‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Blows Response, Bagel Fans Revolt: ‘Absolute Dimwit’

TV

By Erin Keller

March 3, 2023 | 6:00 p.m.

A corny surveillance almost cost a “Wheel of Fortune” competitor thousands of prizes.

Angie Gautney, a teacher from North DeLand, Fla., appeared on Wednesday’s episode of the beloved game show, in which two tricky letters nearly stopped her from winning $7,300.

All she had to do was fill in the correct letters during a puzzle in the “Food and Drink” category that already spelled out “Hot grilled ba_els with lo_ and cream cheese.”

Gautney correctly guessed that the first incomplete word was “bagels”, but then guessed the second was “low” instead of the correct “lox”, which is pickled salmon that originated in Scandinavia.

But it was New York’s Jewish community that popularized lox on a bagel with cream cheese. It remains a favorite breakfast item on the East Coast.

She finally asked for an “X” to be placed on the board and proudly read aloud: “Hot toasted bagels with lox and cream cheese.”

“Yeah, that’s a much better recipe,” joked host Pat Sajak.

But while an avid number of lox enthusiasts have flocked to Twitter, asking how Gautney apparently didn’t know what lox is, others have also admitted to being unfamiliar with the ingredient.

“What is Lox?” Never heard of it. I’ve seen much worse mistakes in the wheel of fortune,” said one user. noted, while another said he “never show my face again” if they guessed “weak” instead of “lox”.

“My dad and I were appalled that my mom was more understanding but I feel like Florida has so many transplants in New York she should have known!” the tweeter continued.

“The absolute verbal abuse my mom and I yelled at that lady on the wheel of fortune who didn’t know what the lox was,” another person share.

“In the entire 500,000 year history of the Wheel of Fortune, these are perhaps the only absolute idiot candidates I have ever seen, and I say that in the purest way. Who has never heard of LOX #Wheel of Fortune,” another person asked.

Gautney was a good sportswoman, at least: she even poked fun at herself on her Facebook account, promoting her appearance beforehand, noting that there would be “a few embarrassing moments”.

The sleazy fiasco joins the list of other recent “Wheel” snafus – mostly at Sajak’s expense. The show’s official Twitter account even poked fun at the longtime host’s viral reaction to a player needing another rules rundown this week.

In December, viewers fumed when he somehow complimented his daughter Maggie, 27, who many fans believe will take over from her father when he finally retires. Another weird moment happened when a contestant nearly threw thousands of dollars down the drain when she couldn’t solve a bonus round puzzle – and confused Sajak in the process.