A Massachusetts man’s unconventional guess on a Christmas-themed “Wheel of Fortune” puzzle turned into an internet sensation this week, combining holiday cheer with an unexpected poultry reference during the December 17, 2024 episode. The puzzle mishap occurred during a special holiday-themed week of shows hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
In Tuesday’s episode, Phil McManus from Palmer, Massachusetts, faced off against Matt Komma from Riverton, Utah and Carrie Trujillo from San Diego, California. During Round 1’s “Same Letter” category, the contest took an amusing turn when McManus attempted to solve a festive puzzle. Despite having control of the wheel and successfully filling in most of the puzzle’s letters, McManus struggled with the final solution.
With nearly all letters revealed, the puzzle board displayed “C H O C O L A T E S / C H E S T N U T S / & / C H I _ N E _ S.” After purchasing the final vowel “I,” McManus confidently offered his solution: “Chocolates, Chestnuts, and Chickens.” The incorrect answer cost him $9,550, allowing Komma to step in with the correct solution, “Chocolates, Chestnuts, and Chimneys,” earning $4,200. The mistake put McManus at a significant disadvantage for the remainder of the episode.
Social media erupted with reactions to the holiday-themed mishap. One viewer wrote, “Did that man look at that puzzle and say Chocolate, Chestnuts and Chickens??? For a Christmas puzzle?!?” Another fan commented, “That was my shopping list last weekend,” a different viewer noted, “When I think of chocolates and chestnuts, the next word I think of is chickens.”
Behind the amusing puzzle lies a touching personal story. During his appearance, McManus shared with host Ryan Seacrest that he had received a cancer diagnosis two years ago, describing it as being “handed a death sentence.” This led him to create a bucket list with three items: seeing rock band Blink-182 reunite, attending WrestleMania, and visiting Disneyland. McManus, who sports numerous Disney-themed tattoos, was particularly excited about achieving his Disneyland dream.
“I’d never been to Disneyland, and I actually went last night for the first time,” McManus told Seacrest during the show, adding, “I’m actually in remission now.” Despite his puzzle-solving setback, the contestant’s positive attitude and resilience resonated with viewers.
The episode follows another memorable puzzle moment from November when a contestant humorously guessed, “Treat yourself to a round of sausage,” instead of the correct solution, “Treat yourself to a round of applause.” The amusing blunder added to a growing pattern of food-related puzzle mishaps that have entertained “Wheel of Fortune” fans and sparked lively discussions online.
The show, on the air since 1975, frequently features holiday-themed weeks during December, leading to festive puzzles and special seasonal categories.
