From the moment the cameras started rolling, something felt a little off.
The energy was electric, the stakes towering—but as the Bonus Round countdown began, viewers couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t clicking. Was it nerves? A strategic misstep? Or just the crushing pressure of the moment? When contestant Sam Oh suddenly froze live on national TV with a cool $1 million on the line, it left fans pondering more than just the puzzle’s answer.
During a recent episode of Wheel of Fortune, part of the show’s lively “Bragging Rights” week, fans witnessed a dramatic stumble in the Bonus Round—one that denied contestant Sam Oh a life-changing jackpot.
The May 13 episode brought together three coworkers from a pediatric office in Texas: Sam Oh from Cypress, and his Houston colleagues Peter Jung and Daniel Park. The friendly rivalry quickly transformed into a spirited battle fueled by office pride and some good-natured teasing.
Host Ryan Seacrest kicked off the game with playful banter, learning that Jung had once served as Park’s pediatrician. Jung quipped, “Still waiting for him to grow,” to which Seacrest retorted with a smile, “People say the same about me — watch out!”
Raising the stakes further, the trio agreed on a side bet: the two runners-up would wear custom “Wheel of Misfortune” shirts crafted by Jung’s wife. Sam, confident from the outset, vowed he wouldn’t be one of them—and early on, it seemed like he’d keep that promise.
Oh quickly gained momentum, scoring $2,000 early and correctly solving “Giving a Little Pep Talk” during the Jackpot Round, securing another $2,000 and a trip to Costa Rica. Later, he cracked “Surround Sound System,” pushing his total winnings to $18,600.
Not far behind, Jung snagged the $1 million wedge and solved “Macadamia Nut Cookies” to win a Maui trip, finishing with $14,000. Park, slower to find his rhythm, closed with “This Girl Is On Fire” and earned $1,700.
By the end of the main game, Oh was leading with $28,050, Jung held $16,450, and Park rounded out the group. That meant Sam Oh was headed into the Bonus Round—with the elusive million-dollar prize at stake.
The category? “Phrase.” With his coworkers decked out in their “loser” shirts watching, Oh faced the puzzle with the whole country watching—one spin away from a fortune.
But then, the moment unraveled.
After revealing the usual starter letters—R, S, T, L, N, and E—Oh hesitated when it came time to pick his three consonants and one vowel. He eventually settled on “C,” but then froze, the pressure palpable. Seacrest urged him on: “Take a guess.” Sam managed to say “G, M, and O,” lighting up the board to reveal “_ _ T O _ _ _ C.”
He guessed “Out of…” but stumbled on the final word. The correct answer? “Out of Whack.”
Behind the scenes, the prize in the envelope was a $40,000 consolation—while the $1 million card sat tantalizingly beneath the “M” in “America.”
This miss marked the twelfth Bonus Round loss in a row for the show, sparking plenty of online chatter.
“Sam took forever to pick letters,” a Reddit commenter noted. “Being careful is smart, but that hesitation cost him.”
Another fan said, “No shock he missed it — the million-dollar pressure is brutal.”
On YouTube, one viewer remarked, “Twelve straight misses? That’s some tough luck.”
After the episode wrapped, Oh and his teammates chatted with Maggie Sajak backstage, proudly showing off their “Wheel of Misfortune” shirts—one even featuring a “Lose a Job” wedge. Jung, the boss of the group, joked he was safe, but since Oh walked away with the most cash, the teasing turned on him instead.
Though Sam Oh didn’t claim the million-dollar prize, he ended the night as the top earner, proving that sometimes the real victory is in the journey—and the unforgettable moments along the way.
In the end, Sam Oh’s Wheel of Fortune run wasn’t just about a missed puzzle—it was a story of camaraderie, humor, and the human side of competition. While the jackpot slipped just out of reach, his confident play and the spirited office rivalry turned a tough loss into a night to remember. After all, in the world of game shows, sometimes a stumble makes the best story.