Pat Sajak celebrates 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant's mistake: 'We get to keep the money!'
You won't be able to look away from the latest "Wheel of Fortune" flub.
On Monday's episode, the first installment of the long-running syndicated game show's 2024 fan-favorites week, the contestants started prematurely celebrating what they thought was a correct answer — only to find out the guess was wrong.
After Michigan's Cynthia King solved two phrases, she was stumped by the third and final phrase presented in that round: "_ _ n'_ l_ok aw_ _." Hawaii's Rufus Cumberlander rang in and guessed "Don't look away."
"No, no, no, no no!" Sajak said as Cumberlander fist-bumped King and Luidgi Altidor of Brooklyn, New York on either side of him. Even Vanna White was applauding the answer.
As the puzzle board filled in the letters, the last one revealed "Can't look away."
"Everybody is congratulating everybody," Sajak said as the contestants reacted in dismay. "And: We get to keep the money!" Sajak added victoriously.
What to know about the last episode: Release date, how to watch Pat Sajak’s last show
The contestants' over-confidence comes on the heels of a viral moment the show experienced last week, when Tavaris Williams saw "_ _ _ _ i_ t_e b _ _ t!" on the board and guessed "Right in the butt!"
As his fellow contestants and the audience reeled from an uncharacteristically crude guess, consummate professional Sajak replied: "No." As it turns out, the phrase read "This is the best!"
After four decades at the helm with White, Sajak is down to his final episodes of "Wheel." On June 7, the show will air its Season 41 finale, which will mark the host's last. The final week, whose theme will be "Thanks for the memories," will feature tributes to Sajak.
This fall, Ryan Seacrest will take the reins as host. He'll be joined by Vanna White, who in September extended her contract with the game show through its 2025-26 season.
Pat Sajak will continue working on 'Wheel of Fortune' as a consultant
Suzanne Prete, the EVP of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, honored Sajak's legacy in a statement issued shortly after announcing his impending retirement.
"As the host of 'Wheel of Fortune,' Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years," she said. "We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season."
Pat Sajak highlights: Look back at the best quotes from the 'Wheel of Fortune' host
Sajak "has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting," Prete revealed.
Sajak and White have hosted "Wheel of Fortune" in its current iteration since its debut in syndication in 1983, according to Sony Pictures Television Studios, which produces the show.
The concept was created in 1975 by Merv Griffin as an NBC daytime show based on the popular game “Hangman," per Sony Pictures Television.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pat Sajak celebrates 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant's embarrassing flub
