Nevada “Wheel of Fortune” contestant Charlene Rubush missed her chance to win an Audi Q3 car earlier this week after pausing briefly while giving the correct answer, a formality under the rules of the game show. But when executives at the automaker heard of the incident, they rode to aid and gave her a new Q3.
Rubush had advanced into the bonus round on Monday, in which she was asked to solve a four-word puzzle. She hit the 10-second timer and guessed the phrase “choose the right word” correctly. But host Pat Sajak then told Rubush that she lost because of a five-second pause between the words “right” and “word”.
“You know, it’s tough because you said all the right words – including the word ‘word’ – but as you know it has to be more or less continuous,” Sajak told Rubush. “We’re going to take a little break, but not four or five seconds.”
Sajak also told her that she guessed the sentence well, “but we can’t give you the price.” A visibly discouraged Rubush instead walked away with $ 16,500 in cash. A Q3 2021 starts at 34,000 US dollars, according to Audi.
Audi gives the “Wheel Of Fortune” candidate a car after the ET Canada spectator slam show on YouTube
Wheel of Fortune fans who saw the episode immediately protested, saying Rubush had been robbed. Video clips from the show were soon posted on social media as people vented their disapproval.
“Come on @WheelofFortune, the woman literally picked the right word,” tweeted Alex Jacob, who won the 2015 Tournament of Champions on Jeopardy. “Give her the car.”
Come on @WheelofFortune, the woman literally picked the right word. Give her the car. pic.twitter.com/aAaMyFeEZl
– Alex Jacob (@whoisalexjacob) December 22, 2021
Seth Weinstein, a pianist in Massachusetts, said the Rubush case showed that television producers must apply the same rules to all game shows.
“I like it when games have strict rules, but I would rate that as a win,” tweeted Weinstein, citing “Jeopardy”. “For a daily double, you can say ‘what is’ right away and then fill in the rest just before the buzzer. Why not the equivalent here?”
The Twitter hashtag # GiveHerTheQ3 gained prominence later this week. Then Audi stepped in. The company announced on Wednesday that it would give Rubush the same model car it tried to win on “Wheel of Fortune”.
“You are a winner in our eyes, Charlene,” the company tweeted. “Now we’ll get you a prize. Time for # GiveHerTheQ3. “
We think you’re a winner, Charlene. Now we’re going to get you a prize. Time for # GiveHerTheQ3. https://t.co/x0e3j1CqY9
– Audi USA (@Audi) December 22, 2021
Audi confirmed the car giveaway in a statement to Newsweek, saying the car would be given to Rubush as a gift.
“[We] saw Charlie’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode on Monday and was generally disappointed that she missed the opportunity to take an Audi Q3 home because it had a technical defect, “said the company.
“Wheel of Fortune,” which has aired since 1975 and is owned by Sony Pictures Television, did not return a request for comment. It’s unclear if the game show continues to enforce its rule of the pause between words.
“Wheel of Fortune” fans also railed against another game show rule in April when another participant lost a crossword puzzle challenge for using the word “and” in their answer to list a group of words, which is not allowed is . Fans have urged the show to lift the rule, Entertainment Weekly reported.
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Christopher J. Brooks
