# Great Wheel of Fortune Screwups **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 18, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321 "2006-05-18T21:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/21 "2006-05-19T03:43:14Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > And the topper of all time: > > GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DE\_TH Isn’t that also the one that Nell Carter flubbed on the sitcom? She said something like “Give me liberty or give me money.” My brain really needs to run its cleanup program. ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/22 "2006-05-19T03:46:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > THE E\_CE\_TION THAT \_RO\_ES THE RULE [sheepish grin] So uh, what _was_ the answer, anyway. You know, for those of us who want to check our answers… [/sg] ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/23 "2006-05-19T04:25:10Z")
“Proves.” ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Samaritan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bad\_Samaritan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Samaritan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/24 "2006-05-19T05:13:31Z")
D\_LLY MAD\_S\_N “Dilly Madison” ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/25 "2006-05-19T05:19:51Z")
> [@AnatomicallyCorrect](#): > > D\_LLY MAD\_S\_N > > “Dilly Madison” What should it be then? Dally? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/26 "2006-05-19T05:38:59Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > What should it be then? Dally? No, Dolly – one of the more famous First Ladies of the US. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/27 "2006-05-19T05:39:01Z")
It’s reasonable that an Aussie wouldn’t know that one, but Dolly Madison was a very famous (among Americans, at least) First Lady. Legend has it, that when the British burned Washington during the War of 1812, she saved the historic artwork in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![sleeping\_mud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@sleeping\_mud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping_mud)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/28 "2006-05-19T05:50:08Z")
> [@Black Train Song](#): > > One time the clue to the final puzzle was \_ \_ LL \_ \_SHER > > the real answer was WELL WISHER but the contestant guessed PILL PUSHER. > > That was unbeatable in my mind. He should’ve won something for that. Doesn’t sound plausible. If the answer was well wisher the e in well would have been up there as it was in the sher at the end. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/29 "2006-05-19T05:51:10Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > No, Dolly – one of the more famous First Ladies of the US. > [@Chronos](#): > > …Legend has it, that when the British burned Washington during the War of 1812, she saved the historic artwork in the White House. Also noted for her fine baked goods, including Zingers [®](http://www.dollymadison.com/), Donut Gems, and a variety of breakfast items like Sweet Rolls, Dunkin Stix and Pecan Rollers! 😃 CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/30 "2006-05-19T06:28:57Z")
One I remember from the 80’s: CAPTAIN _IR_ OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE “Can I have a D?” ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/31 "2006-05-19T14:22:08Z")
> [@sleeping mud](#): > > Doesn’t sound plausible. If the answer was well wisher the e in well would have been up there as it was in the sher at the end. It might not be plausible but that’s what shot out of the guy’s mouth. He obviously didn’t win the prize though. I remember it because Pat Sajek (quite a guy I must say) started to laugh and made a joke about where the guy was from (NY I think). ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/32 "2006-05-19T14:47:06Z")
\_0 \_0 _0 AN_ A \_OTTLE OF RUM. The first contestant said “Yo Yo Yo and a bottle of rum”. The second contestant **also** said “Yo Yo Yo and a bottle of rum.” Finally the third contestant got “Yo Ho Ho” right. And a hijack - does anyone else yell at the contestant when they land on $5000 or $10000, they obviously know the solution, there an unrevealed letter that’s up there 2 or 3 times, yet they guess a letter that’s only there once? e.g: Batman Enemys: THE \_OKER THE RI\_\_LER THE PEN\_UIN and they guess J nstead of D, costing themselves several thousand dollars? ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/33 "2006-05-19T15:11:34Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > \_0 \_0 _0 AN_ A \_OTTLE OF RUM. > > The first contestant said “Yo Yo Yo and a bottle of rum”. > > The second contestant **also** said “Yo Yo Yo and a bottle of rum.” > > Finally the third contestant got “Yo Ho Ho” right. > > And a hijack - does anyone else yell at the contestant when they land on $5000 or $10000, they obviously know the solution, there an unrevealed letter that’s up there 2 or 3 times, yet they guess a letter that’s only there once? e.g: > > Batman Enemys: > > THE \_OKER > THE RI\_\_LER > THE PEN\_UIN > and they guess J nstead of D, costing themselves several thousand dollars? That’s why the smart people are on Jeopardy and everybody else is on Wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dusty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/34 "2006-05-19T15:17:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > And a hijack - does anyone else yell at the contestant when they land on $5000 or $10000, they obviously know the solution, there an unrevealed letter that’s up there 2 or 3 times, yet they guess a letter that’s only there once? It’s been a while since I’ve seen Wheel of Fortune, but aren’t the big money wedges treated as prizes rather than cash? ---
**Author:** ![blueserge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@blueserge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueserge)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/35 "2006-05-19T15:21:15Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > That’s why the smart people are on Jeopardy and everybody else is on Wheel. Well, yeah, but both shows have the same contestant coordinators, who do _Jeopardy!_ tryouts in the a.m. and WOF tryouts in the afternoons. That’s pretty weird. OK, classic _Wheel_ puzzle. P E N N S Y L V A N I A \_ \_ \_ CH The triumphant contestant cries out, “Pennsylvania Witch!” Uh, sorry, that’s not it. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/36 "2006-05-19T15:25:06Z")
> [@NailBunny](#): > > TAKE ME WHERE IT HURTS!" On a bed of nails. ---
**Author:** ![Stereo\_Isomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Stereo\_Isomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stereo_Isomer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/37 "2006-05-19T15:39:47Z")
> [@Dusty](#): > > It’s been a while since I’ve seen Wheel of Fortune, but aren’t the big money wedges treated as prizes rather than cash? True, but the principle is the same, people do this with lesser large amounts too, like $1000 or $2000 or whatever. A counterpart to that that always makes me shake my head: almost all the letters are up already, and it’s obvious what the solution is. The contestant, whom you figure has got to know it, buys a vowel, of which there are maybe 2 or 3, and it doesn’t elucidate anything–and then immediately solves the puzzle. Why waste the money? Once, in the 80’s, when I was a kid, there was a puzzle where the solution was “taught to the tune of a hick’ry stick.” Apparently it’s a lyric from a well-known old song that people still would have known in the 80’s. A contestant tried to solve, and in their overzealousness to get it correct, clearly enunciated all three syllables of the word “HICK-oh-ree”–which made it incorrect; the word was “HICK-ree.” > [@blueserge](#): > > OK, classic Wheel puzzle. > > P E N N S Y L V A N I A \_ \_ \_ CH > > The triumphant contestant cries out, “Pennsylvania Witch!” Uh, sorry, that’s not it. OK, I’m from Pennsylvania, and I’m feeling pretty dumb right now… what is it? ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/38 "2006-05-19T15:44:41Z")
> [@Stereo Isomer](#): > > OK, I’m from Pennsylvania, and I’m feeling pretty dumb right now… what is it? My guess would be _Pennsylvania Dutch_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/39 "2006-05-19T15:46:34Z")
Pennsylvania Dutch? I remember the Captain -IR- of the Starship Enterprise too. What a dunce! ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321/40 "2006-05-19T15:49:43Z")
Slightly off topic, here is a famous [video clip](http://gprime.net/video.php/whatsaho) of long-time Jeopardy contestant Ken Jennings missing a question. I still think he should have been given credit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wheel-of-fortune-screwups/357321.md?page=3)