A tense Bonus Round moment on Wheel of Fortune had viewers across the country yelling at their televisions after a California contestant came agonizingly close to a $40,000 win — only to fall short on a puzzle many fans later labeled “easy.”
Joey Moorman, an adrenaline-seeker from Riverside, California, squared off against Daria Suib of Philadelphia and Barnetta Pointer of Calumet City, Illinois, during the February 2 episode of the long-running game show. Moorman, who proudly describes himself as a thrill junkie, says he chases excitement wherever he travels — whether that means riding roller coasters (he’s conquered 162), bungee jumping, or swimming alongside tiger sharks.
The competition kicked off with Moorman grabbing an early advantage by solving the first Toss-Up puzzle, earning $1,000. Suib quickly answered back by solving the second Toss-Up, banking $2,000 of her own. Pointer soon made her presence known by cracking a “Before and After” puzzle — “Key Lime Pie in the Sky” — which proved lucrative thanks to her landing on the Argentina trip wedge. That solve boosted her total to $9,915.
Pointer stayed hot, correctly answering “Night Fever Night Fever,” pushing her earnings to $12,215. Moorman responded by solving “Colorful Coral Reef” after hopping aboard the Express Train. Because it was the Prize Puzzle, he also scored a trip to the Cook Islands, vaulting him into the lead with $20,790.
Each contestant managed to solve one Triple Toss-Up, adding another $2,000 to their totals. Suib closed out the main game by solving the final puzzle, “Scaredy Cat,” earning $4,500 and finishing with $8,500. Pointer walked away with $14,215, while Moorman emerged as the night’s champion with $22,790.
That win sent Moorman to the Bonus Round, where he selected the category “What Are You Wearing?” He was joined on stage by his mother, Patty, and his younger sister, Emily — a fitting moment, as Moorman shared that the trio has watched Wheel of Fortune together since his childhood.
As tradition dictates, Moorman was automatically given the letters R, S, T, L, N and E. He then chose C, B, D and O to fill out the puzzle board. When the letters appeared, the solution read: “BE_ _E _OOL CO_T.”
With the clock ticking down, Moorman threw out several guesses, including “Something Wool Coat,” “Berry Wool Coat,” and “Cool Coats.” But the correct answer — “Beige Wool Coat” — never crossed his mind.
Host Ryan Seacrest reacted sympathetically, noting that “beige” isn’t exactly a word that jumps out under pressure. Moorman agreed, responding simply, “Nope.” When Seacrest revealed the envelope contained $40,000, the near-miss stung even more. The additional cash would have boosted Moorman’s final total to $62,790.
Despite the loss, Seacrest congratulated the contestant, thanking him for being a longtime fan of the show.
Online, however, viewers had plenty to say. Social media and YouTube comment sections lit up with fans insisting they solved the puzzle almost instantly. Several said the answer was obvious, while others expressed disbelief that Moorman couldn’t land on “beige” despite choosing strong consonants and the vowel “O.”
Some sympathized with the pressure of the moment, but many admitted they were shouting the answer at their screens.
It was yet another reminder that on Wheel of Fortune, even puzzles that seem simple from the couch can become incredibly tricky under bright lights, a ticking clock — and $40,000 on the line.