Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
Wheel of Fortune fans might have found their new favorite contestant in Geoffrey Smith after his recent appearance on the beloved game show.
Smith competed on the Monday, January 13, episode of Wheel alongside Kaitlyn O'Keeffe and Sonja Hughes and proved from the start that he was a force to be reckoned with. After solving the first puzzle correctly, the Jamaican native amassed a total of $7,500 by the end of the first round and the Mystery Round. He then answered all three puzzles in the Triple Toss-Up round and Speed-Up Round, bringing his earnings to $26,000.
For the Bonus Round, Smith chose the "Phrase" category and selected C, F, M, and I as his additional letters, leaving him with a puzzle that read: "_ _ S T / _ L _ R T / I T / _ _ T." Ryan Seacrest, the host of the show, reminded him, "It's a phrase, you've got ten seconds." Smith immediately answered, "Just Blurt It Out," correctly solving the puzzle as soon as the timer started. Seacrest, 50, was visibly shocked at the quick and correct response, exclaiming, "Yeah! Wait a minute... come on!" The host then revealed the prize envelope, which added $40,000 to Smith's already hefty $26,000 winnings.
Fans of the game show took to the subreddit on Reddit to share their excitement. "The Jamaican guy on here tonight is a legend," wrote one fan, while another noted he was an "excellent puzzle solver." Fans also shared their enthusiasm on X (formerly Twitter). One user wrote, "Geoffrey is the best #wheeloffortune player of all time. Holy smokes." Another tweeted, "#Geoffrey on tonight's @WheelofFortune may be my favorite contestant ever!!!! Love him!!!"
English (US) ·