allowed
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C
Seacrest is a clown who never should have been allowed to host the show. I wouldn't watch it anymore if it weren't for Vanna
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O
Yes yes deserve cause she said the words that was needed
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G
Very first night of the season opener so.eone landed on express. The contestant wanted to solve the problem leaving constances on the board and Ryan said no to make more money. Happened twice since beginning of new season
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P
Plain and simple she added a word which was "I'm". I have on closed caption during Wheel just for that reason. She had time to correct herself but didn't so she shouldn't have won. Explicit rules call for you not to add anything. She DID NOT say "um". You can't be selective when enforcement of the rules and Ryan needs to listen more closely.
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P
Oh Cloe. Didn't know that about the rules. Thanks for the insight
So she did win anyway. Good for her!
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P
Nope. Sad to say she added a word. Not correct but show said it was ok. So she wins.
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O
Watch Hollywood Access instead. Wheel is atrophying.
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R
Yes. She should've won. She said it. Nerds.....
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O
What amazes me are people who bitch about the littlest things in life, it’s entertainment, after the federal government gets their 37% & the state of California takes their state taxes out of her winnings. She’ll lucky to come out with very much in her pocket. The shows about entertainment it’s just like the NFL entertainment purposes only. Stop getting your feathers, ruffled more important things in this world to worry about than a game.
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O
All, it’s a game show. Instead of complaining about her answering Ryan’s question, be happy she won. This doesn’t really affect any one of us at all.
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G
It affects the game. Was she right or wrong?
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G
If she was ruled incorrect, people would still be all over them. No win situation. Plus, who lost out by her win?
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