Wheel of Fortune contestant Airica landed on a $1million wedge Wheel of Fortune The Wheel of Fortune contestant risked it on a mystery wedge shortly after Wheel of Fortune Airica had to give up the shot at $1million as the mystery wedge was a bankrupt Wheel of Fortune Some fans argued Ryan Seacrest didn’t ‘explain’ what was at stake to the Wheel of Fortune contestant ABC
Just minutes in, during a “Showbiz” puzzle, Airica found a $1 million dollar wedge, which could be swapped out for the $100,000 wedge in the bonus round.
“It could be very interesting later in the show,” Ryan declared as Airica flaunted the wedge for all to see.
Correctly solving the puzzle, she had an early lead of $15,600.
During the following puzzle, Airica landed on a $1000 mystery wedge and had the choice to unveil it or leave it after correctly selecting a “T.”
As she neared picking up the wedge Ryan said: “So Airica, those two T’s are worth $2000. You could keep those or you could risk them by whats seeing on the other side.”
“It could be a bankrupt or it could be $10,000,” he added.
“I’m gonna risk it,” she said as the audience gasped – and it turned out to be a bankrupt.
“Gotta take the mystery and the million-dollar wedge,” Ryan specified, motioning with his hand as it became clear Airica didn’t understand the stakes.
“Sorry about that!” Ryan added as she uttered, “It’s okay.”
Airica forfeited her $1 million wedge as Ryan and the players stood idly by.
However, fans pointed out that Ryan failed to disclose that she also had to give up the $1 million wedge ahead of time.
‘PAT WOULD’VE EXPLAINED THAT’
Fans took to social media to express that Ryan didn’t properly explain the rules like his predecessor Pat would have.
“Pat would’ve explained that if she took the risk, she would’ve lost the million-dollar wedge,” one X user wrote.
“Seacrest is doing okay but he’s yelling a lot,” wrote another. “He didn’t help the poor woman reminding her she had a million on a mystery wedge.”
“Pat would always remind the contestants if they look under the $10,000 they could lose their $1 million wedge. Ryan needs to do this too…” wrote a third.
“Just saw a horrendous play up there on the dumbest of all Wheel of Fortune plays,” wrote a fourth – putting it on the contestant. “This lady has the $million wedge. She risks it for 1% of that to go for the stupid 50/50 mystery $10k wedge….. and its a bankruptcy. STUPID.”
The potential misunderstanding may have also cost Airica the game, as she trailed with $17,000 in the end to Promise who wound up with $22,000 despite some questionable wrong guesses.
‘Gotta take the mystery and the million-dollar wedge,” Ryan told her after the fact Wheel of Fortune One fan wrote: ‘Pat [Sajak] would’ve explained that if she took the risk, she would’ve lost the million-dollar wedge’ Wheel of Fortune
RYAN SNUBS SAJAK
During Ryan’s highly anticipated host debut on Monday, there were a few speedbumps, one being he failed to name Pat Sajak while addressing viewers.
In his opening words, Ryan did not mention Pat, 77, who stepped down as WoF’s host last June, after a run that lasted over 40 years .
Ryan walked onto the brand new WoF set with Vanna as Jim Thornton announced his grand debut.
“And now together for the first time, here are the stars of our show, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White,” he said during the season 42 premiere.
“I still can’t believe my luck of being here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you,” Ryan shared taking center stage.
“And of course, my good friend Vanna White,” he continued, before thanking the show’s fans for a “very warm welcome.”
During his monologue, Ryan described hosting WoF as “a dream job”, adding, “I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it in Atlanta with my family.
“And I just know how special it is that ‘Wheel’ has been in your living rooms for the past 40 years,” the American Idol star said. “And I’m just so grateful to be invited in.”
While noting that he had “some very big shoes to fill,” Ryan didn’t acknowledge Pat by his name, before he concluded, “So, let’s play WoF.”
“That’s all he could say he has big shoes to fill?” one Instagram user reacted. “Couldn’t mention Pat’s name and thank him for all the years making wheel what it is? That’s a slap in the face.”
However, others defended Ryan for “tastefully” paying tribute to the legendary presenter.
“Pat doesn’t need another Pat on the Say-Jack!” another person replied to the comment. “Ryan didn’t overlook it, he did just right!”
Ryan Seacrest's Current Jobs
Ryan Seacrest is quite the workaholic, with the Hollywood multiphenate juggling perhaps more ongoing jobs than any other A-lister:
-Host of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC
Hard work pays off; according to Celebrity Net Worth, Ryan’s worth a fortune of $450 million
PUZZLE MISTAKE
While the American Idol host received upstanding reviews on social media, he was also called out for a significant flub.
Fans noticed the TV star failed to correct a contestant who mispronounced the word “ripened” while solving a puzzle.
The puzzle sought “vine-ripened tomatoes,” but Terry, who won the game with $26,498, said “riping,” which the host allowed.
Ryan appeared to ignore the mishap and eventually granted the player the win.
“Was it just me or did the guy say “vine-riping tomatoes” And not “vine-ripened tomatoes” Should Ryan have stopped that?!?” one Redditor wrote as reviews rushed in of the debut.
“He definitely did say “Vine-Riping”, and there was even a bit of a pause before his answer and the solve cue,” wrote another.
“That’s what I thought he said also, but maybe they didn’t want host controversy on the first show,” speculated a third.
‘HATE THE NEW SET’
Others have been critical of the more cosmetic changes, such as the brightly lit new set and the glitchy puzzle board.
One Redditor started a thread, “Ryan is ok but hate the new set. Also hate them showing the contestants at bottom during the toss ups. It’s a distraction. I just want to see the puzzle!”
A second person agreed, Yes!! I hated them showing the contestants too. It felt like too much of a distraction from the puzzle.”
“The three box was nauseating,” a third person pointed out. “Let the viewer focus on the puzzle!”
Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights at 7:30 p.m. Eastern – check your local listings.
Ryan’s host era has begun, and many fans have positive first takes on the host Wheel of Fortune The majority of the backlash from fans has seemingly been about the ‘bright’ set and ‘distracting’ toss-up puzzle display Wheel of Fortune Ryan Seacrest escorting out the iconic Vanna White during his second-ever episode ABC
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