Game offers This year saw some major changes, especially with the departure of Pat Sajak as host of Wheel of Fortune after 40 years.
Ryan Seacrest has taken over permanently, joining Ken Jennings as the new leaders of some of TV's longest-running shows, with showrunners providing viewers with some wild moments this year, from the loud to the awkward.
Check out the wildest game show moments of 2024 below, including the famous “Wheel of Fortune” player's explanation of his unexpected answer.
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Serious answer
Tavares Williams gave a viral answer to “Wheel of Fortune,” saying “Right in the ass.” (ABC)
“wheel of fortune” Racer Tavares Williams He became a viral sensation thanks to his May 23 appearance and NSFW answer.
During the throw puzzle game, the puzzle board had the letters of the phrase “_ _ _ _ /I _ /T _ E /B _ _ T!”
Williams quickly entered and said confidently: “Right in the back.”
His answer was met with a brief silence, then laughter from the audience, followed by a “What?” from fellow contestant Tyra, and a final “no” from Sajak as a look of utter surprise crossed Williams’ face.
The correct answer was “This/is/the/best!”
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“I tried to beat the contestants by going first and letting my mind catch up,” Williams told Fox News Digital of his now-famous television moment.
“And when my brain was ready to talk, I saw an R, I saw a B, and I saw a T. And I chose 'Right in the Ass'… And one time (host Pat Sajak) said, 'No,' 'Oh, that was the worst feeling,'” he continued, laughing. .
After taping, Williams had to keep the moment a secret from his family, who gathered to watch it live.
“My wife says, ‘I’m married to Mimi now,’” he said with a laugh, noting that his family has generally been very supportive.
Williams walked away with $9,500, but almost as soon as the moment aired, fans took to social media to have a good laugh at the tough answer.
WATCH: The 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant had to keep the blockbuster moment a secret from his family
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Making history low score
“risk!” Contestant Erin Booker had the second lowest score in the show's history. (ABC/Danger)
“risk!” The contestant had an unfortunate place in the show's history when she got the offer The second lowest score ever recorded.
Erin Booker, who walked away with a final score of -$7,200, told Fox News Digital that while she had a “pretty amazing” time recording the episode, she would describe it as an “out-of-body experience.”
“You look and see the evidence, but you don't remember which category you fall into,” she explained. “You remind yourself not to, you know, make weird faces because you're on live TV. … The way they record the broadcast is like the live show. They really try to keep things very tight.”
Although she didn't perform as well as she had hoped, Booker said she would “love to do it again.”
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Famous faces
“risk!” There were not one but two contestants making viewers do a double take this year.
The first was David Earp, who looked a lot like him Actor Clint Eastwood.
“David seems like a lot of different people. And Clint Eastwood is one of them,” he said in the “Jeopardy!” one fan wrote on Reddit.
Another on X, previously Twitter, shared, “Is it just me or does David in #Jeopardy remind everyone else of a young Clint Eastwood??”
“risk!” Contestant David Earp looked like Clint Eastwood, according to fans. (danger/ABC)
Another contestant who caught the attention of viewers is Father Steve Jakubowski, A Catholic priest from Michigan who quickly gained a lot of fans online.
“There's a hot priest on Jeopardy rn sending help,” one person wrote on X.
Father Steve Jakubowski told Fox News Digital that Ken Jennings and the rest of the “Jeopardy!” The crew was “very nice” to him. (ABC/Jeopardy!)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Jakubowski said that being in “jeopardy!” It was a “wonderful experience.”
“Ken and all the producers and team have been very kind to me about the novelty of having a Catholic priest on the show,” he explained. “I hope it gave a positive impression of my community and the church. The show airs at 3:30 where I live in Austin, so we had a viewing party at our parish school with our students and their parents – so much fun sharing that with our parish.”
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Second day on the job
Ryan Seacrest replaced longtime host Pat Sajak after he retired last year. (Ryan Seacrest Instagram)
Seacrest He took over Sajak's position As the host of “Wheel of Fortune” this year, people were quick to put the blame at his feet for a contestant's big loss.
While hosting on night two, contestant Erica spun a million-dollar wedge during her turn. The wedge would have been redeemed for $100,000 in the bonus round, meaning that if she won the game, she would potentially win the jackpot.
Airica solved the first puzzle, landing on a $1,000 mystery wedge and being given the choice to unveil it or leave it.
“It could be bankrupt or it could be up to $10,000,” Seacrest explained, and after deciding to risk it, Airica revealed the bankrupt wedge and Seacrest had to recover the million-dollar wedge.
“Wheel of Fortune” fans were upset with Seacrest because the player missed out on the chance to take home the $1 million prize. (Getty Images/Wheel of Fortune/ABC)
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Fans online felt that Seacrest did not explain the rules properly, Comparing him unfavorably with Sajak.
“Pat was going to explain that if she took the risk, she would lose the million dollar wedge,” one fan wrote on X.
Others defended Seacrest, noting that contestants are given a rundown of the rules and gameplay beforehand, or are likely to be briefed on the rules part of the time.
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Sex guide
During an episode of “Jeopardy!”, the “complete the rhyming phrase” category quickly turned the game into a sticky situation. (Getty Images/Jeopardy!/ABC)
Jennings has borne the brunt of the criticism “Sexist” evidence. During the October episode of the show.
During the episode, the “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category contained a clue that read, “Men rarely pass by…”
Returning champion Will Wallace correctly answered: “Girls who wear glasses.”
Jennings realized that the claim might have made contestant Heather Ryan uncomfortable since she wore glasses on the show.
Doubtful “danger”! The phrase was from the famous poet Dorothy Parker. (Jeopardy!/ABC/YouTube)
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“There's a bit of a problem, sorry, Heather,” Jennings said, and Wallace added, “Very much,” in defense of his rival.
The questionable phrase was from famous poet Dorothy Parker.
Fans of the game show were quick to react to the tense situation on social media.
“She's still mad about this. She used her wits to get here, only to be insulted with a rude sexist comment,” one viewer wrote on X.
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Celebrity confusion
Some “Jeopardy!” The clues leave the contestants completely scratching their heads, as was the case with two pop culture clues this year.
In February, during the Final Jeopardy round of “Jeopardy!”'s Champions Wildcard, contestants were removed via a message in Johnny Cash song title.
The key to the question was: “It was like urging myself to play it straight,” as Johnny Cash said of this 1956 hit, and the correct answer was “I'm Walking the Line.”
Unfortunately for all the contestants, one letter cost them all the points and time on the Champions Wildcard. The three contestants answered by “walking the line”, leaving out the letter “I”.
Contestants deleted with the letter “I” in response to the final “Jeopardy”! a question. (Getty Images)
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A month later, on an episode of “Jeopardy: Tournament of Champions,” contestants Ben Chan, Yogesh Raut and Troy Meyer lost a $400 clue about… Taylor Swift song In the “Youth Songs” category.
“Inspired by her best friend, she sang Tay Tay when 'someone tells you they love you' at that 'you'll believe them' age,” said the quick message that Jennings read.
The correct answer was “Fifteen,” the title of Swift's country pop song from her second studio album, Fearless, in 2008. The singer had previously said that “Fifteen” was inspired by her close friend Abigail Anderson in high school. , who went through a painful breakup with her boyfriend when she and Swift were 15 years old.
“We would kill for this,” Mayer said, laughing.
Taylor Swift's song idea sparked “Jeopardy!” Contestants. (Getty Images)
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“Painful” error.
A Wheel of Fortune contestant lost a big prize due to an incorrect message. (Philip Faraone/Getty Images for CBS Media Ventures/Sony Pictures Television)
“Wheel of Fortune” fans were, too Frustrated by player's costly mistake During an episode in May.
Contestant Kimberly Wright landed on the Express wedge when the sign read “DU _ _ – _ _ LLED PLATYPUS.”
“I'll call F,” Wright said to groans from the studio audience.
Wright seemed to think the correct answer was “duck-billed platypus” when it was actually “duck-billed platypus.”
Contestant Mary Kiewski of Owosso, Michigan, solved the puzzle, winning a trip to Margaritaville Vacation Club Rio Mar in Puerto Rico, worth $7,250.
“Oh my god, that hurt. F?? She thought the platypus was full of? What exactly?” One viewer wrote on X, previously on Twitter.
