This week’s “Wheel of Fortune” kicked off with a moment fans won’t soon forget, thanks to a hilariously off-the-mark answer from contestant Will Jordan. As part of a special Veterans Day episode, host Ryan Seacrest welcomed Will—a Coast Guard and police veteran from Wethersfield, Connecticut—alongside other service members for a fun and spirited game. But little did anyone know that Will’s attempt to solve a puzzle would send viewers into fits of laughter.
The memorable blunder came during a “Phrase” category puzzle. Will had filled in a good portion of the puzzle, and the solution seemed close at hand. Confident, he buzzed in to answer, but what came out was something entirely unexpected: “Treat yourself a round of sausage.” The real answer, “Give yourself a round of applause,” was solved just moments later by fellow contestant Kitina.
But Will’s version was too good to go unnoticed, and even Seacrest couldn’t resist chuckling. He quipped that Will’s take might be more exciting than applause alone—sparking laughs across the studio and online.
For Will, this light-hearted mistake didn’t dampen his spirits. In fact, he embraced the humor of the situation, taking it all in stride. After the game, he chatted with Maggie Sajak, daughter of former host Pat Sajak, about his “missolve.”
Will admitted that under the bright lights with Seacrest and Vanna White looking on, he “just went blank.” He joked that as long as his dad gets a good laugh from it, it’s all worth it. Maggie assured him that his answer would be a hit back home.
The good-natured ribbing didn’t end there. Will joked that he’d probably come back to find sausages in his locker and police car, a nod to the joke that just kept on giving. Seacrest even signed a “Wheel of Fortune” cue card as a memento for Will’s family, cementing the moment in game show history.
Though Will didn’t make it to the top, he managed to solve the last puzzle of the game with “Necklines and Hemlines,” pocketing $8,000 and finishing in third place.
Kitina took second with $10,500, while Chantel, who had an impressive Triple Toss-Up round, went on to win the game with $13,000. Although Chantel missed the bonus puzzle “Online Auction” for the $100,000 prize, Will’s sausage line stole the show.
How did Will get on Wheel of Fortune pic.twitter.com/B3ql6gKczZ https://t.co/6u6EO2VvZI
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) November 12, 2024
As “Wheel of Fortune” settles into its new era with Seacrest at the helm, it’s moments like these that remind fans why they love the show. For Will, his unexpected puzzle “solution” has earned him some laughs, memories, and maybe even a few sausage-themed pranks. It’s safe to say that, win or lose, he walked away a legend in “Wheel” lore.
