Current:Home > InvestWheel of Fortune Contestants' Bad Luck "Curse" Shocked Even Ryan Seacrest -AssetBase
Wheel of Fortune Contestants' Bad Luck "Curse" Shocked Even Ryan Seacrest
View
Date:2025-04-18 17:05:20
Time to officially rename it the Wheel of Misfortune.
That's what three contestants learned the hard way on the Sept. 18 episode of Wheel of Fortune. The trio of Melissa Brickey, Brent Lau and Tanijah Johnson experienced such a string of bad luck that even new host Ryan Seacrest and the show's longtime star Vanna White were astonished.
On the episode, the three contestants were spinning during the Crossword Round, when each of them landed on "bankrupt" in three consecutive spins.
"Should we have a conversation with this wheel?" Ryan joked, before asking the wheel, "What are you doing to us?"
And it only got worse when Brent's next spin landed on "lose a turn," prompting Ryan to ask the group, "Who did something bad before they got here?"
Tanijah's next spin did allow her to guess a letter, but she was immediately hit with another "bankrupt," as was Melissa.
All of which prompted Ryan—who recently took over for former host Pat Sajak—to quip, "So, I'm new here. I've never seen anything like this before."
The 49-year-old then urged Brent to spin again and "break this curse," however Brent landed on "lose a turn" yet again.
The American Idol host couldn't hold back how stunned he was, turning his cohost and pleading, "Vanna? What is going on?"
The group then landed on "bankrupt" once again, prompting both Ryan and Tanijah to rest their heads on the wheel in exasperation.
Luckily, things finally turned around for the three with Melissa's next spin, which landed on $600 and eventually enabled them to solve the "Facial Features" puzzle: Eyelashes, pupils, cheeks, lips. Melissa ultimately went on to win the episode, taking a grand total of $60,050.
And despite having just started his Wheel of Fortune run, this is not the first time Ryan has found himself in uncharted Wheel territory.
During the Sept. 16 episode, contestant Vivian Tran landed on the "one million" wheel wedge and successfully landed on the million-dollar envelope during the bonus round.
"My heart is racing," Ryan said. "This is a first for me. You're playing for $1 million."
Unfortunately, Vivian was unable to solve the puzzle and missed out on the million—but still went home with $27,300 and a trip to Europe.
Although Ryan is still new at hosting the iconic game show, he's already left quite an impression on Vanna.
"He's doing an incredible job," she recently told E! News. "It's not easy. He makes it look easy."
She knew he would be fantastic from the get-go, adding, "He's so talented, he's so professional, he's so good at what he does. I'm so thankful."
As Ryan joked to E!, "If Wheel of Fortune is offered to you, you just don't say no. You'll have bad karma for the rest of your TV life."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (7139)
Related
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Georgia House Democrats shift toward new leaders after limited election gains
- Opinion: NFL began season with no Black offensive coordinators, first time since the 1980s
- More human remains from Philadelphia’s 1985 MOVE bombing have been found at a museum
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and More React to Craig Melvin Replacing Hoda Kotb as Co-Anchor
- The state that cleared the way for sports gambling now may ban ‘prop’ bets on college athletes
- Dramatic video shows Phoenix police rescue, pull man from car submerged in pool: Watch
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Trump hammered Democrats on transgender issues. Now the party is at odds on a response
Ranking
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Natural gas flares sparked 2 wildfires in North Dakota, state agency says
- Trading wands for whisks, new Harry Potter cooking show brings mess and magic
- Judge weighs the merits of a lawsuit alleging ‘Real Housewives’ creators abused a cast member
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks: Here's how to get your holiday cup and cash in on deals
- Jimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos'
- Beyoncé has released lots of new products. Here's a Beyhive gift guide for the holidays
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Stop What You're Doing—Moo Deng Just Dropped Her First Single
Are Dancing with the Stars’ Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber Living Together? She Says…
See Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's Winning NFL Outing With Kids Zuma and Apollo
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Padma Lakshmi, John Boyega, Hunter Schafer star in Pirelli's 2025 calendar: See the photos
5-year-old boy who went missing while parent was napping is found dead near Oregon home, officials say
Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie