TV & Filmwheel-of-fortune-failpat sajak tv

'Wheel Of Fortune' Mispronunciation Of 'Corner Curio Cabinet' Costs Contestant

'Wheel Of Fortune' Mispronunciation Costs Big
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A mispronunciation on "Wheel of Fortune" cost one contestant the chance at big money.

Paul Atkinson landed on the $1 million wedge and was thisclose to taking home the big prize (he still had a few hurdles to go before actually securing the $1 million). The phrase was “Corner Curio Cabinet," and there was just one letter missing in "cabinet." Atkinson, who told ABC News he had never heard the word "curio" before, said something that sounded like "Corner Curro Cabinet" to some ears. Host Pat Sajak said Atkinson was wrong and moved over to the next contestant who pronounced it correctly, according to the show.

“I was nervous! I’ve got Pat freaking Sajak to my immediate right ... I’ve got lights and cameras in my face," Atkinson told ABC News. "I knew I messed up. I knew something awesome could've happened, but I totally goofed it."

This isn't the first time a contestant lost out on the prize after a mispronunciation. Renee Durette made headlines when the show didn't honor her guess of "Seven Swans a Swimming" because she dropped the "g" off "swimming," saying "swimmin.'" "Jeopardy!" recently penalized a 12-year-old boy for misspelling "Emancipation Proclamation."

Do you think Paul Atkinson should've been awarded the prize on "Wheel of Fortune"?

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Before You Go

Critics Picks 2013-2014
TV Critics Picks: 2013-2014 TV Season(01 of50)
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HuffPost TV gathered 19 TV critics to share their picks for the following topics: Best New Comedy, Best New Drama, Favorite New Stars, Returning Shows We Love and Worst New Show of the 2013-2014 TV season. Watch the videos to see who picked what, then click through this gallery to find out when the shows premiere. (credit:ABC, AMC, BBC America, HBO, Fox )
Worst New Show: "Super Fun Night"(02 of50)
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"Super Fun Night" premieres Wed., Oct. 2 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Worst New Show: "Dads"(03 of50)
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"Dads" premieres Tues., Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Worst New Show: "We Are Men"(04 of50)
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"We Are Men" premieres Mon., Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Worst New Show: "Sean Saves the World"(05 of50)
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"Sean Saves the World" premieres Thurs., Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Worst New Show: "Ironside"(06 of50)
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"Ironside" premieres Wed., Oct. 2 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Worst New Show: "Welcome to the Family"(07 of50)
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"Welcome to the Family" premieres Thurs., Oct. 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Worst New Show: "Reign"(08 of50)
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"Reign" premieres Thurs., Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. (credit:The CW)
Worst New Show: "Back In the Game"(09 of50)
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"Back In the Game" premieres Wed., Sept. 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Worst New Show: "Betrayal"(10 of50)
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"Betrayal" premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Favorite Returning Show: "Game of Thrones"(11 of50)
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"Game of Thrones" Season 4 premieres Spring 2014 on HBO. (credit:HBO)
Favorite Returning Show: "Scandal"(12 of50)
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"Scandal" Season 3 premieres Thurs., Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Favorite Returning Show: "Parks and Recreation"(13 of50)
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"Parks and Recreation" one-hour Season 5 premiere airs Thurs., Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Favorite Returning Show: "New Girl"(14 of50)
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"New Girl" Season 3 premieres Tues., Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Favorite Returning Show: "The Walking Dead"(15 of50)
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"The Walking Dead" Season 4 premieres Sun., Oct. 13 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. (credit:AMC)
Favorite Returning Show: "Homeland"(16 of50)
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"Homeland" Season 3 premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. (credit:Showtime)
Favorite Returning Show: "Boardwalk Empire"(17 of50)
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"Boardwalk Empire" Season 4 premieres Sun., Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. (credit:HBO)
Favorite Returning Show: "The Mindy Project" (18 of50)
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"The Mindy Project" Season 2 premieres Tues., Sept. 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Favorite Returning Show: "Sons of Anarchy"(19 of50)
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"Sons of Anarchy" Season 6 premieres Tues., Sept. 10 at 10 p.m. ET on FX. (credit:FX)
Favorite Returning Show: "Orphan Black"(20 of50)
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"Orphan Black" Season 2 premieres April 2014 on BBC America. (credit:BBC America)
Favorite Returning Show: "The Good Wife" (21 of50)
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"The Good Wife" Season 5 premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Favorite Returning Show: "Arrow"(22 of50)
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"Arrow" Season 2 premieres Wed., Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. (credit:The CW)
Favorite Returning Show: "Glee"(23 of50)
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"Glee" Season 5 premieres Thurs., Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Favorite Returning Show: "American Horror Story: Coven"(24 of50)
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"American Horror Story: Coven" Season 3 premieres on FX. (credit:FX)
Favorite Stars: Michael J. Fox & Betsy Brandt(25 of50)
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"The Michael J. Fox Show" premieres Thurs., Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Favorite Star: Chelsea Peretti(26 of50)
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"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" premieres Tues., Sept. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Favorite Star: David Walton(27 of50)
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"About A Boy" premieres midseason 2014 on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Favorite Star: Stephen Merchant(28 of50)
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"Hello Ladies" premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO. (credit:HBO)
Favorite Star: Dermot Mulroney(29 of50)
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"Crisis" premieres midseason 2014 on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Favorite Star: Dylan McDermott(30 of50)
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"Hostages" premieres Mon., Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Favorite Star: Tom Mison(31 of50)
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"Sleepy Hollow" premieres Mon., Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Favorite Star: Lizzy Caplan(32 of50)
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"Masters of Sex" premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. (credit:Showtime)
Favorite Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar (left) & James Wolk (far right)(33 of50)
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"The Crazy Ones" premieres Thurs., Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Favorite Star: Clark Gregg(34 of50)
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"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." premieres Tues., Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Favorite Star: Anna Faris(35 of50)
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"Mom" premieres Mon., Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Favorite Star: Parker Young(36 of50)
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"Enlisted" premieres Fri., Nov. 8 at 9:30 p.m. on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Best New Drama: "Masters of Sex" (37 of50)
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"Masters of Sex" premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. (credit:Showtime)
Best New Drama: "Reign"(38 of50)
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"Reign" premieres Thurs., Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. (credit:The CW)
Best New Drama: "The Blacklist"(39 of50)
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"The Blacklist" premieres Mon., Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
Best New Drama: "Hostages"(40 of50)
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"Hostages" premieres Mon., Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Best New Drama: "Sleepy Hollow"(41 of50)
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"Sleepy Hollow" premieres Mon., Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Best New Drama: "Almost Human"(42 of50)
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"Almost Human" premieres Mon., Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Best New Drama: "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."(43 of50)
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"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." premieres Tues., Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Best New Comedy: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"(44 of50)
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"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" premieres Tues., Sept. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Best New Comedy: "Enlisted"(45 of50)
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"Enlisted" premieres Fri., Nov. 8 at 9:30 p.m. on Fox. (credit:Fox)
Best New Comedy: "Hello Ladies"(46 of50)
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"Hello Ladies" premieres Sun., Sept. 29 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO. (credit:HBO)
Best New Comedy: "Mom"(47 of50)
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"Mom" premieres Mon., Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Best New Comedy: "Trophy Wife"(48 of50)
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"Trophy Wife" premieres Tues., Sept. 24 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
Best New Comedy: "The Crazy Ones"(49 of50)
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"The Crazy Ones" premieres Thurs., Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
Best New Comedy: "About A Boy"(50 of50)
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"About A Boy" premieres midseason 2014 on NBC. (credit:NBC)
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