'WOF' Fans Say Player Pulled Clever Prank Before Big Win

When it comes to Wheel of Fortune, guessing the right letters or words in time can make or break a game. However, during a recent episode, WoF fans suspect that a recent contestant was secretly having a little fun with the show’s gameplay. Even the show’s YouTube channel seemed to acknowledge the contestant’s skills.

The Contestant Seemed To Have A Trick Up His Sleeve

On the November 12 episode of the show, Marine Corps veteran Brandon Shields was the latest contestant. He quickly made an impression, inviting Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White to try his recipe for pulled pork.

Eventually, Shields made his way to the bonus round. He selected the ‘What Are You Doing?’ category.

Vanna White, Ryan Seacrest-YouTube — Vanna White & Ryan Seacrest on ‘WoF’ – YouTube

The puzzle was four words that read: “‘L _ _ _ _ N _’ ‘_ _R’ ‘_ _’ ‘_E_S’.” Shields then picked the letters “Y,” “K,” “F,” and “O,” which some fans noted as an unusual choice.

Shields then moved over to the puzzle as Seacrest said, “I think you’re gonna see a few things here.” The letters filled in the puzzle as, “LOOK_N_’ ‘FOR’ ‘_Y’ ‘KEYS,” causing Shields to crack a grin.

Before the timer began, Vanna White and members of the studio audience could be heard laughing and applauding the contestant. Shields then solved the puzzle as “Looking For My Keys.”

WoF Fans Think Shields Knew What He Was Doing

The correct guess earned Shields $50,000, giving him a total of $72,400. Celebrating his win, Shields could be heard cheering, “I can pay for childcare, that’s awesome!”

When a video of Shields’ win was uploaded to YouTube, many fans suspected Shields’ plan. Noting the unusual numbers he picked, they guessed he already figured out the puzzle and picked letters that would almost immediately solve it.

Taking to the comment section, as noted by The Express U.S., many fans shared this sentiment. While he already knew the answer, the unusual letters could have confused viewers at home into thinking he was just guessing at random.

As one wrote, “When Brandon picked Y, I just knew he was toying with us as Pat [Sajak] would say.” Another wrote that, “Oh, he knew that puzzle from the RSTLNE. It’s not often you hear a contestant call for a Y or a K.”

The YouTube video also highlighted Shields’ skills during the game. As the description read, “Brandon brought his ‘rizz’ all the way to the Bonus Round!”

As shown in the previous night’s episode, contestants can make an impression on fans with a wrong answer just as much as the right one. On the November 11, 2024, episode, another contestant, veteran Will Jordan, guessed “Treat Yourself a Round of Sausage” to a puzzle meant as “Give Yourself a Round of Applause.”

At the time, even Seacrest joked he preferred Jordan’s answer. Jordan was also able to use his appearance to give back to the community, such as hosting a Thanksgiving-inspired raffle for a local food bank.

Did you see Shields’ win on Wheel of Fortune? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.