On December 17th, a Wheel of Fortune contestant from Palmer, Massachusetts, had a holiday experience that will be remembered for years to come. Phil McManus found himself at the center of a hilariously memorable moment on the iconic game show during a festive-themed episode. His botched guess on a holiday puzzle left the studio—and viewers—laughing, but also showed a deeper side of his life story.
McManus, who was up against Matt Komma from Riverton, Utah, and Carrie Trujillo from San Diego, California, got off to a rocky start in Round 1, where the puzzle was part of the “Same Letter” category. The puzzle involved three words, and McManus had control of the wheel. Despite being able to fill in all but two of the letters, he couldn’t quite land on the correct answer. The puzzle on the board read: 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.
McManus, after buying the last vowel, an “I,” decided to take a shot at solving the puzzle. His guess? “Chocolate, Chestnuts, and Chickens.” Yep, you read that right—chickens. Unsurprisingly, that wasn’t the correct answer. It gave Matt Komma the chance to swoop in and grab the win, solving the puzzle with “Chocolate, Chestnuts, and Chimneys” for a cool $4,200. That’s a lot of holiday cheer, but for McManus, it also meant a huge $9,550 mistake, putting him in a tough position for the rest of the game.
For viewers at home, though, McManus' slip-up quickly became a moment of holiday comedy gold. Social media exploded with reactions to the hilarious guess. On X (formerly Twitter), fans couldn’t help but poke fun at McManus’ “chickens” guess. One user joked, “That was my shopping list last weekend.” Others had a field day, too: “Christmas theme episode of Wheel of Fortune! And this was the guess by the contestant. Love Wheel of Fortune, but where do these contestants come from #chickens.”
The lighthearted banter continued as others took to social media to add their two cents: “When I think of chocolates and chestnuts, the next word I think of is chickens,” one said. Another couldn’t believe it, writing, “He really screwed up lol right after he screwed up by saying chocolates chestnuts and chickens. I bet that goes viral.” In fact, some fans couldn’t resist bringing up an old favorite mistake: “Treat yourself to a round of sausage! And chickens!” This reference took viewers back to a memorable wrong answer from a previous episode where a contestant had famously guessed, “Treat yourself to a round of sausage.”
The jokes and memes kept rolling in, with comments like, “Did that man look at that puzzle and say Chocolate, Chestnuts and Chickens??? For a Christmas puzzle?!?” Another wrote, “Phil got me crying right now,” reflecting just how much the moment had resonated with people. One commenter summed it up perfectly: “Chocolates, chestnuts, and… chickens like that don’t even make sense.”
While McManus’ guess will certainly go down in Wheel of Fortune history as one of the more memorable blunders, there’s more to his story than just this lighthearted moment. McManus, a Massachusetts native, shared an inspiring and deeply personal detail with host Ryan Seacrest during the show. He revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer two years ago, which he described as essentially being handed a "death sentence." Faced with such a challenging prognosis, McManus created a bucket list, with three big goals: seeing rock band Blink-182 reunite, attending WrestleMania, and going to Disneyland.
And here's the truly inspiring part: McManus not only got to check Disneyland off his list (he went for the first time just the night before appearing on Wheel of Fortune), but he’s also in remission. Yes, you heard that right—this contestant, who had faced down a life-threatening illness, was now living proof that perseverance and hope can triumph. It added a layer of depth to his Wheel appearance, making the entire experience even more significant.
For McManus, this episode was about more than just a holiday-themed puzzle. It was a chance to be on a show he had always dreamed of, check off a bucket-list item, and share a powerful, positive message with the world. As his story unfolded on TV, it was clear that this moment wasn’t just about a wrong guess—it was a celebration of life, resilience, and joy. The whole experience, from the laugh-out-loud moment with the wrong guess to the emotional revelation about his health, left fans both entertained and inspired.
Even though McManus didn’t win the big prize, he walked away with something far more valuable: a lifetime memory, a viral moment that will be talked about for years, and a reminder of the importance of hope, perseverance, and laughter. And for everyone who watched that episode, it was a reminder of the fun and unpredictable nature of Wheel of Fortune—a show that can go from funny to emotional in an instant, all while keeping the holiday spirit alive.
For those who tuned in, this wasn’t just another Wheel of Fortune episode. It was a reminder that life’s challenges can be met with humor and resilience, and that sometimes, the most unforgettable moments come from the most unexpected places. And let’s be honest—who’s not going to laugh at the idea of “Chocolate, Chestnuts, and Chickens” in the context of a holiday-themed puzzle? It’s these moments that make Wheel of Fortune the beloved game show it is.
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