Fans of the popular game, Wheel of Fortune know how quickly a competitive atmosphere develops among contestants. It goes from 0 to 100 very quickly! Since game shows are typically more intense than other television shows, contestants need to maintain their competitive edge.

That’s why viewers were baffled when a contestant showed unexpected behavior during the speed round. They found it hard to imagine she would behave like that. Fans didn’t fully know the rationale for her strange behavior for a while. Read on to find out what happened.

Wheel of Fortune Has Been Around for a While

The creators of Wheel of Fortune wanted to do something special to celebrate American veterans. Even though it’s had a remarkable run since debuting on NBC in 1975 as a daytime show, not everyone is allowed to participate in the well-known TV game show.

As part of 2015 Veterans Week, the producers wanted to offer the coveted opportunity to veterans. The show would have a military theme, and the stage was already set. The week’s shows would feature active and former service people as guests competing against one another for fun.

It All Started Like Every Other Episode

The Monday episode went smoothly. Everything went off without a hitch, and the results matched the producers’ expectations. Nothing odd happened. Many watched the next show, expecting more of the same. People expected the show to go as it normally did.

November 10, 2015, the episode started like any other past episode of Wheel of Fortune. Renowned TV host Pat Sajak introduced the veterans for the night—Steve, Troy, and Nura—and the audience welcomed them cheerfully. It was all normal, and the show began as expected.

Nura Was Off to a Great Start

The contest between the three was far from competitive from the beginning. Nura’s ability to consistently cruise along while her colleagues struggled made it clear to the audience that she would easily defeat them. She had built a commanding lead by the game’s penultimate round.

Nura had $13,970 safely stashed in the bank. Troy and Steve had little choice but to continue fighting. Steve had won absolutely nothing, possibly already accepting that all he would go home with were good memories. Considering the situation, Troy would be satisfied with his $4,300.

The Ball Was in Nura’s Court

When the speed round began, Nura was the center of attention. Time was on her side from the start, and she had to maintain consistency and avoid distractions. Troy and Steve could only watch in awe, but part of them still wanted to compete.

Troy accurately called a “t” in the two-letter clue word, and Nura was next. But she was about to shock the audience, who looked around, puzzled, and appeared to be asking for explanations from those who sat nearby. The camera panned across them, and everyone was confused.

The Least Likely Letter

When it was time for Nura to respond, she looked as confident as she had all night. She and everyone else in the room knew how far ahead of the competition she was. She then chose the letter with the least chance of appearing on the board.

As Nura boldly said “z,” the audience’s brows furrowed in shock. Nobody expected that response. Was she getting cocky? This was also the least likely letter in Wheel of Fortune history. What Steve had just heard seemed so unbelievable. His cheerful expression immediately changed to one of concern.

What Did You, Just Zay?

Pat couldn’t believe what he heard. He was just as shocked as everyone in the room, so he impulsively blurted out, “Say that again for me. Did you say ‘z’?” Steve expected Nura to change her answer and choose a letter that made more sense.

The eager crowd was likewise anticipating her to alter her response to something more logical. But Nura firmly gave her response again and showed no signs that she had made a mistake. She responded, “as in Zulu.” She had now locked in the letter “z” with absolute surety.

Maybe Just a Little Pressure

“You did say ‘z.’ Okay,” Pat Sajak responded in disbelief after hearing her affirm an absurd answer. He faced the board, still bewildered by Nura’s choice and unable to hide his thoughts. No one was at all surprised when it didn’t light up. After all, it was the least likely letter.

Pat dismissed this part as just a momentary lapse in concentration and reason. Sometimes pressure can make a contestant’s mind race in different ways. When it was Steve’s turn, he correctly guessed the letter “r.” Troy received some applause for his “s” response. Nura then took the wheel once more.

She Was Losing It

When Nura’s turn came, everyone had huge expectations. The audience expected her to make up for her mistake now. But Nura was silent. Sajak thought she was merely hesitating, but he was wrong. She had decided not to guess at all. Everyone was shocked by the abrupt train wreck.

It had appeared that she was on course for an impressive victory. Not guessing was shocking. At last, she responded in the next round. And it was yet another outrageous answer—”q.” It was like something happened to her during one of the commercial breaks.

Twitter Went Wild – And Rightly So

Nura’s actions confused more than just the people watching the game inside the studio. Her antics aired live on television, and the Twittersphere quickly caught on. One tweet even asked if she was drunk. Maybe not, but the question was more logical than her guesses.

“Why is this lady guessing z, x, and q for this puzzle?” read another tweet. Ma’am, that is the million-dollar question! She was doing so well with more than 13 grand and was on course for a memorable victory. Something must have gone wrong somewhere.

Nura Stuck to Her Guns

At this point, Pat Sajak was probably already trying to find an explanation for Nura’s sudden, strange behavior. But just like everyone else, he didn’t have an answer. She hadn’t looked like a contestant who suffered from stage fright or would be easily rattled. She looked at ease and even confident.

Since it was already looking like a trend, Pat Sajak couldn’t resist the urge to be sarcastic. After all, Nura’s response must have been what everyone wanted to hear. So he said, “I wonder what letter Nura will call.” And she didn’t disappoint because she guessed the letter “x” next.

She Wasn’t Backing Down

It would be impossible to find anyone who expected the board to light up with such a weird guess. Not surprisingly, Nura didn’t see any sign light up. But it seemed like she had no regrets. And when the final round came, she refused to answer.

Nura just stood there as everyone watched in total disbelief. Things were starting to become awkward as she watched the timer run out. This wasn’t the same confident person that had started the game. She seemed broken by an unknown force. And it was now over.

Steve Was the Comeback King

Steve unexpectedly emerged as the round’s winner, even though he had not yet managed to win anything in the first part of the game. It was almost like a triumphant comeback performance. His first evening victory came when he correctly guessed the phrase “following footprints.”

He had been set to return home empty-handed just minutes earlier. However, out of nowhere, he found himself in possession of an astounding $6,400. It was an impressive few seconds for him. But as you may well expect, Nura got the biggest reaction of the trio.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

We’re sure that everyone wanted to know what was running through Nura’s mind by the time the game was over. Sajak approached her and asked about her odd selections because he was quite fascinated by her guesses. Nura responded cryptically, “That’s what I saw.”

It sounded like she had expected to be asked this question and was prepared. The only issue was that no one with a clear head would have picked such letters. Her explanation simply wasn’t convincing enough. “That was an unsatisfactory answer,” Sajak said. “But she’s not under oath.”

She gave Steve a Chance

Everyone who saw the show must have thought Nura was playing a completely different game. But why would someone consciously forfeit the possibility of winning so much money? Nobody following her impressive early performance could have predicted that she would lose those key rounds.

And it was even more confusing than it had happened so mysteriously. She still fared well and made it to the final round, but Steve won some money because of her confusing performance in the speed round. It was a sort of consolation prize for him.

There Had to Be More to Nura’s Behavior

Nura declined to say anything about her performance that would confirm or deny the viewers’ suspicions. But after Steve took home a surprise share of the spoils, the audience was left wondering, with some even leaning toward making allegations. It wasn’t surprising, given what had just happened.

But Nura wouldn’t budge despite attempts to get a direct response from her. She appeared to have possibly taken a tactical backward step so her former fellow combatant could get a share of the winnings. It felt like a sense of camaraderie that was true to Veterans Week.

The Most Memorable Moment on Wheel of Fortune?

Those who watched the show finally gave up hope that Nura would give a clear response. After a while, it seemed like Nura didn’t need to respond since the audience had concluded that what just occurred was a kind gesture deserving praise.

Jeremy Pond tweeted, “Just saw the classiest move on Wheel of Fortune. Nura threw the final puzzle to let a fellow military person win it. Much respect.” He wasn’t alone in the assumption. Retro Roger also tweeted, “Never saw someone throw a round so everyone could win some money.”

That’s Enough Generosity for the Night

Despite her odd performance earlier, Nura advanced to the final round and was in formidable form. There was no doubt she was going for the jugular. The prize on the line was $33,000. It was clear that she had wanted Steve to win the previous round.

Her actions in the last round were intentional. That made the audience respect her even more; they wanted her to win the big prize more than ever. She gave it her full attention, but the war veteran fell short on the last puzzle—”by appointment.”

Still Happy with Her Win

Although she didn’t clinch the final puzzle and lost her chance to win the grand prize, you wouldn’t know from her countenance. Nura was gleaming and looked as pleased as someone who had just won 33 grand! She was smiling and looked radiant, like a fulfilled person.

Well, she wasn’t going home empty-handed anyway. She had won almost $14,000, more than what many people win on the show. She was willing to let her fellow serviceman go home with some cash that endeared her to the audience.

No Better Way to Spend the Money

How many of us want a vacation? Definitely everyone! And Nura certainly needed one too. As if she read the audience’s mind about what she’d do with the money, she excitedly announced, “I’m going to Belize!” That was met with more applause and excitement from the audience.

Pat Sajak congratulated her for a terrific effort and wholeheartedly said, “You made us all happy.” She certainly did. Everyone was happy, and even Steve went home with a smile. This was arguably the most memorable moment in Wheel of Fortune history!

Celebrities Who Were on Game Shows Before They Became Famous

The gimmicks on game shows have evolved. The prizes have significantly increased, and the stage designs have improved. Game shows are a time for families to have old-fashioned fun together. Modern game shows are different but have better color and glamour.

While most of us find game shows entertaining, some people’s 15 minutes of fame on a show have launched them into bigger careers. Learn more about these famous people, from ’90s boy band idols to supermodels, who participated in game shows to win much more than the prizes offered.

Meghan Markle’s Deal or No Deal

Meghan Markle previously worked on the game show Deal or No Deal before becoming a member of the British royal family. She was a briefcase girl in the show’s second season, wearing a racy dress that grabbed the audience’s attention for a moment before revealing what her suitcase contained.

It didn’t seem like the ideal job for someone who would make it big. She’s now married to Prince Harry and is the Duchess of Sussex.

Lady Gaga on MTV’s Boiling Points

The “Born This Way” singer was certainly not born with a silver spoon in her mouth and probably never imagined how successful she would become when she participated in MTV’s Boiling Points in 2005. Lady Gaga, known as Stefani Germanotta back then, would have probably been content to take home even just $100.

This was a show where all she needed to do was remain composed in a revolving restaurant. But the 19-year-old brunette lost her calm and the $100, though we doubt she regrets it. She’s now topping music charts, making blockbuster movies, and gracing red carpet events.

Sally Field on The Dating Game

Sally Field is an accomplished actress and director who has won numerous honors, including the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, several nominations, and other prominent awards in the entertainment industry. The Mrs. Doubtfire actress competed in the well-known ABC series The Dating Game.

At that time, she was just starting in the entertainment industry. She had only played the titular role in the brief run of Gidget. Field admitted after the show that she declined a date with her bachelor even though he could’ve been the right guy for her.

Vanna White on The Price Is Right

Before she became a popular American TV personality and hostess of Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White competed in the Miss Georgia Pageant. She tried to win the top prize on a rival game show. White was a young 20-year-old when Bob Barker invited her to the stage.

This was on the legendary game show The Price Is Right. White got the exposure she needed to transition into a more prominent role as the Wheel of Fortune hostess, a career that would last for decades, even though she didn’t win on that particular night back in 1980.

Kirstie Alley on Match Game

Kirstie Alley’s debut in the science fiction movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. From being just an unknown interior designer from Wichita, Kansas, Kirstie set her eyes on Hollywood when competing against Betty White and Jamie Lee Curtis on the game show Match Game.

Both of them would end up being her celebrity colleagues in the future. She did exceptionally well and earned a nice $6,000, appearing on multiple episodes of the fill-it-in quiz show. She gradually became more popular, and it was only a matter of time before the bigger movie paychecks came.

Cynthia Nixon on To Tell the Truth

We all know Cynthia Nixon as the talented actress who played Miranda Hobbes in the HBO hit series Sex and the City. However, her mother, who had worked on the game show, To Tell the Truth, is largely responsible for the start of her entertainment career.

Nixon’s mother landed her a place on the show when she was nine, where she played a much-loved “impostor” cowgirl. It was clear from the beginning. She quickly gained confidence, and to this day, no matter what role she plays, her performances never fail to amaze us.

Gena Lee Nolin on The Price Is Right

Gena Lee Nolin unusually started her Hollywood career. It all began on the popular game show The Price Is Right, where she was a member of Barker’s Beauties. This served as a springboard to something more promising and bigger movie roles in her career.

But it wouldn’t have been possible without her debut modeling gig for the game show, where she exhibited the prizes that would be awarded. From there, she landed a role on the soap opera The Young and the Restless before starring in the Baywatch series and the film Sheena.

Chrissy Teigen Has Been Around

Chrissy Teigen is an accomplished model and author. It was a photographer that discovered her while she was working in a surf shop in California. Her family had traveled around a lot back then. Before being featured in publications such as Sports Illustrated, she had several less glamorous jobs.

Teigen worked as a substitute on the popular game show Deal or No Deal as an attractive and seductive briefcase girl. As her fame increased, she also made a cameo appearance on The Price Is Right. Chrissy Teigen is now a household name and is blissfully married to musician John Legend.

Lisa Gleave on The Price Is Right

The Price Is Right has birthed several stars. Lisa Gleave knew if she wanted to become popular in the modeling and fashion industry, she needed to travel to the United States. And she took that risk in 2000 when she packed her bags and left Australia for better opportunities.

She got her break on The Price Is Right as a model. Gleave also worked as a briefcase model on the rival show Deal or No Deal. She eventually secured a few roles in minor movies and TV shows. Her career took off when she started modeling for men’s magazines.

Farrah Fawcett on The Dating Game

Everything Farrah Fawcett touched at the height of her career turned to gold. Everyone seemed to love her in every way. And it wasn’t hard to see why. She was talented and attractive. She had a lot of male admirers. Nothing pleased her fans more than her lyrical Texas twang.

She was even ranked among the top 50 television personalities in history. Fawcett also made a cameo appearance on The Dating Game, a well-known game show. She was a promising rookie; we can only imagine how much the guys must have worked hard to be her man.

The Klimaszewski Twins on Let’s Make a Deal

When Diane and Elaine Klimaszewski showed up, the Let’s Make Deal management knew they had a tremendous opportunity. They soon hired the Polish identical twins to serve as the host’s curvaceous assistants. They became a major distraction for contestants and the audience.

The twins were one (or two) of a kind. It wasn’t long before they gained popularity due to their role on the game show. The Klimaszewski twins later tried their hands at acting and wrestling, but the Coors Light Twins commercial cemented their fame.

Suzanne Somers on The Anniversary Game

Suzanne Somers has achieved success in various careers thanks to her wide skill set. She is a businesswoman, author, singer, actress, and health advocate. But for those who have followed her career, her performance as Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company will live on forever.

Before all this, Somers served as a model for the 1969 game show The Anniversary Game. She was thrilled to be chosen for the task. She was just getting started and looking for opportunities. However, it was only a minor blip in her illustrious career.

Jon Hamm on The Big Date

Jon Hamm is considered to be one of the world’s sexiest men. He exudes sex appeal and self-confidence, and he is also very macho. However, if you ran across his version in 1996 in the game show The Big Date, you wouldn’t recognize him. Hamm had just turned 24 years old.

He chased every female he wanted and created the corniest of lines. Back then, he was such a dog that two female competitors passed him. He might have annoyed them by overusing the word fabulous. Or perhaps it was his ultra-’90s long, floppy hairstyle.

Anya Monzikova as a Briefcase Model

The connection between Hollywood A-listers and the Deal or No Deal briefcase models must be quite well-established. The game show has developed into a springboard for up-and-coming talent in the entertainment industry and has become a platform for gaining public exposure. Its success rate is rising steadily.

Once upon a time, Anya Monzikova was one of those briefcase models. She’s gorgeous, and her Russian accent gives her a touch of sensuality that comes from a strong personality. She has appeared in minor films. But although she hasn’t achieved ultra-stardom yet, we all know she has incredible potential.

Simon Cowell on Sale of the Century

Simon Cowell is usually a judge or host of reality TV competition shows. Although he might be a little too snarky and critical sometimes, people appreciate his wit. Cowell is a good judge, able to describe the abilities and capabilities of hopeful contestants in detail.

Being a former contestant on the well-known British game show Sale of the Century, he must understand what it’s like to be closely observed on stage. He wasn’t always terrifying. He used to be incredibly sweet-natured and soft-spoken, unlike his icy and withering stare.

Gabrielle Tuite on The Price Is Right

In 2013, The Price Is Right was voted number five in TV Guide’s list of all-time top 60 game shows. It was renowned for including specific merchandise in its program and was a cornerstone of the game show genre in the early 1970s.

The game show also successfully introduced a line of gorgeous models to capture viewers’ attention and increase its appeal. One of them was Gabrielle Tuite. Later, she found work as a bikini model and was cast in minor film roles.

Nikki Ziering on The Price Is Right

Finding a platform to launch her career didn’t take too long for Nikki Ziering. She was confident in her ability to succeed in Hollywood. She is blonde and attractive and has a gift for charming the men in her life, including her husband, Beverly Hills 90210 actor Ian Ziering.

Nikki Ziering got famous as a Playboy playmate before switching to The Price Is Right. Her personality became more reachable with a considerably larger audience on regular TV schedules. She was part of the show from 1999 until 2002. She later made numerous reality shows and B-grade movies.

Arnold Schwarzenegger on The Dating Game

We were all surprised when Arnold Schwarzenegger declared his intention to run for political office, but we suspect many people would be even more shocked to learn how he got his start. Arnie began his career as a contestant on The Dating Game, a provocative dating show in the 1970s.

Even though this was far from his Terminator days, the soon-to-be celebrity had the bachelorettes drooling. His aura enchanted them, not to mention the sensation of his broad, chiseled frame. And as he revealed his secrets in that seductive foreign accent, they were all listening closely and holding their breaths.

Claudia Jordan on Deal or No Deal

Claudia Jordan’s attractive appearance and golden skin tone are mesmerizing. She competed in the Junior Olympics and was an all-American college sprinter. So her figure is always on the money. Like many others on this list, Jordan previously worked as a Deal or No Deal model.

Before that, she was also a model for The Price Is Right. When Trump let her go on Celebrity Apprentice, the seeming failure was a blessing in disguise. It gave her the exposure she needed to land a job with Bravo on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Leyla Milani Was Also on Deal or No Deal

Canadian actress Leyla Milani was known as “Lucky Leyla” or “Lucky 13” long before appearing in popular television shows such as Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She used to dabble in “reality” wrestling as well, but her time on Deal or No Deal gave her the exposure.

She worked the show between 2005 and 2009, often seen carrying the briefcase bearing the number 13. It served as a good starting point for Milani, who quickly made appearances in reality TV shows and landed modeling jobs before establishing her luxury hair care line, Leyla Milani Hair.

Markie Post on Pyramid, Password, and Circuit

American actress Markie Post began her career behind the scenes. Post used to work in the back rooms of television trivia. Some fans know her as Terri Michaels in The Fall Guy on ABC or for her tough public defender role in the NBC sitcom Night Court.

She was also well-known for appearing on game shows such as Pyramid and Password. The post became a well-known face on the game show Circuit, doubling as Double Dare’s associate producer. Soon after, she landed the acting career she had long yearned for.

A. J. McLean on Nickelodeon Guts

A. J. McLean fell in love with music early in life, and when he was four years old, his mother put him in dance school, where he practiced for at least two hours daily. McLean’s career soon branched into acting, singing, dancing, and modeling.

But before all that happened, including the crazy tats, he was known as “Mean” McLean. The nickname stuck while he was a contestant on Nickelodeon Guts, the ’90s “action sports” show that originally aired from 1992 to 1996. Although he didn’t win the competition, he undoubtedly did become “Larger Than Life.”

Aaron Paul on The Price Is Right

Isn’t it funny how the least expected people get associated with certain things? Who would have thought Aaron Paul had anything to do with the color yellow? Paul is well known for portraying drug dealer Jesse Pinkman in the Breaking Bad series and donning a yellow hazmat suit.

But long before becoming a multi-awarded actor, he was already wearing yellow, even though it was just a name tag on The Price Is Right, as a contestant in 2000. He overbid on the showcase by more than $100 and lost the dice game.

Joey Fatone on Nick Arcade

Joey Fatone struck up a friendship with Chris Kirkpatrick in 1995. This friendship blossomed, and Fatone—singing in a baritone voice—soon became the fourth member of the boy band NSYNC. Girls would go crazy over Fatone and the band that also included JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake.

Fatone made his television debut on the Nickelodeon game show Nick Arcade before the wild boy-band craze began. We feel he may want to forget this part of his past. Back then, Joseph had a more formal name—and was just a gangly youth.

Steve Martin on The Gong Show

With such a wealth of talent, Steve Martin would still be successful regardless of how he got his start. Hollywood’s funniest guy has the skills to play multiple characters on stage or in movies. We don’t think this guy will ever run out of hilarious stories.

But his musical talent is not well known. His musical skill got him a place on The Gong Show, an amateur talent competition, in 1977. Martin, a talented banjo musician, quickly attracted attention with his antics and the arrow-through-the-head costume that made everyone laugh uncontrollably.

Cindy Margolis Used to Be on The Price Is Right

Cindy Margolis is one of the first famous people to use the Internet to improve their careers. Margolis was dubbed the “queen of the Internet” and ranked as the “most downloaded” person in the world in 1999. This was long before the rise of YouTube sensations or the Internet-stopping Kardashians.

Margolis made use of other resources as well. She appeared as a model on The Price Is Right in the 1990s and early 2000s, gracing TVs across the country. She was a well-known Barker’s Beauty, appearing in commercials for many products. She is now a glamour spokesmodel.

Tom Selleck on The Dating Game

We wonder if anyone could even recognize actor Tom Selleck without his signature thick mustache. Long before he wore a Hawaiian shirt and a .45 Colt revolver in Magnum, P.I., Selleck was a senior college hunting for love on the television show The Dating Game.

He had a sharp, polished appearance in his suit. The heartthrob discussed his ideas on relationships, his ideal woman, and the qualities he looked for in a partner. But despite his elegant appearance, Tom Selleck was rejected twice by the ladies, just like Jon Hamm.

Kasie Head on Deal or No Deal

If you got this far, you could almost guess the game shows the gorgeous Kasie Head used to launch her career. Besides competing in the Miss USA pageant and establishing her interior design business, KLH Designs, Head, had roles in Just My Luck and Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

But before all this, Kasie Head worked as the case #16 holder and model for the game show Deal or No Deal. Her beauty was obvious, and the contestants didn’t mind taking a chance and choosing her number because she made that case look so lovely.

Amanda Holden on Blind Date

As a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, Amanda Holden began her career by leveraging game shows as a launching pad to prominence. This is just like what her fellow judge Simon Cowell did. She made her TV debut in 1991 as a contestant on Blind Date.

She is now a media personality, presenter, and actress. Holden began her acting career in films such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award, and Wild at Heart, in which she portrayed Sarah Trevanion. Holden now holds a high pedigree in showbiz.

William Shatner on the Game Show What’s My Line

Canadian veteran actor William Shatner has cemented his place in the Star Trek universe so firmly that he has co-authored several books with storylines that have been accepted as canons. His other published journals also include descriptions of his adventures playing James T. Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise.

But long before achieving astronomical success in his career, Shatner appeared as a handsome, young guest panelist on the ’50s game show What’s My Line. That happened in 1965, a year before he began his intergalactic adventure that would seal his place as a cultural icon.

The Most Hilarious Game Show Moments of All Time

Being a contestant on a game show can be nerve-racking. The pressure is so intense that major slip-ups are almost unavoidable. But a faux pas can be hilarious at times. This guy seemed to have a soft spot for his marine friends because he didn’t see the obvious connection to the “wish list.”

Instead, he chose “fish love.” Given that there isn’t even an “I,” it doesn’t make much sense. However, the contestant, Edgar, took it in stride with a hardy laugh. Well, based on his choices, it would seem that he is used to making careless errors like that.

Just a Little Bit of Harry Potter

Zack Reed from Portland College was excited when he finally got his chance on the Wheel of Fortune show. It was an unreal experience for him, and he’d been waiting for it long. Unfortunately, his excitement made him lose some of his mental abilities.

He couldn’t solve this “mysterious” word. Zack went through the entire alphabet to come up with the right word. It happens to the best of us, right? Fortunately, he got “magic,” but the “_and” confused him. Not a fan of Harry Potter.

She Had a Delicious Bicycle in Mind

We know the pressure can be high, but we get the feeling this contestant momentarily forgot they were on Wheel of Fortune, not Shark Tank. They probably wanted to share their interesting invention—the “popsicle bicycle”—so badly that they couldn’t pass up the opportunity while making up the words.

The answer was “honeysuckle bush.” The contestant realized she had made a silly mistake and wanted to do some damage control. So she told Jimmy Kimmel that it was the “first thing I thought about. Popsicle. And I couldn’t figure out the second word, so I just said bike.” Interesting.

Did You Just Say Potato?

Nothing looks more glaring than “self-potato,” right? So we shouldn’t blame Lolita McAuley for choosing that during her game show moment. We cannot get our heads around how this contestant saw “self” and “po_rt__t” but still couldn’t figure out that the answer was “self-portrait.”

Do you know the saddest part about this? She’s a fifth-grade school teacher. Jeez. Her response even led to the creation of the website selfpotato.com, which belongs to comedian Emmy Blotnick. Buzzfeed even dubbed this “the silliest Wheel of Fortune guess ever.” We think we agree.

Where Did Clay Come From?

Only a few letters were missing on the board, and somehow, Stephen still found a way to fall short. Yet another unfortunate contestant on the popular game show couldn’t gather minute brain strength to guess the word “city.” We’ll give him credit for getting the rest right.

He got “surf,” “here,” and “come” correctly. But apparently, the toughest one was “c__y,” which Stephen seemed to think was “clay.” We can forgive him for not knowing Jan and Dean’s “Surf City” lyrics, but everyone can agree that “clay” in this context seems a little illogical, right?

This Is Truly Hard to Believe

There’s no way you can make this up. It’s “hard to believe” that this contestant guessed this wrong. Quite frankly, this is pretty straightforward, and we’re beginning to think some contestants just go with what’s on their minds instead of reading what’s on the board.

What he guessed makes it even harder to believe that he’d think that. Our contestant felt the answer was “it’s made to believe.” That’s an interesting choice, and we’d love to know if it sounded right in their ears. It’s hard to believe he’ll be forgetting this moment soon.

That’s the Wrong Platform, Sir

Is it pressure, or do people just decide to go for whatever pops into their head? We’re all for listening to your instincts, but sometimes the only guy you should listen to is the sound of logic. Another Wheel of Fortune victim seemed to be confused by this little phrase.

This puzzler presented the words “elevator train platform” for $7,300. We guess they just conjured the letters “o” and “r” out of thin air. As if we needed to tell you, the phrase is “elevated train platform.” Although it seems obvious, you never know.

A Group of Well-Wishers

We understand that sometimes you have to choose something, but this was also an unusual decision. If this was the first thing the guy saw, he must have lived in a rather seedy area growing up because he needed to walk us through what was going through his head.

But when you think about it, it does seem like the obvious choice, right? Nope, just kidding. We don’t think so. Unfortunately for him, the correct answer was “a group of well-wishers.” We bet that will educate him to see the positive side of things from now on.

Sounds the Same, Right?

We’re struggling to ascertain the specific problem here. On the one hand, this looks like what happens when you have a deprived childhood. On the other hand, it could also just be the usual Wheel of Fortune silliness we’ve seen so far. But really, shouldn’t everyone know Merlin, the Magician?

Not because the participant in question believed “Marvin the Magician” was the correct answer. But it didn’t even end there. Do you know what’s even stranger? The next contestant chose the same response. Yikes. We need to find Marvin ASAP. It sounds like he cast a spell on them.

You’re Drinking a Little Bit Too Much Alcohol, Miss

We’re not going to be too hard on this woman. It’s just a case of brushing up on her music knowledge and adding some good old classics to her collection. Or maybe she had been drinking too much alcohol.

We’re not overlooking the possibility that it could be both. But according to her, she thought Johnny Cash’s famous song “I Walk the Line” was “I Have the Wine.” It sounds like an admission of guilt, right? Somebody frisk that woman ASAP. She must have brought alcohol on live TV!

She’s Not a DC Fan

Marvel keeps making new superheroes, and the genre has expanded beyond comic books. It seems like a new comic book character has their movie every day. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that someone would think of Spiderwoman when trying to solve this simple word puzzle.

Everyone knows that the correct answer was “Superman and Wonder Woman.” Strange that anyone could overlook poor Wonder Woman. She has undoubtedly been in the spotlight recently. This unlucky contestant might have inadvertently given Marvel Studios inspiration for a new heroine because she’s not a DC fan.

Miners and . . . What Did You Just Say?

We’re going to ignore how they arrived at “miners” when there was already a missing letter between “n” and “e.” But here’s another questionable guess on Wheel of Fortune that makes us wonder the kind of life this contestant lives. All he needed was a little bit of thought.

He could have easily guessed that this one was “fingers and toes.” Sadly, that’s not how things went. In his humble opinion, the letters that make up the phrase “fingers and toes” are “miners and hoes.” We can’t be the only ones desperate to know where they work.

No Stars in the Sky

When you already have “tar,” it’s almost likely that everyone would choose the answer to be “star,” right? Or, in this case, “stars,” especially now that there’s the word “night.” Think again. She disregarded what was in front of her and went for what was in her mind.

Maybe she forgot the game’s rules for a second and thought the letters in front of her were just a suggestion. That will explain why she went for “start in the right way.” We’ll give her credit for having such a good mentality, though.

A Pretty Rough Childhood

First, we’d like to say that she’s technically not wrong, but this is questionable. If you’ve ever worked as a school teacher, you’ll understand that you can get tired of the kids you work with every day. And it wasn’t just the kids that did the teasing.

Even though it’s hard to imagine, teachers tease the kids too. Maybe that’s why this contestant saw “an ugly child” instead of “an only child.” We don’t want to reach out, but it sounds like someone came to the show with some post-traumatic stress. Maybe that’s why she became a school counselor.

The Invention of the Flamingo Dance

Okay, so maybe not everyone is familiar with the Spanish dance style known as flamenco, and maybe some less worldly people pronounce it “flamingo.” But there is a very obvious word choice there that makes it obvious that it is not “flamingo.” It is there for all to see.

Do people not understand this game? It seems like all the fun and games are over. He might have unintentionally founded the flamingo dance, a brand-new dance form. We guess all it requires must be to stand on one leg and wiggle away. Pretty easy, right?

A Streetcar Named Desire

Marlon Brando was probably turning in his grave when he heard the absurd answer this contestant gave. It’s either he doesn’t know about one of the classic movies of all time, or we need to check what goes through his mind. It’s spelled out for you already.

But somehow, this contestant still felt the word in question was “naked.” We hope they went ahead to watch the movie called A Streetcar Named Desire immediately after the show ended and brush up on their movie knowledge before appearing on subsequent game shows. It’ll probably appease Brando too.

They Must Have Missed Geography Class

Not knowing your geography is another great way to lose cash. You would expect that anyone going on a game show would at least know a bit of geography. The Painted Desert is one of Arizona’s most stunning vacation spots and even the entire country.

No wonder it’s aptly named that because it looks like a “painted desert.” But either this contestant is a workaholic who isn’t a fan of holidays, or they just missed geography classes. That will explain why they thought the answer to this was “the pointed desert.”

That Doesn’t Sound Exclusive

When you already have just two letters left in the word “e_clusi_e nightclub,” it’s almost impossible not to get it right—unless you can’t spell it correctly. In that case, the alphabet is a free-for-all, and you can throw out any letter you want, hoping it sounds meaningful.

We’re pretty sure we just described what went through this contestant’s mind. In this Wheel of Fortune episode, all this woman needed was to put an “x” where it belonged, but instead, she asked for a “k” to make the words “ekclusive nightclub.” Time to change your name . . . and face.

Did Everyone Forget Sneeky?

Everyone knows that the dwarfs from the Disney classic Snow White are Dopey, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful, Happy, Sneeky, and Sleepy. Wait a minute . . . Sneeky? Someone must have “sneeked” that dwarf in. Aside from the ridiculous spelling error, there is no such dwarf named Sneeky.

This contestant would have known that it is, in fact, Dopey, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful, Happy, Sneezy, and Sleepy if they had experienced childhood. Well, you can’t have everything. It seems like we need a Disney marathon. That makes us remember the contestant that said, “Marvin the Magician.”

As Long As It Involves Enjoyment

Have you ever heard the popular saying “sit back and enjoy the night”? No? Yeah, neither have we. Let’s ignore the fact that there are two blank blocks, which is absurd in any event. There’s no way the answer is “night” in this puzzle.

Unless she asked us to enjoy the “knight,” which raises more questions about what was going through her mind, the correct phrase is “sit back and enjoy the flight.” You’d think this should be common knowledge even if you’ve never been on a plane.