A Valentine’s Day episode of Wheel of Fortune featured contestant Conner Kemmsies, a commercial pilot who had already won $19,080 in cash and prizes before reaching the Bonus Round. He then had an opportunity to add another $40,000 to his total. The Bonus Round category was “Phrase,” and several letters were revealed as Conner tried to determine the answer before the clock expired.
Conner quickly recognized the beginning of the puzzle as “I DID MY,” but the remaining word proved difficult to identify. Despite considering several possibilities, he could not solve the puzzle before time ran out. The answer was then revealed as “I DID MY HOMEWORK,” meaning he missed the additional $40,000 prize. Conner responded with humor, explaining that he no longer did homework because he was no longer in school.
The result also prompted discussion among viewers about the puzzle’s category. Some fans questioned whether “I DID MY HOMEWORK” fit naturally under “Phrase,” describing it as an ordinary sentence rather than a familiar expression. Others believed the puzzle was reasonable and suggested that the limited time and pressure of the Bonus Round made the answer difficult to recognize.
The moment demonstrated how different a puzzle can seem when viewed under a countdown compared with seeing the solution afterward. Although Conner missed the bonus, he still left the episode with $19,080 in cash and prizes. His lighthearted reaction helped make the missed opportunity a memorable part of the episode, while the debate over the category gave viewers another aspect of the Bonus Round to discuss.