The Worst Guess in Wheel of Fortune History? This One Takes the Cake
“Wheel of Fortune” has given us decades of laughs, gasps, and unforgettable moments—but some stand out because they’re just so… wrong. Among the thousands of guesses made over the years, one has become legendary, often referred to as the worst guess in Wheel of Fortune history. And once you hear it, you might understand why.
The puzzle:
“A Streetcar Na_ed Desire”
Only one letter was missing: the “m” in “Named.” The answer was obvious to most viewers, especially since A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the most famous plays in American theater.
But then, contestant Kevin made his move. With the puzzle nearly solved, he confidently guessed:
“A Streetcar Naked Desire.”
The studio went silent.
Even host Pat Sajak, a master of staying composed, was momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, he responded with a mix of disbelief and deadpan:
“Uh… no.”
The audience burst into laughter, and the clip would go on to live in internet infamy.
So, what happened?
On paper, Kevin’s guess had a kind of strange logic to it. He probably saw “_aked” and jumped to “naked” without thinking through the rest of the phrase. Maybe he was nervous, maybe he wasn’t familiar with the Tennessee Williams classic, or maybe his brain just short-circuited under pressure—which is more common than you’d think on game shows. Still, guessing that a primetime game show would include the phrase “Naked Desire” was… bold.
The incident became a viral sensation. Twitter lit up, memes circulated, and people couldn’t stop watching the clip on YouTube. It was a reminder that even in a game based on letters, comedy is often unintentional—and gold.
This wasn’t just a simple wrong answer; it was wrong in a way that made people laugh out loud and question everything at once. It had shock value, humor, and just enough plausibility to make it unforgettable.
To Kevin’s credit, he took it well. In interviews later, he joked about the moment and admitted that nerves got the better of him. And honestly, it’s probably better to be remembered for something hilarious than not remembered at all.
Wheel of Fortune has seen plenty of odd guesses over the years—like “The Pointed Desert” instead of “The Painted Desert” or “Magic Jand” for “Magic Wand”—but few have captured the world’s attention like “A Streetcar Naked Desire.”
So yes, while it might technically be the “worst” guess ever, it’s also one of the best in terms of pure entertainment value.
