Tap Dancer Nearly Misses Big Win on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ After Extra Words in the Final Answer

A contestant on Wheel of Fortune almost missed out on a $100,000 bonus by mistakenly adding unnecessary words to her answer during the final round. The episode, originally aired in February and rerun recently, featured Catrice Sandt, a tap dancer from Connecticut, who had already accumulated nearly $20,000 in winnings earlier in the game.

Sandt advanced to the Bonus Round after a strong performance, where she selected the category “What Are You Doing?” and was given the letters B, G, M, and A. With these, she revealed a puzzle that read: “BEG _ NN _ N G / A G A _ N,” and seemed poised to win the grand prize.

As host Ryan Seacrest prompted her, Sandt, visibly excited, attempted to answer. She mistakenly began her reply with “I am beginning again,” adding extra words before the actual solution. The ten-second timer started, but she continued mumbling the phrase until Seacrest intervened to end her turn.

In a surprising turn, Seacrest then revealed she had won an additional $100,000 after opening the prize envelope, prompting cheers from the studio audience and a joyful celebration with her family. Sandt’s near-miss sparked lively reactions on social media, with many fans commenting on her nervousness and the wording mistake.

Viewer Reactions and Technicalities

Some viewers questioned whether her answer should have been accepted, citing the rule that answers in the bonus round can include words spoken beforehand, as long as the core answer is correct. Others debated if the way she delivered her response mattered, with opinions varying on whether adding words like “I am” disqualifies the answer or not.

Despite the close call, Sandt’s victory highlights how a confident yet slightly imperfect answer can still lead to a life-changing prize, sparking discussions about game rules and contestant composure at critical moments.