Sometimes the pressure just gets to people on game shows.
And sometimes luck just breaks the other way.
But when both things happen, this Wheel of Fortune disaster had fans squirming in their seats.
The game show Wheel of Fortune has been on the air since 1975.
In 1981, Wheel of Fortune’s creator, Merv Griffin (who also developed the game show Jeopardy!, which has been on the air since 1964) hired Pat Sajak to take over hosting duties from Chuck Woolery.
In 1983, after much success as a daytime game show, Wheel of Fortune became a syndicated evening program.
It has remained on the air continuously since that time, with Sajak and Vanna White as co-hosts.
During each episode of Wheel of Fortune, contestants compete to solve word puzzles.
Players spin the big wheel to determine prize money and each player can buy vowels to help solve the puzzle.
But the wheel also contains slots like “bankruptcy,” and “lose a turn” that can change the entire course of the game in one spin.
Sajak and White guide the players through the game with witty exchanges and playful banter to help make the game more exciting for viewers.
In all those years the co-hosts have seen some amazing things.
And some not-so-amazing!
This nearly five minute segment of puzzle cluelessness was no exception.
Not only could the contestants not figure out the simple phrase, even though there were only a couple letters missing, the madness was increased by repeated bankruptcies and bad spins.
The audience began to audibly groan and Pat Sajak had to muster up all his years of professionalism to remain in control.
Not since his years in Vietnam had Sajak been faced with so much pressure.
And fans took to social media to share their thoughts as well.
“People get nervous on game shows but this was ridiculous!”
“This is physically painful.”
“This has to be the most painful, but hilarious moment in Wheel of Fortune history. ‘Another feather in your…’ What?”
And our Right News Wire team’s personal favorite: “Shout out the public education system! How did the lady offer up hat when t and h are on the board already?”
There have been some memorable moments on Wheel of Fortune through the decades but this one may take the ca_e.
