Ryan Seacrest slides in front of Wheel of Fortune player to save her chance at $1 million

During the latest episode of Wheel of Fortune, Ryan Seacrest slid in front of a contestant before she could make a mistake that would have cost her $1 million.

During his first season on the beloved game show, the “accident prone” host took a few tumbles that had his co-host Vanna White screaming “are you ok?” Some were due to friendly competition with players while others were a little more chaotic.

His latest dive was also due to a contestant, but this one was done entirely voluntarily in efforts to aid her in winning a huge prize fund.

During the June 19 segment, Marilou “Piddle” Osborne competed against Chicago’s Conchedia De Pratoo and California’s Shane Niebergail.

The host instantly took a liking to the librarian as he told her, “Piddle, you’re a lot of fun.”

Ryan Seacrest slides in front of Wheel of Fortune contestant (Image: Wheel of Fortune)

She confirmed, “I am.”

He showed his admiration for her with a grandiose gesture when she was seconds away from making a mistake that could have cost her a lot of money.

The three contestants were guessing a Before & After phrase when Piddle spun the wheel and landed on the $1 million wedge, which gives a contestant a chance to win the cash prize during the Bonus Round.

Piddle was so excited once she saw where the wheel had landed that she threw her hands up in excitement just before she went to pick the wedge up, which is when Ryan yelled, “Oh no, wait!”

Next thing you know the host was sliding in front of the contestant to block her move.

He said, “Piddle, wait. You’ve gotta work first. You’ve gotta work for it.”

Ryan Seacrest may be the newest host of Wheel of Fortune, but he’s already showing fans he’ll go the extra mile — or, in this case, take an extra step — to protect contestants and keep the game fair. In a recent episode that has quickly gone viral online, Seacrest made headlines when he jumped in front of a player to stop her from losing her chance at a life-changing $1 million prize.

The dramatic moment unfolded during the bonus round, where the contestant, Laura Miller, had made it to the final spin with a rare chance to win the elusive million-dollar envelope. As fans of Wheel of Fortune know, landing on the special $1 million wedge during regular gameplay and then keeping it through the bonus round is no small feat.

Everything seemed to be going well — until Laura, clearly excited and a bit nervous, began to walk across the stage before the final puzzle had officially started. Seacrest, noticing that moving past a certain mark could have risked disqualifying her spin or violating the show’s strict rules, instinctively stepped in.

According to viewers who witnessed the taping, Seacrest gently but firmly blocked her path and calmly reminded her to stay in position until he gave the go-ahead. Audience members could be heard gasping and then laughing in relief as Seacrest handled the slip-up with his signature charm and professionalism.

Social media quickly lit up with praise for the host’s quick thinking. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Ryan Seacrest just saved that contestant from losing $1 million by literally stepping in her way! Love how he’s already protecting players like a pro.” Another commented, “New host, same heart! Sajak would be proud.”

Seacrest himself addressed the incident after the episode aired, telling reporters he was just doing his job to make sure the rules were followed and that the contestant wasn’t penalized for an honest mistake. “I saw she was so excited — who wouldn’t be? — so I just stepped in to help her out and keep everything fair,” he said.

Since taking over from longtime host Pat Sajak in September, Seacrest has promised to respect the show’s traditions while bringing his own energy and warmth to the iconic stage. Moments like this are winning over skeptics who weren’t sure at first if a celebrity known for American Idol and red carpets was the right fit for America’s longest-running game show.

As for Laura Miller, her moment of near-disqualification turned into an unforgettable story. While she didn’t solve the final puzzle to claim the $1 million, she did walk away with a healthy prize and a once-in-a-lifetime experience — plus the knowledge that Ryan Seacrest literally had her back.

Fans now have even more reason to tune in nightly, wondering what surprises — and heroic host moments — might come next as Seacrest continues spinning the wheel into a new era.