Wheel of Fortune/YouTube
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Ryan Seacrest comforted contestant Cameron Payne after he lost his chance at winning $114,000 on Wheel of Fortune
After Payne was unable to solve the bonus round puzzle, which would have earned him $100,000 on top of his $14,000 winnings, Seacrest embraced him in a hug
"Good job tonight! You're a lot of fun," Seacrest told Payne
Ryan Seacrestwill always be there to comfortWheel of Fortunecontestants.
On Tuesday, Dec. 22, during an episode ofWheel of Fortune, the host embraced firefighter contestant Cameron Payne after he lost his chance of winning $114,000. Earlier in the game, Payne had accumulated $14,478 andadvanced to the bonus roundfor a chance to gain an additional $100,000.
With his wife and father cheering him on the sidelines, Payne spun the wheel that would determine the amount he'd win if he solved the bonus round. "We've got $100,000 on the wheel. That would be big," Seacrest, 50, said.
Wheel of Fortune/YouTube
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Payne then went to the letterboard to solve the puzzle, which looked like "_ _ _ E _ E THE L _ _ _ _ _ N." The letters given beforehand were R, S, T, L, N, and Payne chose "C, H, P and A," giving him only one letter. With only a few seconds to spare, Payne shouted out his guess, "Have Me The Lesson."
The puzzle was "Give Me The Lowdown," and Seacrest revealed the amount Payne would've won if he had solved it: a whopping $100,000.
After an unsuccessful turn at solving the puzzle and appearing disappointed, Seacrest opened up his arms to give Payne a comforting hug. "I'm sorry," Payne told Seacrest as they embraced, before the host responded, "No, don't apologize."
"Good job tonight! You're a lot of fun," Seacrest told Payne.
Wheel of Fortune/YouTube
"I did need that hug," Payne wrote in the comments of the bonus round YouTube video. "It was me, and I was so close to closing out the greatest night of my life with 100k. The most I've ever had. Thank you, Wheel of Fortune."
Seacrest joined theWheel of Fortunefamily as its host for its 42nd season in September 2024. He took over the role afterPat Sajakretired in June 2024 after 40 years on the show.
While bidding his farewell,Sajack advised his successoron how to be a great host. "[Pat] says the best part will be meeting the contestant every night, and that this is a show that really does have a cultural impact on the viewers, and there's a great amount of fun," Seacrest told PEOPLE.
He added, "There's [also] a great amount of responsibility that comes with people who have invited this into their living rooms on a regular basis over decades and decades."
Seacrest revealed that being the host ofWheel of Fortunewas "a dream job" during his first episode on the game show. "Welcome toWheel of Fortune. I am your host, Ryan Seacrest," he began. "I still can't believe my luck being here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you and, of course, my good friend, Vanna White."
"I've been a fan of this show since I was a kid, watching in Atlanta with my family, and I know how special it is that Wheel has been in your living rooms for the past 40 years, and I'm just so grateful to be invited in," he gushed. "I also know I've got some very big shoes to fill, so let's play Wheel of Fortune!"
Wheel of Fortuneairs weeknights and is available to streamon Peacock and Hulu.
Read the original article onPeople