Sources: TV Insider
A Wheel of Fortune contestant saw $61,000 slip away in the Bonus Round last week, leaving fans stunned over what many called one of the easier puzzles in recent memory.
Eric Handzel, a Yankees superfan from Chadwicks, New York, made it all the way to the final round on Thursday’s episode after racking up an impressive $21,350 in winnings.
But when it came down to the puzzle that could have sent him home with $61,000, Handzel missed the mark — and the reaction from his dad, who was cheering from the audience with a booming laugh, said it all.
Handzel squared off against two other contestants: Camila Santos, a mother of two from Sunnyvale, California, and Joanie White, a hairdresser from St. Pauls, North Carolina.
White came out strong, solving both Toss-Ups to claim an early $3,000. Handzel, however, quickly took control of the game by nailing the first main puzzle, “Shameless Shoe Shopaholic,” bumping his score to $3,500.
White clawed back with “Annual Chili Cook-Off,” pushing her to $4,650, but Handzel dominated the Prize Puzzle with “Don’t Forget Your Phone Charger.” That win netted him a South American cruise to Argentina and Patagonia, bringing his total to $17,350.
In the Triple Toss-Ups, Handzel solved two out of three, with White grabbing the last one. White later picked up the final puzzle, “Gone on a Blind Date,” ending her night with $8,350. Santos was unable to secure a win but still left with the show’s $1,000 consolation prize.
With the most money at the buzzer, Handzel headed into the Bonus Round. Host Ryan Seacrest paused to acknowledge a hearty laugh coming from the audience. “Is that your father laughing?” Seacrest asked. Handzel smiled, confirming it was his dad Joe, whose infectious laugh quickly became a highlight of the episode.
As the clock wound down, Handzel hesitated. At first, he muttered “pulley,” then switched gears to “pillow.” Laughing nervously, he threw out guesses like “Bed Pillow, Throw Pillow, Pillow.” Unfortunately, the correct solution was “Body Pillow.”
The miss cost him $40,000 in prize money, bringing his potential grand total to $61,000. Still, Seacrest kept the moment light, joking, “I use one every night too,” after Handzel admitted he actually sleeps with a body pillow.
Fans at home quickly chimed in on social media. One YouTube viewer admitted, “Wow, I actually guessed ‘Body Pillow’ correctly — and it was just a lucky shot!” Another added, “We don’t have body pillows. But the good letters are W and B. Good attempt by the player, though.”
Although the Bonus Round didn’t go his way, Handzel still walked off stage with more than $21,000 and a free vacation. But for the Yankees fan and his dad, it will likely be the $40,000 body pillow that’s hardest to forget.
