The first December episode of Wheel of Fortune delivered a tense Bonus Round as contestant Kelsey Sowders came painfully close to victory. Facing the two-word puzzle “What Are You Doing?”, Kelsey had just 10 seconds to solve it with the letters E, N, and E already revealed. Despite using her Wild Card, none of her chosen letters — M, F, D, A, or H — appeared, leaving her stumped as time ran out.

When host Ryan Seacrest revealed the correct answer, “KEEPING BUSY,” fans collectively groaned. The miss cost Kelsey a $75,000 prize, though she still walked away with an impressive $40,398. Viewers praised her composure and gameplay, calling it “one of the season’s toughest Bonus Rounds.”

The episode continued a streak of near-misses leading up to Thanksgiving, with several contestants faltering under pressure. Yet, fans have stopped blaming Seacrest or puzzle difficulty, now embracing the suspense as part of the show’s thrill.

As Wheel of Fortune Season 42 rolls on, audiences eagerly await the moment a contestant finally lands the elusive $1 million prize — a milestone that could arrive any episode now.