ABC’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is gifting viewers a holiday-themed episode featuring a trio of musical guests with personalities as diverse as their discographies: Chance the Rapper, Dionne Warwick, and Lil Jon. This unlikely assemblage will test their puzzle-solving skills while spinning for their chosen charities.
Chance the Rapper, known for his unique blend of hip-hop and gospel, will be playing for SocialWorks, a Chicago-based non-profit empowering youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement. Dionne Warwick, the iconic songstress with a X (Twitter) presence as legendary as her vocal range, will compete on behalf of the North Jersey Community Research Initiative, which focuses on HIV/AIDS education and prevention. And rounding out the celebrity roster is Lil Jon, the crunk king himself, spinning for the Open Paths Counseling Center, providing accessible mental health services to families and individuals.
The episode’s inherent oddity—a rapper, a pop legend, and a crunk pioneer all vying for vowels—is certainly its primary draw. Will Warwick’s Twitter savvy translate to deciphering word puzzles? Can Lil Jon bring the same energy to consonant-guessing as he does to a packed club? And will Chance the Rapper’s lyrical dexterity give him an edge on the competition?
The potential for unexpected moments is high. Imagine Warwick schooling her younger competitors on pre-internet wordplay or Lil Jon offering his signature ad-libs as puzzle solutions. The possibilities are as endless as they are potentially cringeworthy, a combination this show seems to thrive on. Either way, with Pat Sajak (his last hurrah) and Vanna White at the helm, a certain level of comforting predictability will be maintained amidst the potential chaos.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune airs Monday, December 2, 2024, at 8:00 PM EST on ABC.
