If Santa Claus is a “Wheel of Fortune” fan, the crew might find their stockings stuffed with coal this Christmas.
Image: Wheel of Fortune
Below is a clip from Wednesday’s broadcast showing a contestant named Renee appearing to correctly solve a puzzle, only to be denied the win on a technicality.
Renee, in full military uniform, was on a bit of roll, placing letters on the board for a puzzle in the category of “Living Things.” After she guessed the letter “G,” the board looked like this:
Image: Wheel of Fortune
With thousands of dollars on the line and a possible shot at the big bonus round, Renee chose to solve the puzzle that read – ”S E _ E N S _ _ N S A-S _ _ M M _ N G.” However, when she spoke the answer, she dropped the “G” she had just placed on the board, saying, “Seven swans a swimmin’.”
Sajak responded:
Yeah, uh, that’s not… we can’t accept that.”
The next contestant, Amy, was given an easy win, and Renee was told that using the vernacular was her downfall.
Watch the clip and see if you agree with the judges or do you think Renee should have been awarded the win:
(H/T: Wisconsin radio station WEXM)
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Comments (352)
Indymaverick
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:54amI seen the show. I knew as soon as she said it she was F`ed.
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Proverbs17-12NLT
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:18amIf she was Black, they would of gave it to her
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zorro
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:33amSo because she’s in full military uniform she doesn’t have to follow the rules?
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txjb
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:35amProverb , you are so right x 1000. He would have never corrected her speach ,if she were black.
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EddieZ
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:37amHmm… I can’t tell if you two are trying to be ironic, with your poor grammar.
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bonesiii
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:55amThat is one way that spelling is pronounced, so yes, they clearly should have given it to her.
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Bluebonnet
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:00amTHAT WAS BS. Many of us leave off the last sound in some words and the G was there for all to see and everyone knew what she said.. BS, this show has seen it’s better days. THEY OWE HER.
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AngryK9
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:01amIndy. I think you mean you saw the show.
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Ballot_Box_Revolution
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:15amI hate the race card no matter how it is played, but unfortunately you are right. They would not have corrected her speech if she were black, out of fear the race card would be played….
I agree with the rule though. She didn’t pronounce the G that needed to be played in order to win, but the rule should apply to all.
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dflocks80
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:18am@Proverbs
I actually remember a show from the late 90′s/early 2000′s where a black contestant mispronounced “Wayne Gretzky” (he said it like Greet-ski) and they buzzed him as incorrect.
Sajak is an equal opportunity rule enforcer.
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Marcia
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:19amI “seen” would have disqualified YOU from proper English usage, also.
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NancyPelosilly
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:43amEbonics jus ain’t doin on Weel Forchun
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kadster01
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:02pm@PROVERBS17-12NLT
But if she said “would of” instead of “would HAVE” she’d lose even if she was black, as she should.
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skiz
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:04pmYou said it PROVERBS, If she was black she would have won. And the libs are NOT going to give a prize to a service person. Double standard run a muck!
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WakeUp
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:05pmThat’s exactly right. They didn’t give it to her because she was in military uniform. Had she been black there would be no question she would have been given it.
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zorro
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:23pmYou guys sound like a bunch of whiny ******* liberals. The next time one of them cries “foul” over something stupid, remember how angry you are over this idiocy.
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Indymaverick
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:32pmThanks for the correction. I SAW the show. I guess I wouldn`t make the cut on the Wheel of Fortune.
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Displacedsoutherner
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:35pmKADSTER01, If you’re going to be the grammar coach please note the use of the subjunctive tense is required when a fact is stated or speculated upon but is not true:
“But if she said “would of” instead of “would HAVE” she’d lose even if she WERE (not “was”) black, as she should.”
You’ll note that even the dullest often figure out to say “If I were you” not “If I was you”. Since I’m clearly not nor could ever be you, the subjunctive tense is used.
I’m just sayin’.
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guntotinsquaw
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:06pm@NANCYPELOSILLY “swimmin’” isn’t ebonics..it’s SOUTHERN and we don’t enunciate.
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Beepster
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:20pmFWIW, a black would have said “seben” and also left off the “g”.
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caveman74
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:21pmits a show based around spelling out words…How dare they enforce enunciation….on a word show???….WHAT?!?! I cant stand hearing “she lost because she is white” just as much as I hate hearing it the other way around. She lost because she didn’t follow the rules of the game she was playing, and it doesn’t matter to her if they would bend the rules for another play because she is not another player, she is the one who lost for not following the rules
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encycloman
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:29pmSaw a show where the female contestant – BLACK – did not pronounce the answer correctly (only a few weeks ago). She didn’t get any slack either.
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kadster01
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:33pm@DISPLACEDSOUTHERNER
“If you’re going to be the grammar coach please note the use of the subjunctive tense is required when a fact is stated or speculated upon but is not true:
“You’ll note that even the dullest often figure out to say “If I were you” not “If I was you”. Since I’m clearly not nor could ever be you, the subjunctive tense is used.
“I’m just sayin’.”
Hahahaha! Hey, I never said I knew everything. Thanks for schooling me.
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Maji
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:40pmI think sajak gave a big “screwin”!
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gretagarbo123
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:47pmThis is total b s I agree, if she was black it would have been fine. We are living in a world that has gone nuts.
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Too_Far_Gone
Dec. 21, 2012 at 2:12pmThey must be drinkin’ again ..
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ozarkengineer
Dec. 21, 2012 at 2:22pmThey both said ” seven swans uh swimmin[g] ” it should be, “seven swans a swimming”, not “uh” swimming. So give ‘em both a ream job.
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antiprogressive
Dec. 21, 2012 at 2:37pmmy 4th grade spelling bee.
on stage in the auditorium, in front of parents, teachers and students.
the teacher gave me the word which sounded like “kwater”
I KNEW what she meant but spelled quater.
I was out.
I have thought many times in life how I should have restated the word emphasizing the middle R
to the extent of embarrassing her.
Quarrrrrrrr ter.
If I had, I would have successfully spelled it afterwards.
Related?
Yeah, somehow…
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desertspeaks
Dec. 21, 2012 at 2:51pmif she had been black, it would have been accepted!
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Gorp
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:03pmIf you listen to the video again she did say swimming and not swimmin.
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Gorp
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:10pmAnd the letter by itself can be pronounced with the long sound A or the short sound AH. Either way is correct depending on the sentence and use. But they both said it the same.
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Ohsure
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:19pmI saw, not I seen.
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Ohsure
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:20pmAnd for Proverbs17 – would have, not would of.
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conservative_dan
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:25pmIn fact, there was a black woman on the very night or two before this incident, who completely screwed up a puzzle, she got another chance, and they gave it to her!!! I’ve seen them be unreasonably picky, and this case is one. It’s ridiculous.
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Kalidor835
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:38pmI used to watch Wheel all the time and it’s always been that way. You have to read it exactly as the letters would be on the board. I’ve seen blacks lose for the same reason. Race or military membership had no bearing here. She made a mistake and lost as the rules say she should have.
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TexasTall
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:41pmPat Sajak is a conservative.
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jcldwl
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:45pmI support the Wheel. I am tired of hearing lazy talk. Would it have been acceptable if the word say was Missouri and she pronounced it missouruh as so many people do? Or what if it was Illinois and she pronounced it Illi noise? No it would not be accepted and shouldn’t in this case. Our country has become so lazy with our language it is sad. Just read the pathetic grammar on these posts and I am sure you will agree.
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BravePatriot
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:48pmWhy should any one not be allowed to speak ebonics. Pure racism, just because she’s white! Where is the state run media, the NAACP and the democrats, defenders of “the little guy”, coming to this sailors aid…..Ahhhh, I forgot she’s military.
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getitgotitgood
Dec. 21, 2012 at 4:16pmIf she was pretty they would have given it to her. The ugly people always get ripped, I know I’m one of em.. LOL
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KeystoneState
Dec. 21, 2012 at 4:34pm“G” was the last letter she gave before she decided to solve it for crying out loud, they knew what she meant! She should have at least won Dinner and a Movie!
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Displacedsoutherner
Dec. 21, 2012 at 4:51pmIf Ebonics is considered an indigenous black dialect then why don’t blacks in other countries also speak Ebonics? Ever hear a black guy from the UK, could be Prince Charles in black face, no down- home slack-jawed substitute for speaking proper English.
Excusing sloppy grammar and pronunciation is yet another way blacks are relegated to the lower levels of the social strata; good jobs in real companies usually require the use of standard English, both spoken and written, while welfare and food stamp programs don’t.
The misguided criticism by the Left of those who insist on standard English as a requirement for participation in this society do not only the faulty speakers no favors, but also further undermine the cohesiveness of our society. If “Wheel of Fortune” can win one small battle in the war on linguistic decay, good for them, at least somebody has set a standard.
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Snidely
Dec. 21, 2012 at 5:46pmActually, I did see an episode many years ago where the contestant, who was black, said “Shrevesport, Louisiana”, instead of “Shreveport, Louisiana”. They didn’t give it to her. Not really the same thing since she added a letter, but they are consistent, at least.
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witchrunner
Dec. 21, 2012 at 5:50pmI couldn’t hear the difference between them. But, if you are concentrating on the “g” then you are not pronouncing it correctly. This really has nothing to do with race, but it does have to do with the fact that there are different dialects and the fact that some people have lisps or some people grew up without perfect hearing and thus don’t hear sounds, but do repeat what they hear and it is good enough for people to understand them. Obviously Sajak didn’t hear what the woman said.
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wherefromhere
Dec. 21, 2012 at 6:28pmWho is this MARCIA with her lording it over folks who are not english teachers. Mark Twain once said ” I don’t give a damn for a man who con only spell a word one way”
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ltb
Dec. 21, 2012 at 6:53pmIt’s not “seven swans a swimmin,” so what’s the beef? Who cares, though, it’s Christmastime. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
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Jack_Reacher
Dec. 21, 2012 at 8:13pmWas this bad grammar or was it an attempt to lampoon the show’s mistake? You “seen” it?
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pavepaws
Dec. 21, 2012 at 8:52pmIf the contestant regularly used ebonics, and lost, Al and Jesse would be on Pat’s ****.
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marrmae1
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:08pmThey should have at least “axed” her to repeat herself to give her a chance to fully enunciate the word!
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Uranium Wedge
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:09pmShe said the “G” sound right at the end. I heard it.
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smv803
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:33pmI was told I pronounce the capital of Georgia wrong….it’s Atlana!
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crackerone
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:15pmEver heard Obama say Pakistan?
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MTgrammie
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:58pmHaving scanned through the comments, I must say that this is, beyond a doubt, the silliest comments about the silliest subject ever. Turning this into a political discussion of race and/or something to do with the military is stretching for conversation. Blaze, how about reporting something that is important. This is a matter between ‘Renee’ and the ‘Wheel of Fortune’. Doesn ‘t the country have enough to consider without turning on game shows????
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spikebu
Dec. 22, 2012 at 2:17amRemember “Password”? Late 70′s early 80′s? The celeb had to get the contestant to guess a word by giving them single word clues. The word to guess was either money or bread, I can’t remember. The celeb gave the clue, “dough”. The contestant responded, “knob”. The celeb literally fell out of his chair, laughing! I’m thinking Tom Selleck. Anybody else remember that?
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spikebu
Dec. 22, 2012 at 2:31am@Mtgrammie…I very much need the silliness. It’s the silly stories that remind me we are all human! I believe there will be plenty of opportunity in the future for no humor. I prefer to wallow in humor while I can.
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Quester55
Dec. 22, 2012 at 7:53amJust goes to show you, just one letter added or dropped, can cost (yow) EVERYTHING!
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loriann12
Dec. 22, 2012 at 8:05amI suppose if she was from the south and put a “r” in wash – thus warsh – she would have gotten it wrong, too? It’s a regional thing, not necessarily a bad speaker.
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hawkeye1
Dec. 22, 2012 at 8:42amThe next show a black woman misspoke a puzzle and she was given a 2nd chance and got it right.
They gave it to her. So much for equality ……
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MittensKittens
Dec. 22, 2012 at 8:57amPROVERBS17-12NLT – If she was Black, they would of gave it to her…..If she was black, they wouldn’t have understood her…yoooo.
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DontTreadOnMeMD
Dec. 22, 2012 at 10:23amHave you ever heard a Native New Yorker say “Button”? it is like, “Buh,in”. Never do they enunciate the T’s. I guess they will never win on Wheel, unless black of course
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Pilgrimsarbour
Dec. 22, 2012 at 11:21amShe was even the one who ASKED for the “G.” She clearly knew what the phrase was. She should not have been penalized for not saying the “G” she had asked for.
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vadale
Dec. 22, 2012 at 6:55pmIt would be great to search for former contestants that were black or had a foreign accent to see if they were treated the same. If they are consistent, then it’s okay. Who knows, perhaps Pat did right.
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TucsonDude
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:46amI’d like to solve the puzzle for the judges’ ruling on this:
P E D A N T I C
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Dumb_White_Guy
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:50amIsn’t that one of the oceans? You need to be more Pacific.
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ambivelentone
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:32pmBwhahahahahahahahahah!
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Phreqguru
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:53pmoh that was good!
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qpwillie
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:43amIf they’re going to do that, why not also include the puzzles where people don’t pronounce words with “wh” correctly and simply pronounce it as “w”? I hear people pronouncing “what” as “watt”, “when” as “wenn”, “which” as “wich”, etc. all the time.
Fair is fair.
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darkknight91
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:54amAre you Stewie Griffin?
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SocialistSlayer
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:16amThis nothing more than Cultural Language. The Wheel needs to lit’n up jus a littl bit ! Especially in today’s texting crowd !
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qpwillie
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:18am@darkknight91
It doesn’t make a lot of difference to me. I just Think one mispronunciation should be treated the same as another.
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Uranium Wedge
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:42pmYou guys are acting wheird.
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thebiglefthander
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:43amShe didn’t say what she spelled. She loses. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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DaMule1977
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:59amAnd nuclear weapons.
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DaMule1977
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:59amAnd nuclear weapons. lol
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txjb
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:31amWhat has Jack done to those from other countries that do not speak our language (english) correctly ? They have a dialect, accents , I have heard them on the show before , but Jack let it go no problem. None of us know for sure, he tells them before the show starts to pronounce words correctly .
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kindling
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:53amActually, we speak American. I am told we butcher the English language and I agree.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:50amDAMULE1977
Don’t you mean nucular? :-) You must be a realator or fix julery.
These are words most, even professional radio people, mispronounce, and it GRATES on my ears.
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fdraiden
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:16pmBut if it was you that got screwed, well thats a different story!
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zorro
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:35pmtxjb
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 10:31am
What has Jack done to those from other countries that do not speak our language (english) correctly ? They have a dialect, accents , I have heard them on the show before , but Jack let it go no problem. None of us know for sure, he tells them before the show starts to pronounce words correctly .
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
I’ve mostly seen imbecilic comments claiming they purposely disqualified her for being white or military but yours is an excellent point. I’d like to hear the answer to that from the show.
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TreeTrimmerJim
Dec. 21, 2012 at 2:51pmClose hasn’t counted in tournament horse shoes for over 20 years.
Pronounce “schedule” in english and american.
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MurphDogg
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:42amI’d have to say this is a bummer for the contestant, but a non-issue. The Wheel has been pretty consistent over the years regarding pronunciation.
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sndrman
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:34amgotta agree i’m with the wheel
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Nevermind
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:41amIf she spoke like an adult she wouldnt have had this issue but she chose to be lazy. The person who spoke propertly deserved the win, this should serve as a lesson for folks who think talking in redneck slang or ebonics is proper. It isnt and you sound stupid.
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integrican
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:48amObama also speaks that way and many times (not always) speaks with an inner-city southern black accent. Where that comes from, nobody can figure out. He also whistles his esses (S) purposefully and, by the way, he also sounds “stupid” on SOOOO many levels.
Believe me when I say, “When you are sitting across an executive’s desk in the most important interview of your life, for that dream job, and you speak poorly, like Amy did/does, you are TOAST!!!” For that construction laborer job, not so much.
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fdraiden
Dec. 21, 2012 at 12:19pm@integ…you mean stoopid, dont you?
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Cavallo
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:40amThis is what passes for news? Is it just me or has the Blaze taken a turn for the frivolous, and superfluous?
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chips1
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:59amThey should axe the Supreme Court!!!
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dflocks80
Dec. 21, 2012 at 11:16amCavallo, why do you vehemently oppose any story that is an ounce less serious than the Sandy Hook shooting? It’s not like there’s a story limit on the Blaze, and serious ones get booted in lieu of lighter stuff like this.
Lighten up.
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ardypenn
Dec. 21, 2012 at 3:37pmJohnny???
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SpankDaMonkey
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:40am.
Ebonics……………
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Marine25
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:02amsounds more like Sarah Palin.
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Sergei
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:39amShe was pissed! Hopefully they were briefed about this “vernacular” before they went on air…
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thegreatcarnac
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:39amstupid rule
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:39amWhat a good sport. Looked like she was not supposed to win. G
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KingCanon
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:38amSay it ain’t so Sajak.
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txswalker
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:37amI have seen them deny a win for a mispronuciation, but its usally when someone says a vowl that is off and technically could have been replaced with another.Like its pronounced Fox but comes out more like FAX. I agree in those cases but I think she should have been givin this one cause comin sense says the G was already up there so we know she knows what it was.
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RJJinGadsden
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:37amSon of a B! What is that Jimmy Buffett sings? “I always drop my ‘R’s and ‘G’s when I’m speaking Southernese….”
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john vincent
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:36am-Is it ‘nuttin’ or nothing?
-is it ‘lovin’ or loving?
-is it ‘winnin’ or winning?
-is it ‘swimmin’ or swimming?’
Mr Sajak has been doing that job for a long time- He has ears,and he got it right. Our society has been so dumbed down by slang to the degree we sometimes need an interpreter to render what should be plain.
‘can ya shew me the baffroom?’
‘its ah-ite’
‘look over der- its up-pair’
Good job Pat-
‘
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Rashomon
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:53amis it Pa tat toe or Paw tah oh
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Techcon
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:34amIt’s, I “seen” a UFO.
Saw? Why, that’s a tool.
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afishfarted
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:35amyeah, it sucks, but she did loose.
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Swamp_Hunter
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:33amThat’s ridiculous.
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Landon410
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:32amlearn to speak and there will be no issue
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Texas Hills Patriot
Dec. 21, 2012 at 1:08pmYou should suggest that to Obama. Listen to a speech and see how many times he says “ta” instead of “to”. You would think a Harvard educated person would be able to tell the difference between “o” and “a”.
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khandahar&jalalabad
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:31amSo I guess that means if you speak ebonics you can’t play Wheel of Fortune. Where’s Jesse Jackson?
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retiredguy1952
Dec. 22, 2012 at 11:11amIn Ebonics it would have been “Sebbin swans beez a-swimmin, mufuggah”
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marssnw
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:30amIve seen this happen a few times. It sucks, but it is part of the game. They should really give you a chance to correct your mistake when it is such a small and obvious error.
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DZ-015
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:30amSince the “G” was already on the board, she should have won. Lots of people speak just like her._
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Smokey_Bojangles
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:29amI saw a guy,years ago blow a question on Jeopardy trying to be a smart Azz,
He said Leaning Tower of Pizza.
So pronunciation is important….Unless she was Mexicans.
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chips1
Dec. 21, 2012 at 10:06amAre you anti-Italian? It’s Pete-zza.
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DixT
Dec. 21, 2012 at 6:08pmA person from Mexico (who was here legally) COULD NOT have won, either—because they would have said “Seben” for “Seven,” because their “v” is pronounced with a soft “b.” That’s probably WHY they don’t have “foreigners” on the show.
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alrunner58
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:29amCome on..
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olderjarhead
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:29amShe should have won that. But she should also learn how to speak proper English.
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SCHEXbp
Dec. 22, 2012 at 3:57amFairest comment yet!
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BasketFullOfPuppies
Dec. 21, 2012 at 9:28amSometimes, life sucks. But, them’s the rules.
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