Spinning the Wheel with Vanna White and Pat Sajak - 2023

by David Jensen

In March 2023 I finally took the plunge and recorded an audition “selfie” video as part of the application process to become a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. It was the second time I’ve attempted being a contestant, the first being in the early 1980s when Carol and I were visiting California.  Interviews back then consisted of waiting in a long Los Angeles sidewalk line before filling an auditorium with a couple hundred others while solving puzzles on a piece of paper. It was fun but not the right timing.

According to the Wheel of Fortune website, “Millions of people apply to get on the game show every year. Of those, only 10,000 are selected to audition. Out of that pool, a mere 600 end up on the show, and of those, just 200 make it to the final round.”

For my present day attempt, I kept things very simple. Instructions were clear enough: “Keep your video casual and be yourself.”  The only way for me to do this properly was to include my four pups in the video.  Who can resist their faces.  Beau, Iris, Maggie and Lizzie certainly nailed it for me even though had a limited attention span.

I submitted the video and waited.  I was told that if my video catches their eye, the Wheel of Fortune (WOF) team would reach out.  I waited several weeks and figured “Well, I gave it another try.”

In early April I received an email inviting me to a ZOOM interview with ‘John’ (I’ve changed the assistant producer’s names in this writing.)  I was stoked!  John and I chatted and he asked a few questions while providing some details about the process of applying to be on WOF.  He told me I may hear from another interviewer in a few weeks and reassured me that I did very well with our meeting.

In mid-April I received an email inviting me to participate in another ZOOM meeting. This conference call would include several candidates. I couldn’t believe it. And yes, when the day came for this next ZOOM meeting in early May I was very nervous and excited.  Being quite dyslexic my biggest concern was translating Pacific time and Alaska time.  I was afraid of mixing up the call-in time zones.

There were 20 others auditioning via ZOOM. Our moderator ‘Sarah’ asked each applicant to talk about themselves.  The applicants represented many locations, cultures and ages. I was impressed with the diversity and everyone’s enthusiasm. At the same time, I knew that we were, at that moment, competing with each other for placement on the show.

The ZOOM video was being recorded by WOF so they could review each person’s composure, personality and answers at a later date.  After an hour, the meeting concluded and Sarah thanked everyone while indicated that someone else may call, email or write to schedule another ZOOM interview if any of us were still in the running.  She closed by suggesting that if we haven’t heard from anyone by mail within the next 2-3 weeks we could apply to be a contestant again next year.

Carol usually checks the mailbox every evening after work.  For the next three weeks, she didn’t have to.  I practically met our mail lady each day.  Then, weeks passed and Carol was again picking up the mail.  I resigned myself to the possibility that my WOF dream wasn’t meant to be.

Weeks and months passed until mid-July when I received an email announcing that I was selected, along with 18 others, to tape sepisodes of WOF Friday, August 10.  The email included a dozen documents that had to be reviewed and signed.  I was signing off on the rules, liabilities, non-disclosures, rights to my likeness for the purpose of appearing on the show, etc.

Carol and I agreed that it would be a mistake to not take advantage of this special opportunity.  It meant purchasing airline tickets and making hotel and transportation arrangements on our own dime.  WOF does not compensate for any expenses beyond the consolation prize of $1,000 for participating.  Traveling from Alaska and adding two nights room and board definitely exceeded $1,000.  But this wasn’t about winning money.  It was about the opportunity to play a favorite game.  So, moving my studio schedule around a little bit without explaining why I wasn’t available for three days was not a problem for me.

I flew down to SONY Studios in Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, August 9.  Arrived at my hotel at 8 p.m. It was a 12+ hour transit from Anchorage to Los Angeles because of a six-hour delay in Seattle (they had just closed one of their arterial runways.)

Friday morning came quickly.  I was required to arrive at the SONY Studios garage by 5:30 a.m. for a security check. You know that feeling when setting your alarm for something really important … I could barely sleep because I was worried the iPhone might not wake me up.  Thankfully it worked as advertised.

I UBERed from the hotel and was the second person to arrive.  Everyone was all smiles, some, like me, had giddy smiles.  I felt a like a celebrity when telling people I had flown down from Alaska. The majority of contestants were from the West Coast.

By 6:45 we were all marching to the studio.  Our cell phones were all turned off completely.  We would have no communications with the outside world for the next 10+ hours.  No phones.  No photos. Nothing. I’m a little surprised that our phones were not confiscated.

Our escorts took us the the Alex Trebek Stage and Theater. That was a treat all by itself.  This is where we signed more forms, listened to and read instructions, had our first application of makeup and a few tweaks to our hair.  After rereading pages and pages of details and protocol  the producers collected all of the literature.   However, I kept my official WOF pen and grabbed another from the theater floor.

Out of the blue, the producers announced a surprise that led us to questioning who might or might not  be appearing on WOF.  They said that six episodes would be taped.  This meant that there should be 18 contestants (three for each episode.) However, there were 21 contestants in the room.  This was three more than needed.  Three of the 21 people in the theater would not be contestants.  Rather, they would be alternates “just in case.” The producers would not immediately say who might be alternates.  We all knew that each of us were still under close review.

Side note:  Five of the taped episodes would be taped and then aired Monday-Friday.  The sixth episode was taped as a fill-in date for airing at a later time.

Next, 18 names were put in a hat.  The producers pulled one name at a time to fill six episodes with three contestants each.  I listened as 15 names were called - none were mine.  The sixth episode names were called and thankfully my name was announced.  I was thrilled and relieved.  I wanted to call home.  Nope.  And, I was a little sad for the three who were not selected until I learned that they were local Californians who, in a way, are regular alternates who attend with the hope someone else will be bumped or drop out.  They remained as part of our group throughout the day.

Being part of the sixth group of contestants meant that our episode would not be taped until after five other shows were taped.  It was going to be a long day.  However, it gave those of us in group six a chance to unwind and watch how the other episodes played out.

WOF treated us to breakfast burritos and croissants around 8 a.m.  Then we returned to the Alex Trebek Stage for a couple more hours of preparation work.  At 10:30 a.m. we departed for the Wheel of Fortune studio.  The first taping would happen at noon.  It was exhilarating to walk into the WOF studio as we sat in seats in an area set aside from the regular audience.

One thing I really missed was caffeine.  Not a cup or glass of it in sight.  I suppose that was just as well and maybe intentional for those of us with weak bladders.

It was incredible to see all of the lights and at least 30 staff people scurrying around, adjusting boom cameras, watching monitors, cleaning once twice and three times. The main cleaner guy was meticulous from Pat’s podium to the Wheel to the Ford car prize. The studio was white-glove spotless.

Before beginning the rehearsals, Vanna White dropped by.  It was her return to the show after recovering from COVID.  She was dressed down without makeup, Charming and personable, it was a treat to see her in normal fashion.

Each group of contestants practiced sample spins and puzzles.  We were instructed how to spin, where to put the prize wedges and where to look when guessing letters and puzzles. Pat Sajak’s stand-in (I call him “Fake Pat”) emceed throughout the practice rounds. He was entertaining and looked like a television pitch man - a cross between Woody Allen and Martin Short.  Pretty sure he was wearing fake glasses and a toupe.  He was very good.

The final practice round was especially fun for me.  I was invited to join Fake Pat at the Final Spin Wheel for a quick demonstration as the other contestants watched.  Now, most contestants have a family member or friend on the sidelines.  I did not because Carol and I decided the air travel expense was too high and someone needed to stay with the kitty and pups.  So, when Fake Pat asked if I had any relatives to introduce to the camera, the stage manager and his assistant stepped in.  They told me to say “Thanks, Pat, I brought my drinking buddy Jimmy and his best friend, Jeff.) The cameras panned to them and the audience had laugh after I introduced them accordingly.  Sadly, I wasn’t able to share a beverage with my new best friend and drinking buddy.  Then, I practice spinned the final wheel and returned to my seat in the bleacher-styled contestant area. If you follow the credits at the end of WOF you will see both their names. Jimmy is one of the final credits shown on the trailer.)

After our rehearsals we were taken to a special area of the SONY Pictures cafeteria.  We enjoyed prepackaged meals star gazed.  Sadly, there were no stars to gaze at.  The cafeteria was catering to the hundreds of stage hands and others who make things happen behind the camera.

Then we went back to the Wheel of Fortune Studio.  Hour after hour passed.  Episode after episode.  We contestants cheered each other on and applauded their return to the seating area. Next door, a large audience of visitors - especially families and friends - packed the bleachers.  WOF staff held placards and motivated the main audience to either cheer, applause or hush up during tapings.  Jim Thornton, the WOF announcer came over and introduced himself.  Then he did some stand-up comedy for the kids, tossed swag to the audience and families in attendance and recreated one of his voice acting gigs as the Monster News Reporter in the movie Monster’s Inc.

Along the way, there were some interesting behind the scenes events.  In one case, and this was not broadcast, a contestant gave an answer and it was momentarily accepted. Then the production stopped on a dime.  The producers spent 10 minutes or so studying a replay before deciding that she had not pluralized a puzzle word properly.  They had to remove her large money winning from the scoreboard and replay with a different puzzle.  They edited it so well that it’s impossible to see the discrepancy.  However, Pat, feeling badly for the player, went to the beach-scene set and picked up a conch shell.  He asked for a sharpie.  Then he signed it along with Vanna and Maggie Sajak before presenting the treasure to the contestant.  What a keepsake!  She was a good sport about it and acknowledge her error.

Side fact:  Vanna knows the puzzle answers just moments before walking onto the stage.

It was 6 p.m. and finally time for my group of three contestants to play Wheel of Fortune.  We had already been at SONY for 12 hours.  30 minutes prior, we went back to make-up and hair for touch ups. We watched group five’s final spin on a television set in the make-up room.  We rehearsed our possible introduction lines with two of the amazing production assistants.  They gave us some clues as to what Pat Sajak might talk about and questions he might ask.

Then it was time.  We marched onto set.  Each of us took our pre-rehearsed positions. Something that isn’t talked about is that each contestant stands on a riser.  Staff lowers or raises each player with a remote control to perfect heights for playing the game.  This is why most of the players look like they’re the same height.  It also helps to make sure contestants are able to reach the wheel without falling into it.

Speaking of the wheel - it is really heavy.  You have to grab a wheel pin a specific way to avoid getting your hand caught or hit.

When everything was ready to go, a countdown begins.  Then the WOF music begins.  Pat and Vanna walked over as you always see on television and it’s go time.

That’s when it becomes real.  The lights, the music and the sound of the wheel spinning four feet from your chin.  Just wow.

Introductions happen so quickly.  I knew what I wanted to say.  I wanted to talk about dogs and photography and Alaska.  But I was ready to talk about anything Pat might actually ask.  He asked about my music with a group I led many years called the Front Row Seats Band.  So, I talked about it.  And maybe … just maybe … I talked a lot about it.  When I finished, Pat asked me “Have you ever heard of punctuation?”  I laughed and so did everyone else.  So, whenever Carol and I watch a WOF episode I now joke about punctuation. In fact, someday, maybe a puzzle with the word “Punctuation” will appear.  Probably not with Pat around but maybe when Ryan Seacrest takes over next year.

The Mystery Wheel was the highlight of my game playing.  When the pin lands on the Mystery Wheel wedge, it either has $10,000 or “Bankrupt” waiting when you pick up and turn over the wedge.  Carol has always been a proponent of not taking the risk of possibly losing your collection of money.  I, however, subscribe to Pat Sajak’s wisdom which is “You come here to win money, right?  So why not take the chance?”

I was lucky enough to land on the Mystery Wheel.  I did’nt think twice about taking a chance.  Behold - $10,000!  But it wasn’t mine unless I picked the correct letters and eventually solved the puzzle.  Eventually, I was able to solve the puzzle and my bankroll continued to grow.

Another fun fact: During every commercial break, the contestants are taken off of the stage.  This allows the crew to change out the wedges on the big wheel, clean all surfaces and recheck clickers.  We’re guided back to our positions with constant warnings to be careful not to fall off the risers.

After some other lucky spins and puzzle guesses I eventually collected more than $26,000.  I was edged out by a fellow contestant who won an expensive trip to Barbados.  Oh, the taxes (I talk about that later.)

While I did not make it to the final wheel spin - where the highest winning player gets to try to solve one final puzzle for $40,000 or more - I did really well.  Production assistants then hustled me to a backroom with an accountant who had me sign more forms.  One was a tax form for California, the other was for federal taxes.  CA has a special tax rate for lotteries and game show contestants.  No one is exempt.  So, if you win a trip, car, cash or other material prizes, you are required to pay California (up to 7%) and Federal taxes (30%.)  If you win just cash, at least you’re not in a position of forfeiting the prize because you cannot afford the taxes.  Winning pure cash is the best possible outcome. The taxes really put a dent in winnings.

Honestly, I would have been thrilled to play on WOF, win or lose.  The Wheel team was so skilled and pleasant. And, I was able to compete with the team we all know as Pat Sajak and Vanna White before he retires - assuming he does it ‘punctually.’

Everyone smiled and laughed all day long.  It was a whirlwind, exhausting trip.  I returned to my hotel by about 10 p.m.  I was on an airplane first thing in the morning and back home late Saturday evening.  My lips were sealed with the possible exception of telling Carol.

Keeping this all a secret for more than four months was not too difficult. Spilling the beans could have meant losing whatever money remains after taxes, airfare and hotel fees.  I was given the thumbs-up to announce my adventure just ten days before it aired on Christmas Day. They provided a great photograph (thank you unknown photographer lady and make-up professionals.)

WOF doesn’t payout until 3-4 months after the air date.  My contestant colleagues from August have probably already received their payments since their episodes aired in September. I will  see a check more than one year after submitting my audition video.

WOF is well-worth the try. I know they would love to host more Alaskans.  I’m pretty sure they would find some contestants up here who have learned how to punctuate better than yours truly.

One of my favorite musical quotes comes from Eminem:  “Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity …”  Do it!

Thank you for following along. This was once in a lifetime.

— dj —

Copyright Protected by David Jensen; david@alaskaportraits.com