‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Fume Over Contentious Bonus Round Puzzle

Another evening, another uproar on Wheel of Fortune. Viewers were left frustrated after the February 14 episode, criticizing the bonus round puzzle as unfair—and some even doubted whether it qualified as a legitimate phrase.

The tension unfolded when Conner Kemmsies, a commercial pilot from Lakeside, California, reached the final round. His strong performance earlier in the show had earned him $19,080 in cash and prizes, including a six-day whale-watching cruise to Baja, California, provided by National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions.

With his wife and family cheering him on, Conner prepared to face the bonus round challenge.

Viewers Question the Puzzle’s Fairness

The final puzzle was categorized as a “Phrase.” After revealing the standard R, S, T, L, N, E letters—along with Conner’s selections of C, M, D, and A—the board displayed:

_ D _ D M _ _ _ M E _ _ R _.

Conner quickly decoded the first part—“I DID MY”—but struggled to finish the phrase. The correct answer?

I DID MY HOMEWORK.

When time ran out, Conner laughed and told host Ryan Seacrest, “Aw, man, I don’t do homework anymore. I’m not in school now.”

Is ‘I Did My Homework’ Even a Phrase? Fans Disagree

Fans flooded social media and YouTube comments to express their frustration. Many argued that the phrase didn’t feel like a genuine expression, claiming it sounded more like a casual sentence than a recognizable idiom.

“That’s not a phrase, that’s just a sentence.”
“Took me a second to get it, but seriously, ‘I did my homework’ isn’t something people say as a phrase.”

While some viewers called the puzzle “easy,” others admitted it was one of the trickier ones in recent memory.

Fans Criticize the Bonus Round’s ‘Predictable’ Prize Wheel

Beyond the controversial puzzle, fans had another complaint—the bonus round prize. Once again, the prize wheel landed on the $40,000 minimum payout, a trend that many Wheel watchers argue happens far too frequently.

“Why even have a bonus wheel if it lands on $40,000 almost every time?”

This isn’t the first time Wheel of Fortune fans have voiced their discontent with the game’s execution. With accusations of questionable puzzles and predictable prize amounts, many are questioning whether the show is losing its charm under Ryan Seacrest’s leadership.

What do you think? Was this puzzle fair or a miss? And is the bonus wheel rigged? Share your thoughts in the comments!