‘Wheel of Fortune’ blunder proves costly

An ill-fated “Wheel of Fortune” contestant learned the hard way that there’s a big difference between a flamingo and the flamenco.

The contestant, Jonny, butchered his chance at a $7,100 prize on Monday’s episode when he mispronounced the phrase “Flamenco Dance Lessons” by saying the name of the tropical bird instead.

Another contestant, Ashley, then swooped in and correctly solved the puzzle by simply reading the board, which Jonny had filled in before his unfortunate snafu.

Jonny was visibly distraught once the buzzer sounded and alerted him that he wasn’t getting the money.

“I know you didn’t mean to say it, but you gave us a ‘G’ instead of a ‘C,’” host Pat Sajak told Jonny after Ashley won the money.

A “Wheel of Fortune” contestant failed to solve this puzzle after he mispronounced the word “Flamenco” as “Flamingo.”

It wasn’t the only blunder that Jonny made on Monday’s episode. He also asked for a “C” when he only needed two more letters to solve the puzzle “Dog and Pony Show Me The Money” — a mistake that cost him another $2,500.

Ashley went on to solve that puzzle immediately after as well.

Jonny’s gaffes are certainly memorable, but at least they weren’t as costly as the time a contestant named Julian Batts missed out on a chance at $1 million by mispronouncing the final word in the phrase “Mythological Hero Achilles” during a 2014 episode.

Earlier this year, meanwhile, another contestant wasn’t given credit after he referred to the song “Gangsta’s Paradise” using the word “Gangster’s.”

Newsmax hires former Fox executive

NEW YORK — Newsmax has hired a former Fox News Channel executive to run its television operation, a sign that the media company is looking to become more competitive with the network that is the overwhelming favorite of conservative viewers.

Michael Clemente, appointed CEO of NewsmaxTV on Monday, once ran Fox’s news operation before losing a power struggle and leaving in 2016. Previously, he worked for 27 years at ABC News.

Chris Ruddy, who runs Newsmax Media, says the company has worked on building distribution for its television outlet and now wants to concentrate on programming.

For the first time this past weekend, Newsmax aired a special “No Spin News” commentary program from former Fox star Bill O’Reilly. But Ruddy said there are currently no discussions about making it a permanent show.

Newsmax’s website currently features columns by the likes of Michael Reagan, Patrick Buchanan, Alan Dershowitz, David Limbaugh, Ron Paul and Charles Krauthammer.