If you tuned in for a relaxing night of puzzle-solving, you probably ended up yelling at the screen instead. It happens. Today's slate of contestants on Wheel of Fortune today—specifically looking at the recent "Collette Spin, Solve & See The World" week wrap-ups—reminds us why we love and hate this game.
Look, we’ve all been there. You're sitting on your couch, the answer is screamingly obvious, and the person on TV calls a "Q." Honestly, it’s a miracle anyone wins anything with that giant yellow wheel staring them down. Today was no different. We saw some truly wild swings in momentum that left fans on social media buzzing about "bankrupt trash" and missed opportunities.
Who Took the Stage and Who Took the Hits?
The week has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but the standout energy came from a group that really felt the pressure of those Collette travel wedges. We’re talking about Romi Benoit, a TikTok baker from Peru who brought some serious flavor to the set. She wasn’t just there to spin; she was there to represent. She’s famous for her alfajores—those shortbread cookies with dulce de leche—and she clearly had the crowd on her side.
But then there was the gameplay.
It was messy.
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Romi managed to grab the "New York Times Crossword" puzzle for a modest $2,850, but the real drama came during the "Cave Painting" toss-up. Or’Rin Stinson, a massive sports fan from Georgia, literally guessed "Dave Painting." Dave. Painting. I mean, who is Dave? Is he a guy in the art department? The silence in the studio was loud. Eventually, Suzanne Moriarty, a clothing stylist and four-year breast cancer survivor, was ready to swoop in with "Rave Painting," but the buzzer beat her to it.
Basically, the game was a war of attrition. Here’s a quick look at how the main players stacked up by the end of the show:
- Romi Benoit: The TikTok star actually had the best "playthrough" logic, even if she left some money on the table. She ended up winning the game but fell into a common trap.
- Or’Rin Stinson: Despite the "Dave" incident, he managed to snag $7,400 by knowing that an ATV stands for an "All-Terrain Vehicle."
- Suzanne Moriarty: A tough night for the stylist, who mostly ended up in the "Gooseegg" territory with a single $1,000 for her efforts.
The Heartbreak of the Bonus Round
If you’re looking for the high-stakes moment for the contestants on Wheel of Fortune today, you have to talk about the Bonus Round. It was brutal. Romi stood there with the category "Thing" staring her in the face.
She needed to solve "JUST KIDDING AROUND."
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She didn't.
She guessed "LAYING," "HANGING OUT," and "WINNING." It’s painful because once you see the answer, it’s so clear, but in that 10-second window? Your brain just turns to mush. She lost out on $40,000 and a trip to Morocco. You could see the disappointment on her face, but she handled it with grace, which is more than most of us would do if we just lost a luxury vacation and a year's salary in one go.
Why This Week Felt Different
This "Collette Spin, Solve & See The World" week has been statistically weird. For the nerds out there (guilty), we’ve seen five "Triple Stumpers" this season already, which is a lot. A Triple Stumper is when nobody can solve the puzzle. It usually happens when the letters are just too weird or everyone is overthinking the "Before & After" logic.
Earlier in the week, we saw Mat Smith, an Army vet, survive a "Season-Worst Bankrupt Trash" situation. He lost over $28,000 in cash and prizes to a single spin. Most people would have just walked off the set and found the nearest bar. But Mat actually came back, solved "VINTAGE JEAN JACKET" in the Bonus Round, and walked away with $71,996. That’s the kind of redemption arc we live for.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Being a Contestant
People think the Wheel is easy. It isn't. You have to manage the "Used Letter Board," keep track of the score, watch Vanna (who is still a legend, by the way), and try not to say something stupid in front of Ryan Seacrest.
Seacrest has been settling into the role well, but he definitely has a different vibe than Pat. He’s a bit more "host-y," if that makes sense? He was joking today about Epcot’s World Showcase and how much he loves the food in the Morocco pavilion, which was a nice little tie-in since that’s the trip Romi just missed out on. Kinda salt in the wound, but he meant well.
Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode
- Vowels are your friends: Several contestants tonight tried to save money by not buying vowels, only to lose their turn because they couldn't see the structure of the word.
- The "Thing" category is a trap: It’s too broad. If you’re ever on the show and you get to pick your Bonus Round category, stay away from "Thing." Go with "Place" or "What Are You Wearing?" every time.
- Bankrupts happen in clusters: It felt like every time someone built up a decent lead today, the Wheel decided it was time to eat their bank account.
Honestly, watching contestants on Wheel of Fortune today is as much about the psychology as it is about the spelling. You see people’s confidence crumble in real-time. Or’Rin’s "Dave Painting" guess is going to live on in Wheel of Fortune blooper reels for years, but hey, at least he got on the show. Most of us are just shouting "Dave!" at our cats.
If you're planning on trying out for the show yourself, take note of Romi’s Express Round. She went "aboard" the Express and rode it out with some solid picks, which is usually the only way to build a lead big enough to survive a late-game Bankrupt. Just... maybe practice your "Just Kidding" phrases before you get to the final stage.
To get the most out of your Wheel viewing experience or to prep for your own audition, start tracking the "Triple Stumpers" yourself to see if you can spot the phonetic patterns the producers are using this season. You should also keep an eye on the official Wheel of Fortune website for the "Secret Santa" giveaways that usually follow these big travel-themed weeks.