"Wheel of Fortune" fans are demanding that execs review the show's rules after a technicality cost a show contestant big money and impressive prizes.
The backlash surrounds Thursday's episode when contestant Kristen Shaw was trying to solve the crossword puzzle challenge in which she had to list the words that appeared. They were "right," "football," "left" and "Sally," according to Yahoo Entertainment. At stake was $1,950 in cash as well as an all-expenses paid trip to Nashville to the value of $8,000 but at one point it looked like it was hers for the taking.
"Right, football, left and Sally," Shaw said as her final answer but adding the conjunction "and" cost her the game, and sent fans into a frenzy as they set Twitter alight with comments and complaints.
"The 'and' rule is garbage. She deserved Nashville!," @Drone637 posted to Twitter.
Another fan, @Jason912410, wrote in a tweet how he "strongly" disagreed with the show's rules for the crossword puzzle challenge. "Should have contestants say the word and the category to avoid extra words."
"Utterly ridiculous that you didn't give credit to Kristen for the ___ field puzzle because she said 'and' before the last word of the list," added @NeuroVixen in a tweet. "Functionally no different from the pauses you allow. You know she knew the puzzle @WheelofFortune Not cool."
"Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak tried to soften the blow by gently explaining to Shaw that he had tried to warn her beforehand not to make the mistake of adding an extra word to her answer.
"Most times I caution people not to add anything, and you maybe didn't even hear yourself say it but you threw an 'And' in there with the last thing and we have to go by the rules," Sajak said.
The prizes went to the contestant who answered the puzzle correctly by eliminating the word "and." Shaw meanwhile went home with $3,000.
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