Friday night’s Wheel of Fortune left fans scratching their heads—not just over a tricky puzzle, but also a Bonus Round loss that many thought was a no-brainer.
Contestants Face Off in a Tight Game
On March 28, three players took the stage: Stephen Sporer from St. Paul, Minnesota, Christina White from Long Beach, California, and Megan Russell from Sylvester, West Virginia.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Sporer and Russell kicked off the night by solving the first two toss-ups, each securing $1,000. However, the opening puzzle saw all three contestants hit the dreaded Bankrupt, keeping things even. Russell eventually solved the puzzle, earning $3,500.
Then came the second puzzle—a moment that left viewers puzzled.
What Is the ‘Green Flash’?
With the category set as “Event,” White solved the puzzle: “Seeing the green flash.” But rather than cheers, it sparked confusion among viewers unfamiliar with the phrase.
“The Event category puzzle—What did that even mean???” one user asked on Reddit.
“No idea,” another fan admitted.
Show host Ryan Seacrest and Stephen Sporer in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Fortunately, Wheel of Fortune didn’t leave its audience hanging. At the end of the episode, hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White explained what the phrase meant.
“Earlier in the show, we had a puzzle, ‘Seeing the green flash,’” White said before turning to Seacrest. “Have you ever heard of the green flash?”
Seacrest described it as a rare optical phenomenon that occurs right before the sun fully sets. “When I’m sitting there in a lawn chair with a wine cooler, watching its final moments, it flashes at the last second before dipping below the horizon. You see this green refraction of light—it’s quite beautiful.”
Many fans appreciated the clarification, with one person writing, “I’m glad they explained it, but I’ve never heard of that before. Or seen it in the many, many sunsets I’ve watched.”
Sporer Secures His Spot in the Bonus Round
The game continued with White scoring big in the Prize Puzzle Round, correctly solving “Take a shower under a waterfall.” The win earned her $9,000 and a luxurious trip to Aruba.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
But Sporer took control in the final stretch, nailing all three Triple Toss-Ups and adding $10,000 to his total. He later solved the final puzzle, “In the home stretch,” securing his place in the Bonus Round with $35,000. White finished strong with $22,132, while Russell ended with $5,800.
A Bonus Round Blunder Fans Won’t Forget
With his partner Jeremy and best friend Mary cheering him on, Sporer picked “Phrase” as his category. The board revealed:
O N O _ R _ _ _
Sporer selected C, M, G, and O, but hesitation filled the studio as he struggled to piece it together. Despite several attempts, he failed to say the correct answer: “On Our Way.”
The misstep cost him an additional $40,000—a moment that stunned fans watching at home.
