The host of “Wheel of Fortune,” Ryan Seacrest, experienced an unexpected fall during the Tuesday, January 21, 2025 episode when an exuberant contestant’s celebration sent both men tumbling to the studio floor.
Daniel Thomas from San Marcos, California, who shared his passion for taking coastal road trips with his father, competed against contestants Amaryllis and Dina in one of the show’s most memorable episodes. Thomas demonstrated intense gameplay throughout the show, accumulating $31,950 in cash prizes and winning a luxury trip to Alaska to view the Northern Lights, valued at over $11,000.
In the bonus round, Thomas faced a challenging seven-letter puzzle in the “Living Things” category. With only two letters initially revealed – an ‘E’ and ‘S’ in the final squares – Thomas made a series of strategic letter guesses. When two ‘P’s appeared on the board, he correctly identified the answer as “Guppies” in the final seconds.
The correct solution added $40,000 to Thomas’ winnings, bringing his total to $71,950. In his excitement, Thomas jumped up and down, then attempted to embrace Seacrest, 50, inadvertently knocking the host off balance. Seacrest fell backward onto the studio floor, his feet visible in the air as he landed.
When Thomas realized what had happened, he immediately helped Seacrest up, repeatedly asking if he was okay. Though Seacrest quickly assured him, “I’m fine, no you’re good. I’m okay,” the host was later seen grabbing his back and appearing uncomfortable. At one point, he hunched over, holding his side, and joked to co-host Vanna White, “Vanna, you’ll have to take over now!” When one of Thomas’ family members approached for a hug afterward, Seacrest playfully hid behind the podium.
“I don’t know. I was just looking at the letter board, and I saw ‘P.’ It just popped into my head. But again, I’m so sorry,” Thomas said, rubbing Seacrest’s arm after the incident.
Despite the tumble, Seacrest maintained his characteristic good humor. “Pick me up, throw me over, tackle me, I’m totally fine with it,” he later quipped, encouraging future contestants.
The show’s announcer, Jim Thornton, joked about the incident while confirming Thomas’ $40,000 bonus round win. After the initial fall, when Seacrest gave Thomas another congratulatory hug, he made sure to maintain his balance.
The episode was particularly eventful even before the celebratory tumble, featuring an unusually high number of contestants landing on the Bankrupt wedge, prompting Seacrest to quip to viewers, “If you’re just joining us to Wheel of Bankrupt, welcome!” Thomas solved the bonus round puzzle with only three letters showing, making his win particularly impressive.
The show shared the moment on Instagram and YouTube, where it quickly gained traction online, sparking a mix of amusement and concern from viewers. Many fans playfully reacted to the incident, joking about the unexpected tackle and expressing admiration for Seacrest and the impressive puzzle solve. Some teased about bookmarking the video for future reference, while others shared lighthearted comments about Seacrest’s well-being.
One fan humorously noted their struggle to decide whether to be more impressed by the puzzle solve or the celebratory tumble. Another emphasized the need to “protect Ryan Seacrest at all costs.” Some even offered advice to future contestants, urging them to avoid knocking Seacrest to the floor during the bonus round. The moment resonated across social media, blending humor with heartfelt concern for the host.
The episode also highlighted recent changes to the long-running game show since Seacrest took over hosting duties from former popular host Pat Sajak. The revamped set features a blue-toned stage, green screen, and art-deco-wheel design. Seacrest and White now make their entrances through new sliding, brightly lit doors. The traditional puzzle board has been replaced with a modern digital version controlled by lasers. The show has also upgraded its prize offerings to include NFL games and A-list concert tickets.