‘What kind of puzzle is that?’: Things get ‘testy’ on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

During an otherwise cheerful and festive week on Wheel of Fortune, one contestant’s early game frustrations turned into an admittedly “testy” moment with host Pat Sajak during the bonus round.

As the show continues its 41st season, which is slated to be Sajak’s last, the host has had enough memorable moments — good and bad — to fill up a whole highlight reel. And the back-and-forth he had with a contestant named Jill this week is surely one memory to add to the “Pat is getting salty” section of that reel.

Here’s a look at how the moment unfolded.

The build-up

After Jill narrowly made it to the bonus round and before jumping into the final puzzle, the 77-year-old Sajak told a "tale" that perfectly summarized the game she had experienced up to that point.

“Early in the show you did, what sometimes happens here, called a letter that’d already been called. And you were so down about that. You were worried about just messing up the show,” Sajak said to Jill. “Then you had a puzzle that you think you should have solved, and you didn’t. And then she blamed me during commercial.”

Of course, the host also mentioned that she did end up winning big money ($27,680 to be exact) and a trip (to Barbados specifically) so all was right with the world. That is, until the final puzzle…

The final puzzle

The category was “What Are You Doing?” and after Jill guessed four letters and the customary RSTLNE had all been added, Jill was looking at this on the puzzle board:

_ _ _ C _ N _ _ _ R _ _ _ N _ _ N

After guesses like “Blocking our…” and “Working our…” did not evolve into correct answers, her time ran out and it was revealed to be: “VOICING OUR OPINION.”

“Voicing our opinion? Come on,” Jill said.

“What do you mean, ’come on’?” Sajak asked.

“What kind of puzzle is that?” she said, ironically voicing her opinion.

“It’s a puzzle you didn’t solve,” he replied, adding: “It’s getting testy here on Christmas, isn’t it?”

It turned out that Jill could have won an additional $40,000 that she said “could have bought her a house,” but still walked away with nearly $30,000 and a trip.

Past puzzling puzzles

This week’s moment is not the first time that people have taken issue with the puzzle being too off the beaten path, as viewers are not shy about seeing things they don't like. However, this time around viewers reacting on social media seemed to be more on Sajak’s side than anything.

Wheel of Fortune airs weekdays on ABC, check your local listings.