Why 'Right In The Butt' and Other Viral Wheel of Fortune Moments Work So Well, According to the Producer

Wheel of Fortune is one of those classic game shows that is so beloved that it’s no surprise that a new season is part of the 2024 TV Scheduleespecially after the many viral moments that still occur in it. Now, while Ryan Seacrest may have recently made his debut as Pat Sajak’s replacement in season 42, the show’s executive producer is still talking about a hilarious moment that happened during the former host’s final season.

In a May 2024 episode of Wheel of Fortunea competitor named Tavaris Williams helped create a unforgettable moment of all time for the show when he suggested that the “phrase” he was competing to get right was “Right In The Butt!” The comment drew a shocked reaction from the crowd and an audible “WHAT?” from one of the fellow players. Check it out below:

Wheel of Fortune – “Right in the ass” – YouTube
Wheel of Fortune -

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The correct answer was “This is the best!”

Tavaris Williams later said he “never said those words” in his life and doesn’t know why he “said them out loud on TV.” The 42-year-old who works in child welfare also thought he might be “silenced” on air, but puts a lighthearted spin on it, saying “at least I put a smile on everyone’s faces.” When executive producer Bellamie Blackstone recently spoke with Deadline regarding the NSFW TV rumor, he had this to say:

In the zeitgeist, there is a normality to this. When they see a clip like that, people say, ‘Oh, that’s funny’ because you don’t have to explain what’s going on. It’s the Wheel of Fortune. All they have to do is cut to someone saying this and then go back to the puzzle. The joke and setup are done for you.

Bellamie Blackstone, showrunner of Wheel of Fortune for its third season now, he sympathized with Tavaris Williams, calling him a “poor man” who “was so sweet.” However, she also found the moment refreshing for the series’ continued staying power.

Of course, it’s always fun to see how competitors fill in the blanks under pressure, and Williams wasn’t the first person to have an awkward response slip out, and she probably won’t be the last either.

Although it seems Vanna White’s iconic outfits will always be a constant presence on the show, Wheel of Fortune is entering a new era with Ryan Seacrest now hosting instead of Pat Sajak. He held the position (intermittently) from 1981 until his recent retirement. Seacrest’s debut so far has garnered stellar ratingsas the first episode of the new season in September attracted more than 9 million viewers. Plus, fans really I’ve been complaining more about the new set of the show than anything else when it comes to this new chapter.

However, while there will be some changes to the show, we will still have viral and hilarious moments like this one from Williams that the showrunner is still thinking about.

You can watch Wheel of Fortune with Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White, checking your local listings and watching every night of the week.

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