'Wheel of Fortune' contestant gives horribly wrong answer and even Pat Sajak was confused: 'Uh, no'
"Wheel of Fortune" fans can't get enough of one contestant's bizarre guess to a puzzle.
Matt, who was in the lead with $9,900, spurred surprised reactions on social media with his incorrect answer on Thursday night's episode, which failed to include letters already displayed on the board: "THE N_ _T _ _ N_ R _ T _ _ N."
The real answer was "The next generation." Matt's guess?
"The best buttercup."
Host Pat Sajak responded in disbelief, quipping "Uh, no. Oddly enough, no." Users on Twitter also expressed confusion.
"On @WheelofFortune last night, one of contestants guessed “The Best Buttercup,” as the answer. Seriously?" user @darrelpullie tweeted alongside a clip of the episode.
"The best buttercup"...Matt. what are you looking at?" wrote user @Leesh__S.
"Not ONE letter in that word matched 'buttercup'!" @Lillayyyy wrote.
On @WheelofFortune last night, one of contestants guessed “The Best Buttercup,” as the answer. Seriously? 😂 #WheelOfFortune pic.twitter.com/Owqij66gQc
— Darrel Pullie (@darrelpullie) June 11, 2021
"The best buttercup"...Matt. what are you looking at? #WheelOfFortune
— Leesh (@Leesh__S) June 10, 2021
Not ONE letter in that word matched 'buttercup'!
— MeeZee 🇺🇸✝️☘️ (@MaryEmBern) June 10, 2021
Another user @wheelwatcha joked that "the best buttercup" sounded like "something a person might say when the anesthesia wears off."
"The best buttercup? #wheeloffortune @patsajak how did you not crack up laughing or make one of your hilarious faces?" user @Melroyvol joked.
“The best buttercup” sounds like something a person might say when the anesthesia wears off. #WheelOfFortune
— Wheel Watcher (@wheelwatcha) June 10, 2021
The best buttercup? #wheeloffortune @patsajak how did you not crack up laughing or make one of your hilarious faces? 😂 pic.twitter.com/YxGxcFFhWo
— Melissa (@Melroyvol) June 11, 2021
Despite his hilarious blunder, Matt still won the game, taking home $23,350.
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'Wheel of Fortune': Fans call for rule change after contestant loses on minor technicality
In April, another "Wheel of Fortune" moment was the talk of Twitter when a contestant lost the prize money to a technicality for including the word "and."
With only two missing letters on the board, the contestant, named David, took his shot at the puzzle, under the category Catch of the Day, by saying "sole, flounder, cod and catfish."
Unfortunately, this wasn't technically correct, because the word "and" wasn't on the board.
Host Pat Sajak reiterated the strict rule to David before he gave his answer, telling the contestant, "Don't add anything," when he said he'd like to solve the puzzle. Another contestant, named Danielle, solved it the next turn by saying the same series of words, but without any added conjunctions.
"David did that thing that's so easy to do," the host clarified. "He added an 'and.' "
Wheel of Fortune does not need to be like this#WheelOfFortune pic.twitter.com/EQ9E2R00dE
— Abolish the Filibuster (@slashkevin) March 31, 2021
"Wheel of Fortune does not need to be like this," wrote Twitter user @slashkevin, who posted a clip of the incident.
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Contributing: Charles Trepany
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant's 'best buttercup' guess was way wrong
