We Encountered a Small Disagreement

On Monday, November 11, a contestant named Will made an unforgettable blunder on “Wheel of Fortune.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t winning the jackpot.

In a moment that was less “Wheel of Fortune” and more “Wheel of Faux Pas,” Will boldly tried to solve the puzzle “Give yourself a round of applause.” However, with only a few letters missing, he instead proposed a delightful alternative: “Treat yourself a round of sausage.” As if applause were just too mainstream.

Naturally, following Will’s culinary misadventure, fellow contestant Kitina swooped in for a proper rescue with the correct answer. She probably fancied a quiet round of applause instead of a round of sausage, but who are we to judge?

Host Ryan Seacrest couldn’t resist the temptation to join the fun. “Will, I kind of like yours better,” he quipped, “That sounds better than just clapping right now.” And let’s be honest: who wouldn’t prefer a sausage party to clapping? Clearly, Seacrest was laying the groundwork for his cooking show, “Sizzlin’ Seacrest.”

In a subsequent interview with Instagram’s social media sidekick, Maggie Sajak, Will explained, “When the lights are on, and you know, the stars and Ryan Seacrest, Vanna White… I just went blank.” Ah yes, the classic hijinks of performing live on TV; it’s like trying to remember your PIN at the ATM with a crowd behind you.

Will rounded off this masterclass in awkwardness with a zinger aimed at Pat Sajak: “But if your dad, in retirement, is watching this show, maybe cracks a beer and gets a laugh, it was worth it.” Because really, what else do retired game show hosts do with their evenings?

Wrapping it all up, “Playing Wheel of Fortune on stage is a whole different ball game than playing at home,” concluded the show’s social media post. But let’s be honest, nothing beats a good old-fashioned sausage party over applause. Will officially showed us that sometimes, forgetting the answer can lead to the best punchline of all.