On May 9 & 10th, the Wheel Mobile visited Branson, MO- only a 40 minute drive from Springfield- on a hunt for future Wheel of Fortune contestants! I carpooled with my friends Pat & Jackie on Saturday the 9th to the Welks Theater so we could test our luck.
While we waited, workers also asked if people wanted to sign up for a Spin ID (during Wheel of Fortune, a spin ID number is chosen to give viewers at home a chance to win prizes). I received a talking bobble head Pat Sajek key chain for signing up. It's not what you'd call a valuable item, but it's my souvenir of my Wheel of Fortune tryouts experience!
Even though the line was long, we got into the second session without a problem since the theatre holds a lot of people. Here was the stage setup- a little different from the actual show since it's gotta be easy to pack up and take on the road (plus the tryouts are a little different format than the normal game). The letter board was similar to the old Wheel of Fortune board where Vanna turned he letters, except these were white boards that were written on as letters were called. Since money isn't given away at tryouts, the wheel was spun to pick prizes such as t-shirts, signed photographs, hats, etc. to give to the people who would be chosen to go on stage.
When we entered the theater, our applications were collected and thrown into a bin all together. The traveling hosts (Marty & Heidi) randomly selected 5 applicants from the bin to play 1 round. Each round consisted of introducing the players, spinning the wheel to see which prize they'd all win, and giving each contestant a few seconds to call a letter and guess the puzzle until it was solved. Once the round was done, 5 more names were randomly selected to solve the next puzzle. This happened about 5 or 6 times, then the session ended.
Afterward, we waited in line again (didn't take as long) to fill out another application form and get admittance to the theater for the third session. Sadly, our names were never selected. Only people who are called onto stage are considered for the actual show- their auditions began as soon as their names were read. A few people stood out from the bunch, but I gotta tell you- the competition was not fierce. All they needed to do was act a little rambunctious! If only I had been called....
The people who exhibited enthusiasm on stage would be asked to attend a final audition, during which, a few spots are left open for names to be randomly drawn from the applications we all filled out during that day. Crazy thing is, Jackie got picked! She received an email this last Thursday asking her for an interview. Go figure- she's going to be in Jamaica at that time and won't be able to go! What a bummer!
At least we enjoyed getting to find out what happens when the Wheel Mobile stops into town, and we consoled ourselves afterward by going to Branson's Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor afterward. Mmmm! Otherwise, the show is being filmed in Branson during July, I believe. We'll have to watch and see who was picked to play that week. And perhaps we'll have to buy some more ice cream to ease the pain that it won't be us. :)
