Game shows saw some big changes this year, especially with Pat Sajak’s departure as host of “Wheel of Fortune” after 40 years.
Ryan Seacrest took over for good, joining Ken Jennings as the new leaders of some of television’s longest-running shows, where this year’s contestants have given viewers some wild moments, from the daring to the confusing.
Below, check out the wildest game show moments of 2024, including a viral “Wheel of Fortune” player’s explanation for his unexpected answer.
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Bold answer
Tavaris Williams immediately gave a viral response to “Wheel of Fortune,” buzzing in to say “Right in the butt.” (ABC)
“Wheel of Fortune” participant Tavaris Williams became an instant viral sensation thanks to his May 23 appearance and NSFW response.
During a toss-up puzzle, the puzzle board contained the letters for the phrase “_ _ _ _ /I _ /T _ E /B _ _ T!”
Williams quickly buzzed in and confidently said, “Right in the ass.”
His response was met with a brief silence, followed by laughter from the audience, followed by a “What?” from fellow contestant Tyra, and a definitive ‘no’ from Sajak, as a look of complete surprise appeared on Williams’ face.
The correct answer was “THIS / IS / THE / BEST!”
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“I was just trying to beat my competitors by coming in first and letting my brain catch up,” Williams told Fox News Digital of his now infamous TV moment.
“And when my brain was ready to speak, I saw the R, I saw the B, I saw the T. I went for ‘Right in the butt’… And one time (host Pat Sajak) said ‘no’ “Oh, it 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 said, ‘I’m married to a meme now,’” he said with a laugh, noting that his family has generally been very supportive.
Williams did walk away with $9,500, but almost as soon as the moment aired, fans took to social media to laugh at the daring response.
WATCH: ‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’ CONTRIBUTOR HAD TO KEEP VIRAL MOMENT SECRET FROM FAMILY
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Low score that makes history
“Danger!” contestant Erin Buker earned the second-lowest score in the show’s history. (ABC/Jeopardy)
A “danger!” contestant earned an unfortunate place in the show’s history when she earned the show’s second lowest score ever recorded.
Erin Buker, who walked away with a final score of -$7,200, told Fox News Digital that while she had a “pretty cool” time recording the episode, she would describe it as an “out-of-body experience.”
“You look, you see the clues, but you can’t remember what category it is,” she explained. “You remind yourself not to make funny faces because you’re on live television. … The way they shoot it is like it’s the live show. They really try to keep it very tight.”
And while she didn’t do as well as she had hoped, Buker said she would “love to do it again.”
WATCH: ‘DANGER!’ PARTICIPANT ERIN BUKER DESCRIBES WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GET A HISTORICALLY LOW SCORE
Famous faces
“Danger!” had not one but two contestants that made viewers do a double take this year.
The first was David Erb, to whom he bore a striking resemblance actor Clint Eastwood.
“David looks like different people. Clint Eastwood is one of them,” a “Jeopardy!” fan wrote on Reddit.
Another shared on X, formerly Twitter: “Is it just me or does David on #Jeopardy remind anyone else of a young Clint Eastwood?”
“Danger!” Contestant David Erb looked like Clint Eastwood, according to fans. (Jeopardy/ABC)
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The other contestant who caught the attention of the viewers was Father Steve Jakubowski, a Catholic priest from Michigan who quickly earned a following online.
“There’s a hot priest on Jeopardy and send help,” someone wrote on X.
Father Steve Jakubowski told Fox News Digital that Ken Jennings and the rest of the “Jeopardy!” crew was “very nice” to him. (ABC/Jeopardy!)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Jakubowski said he was on “Jeopardy!” was ‘a wonderful experience’.
“Ken and all the producers and the team were very kind to me with the novelty of having a Catholic priest on the show,” he explained. “I hope it has given a positive impression of my community and the church. The show airs at 3:30 PM where I live in Austin, so we had a viewing party at our parochial school with our students and their parents – really fun to watch. share that with our parish.”
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Second working day
Ryan Seacrest replaced longtime host Pat Sajak after his retirement last year. (Ryan Seacrest Instagram)
Sea comb took over from Sajak as host of “Wheel of Fortune” this year, and people were quick to lay the blame at his feet for a contestant’s major loss.
During his second night as host, contestant Airica turned a $1 million wedge during her turn. The wedge could have been exchanged for the $100,000 wedge in the bonus round, meaning that if she had won the game, she could have potentially won the grand prize.
Airica solved the first puzzle and landed on a $1,000 mystery wedge and was given the choice to reveal it or leave it.
“It could be a bankrupt company or it could be $10,000,” Seacrest explained, and after deciding to take the risk, Airica revealed the bankrupt wedge and Seacrest had to take back the million-dollar wedge.
Wheel of Fortune fans were angry at Seacrest because a player missed out on a chance at a million dollar prize. (Getty Images/Wheel of Fortune/ABC)
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Fans online felt that Seacrest had not explained the rules properly, compare him negatively to Sajak.
“Pat allegedly explained that if she had taken the risk, she would have lost the million dollar wedge,” one fan wrote on X.
Others defended Seacrest, noting that participants were given an overview of the rules and gameplay in advance, or were likely briefed on the rules in a temporary section.
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Sexist cue
During an episode of “Jeopardy!” The “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category quickly turned the game into a tricky situation. (Getty Images/Jeopardy!/ABC)
Jennings faced the most criticism a ‘sexist’ clue during an October episode of the show.
During the episode, the “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category included a clue that read, “Men rarely make passes with…”
Returning champion Will Wallace rightly responded, “Girls who wear glasses.”
Jennings realized that the prompt female contestant might have made Heather Ryan uncomfortable, as she wore glasses on the show.
The questionable “Jeopardy!” phrase was from the famous poet Dorothy Parker. (Jeopardy!/ABC/YouTube)
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“A bit problematic, sorry, Heather,” Jennings noted, and Wallace added “very” in defense of his competitor.
The questionable phrase was from acclaimed poet Dorothy Parker.
Game show fans were quick to respond to the tense situation on social media.
One viewer wrote on
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Celebrity confusion
Some “Danger!” clues leave participants completely baffled, as was the case this year with a few pop culture clues.
In February, during the final Jeopardy round of “Jeopardy!’s Champions Wildcard”, the contestants were eliminated by a letter in a song title by Johnny Cash.
The clue to the question was: “It was kind of an incentive for myself to play it straight,” Johnny Cash said of this 1956 hit, with the correct answer being “I Walk the Line.”
Unfortunately for all participants, one letter cost them all points and time on the Champions Wildcard. All three participants answered “Walk the Line,” omitting the letter “I.”
Contestants were eliminated by the letter “I” in the answer to their final “Jeopardy!” ask. (Getty Images)
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A month later, on an episode of “Jeopardy: Tournament of Champions”, competitors Ben Chan, Yogesh Raut and Troy Meyer missed a $400 clue a Taylor Swift song in the category ‘Songs of Youth’.
The prompt read by Jennings read: “Inspired by her best friend, Tay Tay sang when ‘someone tells you they love you’ at this title age ‘you’re going to believe them.'”
The correct answer was “Fifteen,” the title of Swift’s country pop song from her second studio album, 2008’s “Fearless.” The musician has previously said that “Fifteen” was inspired by her best friend from high school, Abigail Anderson, who had a painful experienced a breakup with a friend when she and Swift were both 15.
“We’ll get killed for that,” Meyer said, laughing.
A clue about a Taylor Swift song brought ‘Jeopardy!’ participants. (Getty Images)
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“Embarrassing” mistake
A Wheel of Fortune participant has lost a major prize thanks to one wrong letter. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for CBS Media Ventures/Sony Pictures Television)
Wheel of Fortune fans were frustrated by a 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’m going to call an F,” Wright said to the groans of the studio audience.
Wright apparently believed that the correct answer was “duck-filled platypus,” when it was actually “duck-billed platypus.”
Contestant Marie Kioski of Owosso, Michigan solved the puzzle and won a trip to Margaritaville Vacation Club Rio Mar in Puerto Rico, valued at $7,250.
“Oh dear, that was painful. F? She thought the platypus was stuffed? What exactly?” wrote a viewer on X, formerly Twitter.
