Wheel of Fortune Contestant Misses \$56,000 Over Technicality
A recent Wheel of Fortune episode had viewers in disbelief after a contestant lost out on \$56,000 due to a minor but critical mistake. Todd Meyer, a contestant from Las Vegas, was in the spotlight during a puzzle that featured answers with a common theme. He successfully identified all four answers: Time, Animal, Decorations, and Bus—each meant to follow the word “Party.” However, when he read them out loud as “Party Time,” “Party Animal,” and so on, he was disqualified.
The issue? Contestants are required to say only the exact words displayed on the board, not add anything extra. Because Todd included the common theme word “Party” in each of his answers, it was ruled incorrect. Another contestant, Sheree Corder from Tampa, Florida, jumped in with the precise responses and was awarded the win.
The decision sparked heated reactions from fans, many of whom felt the rule was unclear and inconsistently enforced. Some viewers pointed out that the host didn’t explain the rule clearly beforehand, calling the outcome unfair.
Despite the setback, Todd didn’t walk away empty-handed—he later earned \$10,000 in the Triple Toss-Up round. Fellow contestant Latricia Randolph from Tennessee won a trip to Ireland and a total of \$12,190. Meanwhile, Sheree advanced to the Bonus Round with \$16,600 and a Wild Card in hand.
In the final puzzle, the category was “Phrase,” and the board revealed the letters: _ _ _ _ P IT _P. Despite using helpful letter choices, Sheree couldn’t solve it. The correct answer? “Whoop It Up.” Many viewers criticized the puzzle, calling it outdated and confusing.
Sheree missed out on an additional \$40,000, finishing with \$16,600. Though Todd didn’t win the big prize, his controversial moment became the talk of the night—and a memorable moment in Wheel of Fortune history.
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