Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
Ryan Seacrest has been the subject of much discussion among Wheel of Fortune fans ever since he stepped in as host of the game show in September 2024, but this time, it's something a contestant did that has viewers talking.
Seacrest, 50, was visibly startled after Ricky Brown, the winning contestant on the Wednesday, January 15 episode of Wheel, grabbed and hugged him while jumping in celebration and almost knocking the host to the ground.
Brown, from Easton, Pennsylvania, went up against Karen Morgan and Lisa McDaniel during the episode, where he stood out not only for guessing puzzles correctly but also for his enthusiastic demeanor on the show.
Brown had a solid run during the game and eventually answered the Speed Up puzzle correctly. He entered the Bonus Round with a total of $24,000 in winnings, selecting the "Phrase" category and choosing "B, F, M, and A." This left him with a puzzle that read: "AS / _ _ _ / _ _ S _." As soon as the ten-second timer started, Brown shouted and correctly guessed, "As you wish!" That's when a startled Seacrest confirmed the answer and said, "Yes! You got it!" before asking, "How did you do that?" The contestant, barely able to contain his excitement, grabbed the host in celebration. Still appearing slightly alarmed, Seacrest revealed that Brown had won an additional $40,000, bringing his total winnings to an impressive $64,000.
Fans of the beloved game show have been sharing their reactions to the enthusiastic episode winner and his celebratory moment with Seacrest in the comments section of a video posted on Instagram.
"Happiest Wheel of Fortune contestant I've seen and brought a smile to my face the whole show! ," wrote one user. A second noted, "Awww he was so cute! He was having so much fun!," while a third praised the hosts of the show and wrote, " Love it! Best show ever. Good work, Ryan and Vanna."
Fans recently criticized Seacrest after a controversial ruling during the Friday, January 10 episode. He faced backlash for accepting an answer from a contestant who said, "Is it," before submitting their guess. Despite the criticism, Seacrest has proven to be a solid replacement for Pat Sajak, who retired in 2024 after over 40 years as host of Wheel.
English (US) ·