Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in May 2024.
“Wheel of Fortune” gave viewers a hilarious moment on its May 23 episode as longtime host Pat Sajak’s final show approaches. Contestant Tavaris Williams shocked everyone with his audacious guess during a “Phrase” puzzle.
As the letters appeared on the board, Williams guessed, “Right in the butt!” The audience and other contestants burst into laughter, with one contestant exclaiming, “Whaaat?!” This comedic moment quickly went viral, catching the attention of Jimmy Kimmel. On his May 29 “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show, Kimmel commended Williams, saying, “I don’t care what Pat Sajak says, that was a great answer.”
Williams shared that Sajak was very supportive during the commercial break. “Pat was the best! He made me feel so great about that at the break,” Williams recounted. Sajak had promised to find a “tactful way” to handle the moment.
After filming the episode in April, Williams couldn’t keep the humorous moment from his wife. “I told my wife instantly after, ‘I will keep everything a secret except this — this you have to know about,’” he said. He had mostly forgotten about it until the episode aired and social media reactions poured in.
Kimmel jokingly asked Williams if “right in the butt” was a common phrase for him. Williams responded with a straight face, “I have never used those words in sequential order a day in my life, Jimmy.” Despite the unexpected guess, Williams, who won $9,500, stayed positive. “I am spreading a lot of smiles around the world,” he said.
During the show, Sajak simply responded “no” to Williams’ guess and moved on to another contestant, Blake, who exclaimed, “This is the best!” Sajak laughed and added, “Yeah, that’s, that’s it. I think.” Williams approved Blake’s better answer with humor. As the game continued, Sajak introduced the contestants, noting, “Well, Tavaris, you’ve already made an impression on us.” Williams apologized, and Sajak reassured him, saying, “We’ll figure out a way to handle that tastefully,” as laughter continued.
Social media users loved the clip, calling it “Wheel of Fortune Hall of Fame”-worthy. One user wrote, “I may be an 83-year-old man who watches Wheel of Fortune frequently, but moments like this are rare and make it all worth it.” Others called it the “greatest moment in Wheel of Fortune history” and noted, “Wheel of Fortune is a lot spicier than I remember.” Even Merriam-Webster’s official X account joined in, tweeting, “Yes, we saw the Wheel of Fortune clip you can stop giving it to us.”
This season marks the end of an era as Pat Sajak retires after hosting “Wheel of Fortune” since 1981. The 77-year-old Emmy winner announced his retirement in June 2023, stating, “Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which starts in September, will be my last.”
Ryan Seacrest will take over, with Vanna White extending her contract to stay on the show. Sajak’s final episode airs June 7, closing out an incredible 41-year career.
Sources: Today
