# Why do "Wheel of Fortune" contestants waste money on vowels? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 11, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972 "2008-03-11T15:24:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/21 "2008-03-11T21:13:16Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Uh, I’d like to solve the puzzle, Pat… “This thread swims perfectly suited for thy Gomo Room.” [/QUOTE] You are perfectly suited to be on _Wheel of Fortune_. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/22 "2008-03-11T22:49:05Z")
Sometimes it seems like a contestant just reeeeally wants to buy all 5 vowels. Like if the puzzle were A REFR\_GERA\_OR FULL OF FOO\_ …and they buy that frickin’ I. Can you _possibly_ not know this answer without the I? Joe ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/23 "2008-03-12T00:54:27Z")
What bugged me when I watched it was when the contestant bought a vowel (or worse, several vowels) after their first spin. Inevitably, they would lose control before solving the puzzle, so all those vowels they spent money on ended up helping another contestant win. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/24 "2008-03-12T00:55:40Z")
What’s funny is that on at least one occasion (from years ago), someone had the puzzle _completely_ filled with letters, but then mispronounced the solution and lost the jackpot. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/25 "2008-03-12T04:54:52Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] What’s funny is that on at least one occasion (from years ago), someone had the puzzle _completely_ filled with letters, but then mispronounced the solution and lost the jackpot. [/QUOTE] I vaguely remember this. I seem to recall the person saying desert (region with little rainfall) instead of desert (mmm, pie), or vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/26 "2008-03-12T05:46:08Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] What’s funny is that on at least one occasion (from years ago), someone had the puzzle _completely_ filled with letters, but then mispronounced the solution and lost the jackpot. [/QUOTE] I remember an occasion just like this from a few years ago, and it always stuck with me because I was so astonished she didn’t know how to pronounce Francis Ford Coppola’s last name. :smack: She pronounced it “kuh-POE-la”, not “CO-puh-LA”. And the judges counted that as a wrong answer. Ouch. IIRC, she had racked up quite a few thousand Sajak Bucks too. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/27 "2008-03-12T06:06:39Z")
[QUOTE=cmyk] I remember an occasion just like this from a few years ago, and it always stuck with me because I was so astonished she didn’t know how to pronounce Francis Ford Coppola’s last name. :smack: She pronounced it “kuh-POE-la”, not “CO-puh-LA”. And the judges counted that as a wrong answer. Ouch. IIRC, she had racked up quite a few thousand Sajak Bucks too. [/QUOTE] Then there’s [this bright crayon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsubvaIj2Cg). Trumped only by [these guys](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HbkkZjcY0Q&feature=related). Or maybe [this pair of… special folk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_9-6Xs6lp4&feature=related). With Wheel of Fortune, the possibilities are endless. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/28 "2008-03-12T06:35:50Z")
[QUOTE=atomicbadgerrace] Then there’s [this bright crayon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsubvaIj2Cg). Trumped only by [these guys](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HbkkZjcY0Q&feature=related). Or maybe [this pair of… special folk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_9-6Xs6lp4&feature=related). With Wheel of Fortune, the possibilities are endless. 😉 [/QUOTE] Ahhh, yes… there’s a whole slew of these things up there. I love watching idiots! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/29 "2008-03-12T12:13:14Z")
Awesome. I will correct my wifes perceptions when I get home! Ignorance fought. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/30 "2008-03-12T12:25:28Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Uh, I’d like to solve the puzzle, Pat… “This thread swims perfectly suited for thy Gomo Room.” [/QUOTE] Sorry, the O’s in Gomo would have been filled in due to their existence in the word _room_. You sir, are definitely Wheel Of Fortune material! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/31 "2008-03-12T12:44:37Z")
I think that most game shows operate (with the exception of Jeopardy) on the principal that people like to watch people more stupid than them. Given the intelligence level of the average person, most contestants are probably only slightly more intelligent than single-celled organisms. Why people enjoy watching stupid people struggle with very basic concepts is beyond me; I find it incredibly frustrating, myself. Vowel buying can be a good strategic move in some situations, but really, it usually boils down to somebody with limited intelligence trying to stay in the game when they they couldn’t spell cat if you spotted them the a and the t. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/32 "2008-03-12T14:02:16Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] Vowel buying can be a good strategic move in some situations, but really, it usually boils down to somebody with limited intelligence trying to stay in the game when they they couldn’t spell cat if you spotted them the a and the t. [/QUOTE] Can I have a K? ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/33 "2008-03-12T14:17:49Z")
Unlike most commodities, vowels don’t seem to be affected by inflation. They cost $250 25-30 years ago just as they do now. Back when $1500 was the top dollar value on the wheel in the final round, blowing $250 a whack at the vowels was a more weighty decision. Nowadays, if a contestant hits the $5000 and gets multiple letters, what’s $1,250 going to matter if they have $20,000 riding on their win? Do people seem to be more liberal with buying vowels today than they did in the early days of the show? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/34 "2008-03-12T14:55:07Z")
When they used to read the line at the end of the show, “Contestants must meet certain qualifications . . .” my mother used to say, “Yeah, their temperature has to be higher than their IQ.” The more recent wave of game shows have obviously changed that to room temperature. I imagine it’s fairly tough finding contestants for “Are you smarter than a fifth grader?” “Are you dumb enough to save the “tough questions” until later when you get no help?” Tris ---
**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/35 "2008-03-12T18:19:37Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] I vaguely remember this. I seem to recall the person saying desert (region with little rainfall) instead of desert (mmm, pie), or vice versa. [/QUOTE] Pie is dessert. You desert the army because it’s too hot in the desert. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/36 "2008-03-13T23:53:45Z")
People who annoy you: N\_GGERS ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972/37 "2008-03-14T00:01:48Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] People who annoy you: N\_GGERS [/QUOTE] I’d like to buy an ‘A’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-wheel-of-fortune-contestants-waste-money-on-vowels/440972.md?page=1)