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
Homeowners are going for adjustable mortgage rates in record rates, reminiscent of the 2008 crisis.
8 hours ago
The contestant’s win was impressive, as the game she played is not easy to get right.
8 hours ago
The contestant was just happy to be on the show but a surprise win made her experience even better.
8 hours ago
People are already struggling with affordability and the war could make things a lot worse.
11 hours ago
If consumed, the products could pose serious health risks to some people.
13 hours ago
The Trump administration has assured that prices will be back to normal within weeks.
1 day ago
The move reflects a broader shift in tech as companies redirect money from payroll to AI infrastructure
1 day ago
The Energy Secretary said that the uptick in gas prices would only a few weeks.
1 day ago
Carey even ended up having chili spaghetti after feeling the symptoms for the first time.
1 day ago
Find out the production oversight that led the company to the Class I recall from the FDA
1 day ago
The growing AI bubble will burst and workers will have to bear the brunt in the short term.
1 day ago
Small businesses account for a huge chunk of GDP and employ more than 62 million Americans.
1 day ago
Andrew Crapuchettes advises American workers to stay AI-enabled to face a tighter job market situation.
3 days ago
There were a total of 48,307 layoffs in February, down 55% from January.
4 days ago
There could even be a situation in which one may have to give away half of it as income tax.
4 days ago
The company even went as far as to make fun of McDonald's to promote their post.
4 days ago
The contestant was dealt a rather easy hand, and she took full advantage of it.
4 days ago
The survey found the tariffs were a 'financial challenge' for four out of 10 small businesses.
4 days ago
There are a number of reasons for this, but some are not complying with federal and state laws.
4 days ago
The X boss recently praised Grok for helping a woman get a higher refund.
4 days ago