'Stunned': 'Wheel of Fortune' host Pat Sajak leaves set after third back-to-back bonus round win
Game show host Pat Sajak was so "stunned" on Wednesday night's episode of 'Wheel of Fortune,' that he had to leave the set. "The episode marked a wild and unprecedented win on the long-running game show. It was the third time that contestants won $100,000 in the bonus round on three consecutive nights — both Monday and Tuesday’s shows featured players who each won $100,000 in bonus prizes," reports New York Post.
Bree Yokouchi, an elementary school teacher from Portland, Oregon, was the lucky contestant and scored $121,638 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Caribbean island St Lucia, on Wednesday. "I was just excited to be here this morning, but to be the third $100,000 winner in a row is just amazing!" Yokouchi said. Lisa Kramer and Mark Baer won their bonus rounds on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
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Where were you when you experienced Wheel history? 🎉🎉 Watch Lisa and Mark win $100,000 back to back! https://t.co/J6KkFGYVed pic.twitter.com/pKDEJLBdMb
— Wheel of Fortune (@WheelofFortune) February 9, 2022
"Monday, we gave away $100,000 in the bonus round. Yesterday, we gave away $100,000 in the bonus round. So because of budgetary considerations, rather than cash, we're playing for luncheon meats tonight," Sajak joked.
"Who's gonna book my trip to Vegas?" Sajak quipped while opening the envelope to reveal the $100,000 card and officially confirming the prize money she won. Stunned after the third back-to-back bonus round wins, he tossed the cue cards and walked off the stage playfully. "I'm outta here. That's it, I'm through." Sajak then came back to celebrate Yokouchi's victory and complimented her saying, "That was a heck of a solve."
WHAT?! 🤯 Another historic night! Bree is our 🎉🎉🎉 THIRD $100,000 WINNER IN A ROW! Breaking News: Wheel of Fortune is running out of confetti! 🎉🎉🎉 @KATUNews pic.twitter.com/WSAoBmhi8r
— Wheel of Fortune (@WheelofFortune) February 10, 2022
"Can we do $100,000 three nights in a row? Seems impossible," Sajak spoke to the viewers after Yokouchi reached the bonus round. "After the last two nights, we had to send out for an emergency shipment from Confetti-R-Us in order to fill that. So we're back, we're reloaded, that $100,000 is back out there," he joked.
Yokouchi revealed that she had dreamed of playing on the show one day. "All this started in my dining room watching with my family every night," she said. Meanwhile, Sajak's daughter Maggie, who is a correspondent for the game show, tweeted a video of them talking about the back-to-back victories and captioned it, "WOW! So, history was made on @WheelOfFortune tonight…AGAIN!!! Let's see what @PatOnWheel thinks about this"
WOW! So, history was made on @WheelOfFortune tonight…AGAIN!!!😱🎉💰 Let's see what @PatOnWheel thinks about this pic.twitter.com/fREpJNkbzH
— Maggie Sajak (@MaggieSajak) February 10, 2022
"Wow! Three in a row, that is absolutely amazing," Maggie said in disbelief, to which Sajak replied, "I'm running out of words to describe my reactions. Stunned, surprised — I don't know. It's all inadequate." When Maggie asked if it could happen again, Sajak said, "You mean four in a row, Maggie? That would be ridiculous. That would be virtually impossible." Maggie then asked, "You mean like three in a row was virtually impossible?" Sajak considered this and said, "I see what you mean."