{"id":2248241,"date":"2026-01-24T08:57:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T08:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2248241"},"modified":"2026-01-24T08:57:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T08:57:43","slug":"wheel-of-fortune-fans-agree-this-is-why-contestant-lost-65000-entertainment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wheel-of-fortune-fans-agree-this-is-why-contestant-lost-65000-entertainment\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Wheel of Fortune\u2019 Fans Agree This Is Why Contestant Lost $65,000 | Entertainment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" false=\"\">\n                                <meta itemprop=\"isAccessibleForFree\" content=\"false\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"subscriber-preview\">\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvinsider.com\/show\/wheel-of-fortune\/\"><em>Wheel of Fortune<\/em><\/a> fans think they know why a contestant lost out on taking home $65,000. The photographer\/videographer couldn\u2019t solve the Bonus Round puzzle, which fans agreed was very tricky. But there was one element to it that made it especially tough..<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-preview\">\n<p>Janel Pilate, from Chicago, Illinois, played against Ricky Ostry, from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Theresa Chapman, from Taylors, South Carolina, on January 22. While Pilate takes photos and videos during the day, she also loves spending time with children and teens in the community, who call her Coach J, at the South Side Help Center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>She solved the first toss-up while Ostry, a member of a ton of different bands, solved the second. After Pilate and Chapman, a retired grandmom, guessed most of the letters in the first puzzle, the turn moved to Ostry, who only guessed two letters and then solved \u201cSoothing Mud Bath\u201d for $6,100.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>Ostry also solved the \u201cBefore &amp; After\u201d puzzle \u2014 \u201cMr. Potato Head Cold\u201d \u2014 which gave him a total of $8,050.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>Pilate took the lead when she solved the prize puzzle \u2014 \u201cChasing Waterfalls\u201d \u2014 for a trip to Panama. This gave her a total of $16,250.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>Chapman finally got on the board with $2,000 when she solved one of the three triple toss-ups. Pilate solved the other two, adding $4,000 to her bank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Switched up Her Name Tag for This Bonus Round!\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2DueOPo5z6o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>Ostry solved the final puzzle, \u201cRainbow Fruit Tart,\u201d giving him a final total of $15,650. Chapman went home with $2,000. Pilate was the night\u2019s big winner with $20,250.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>She chose \u201cFood &amp; Drink\u201d for her bonus Round category. During the break, the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvinsider.com\/category\/game-shows\/\">game show<\/a> swapped out her name tag for one that said \u201cCoach J.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>After being given \u201cR,S,T,L,N, and E,\u201d Pilate chose \u201cD,C,M, and A\u201d to round out her puzzle. It then looked like \u201c_ _ _N_A\u00a0 \u00a0_ _ _L.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>As the clock counted down, she guessed \u201cGranola Bowl,\u201d \u201cBanana Bowl,\u201d and \u201cFruit Bowl.\u201d Pilate couldn\u2019t quite guess \u201cQuinoa Bowl.\u201d\u00a0She would have added $45,000 to her total, which would have given her $65,250.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tncms-region-article_instory_middle\" class=\"tncms-region hidden-print\">\n<div id=\"tncms-block-699365\" class=\"tncms-block\">\n<section id=\"block-699365\" class=\"block emphasis-h3   \">\n<div class=\"card-grid   card-img-md card-compact\">\n<div class=\" row\">\n<div class=\" col-sm-4 \">\n<article id=\"card-summary-699365-614689af-ffee-52dc-80e9-f8c81fb5e79c\" class=\"tnt-asset-type-article clearfix card summary has-image image-top inherit letterbox-style-default  tnt-section-lifestyles tnt-sub-section-entertainment\">\n<div class=\"card-container\">\n<div class=\"card-image card-image-top\">\n<div class=\"media-preview-614689af-ffee-52dc-80e9-f8c81fb5e79c media-preview article-asset \" data-aspect=\"4:3\">\n<figure class=\"photo layout-horizontal letterbox-style-default\">\n<div class=\"image\">\n<p>                    <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kpcnews.com\/lifestyles\/entertainment\/article_614689af-ffee-52dc-80e9-f8c81fb5e79c.html\" class=\"tnt-asset-link\" aria-label=\"Movies and TV shows casting across the US\"><\/p>\n<p>                &#13;<br \/>\n                        <br \/>\n                <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<div class=\" col-sm-4 last-grid-item\">\n<article id=\"card-summary-699365-2b9efce3-b4db-5ffe-891d-9a73f2deef46\" class=\"tnt-asset-type-article clearfix card summary has-image image-top inherit letterbox-style-default  tnt-section-lifestyles tnt-sub-section-entertainment\">\n<div class=\"card-container\">\n<div class=\"card-image card-image-top\">\n<div class=\"media-preview-2b9efce3-b4db-5ffe-891d-9a73f2deef46 media-preview article-asset \" data-aspect=\"4:3\">\n<figure class=\"photo layout-horizontal letterbox-style-default\">\n<div class=\"image\">\n<p>                    <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kpcnews.com\/lifestyles\/entertainment\/article_2b9efce3-b4db-5ffe-891d-9a73f2deef46.html\" class=\"tnt-asset-link\" aria-label=\"Which Grammy nominees ranked highest based on performance data\"><\/p>\n<p>                &#13;<br \/>\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAQAAAAe\/WZNAAAAEElEQVR42mM8U88ABowYDABAxQPltt5zqAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Which Grammy nominees ranked highest based on performance data\" class=\"img-responsive lazyload full default\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=150%2C113&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 150w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=200%2C150&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 200w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=225%2C169&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 225w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=300%2C225&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 300w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=400%2C300&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 400w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=540%2C405&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 540w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=640%2C480&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 640w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0&amp;resize=750%2C563&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 750w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/kpcnews.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/c\/61\/c6139521-f313-5375-b727-690e88bc5dc3\/69711f2e6f222.image.jpg?crop=960%2C720%2C160%2C0 990w\"\/><br \/>\n                <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>Fans said that this one thing caused her to lose the Bonus Round \u2014 no one ever picks \u201cQ\u201d as one of their letters.\u00a0\u201c\u2018<span class=\"yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap\" dir=\"auto\" role=\"text\">Quinoa\u2019 is a good word for protecting margins. No one guesses Q and only 1 vowel can be chosen,\u201d one YouTube user said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s rare for a Q to be in the Bonus Round,\u201d another commented.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>\u201cAlways with the Q!\u201d a third added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>\u201c<span class=\"yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap\" dir=\"auto\" role=\"text\">The A was a good guess, but the B or the O could be used. Q is a rare letter but not frequently used here,\u201d another wrote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>\u201c<span class=\"yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap\" dir=\"auto\" role=\"text\">What a tough puzzle, especially with the letter Q,\u201d one last fan said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p>Could you solve the puzzle? Let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"subscriber-only\" style=\"display:none\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"contents\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<div class=\"post-block\" data-skm-boomerang-el-2=\"processed\">\n<p><strong><em>Wheel of Fortune<\/em>, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(d, s, id) {\n  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;\n  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n  js.src = \"\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.5&appId=283129931792540\";\n  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));<\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.kpcnews.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wheel of Fortune fans think they know why a contestant lost out on taking home $65,000. The photographer\/videographer couldn\u2019t solve the Bonus Round puzzle, which fans agreed was very tricky. But there was one element to it that made it especially tough.. Janel Pilate, from Chicago, Illinois, played against Ricky Ostry, from New Orleans, Louisiana, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2103827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[21741,348458,21738,21902,137882,137883,399491,435286],"class_list":["post-2248241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-entertainment","tag-game-shows","tag-news","tag-ntvb_media","tag-syndicate","tag-syndicate-news","tag-wheel-of-fortune-american-game-show","tag-wheel-of-fortune-british-game-show"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Robert-De-Niro-Issues-Trump-Warning-Drops-F-Bomb-on-MSNBC.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2248241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2248241"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2248241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2248242,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2248241\/revisions\/2248242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2103827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2248241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2248241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2248241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}