ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

'Wheel of Fortune' host Ryan Seacrest tells player ‘you just embarrassed all your kids’ on live TV

Few people expected those words to come from the new host of the popular game show.
PUBLISHED FEB 14, 2025
Screenshots showing the contestant with Ryan Seacrest on "Wheel of Fortune" (Cover image source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Screenshots showing the contestant with Ryan Seacrest on "Wheel of Fortune" (Cover image source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Hosts such as Pat Sajak and Drew Carey have displayed a unique charm and wit on their respective game shows, setting a benchmark for those after them to follow. Ryan Seacrest has only been a host on “Wheel of Fortune” for a few months since he replaced Sajak, and although he hasn't done anything to stand out, he has presented himself as a kind and supportive individual. But sometimes, Seacrest shows that he can joke at the expense of a contestant. On a recent episode, the host told a contestant named Matt Benton, that he was embarrassing his kids on national television according to a Monsters & Critics report.

Benton made it all the way to the final round of the show after winning $22,148 in cash and other prizes including a trip to Iceland. He now had a chance to increase his winnings by a substantial amount and win a second trip. However, before the game began, Seacrest pointed out that the contestant’s wife was there to support him. “Yes, my incredible, sexy wife, Stephanie,” Benton said.

Screenshot showing Ryan Seacrest with Matt Benton and his wife on
Screenshot showing Ryan Seacrest with Matt Benton and his wife on "Wheel of Fortune" (Image source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

He then mentioned that he had three kids at home cheering him on. That’s when Seacrest took his dig saying, “And you just embarrassed all your kids with that exchange right there.” He was referring to what the contestant said about his wife and his children’s mother on national television. Nevertheless, the contestant's focus was mainly on getting this puzzle right. After he chose his letters and the R, S, T, L, and E were revealed, the puzzle read, “_ / F _ R _ _ _ _ / L _ N D.”

This seemed like a tough one to crack and Benton had opted for the ‘Places’ category. He blurted out a lot of answers, neither of which were correct as the clock ticked away. With less than a second left, he guessed, “A faraway land,” which was the correct answer. This win gave him an additional $40,000 and a trip to the Canadian Rockies.



 

Fans of the show have not gotten used to Seacrest’s hosting style and he also has good comic timing. This was evident during a recent episode of the show with a contestant named Traci. She had made it all the way to the bonus round but was faced with a seemingly unsolvable puzzle. After all the letters chosen by the contestant and given by the show were revealed, the puzzle read, “T_E_ _O ___ __C_."

With 10 seconds on the board, Traci guessed, “They go way back,” and that was the correct answer. Seacrest was in shock as he pretended to look all around the contestant to see if she had any earpiece on her that might have helped her guess the puzzle correctly.



 

Fans in the YouTube comments section expressed how impressed they were with Traci. “One of the most impressive bonus round solves I've seen for this season,” one user called @rayanhasan7251 commented. “I couldn't solve that one to save my life, but Traci got it like it was nothing. Congratulations! Enjoy the moolah!” quipped another user named @Garrison_the_Barbarian.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The Trump administration will have its hands full if this situation truly unfolds next year.
18 hours ago
With the Midterms next year, this crisis has become one of the key areas of conversation.
20 hours ago
Gyms are predicted to be popular in 2026 despite the advent of at-home fitness and virtual exercises, according to 86% of Americans surveyed.
21 hours ago
The host was not impressed with the question and said that it was shame that he knew the answers.
23 hours ago
He was overjoyed at first but that quickly turned into bitter disappointment.
1 day ago
“Our AI-powered inventory management system is essential for supplying customers with what they need, when they need, and at the low costs," it stated.
1 day ago
 “A program that provides roughly $50 an acre will not save the thousands of family farms that will go bankrupt before the end of the year," an expert stated.
1 day ago
"This is another reason why I don’t like the Phrase category in the Bonus Round," a fan reacted.
1 day ago
The host of the show was shocked upon hearing the answer and had to speak to the contestant's wife.
1 day ago
Reports suggest these three companies with strong ties to AI can make it to the coveted club.
1 day ago
Money manager Loius Navellier thinks the U.S. GDP could grow by 5% in 2026.
1 day ago
The contestant could have comfortably won the round but it was not meant to be.
1 day ago
The retailer's low price point may be a positive but product quality still matters.
1 day ago
The cost of raw beans, which account for at least 40% of production, has skyrocketed as a result of supply shortages.
2 days ago
The federal agencies have urged customers to keep it out of the reach of any kids.
2 days ago
The retailer has faced a lot of flak lately as people have been shocked and disappointed by its products.
2 days ago
On Christmas Eve, stores will have reduced hours, and on Christmas Day, all U.S. warehouses will remain shut.
2 days ago
Fans pointed that the puzzle was used twice during the early 2000s, and players had lost out on a car and the grand cash prize on both occasions. 
2 days ago
The airline said that it has made this policy change to be competitive in the market.
4 days ago
People do not usually think of Costco when planning a trip, but perhaps they should.
4 days ago