A contestant’s blunder during the bonus round of Wheel of Fortune left host Ryan Seacrest visibly puzzled.
On the November 18 episode, Joey Sweet — a program director from Oceanside, California — was just moments away from claiming a \$40,000 prize. The category was “Phrase,” and Sweet was staring at a nearly solved puzzle when he made his final guess.
The puzzle read, “CA_ED’ _ _ _AND,” after Joey Sweet picked the letters C, D, M, and A — plus an extra “F” thanks to his Wild Card. His guess, “Cleared in hand,” sounded plausible at first, but the clock ran out without a correct solution. The actual answer was “Carved By Hand” — a tricky phrase that left both Sweet and viewers a bit frustrated.
Vanna White, clearly hoping for a win, threw up her hands in disappointment when the answer was revealed. Host Ryan Seacrest, who has led the show since 2021, quickly offered words of encouragement. “You were on the right track. This is a tricky one,” he told Sweet before opening the gold envelope to show the \$40,000 prize he narrowly missed. Seacrest added, “Tough one — even with the head start,” nodding to Sweet’s use of the Wild Card.
Even though he missed out on the grand prize, Joey Sweet stayed positive and gracious. “It’s okay!” he said with a smile, showing he wasn’t too shaken by the tough puzzle. He still walked away with more than \$16,000 in cash and a vacation to Mexico — not a bad consolation at all.
The moment quickly gained attention online after a clip of the episode was posted to YouTube. Fans rushed to the comments, many agreeing that the puzzle was unusually difficult. “I don’t think I would’ve solved that unless I picked the exact right letters. Tricky one indeed,” one viewer wrote. Another pointed out that “By” can be especially tough to guess in the bonus round — a sentiment echoed across social media. One user on X (formerly Twitter) posted, “To be fair, ‘By’ is a difficult word to think of when it comes to 2-letter guesses on Wheel. #WheelOfFortune.”
This slip-up came just a week after another viral moment involving Will Jordan, a police officer from Connecticut, who made headlines for his off-the-wall guess: “Treat yourself a round of sausages.” The actual answer? “Give yourself a round of applause.”
As these amusing misfires continue to light up the internet, one thing’s clear — Wheel of Fortune never fails to serve up surprising and unforgettable moments.
