Wheel of Fortune is one of those game shows that is so beloved specifically because it gets you thinking just enough to be fun, while it maintains a fun and stress-free environment throughout the program.
That is, at least until a person gives a perplexingly wrong answer.
During a Christmas-themed episode of the game show, the group of contestants were in the process of answering a word puzzle called "Santa Letter." All three of the words were supposed to be words that might be found in a letter written to Santa Claus.
One of the contestants, Phil McManus from Palmer, Massachusetts, tried his luck by supplying the letter "I," which proved to be the last vowel needed in the puzzle. So far, so good!
At this point in the game, the contestants had solved the first two words: "CHOCOLATES" and "CHESTNUTS."
The final word, including its blanks to be solved, read:
"CHI_NE_S"
When asked if he wanted to try to solve it, McManus replied with confidence:
"Chocolates, Chestnuts, and Chickens!"
This, of course, turned out to be inaccurate...
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A fellow contestant, Matt Komma from Riverton, Utah, then used the opportunity to solve the puzzle, earning himself 4,200 dollars.
The answer he supplied was:
"Chocolates, Chestnuts, and Chimneys."
When found in a letter to Santa, these would likely be used in such ways as "Christmas chocolates" or "a stocking full of chocolates," "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," and of course, "be careful on your way up and down the chimney!"
Most viewers were a combination of hilariously amused and deeply perplexed by McManus's answer.
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But a stray few admitted that they didn't get the answer right away, either.
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The producers at Wheel of Fortune even chimed in with their amusement.
"We bring more than just puzzles to the table. We also bring the laughs! If you ask us, we're pretty much the whole package."
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We all have silly moments where we don't think logically, and it can be hilarious to see the answers we come up with during those moments, like "chickens" and "Chinese"!
But this is also a great reminder that life doesn't always have to be that serious. Sometimes it's nice to just play the game, try your best, and laugh at yourself when you do the silliest thing.
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