Angela G.

I have been watching Wheel of Fortune since childhood, as long as I can remember actually. And now, as an adult I still watch it every night, except now I watch it with my husband, usually while he does the dishes. Since I constantly yell out the answers, I thought I could definitely be a contestant, so I submitted a video and manifested being on the show. Literally, almost three years passed, and I completely forgot about it. And then one day…I received an email, and OMG I was asked to do a virtual interview. After that, everything just happened so quickly. About a week later, I was playing online with three other players and then about two weeks later, I got the email, yes THE email, that I was chosen to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. After reading it, I literally had tears of joy and excitement rolling down my face! Was this really happening to ME?!?

I was contacted on a Tuesday and had to be in Culver City on Friday for my taping. All sorts of things went through my head: play Wheel of Fortune on the app any free moment I have, book flight and hotel and what will I wear on TV? The day finally arrived, one of the BEST days of my life. I thought to myself, this is crazy, it was almost an out of body experience! I am here at Sony Studios and my life is about to change. Not that I was expecting to win a lot of money, but because I would get to experience Wheel of Fortune firsthand from behind the scenes and see the ins and outs. I was met by other Wheel of Fortune contestants, all friendly and equally excited. Little did I know that by the end of the day, we’d all be friends and bonded by the Wheel.

The producers told us the day would be busy from the moment we got there to the moment we left and they weren’t kidding. The day was filled with game rehearsals, hair and make-up, and spinning the wheel. It took me by surprise how heavy that wheel is (2,000+ lbs.). When it was my turn to ‘play,’ I heard everyone say, “Vanna.” I looked around and was shocked to see her standing next to me, arriving at work in her street clothes and no make-up, hair pulled back with the cutest handbag in tote, just stopping by to say hi to the contestants. Another day for her but a once in a lifetime day for us.

Things got real when they called my name and said I would be on the sixth and last show taping that day. I was a little nervous that I would have to wait all day long. Watching the other five shows was fun and gave me time to practice more puzzle solving in my head. I went into thinking I’m just here to play but the longer I was there, I ended up meeting people from different states, from different careers from different walks of life and we started to become friends. I was rooting for my new friends, I wanted everyone to win!

My time had finally come and all eyes were on us, the players. I wasn’t nervous at all; it was just a feeling of elation. There is so much to remember during the show like don’t look down when spinning, check the used letter board, review the category, fun facts for Pat, even the best multi-tasker like myself found it hard to keep track of it all. And finally, meeting Pat Sajak, getting to shout out the puzzles when it really matters, saying, “I would like to buy a vowel” …oh and hitting a big money spin only to lose it all in a bankrupt. But I was there to play and take risks; I only get one chance to be on Wheel of Fortune, so I better make it worth it. Contestants say it is the fastest 20 minutes of your life and it really is but I remember every minute of it and forever will.

I was honored to have been chosen as a contestant. For me, it wasn’t about winning or losing (although winning big would have been great) but telling my story to everyone later because at the end of the day, most people want to hear about my experience. And the experience was nothing short of amazing! My Wheel of Fortune friends started a group text and the notification sound is what else, a jackpot ringtone, and every time it goes off it makes me smile and takes me back to that day. It is and always will be one of the best days of my life!