Tom K.

I applied in February of 2022, so when I got the email I had been selected to be on the show, I was ecstatic! I totally forgot I submitted the app so to get called was a total surprise. The audition process was so much fun, and made even better when the producers wanted to know if I had a family member I wanted to play with for “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS”. My sister was my first and only choice. We used to watch Wheel of Fortune with our mother every single day after school, and would only miss it once in a blue moon. She passed away in 2018 and I applied to be on the show to honor her memory.

When we find out we were auditioning as a sibling pair, my sister drove up from Maryland to NY and we made a weekend out of it watching Wheel and reminiscing…“Wow, Val… Mom would love that we were doing this together.” When we found out we were selected to tape, I must have called Val 100x, I couldn’t believe we got chosen to be and the show and to boot, we were taping on Moms birthday!! It was a whirlwind of emotions. After the call, we booked our travel as fast as we could and then we practiced on the app, YouTube, the website, live episodes, you name it. We were determined to go there prepared but most importantly go there to have fun.

The entire experience was so surreal. To seeing how it’s produced and filmed, and spinning the wheel and playing America’s Game was a dream come true. I learned that even the best players can be humbled by bankrupt, and that by going with an open mind and expecting only to have fun, you’ll be a winner no matter what. I also learned that while I am an amazing main game player, my sister is one heck of a bonus round player. I will be forever in awe of her solves. Maggie asked us after, who was the better wheel player, it has to be Val now 😂.

No puzzles surprised me, but the few bankrupts definitely were deflating. Like I said, we just came to have fun the rest was a bonus. I think about the day over and over and it was one of the most fun times I have ever had. It’s really true though, it was the fastest 22 minutes of our lives. Since our dad lives in SC, and Val lives in MD, we are planning 3 separate viewing parties with our closest friends. The episode airs right before my birthday (I’m 11/16) so I told my friends we are having a birthday party. Wait till they find out! Wheel always meant family time to me, and now it’s such a special memory that I can say we PLAYED and WON!! I will cherish this experience forever. My sister and I were always close, but this entire experience made us closer if that’s even possible.