Wheel of Fortune - Show Time!

It felt like forever ago that we were in California taping the show but the time has finally come for it to be on TV.  I hope most people were able to watch it live or delayed from their DVR, but I’ll recap how it all went down with some behind the scenes insight.

The day had slowly been building to this but it really hit me when Pat Sajak walked out on stage, came up to the podiums, and asked us to grab our buzzers for the first toss-up puzzle.  We had worked out our system for ringing in; Pamela would hold the button and ring in because she is usually faster at solving the puzzles.  If I knew it, I would tap Pamela and she would ring in for me.  However, none of that mattered because it was only 2 letters in and the couple next to us rung in and solved correctly. 

Can you figure this out after only 2 letters?  (Answers at the bottom!)

Pretty impressive solving but it’s only worth $1000 and now they have to do their introductions first.  Everyone practiced this a few times during the rehearsals but being on camera is tricky; the couple on the end ­­­Harold and Quinzola forgot to mention their kids… whoops.  Our exchange with Pat went well and we were looking good thanks to the hair and makeup team.

Now it’s back to more puzzle solving action.  Everyone gets their buzzers back out and we go into toss-up number two. 

I think someone told them the answers beforehand

Wow.  Again, Jon and Suzy ring in quickly and solve correctly.  $2000 more for Jon and Suzy and we're into the first commercial break.  You can see pat lean over to us right as it's cutting to commercial:

He tells everyone the hard part is over (introductions), and now we can just have fun and play the game.  At each break everyone steps back off the podium to have their hair and makeup retouched if necessary and Pat heads backstage to do the same.  

We're back on and it's time for the spinning rounds where anything can happen.  Jon and Suzy start off and spin bankrupt.  Harold and Quinzola get 2 letters before missing and now it's our first crack at the wheel.  We start off well with a Free Play then $700 before landing here:

Boo

Possession is back to Jon and Suzy and they hold on to complete the puzzle and win a Sandals trip.  Another commercial break and we return with Harold and Quinzola leading off.  Pat gives them a chance to say hi to their 3 kids they forgot to mention during the introduction before spinning.  They only get 1 letter before missing and possession is back over to us.  Lots of blank spaces up on the board to rack up some big money but our spin lands...

Again?! 

So it's over to Jon and Suzy who complete the puzzle again.  Commercial break and then we come back for with our round to lead off.  Plus this round is a prize puzzle, which means the couple to win this round will win a Sandals vacation.  This is a great opportunity for us to rack up some money and win a trip to add to our total.  So we start by spinning...

Noooooooo!

I can't believe it.  Out of all the money and prize spaces on the wheel I have landed on a bad space in 3 of my 5 spins.  Obviously I was feeling a bit upset.

Pat seems to be standing farther away from me.  Is he afraid I'm going to punch him?

Pamela and I talked about the wheel before the game started and we weren't going to get upset if we had bad spins.  Choosing poor letters or failing to solve correctly are errors but the wheel is all chance.  The contestant coordinators even told us during the prep time that if they catch you trying to 'aim' the wheel you would be disqualified.  So I just spun as hard as I could each time and left it up to the wheel.  

Once again we lost possession on a spin and it was over to Jon and Suzy.  And once again they were able to run through the puzzle and solve correctly.  Even more cash and another trip are added to their total.  Although Jon seems to be getting bored by all this winning and forgot it was a prize puzzle.

At least Suzy was excited to win the trip.

It's the final commercial break before the bonus round and it has been all Jon and Suzy.  They have around $26k with the other couple and us shut out so far.  Before the cameras come on we grab our buzzers for the toss us and Pat jokes that we should try to use them to blow up Jon and Suzy.  I wonder if that remark made Jon and Suzy feel bad because we actually had some time to solve this toss up.  However, it was Harold and Quinzola who buzz in right ahead of Pamela.

On the video you can see Pamela hit the trigger right after they ring in.  Finally someone besides Jon and Suzy won a puzzle but we are still stuck at $0.  Back to spinning rounds but we know that this will be the last or second to last round.  Harold and Quinzola are starting it off but miss their first letter.  Bad for them, but fortunate for us that we get control of the wheel back.  I finally start landing on money spaces, Pamela is calling good letters, but we are interrupted by the chime.  It’s already time for Pat’s final spin and the speed-up portion.

Pamela calls a great letter for the puzzle, N, of which there are 4 but we are unable to solve it.  Right after our 3 second timer expires, Pamela turns to me and says she knows it.  We blew it, the puzzle is solvable and it’s over to Jon and Suzy…  But they don’t know it even after their letter is put up on the board.  It’s a good thing too because on video you can see her realize it as soon as it passes to Harold and Quinzola.  They call a letter that's not in the puzzle, and just like that it was back to us!  Pamela called out the ‘B’ and solved the puzzle with a perfect Wheel of Fortune enunciation.

It was so exciting to solve that puzzle.  You can see our reaction; I was so happy I hugged Pamela and picked her up.  Pamela says she didn't even realize how much we had won until a few moments afterward.  I think we were both happy to have solved and puzzle instead of being shut out and going home with the consolation prize money.  We say farewell and shake hands with Pat and our time on the show is over.  Jon and Suzy continued on to the bonus round and we packed up our stuff and headed back to Arizona. 

Of course they knew it.  Well played Jon and Suzy

Toss-Up #1:  IN YOUR EYES

Toss-Up #2:  CURIOUS GEORGE

Toss-Up #3:  HONEYSUCKLE

Bonus Round:  SPICY GUACAMOLE

Wheel of Fortune - Contestants

With the Audition process a distant memory, Pamela and I were surprised when we received emails and phone calls from the Senior Contestant Coordinator for Wheel of Fortune saying that we had been selected as contestants.  Our surprise stemmed from their statement of, “if you don’t hear back in two weeks then you were not selected.”  Here we were, 6 months later, trying to figure out what circumstances led to them giving our application another look.  Regardless of the reason, we immediately replied “YES” and stared making arrangements for our trip. 

The taping was at Sony Studios in Culver City, CA.  We drove out the night before with Pamela’s friends Jody and Claudia.  They were excited for us and for a chance to be on TV if we made it to the bonus round.  Jody handled the drive over which gave Pamela and I a chance to relax and try to get some sleep on the drive over.  This was good since we wouldn't arrive until about midnight, with our shuttle set to pick us up and drive over to the studio at 6:30.  I should mention that we got a late start because this would be the first time we would both be away from Ryan overnight.  It was tough but we were able to put him to bed Wednesday night, do the taping, drive back Thursday evening, and only be gone for just over 24 hours. 

Pamela best describes the day of taping as a “whirlwind day.”  We arrived at the studio five hours before they would tape the first show but we were active the whole time.  They had us situated in the Jeopardy audience seats where we signed all the legal paperwork and went over every single rule of the game in great detail.  They took us over to the set where we got to practice spinning the big wheel.  In person the wheel is a lot heavier and a bit smaller than it appears on TV.  There is a specific technique for spinning that requires a bit of strength and dexterity.  Beforehand we had discussed our strategy and decided that I would do all the spinning and allow Pamela to concentrate on the puzzle and calling letters.  So I made sure that I had the technique down and Pamela got to give it a few spins for fun as well. 

Next they escorted us back to the Jeopardy set to finish with hair and makeup.  Everyone had to get makeup, even the guys.  I had never worn makeup before, but I can see why people do it.  It made my complexion so even and smooth, but what a hassle it would be to put on and take off all the time.  I’m lucky I don’t have to worry about that, sorry ladies.  Meanwhile they announced who would be paired for which episodes and we drew for day and wheel position.  We made out pretty well here; our group would go first (Monday) so we wouldn't have to wait around through all the tapings and could start making our long drive home earlier.  Also, I drew the red position that would be right next to Pat Sajak. 

The contestant coordinators trotted us back out to the Wheel of Fortune set for one more set of checks.  They did camera and microphone checks to make sure we looked and sounded alright for taping.  It was also a last minute dress rehearsal for playing on the show with the wheel, puzzle board, scores, and everything.  All the preparations were done; it was time to do the show.  Pamela and I were taping first.  No chance to watch and see the pacing.  No chance to practice a few puzzles to get in the groove.  This was it.  You could tell that people were getting serious as they strapped on our wireless mics and rushed us up on the stage.  The lights were on, the music started playing, and out came Pat and Vanna!

Happy contestants, all set to play Wheel of Fortune!

The show is set to air Monday February 3^rd so make sure you tune in and watch us.  The results blog will be up after that since we are not allowed to reveal the outcome until the show airs.

Wheel of Fortune - The Audition

Most of you have probably heard by now, but Pamela and I are going to be on an episode of Wheel of Fortune!  It was such an exciting adventure that I wanted to blog it, not only about being on the show, but the events leading up to it. 

Being on a game show or reality show was a goal of mine for a while.  It was on my 30 before 30 list (just barely missed that cutoff).  Every few months I would check online to see what shows were taping and fill out applications for ones that were open.  In the spring of this year I saw that Wheel of Fortune was coming to do auditions in Phoenix and was accepting video applications.  I jumped on this chance and set out to make an epic application video for myself that was sure to get picked by the casting directors.  Pamela shot the video of me while Ryan was taking a nap and decided to get in on the fun and tape a quick video application herself.  I finished editing my masterpiece together and submitted both videos online. 

Trying to use Jordan's cuteness to my advantage

Only a few days went by and Pamela was contacted by one of the contestant coordinators.  She had been chosen to come out to the audition in Scottsdale!  The invitation was for Pamela but it stated she could bring a friend or spouse and try out as a team.  And Pamela being the wonderful wife she is, decided to take me along as her partner.  The auditions were being held at the Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale during the afternoon.  I took off from work and Pamela’s sister Liz was kind enough to watch Ryan so we could go. 

Pamela talking about how she always wanted to be Vanna White.  How could you say no to that face!

When we arrived we filled out some info sheets and watched an introductory video before getting into the ‘audition’ portion.  There were about 100 people there trying out and the contestant coordinators picked people randomly to stand up and play a turn of Wheel of Fortune.  They wanted to see who could play fast, smart, LOUD, and all while looking happy about it.  After everybody got 1 or 2 turns they passed out written tests.  This was a full page, maybe 20, different Wheel of Fortune puzzles partially filled in.  We were only given 5 minutes to get as many as we could then they took the first break.

When the coordinators called everyone back from break they made their cut down to about 40 people.  Polaroids of each person or couple were taken and attached to the info sheets and we played a few more rounds of Wheel.  They called us up to the front of the room this time to play a mock game versus two other couples that were there.  We even practiced our “Pat Chat” conversations like they do with contestants on the show. 

After everyone got another two turns playing they called it or the day and we were free to go.  They didn’t announce who was going to be on the show but they said that if you had been selected, you would hear from them within 2 weeks.  If you didn’t hear from them then obviously you weren’t chosen.  We tried to stay reserved about being on the show or not.  Either way, we had a lot of fun at the audition and came home with a signed 8x10 of Vanna White.  The weeks came and went and we were not picked.  Their website says that each year “over a million” people apply and “fewer than 600” are selected to be on the show.  We knew we were up against long odds so we would just have to wait for the next casting opportunity.