“Wheel of Fortune” Breaks the Mold with Firefighter Showdown — And Fans Love It

For the first time ever, Wheel of Fortune invited three longtime friends — Rhode Island firefighters — to compete against each other, not strangers. Missy Porter, Darrin Gallagher, and Tim Stebenne brought humor, heart, and over 20 years of camaraderie to Monday night’s game, battling for cash, travel, and bragging rights.

Fans adored the new dynamic. Instead of stiff competition, they got inside jokes, meatball references, and a battle of equals. Viewers lit up social media, calling it “refreshing” and “way more fun than teams.”

The episode delivered more than laughs. Stebenne won a trip to Iceland and left with $12,700. Porter snagged $7,000. But Gallagher emerged as the night’s winner, taking home $20,150 and a vacation to Panama. The only disappointment? The Bonus Round — Gallagher missed out on $40,000 after failing to guess the word “whiff,” marking the 11th straight loss for contestants in that final puzzle.

Still, the innovative format, lively banter, and heartfelt moments left viewers buzzing. With Ryan Seacrest at the helm and surprises like this, Wheel of Fortune may be entering its most exciting chapter yet. As one fan wrote: “More of this, please.”