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Wheel of Fortune watchers were aghast as newly-hired host Ryan Seacrest allowed a mispronounced answer win during Monday's episode of the longest-running syndicated game show.
Contestant Kenneth Blount-Hames was tasked with solving a hangman-style puzzle in the 'Food and Drink' category, and he buzzed in after eight seconds of seeing '_SP_E__O ___TI__.'
'Expresso martini?' the American Airlines flight attendant guessed (pronouncing an X instead of an S), and the 49-year-old Daytime Emmy winner responded: 'That sounds good too!'
Kenneth scored $2,000 for the answer and moved on to the bonus round where he lost an eye-popping $75,000 prize after not correctly guessing the five-word puzzle: 'WE HAVE THAT IN COMMON.'
Blount-Hames wound up taking home a total $18,850 - just $100 more than his rival contestant, US Space Force electrical engineer Darren Thornton, who probably should've won the prior category.
Wheel of Fortune watchers were aghast as host Ryan Seacrest (L) allowed a mispronounced answer win during Monday's episode of the longest-running syndicated game show
'As strict as Wheel of Fortune usually is with pronunciation, somehow they let "expresso martini" slide?' X user @mallory3610 tweeted in shock.
X user @tekavecjiim tweeted: 'He really did not win. Seacrest is an idiot. Kenneth pronounced "espresso" incorrectly. Took a win away from someone else. He pronounced it "expresso." Instead of "espresso." They should have beeped it wrong. Travesty.'
'I came here for this because you are 100% correct!' X user @robynmargulis tweeted.
'Not just Seacrest, but producers too. Espresso is typically mispronounced as expresso, but that should have been DQ'ed as a response. And he ended up winning by $100. I would sue if I was the other guy!'
X user @1bethemc tweeted: 'Agreed! Nothing against Kenneth, he was a good player, but when they've ruled against the mispronunciations of "Achilles Heel" and "Curio Cabinet," saying EXpresso should have been disallowed.'
Indeed, way back in 2014, a contestant successfully solved the three-word character puzzle 'MYTHOLOGICAL HERO ACHILLES' but he pronounced the last word.
Pat Sajak - who retired from hosting Wheel in June after 41 years - did not allow the first contestant to win and, instead, awarded the second contestant who could properly pronounce 'achilles.'
The 78-year-old Daytime Emmy winner has continued to host ABC's Celebrity Wheel of Fortune - which airs a special episode on December 2 featuring contestants Chance the Rapper, Dionne Warwick, and Lil Jon.
Contestant Kenneth Blount-Hames (M) was tasked with solving a hangman-style puzzle in the 'Food and Drink' category, and he buzzed in after eight seconds of seeing '_SP_E__O ___TI__'
'Expresso martini?' the American Airlines flight attendant guessed (pronouncing an X instead of an S), and the 49-year-old Daytime Emmy winner responded: 'That sounds good too!'
Kenneth scored $2K for the answer and moved on to the bonus round where he lost a $75K prize after not correctly guessing the five-word puzzle: 'WE HAVE THAT IN COMMON'
Blount-Hames wound up taking home a total $18,850 - just $100 more than his rival contestant, US Space Force's Darren Thornton, who probably should've won the prior category
'As strict as Wheel of Fortune usually is with pronunciation, somehow they let "expresso martini" slide?' X user @mallory3610 tweeted in shock
X user @tekavecjiim tweeted: 'He really did not win. Seacrest is an idiot. Kenneth pronounced "espresso" incorrectly'
'I came here for this because you are 100% correct!' X user @robynmargulis tweeted. 'Not just Seacrest, but producers too'
X user @1bethemc tweeted: 'Agreed! Nothing against Kenneth, he was a good player, but when they've ruled against the mispronunciations of "Achilles Heel" and "Curio Cabinet," saying EXpresso should have been disallowed'
Indeed, way back in 2014 (pictured), a contestant successfully solved the three-word character puzzle 'MYTHOLOGICAL HERO ACHILLES' but he pronounced the last word
Pat Sajak (M) - who retired from hosting Wheel in June after 41 years - did not allow the first contestant (L) to win and, instead, awarded the second contestant (R) who could properly pronounce 'achilles'
The 78-year-old Daytime Emmy winner (M, pictured May 13) has continued to host ABC's Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which airs a special episode on December 2
Last Sunday, Ryan joined American Idol judges (from L-R) Luke Bryan, Lionel Ritchie, and Carrie Underwood at the Tennessee Titans football game while taping the 23rd season
Ryan - who took over on September 9 - has previously been called out for everything from his so-called lack of empathy, fake over-the-top emotion, and delayed responses.
Last Sunday, Seacrest joined American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Ritchie, and Carrie Underwood at the Tennessee Titans football game while taping the 23rd season of ABC's singing competition.
The 'last nationwide open call' for future stars will be held next Wednesday before season 23 premieres in the spring.
