Viewers were left feeling frustrated after a tense episode of Wheel of Fortune, where one contestant lost out on a brand-new Jeep due to a challenging Bonus Round puzzle. This loss also resulted in an awkward moment when he forgot the breed of his own dog during a casual chat with the host.
The episode showcased three contestants: Michael Soltis from Pittsburgh, Eimi Smith from Austin, and LaShauan Swift from Chicago. Soltis, a union carpenter, had a difficult start, while Smith quickly took the lead. She won the first two toss-ups and successfully solved “Accidentally on Purpose,” earning $9,050. She further increased her total by solving “Sleeping Bag of Tricks,” bringing her total to $10,350.
Soltis made a remarkable comeback during the Prize Puzzle round. He grabbed a Wild Card and successfully solved “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” which won him a trip to Africa and increased his total to $14,690. Additionally, he triumphed in two out of the three triple toss-ups, while Swift, a retired paramedic from Chicago, managed to solve one of them.
Soltis continued his winning streak. He figured out the final puzzle “The Wild Wild West” despite only three letters being visible on the board. Ryan Seacrest remarked, “You got that one quickly,” and Soltis concluded the game with a total of $20,240. Smith ended with $10,350, while Swift walked away with $2,000.
Before the Bonus Round kicked off, Seacrest inquired about Soltis’s dog. Soltis shared, “He just turned three, half-weiner, half-beagle,” then nervously corrected himself and repeated it. Seacrest playfully asked, “Have you met him?” which prompted Soltis to laugh and refer to the dog as his “best friend.”
The Bonus Round category was titled “Places.” Once the standard letters were revealed, Soltis utilized his Wild Card to introduce K, C, Y, D, and O. The board displayed: Y OLD _ _NTS. He made guesses like “My Old Plants,” “My Old Points,” and “My Old Chonts,” but none were correct. The right answer was “My Old Haunts.” Had he solved it, he would have won a Jeep Wrangler.
Fans quickly took to the internet to express their opinions. One remarked, “That one was brutal – haunts never crossed my mind.” Another said, “I had no clue. That was a tough puzzle.” A third individual commented, “I’ve never heard that phrase before.” Many concurred that it was among the most challenging Bonus Round puzzles they had encountered.
