Contestant Blogs
This Week's Contestant
Sharon A.
| Theme: | America's Game |
|---|---|
| Hometown: | Davie, FL |
| Week of: | 04-23-2012 |
POSTED on 4-23
My love for Wheel of Fortune started when I was a little girl living in Davie, Florida. I was such a big fan of the show that I even had the Wheel of Fortune board game. Some of my fondest memories are playing Wheel of Fortune with my sister.
Being the huge fan that I am, I decided to go online to become a member of the Wheel Watchers Club. I knew being a contestant was a long shot, but maybe I'd be lucky enough for my SPIN ID to be picked.
Last July my husband and I went on a post-deployment trip to Peru. After the trip I came home to find an email from the Wheel Watchers Club. It was a week old, but they were looking for military spouses. I was so excited and I thought this could be my chance. In September I received an email to audition in Culver City, CA!! Whoo hoo! Wheel of Fortune here I come!
Funny thing is a week before the email my husband changed duty stations and we moved from California to Texas. Even though they discourage potential contestants from making long trips to the audition, I thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Plus the timing was perfect because I just resigned from my job for this military move.
On the Audition Day I was pretty nervous, but I knew that I needed to show the contestant team that I could solve puzzles so I brought my "A" game. During the first part of the audition they had everyone calling out letters and solving puzzles. By the time I was called I already knew the puzzle, but I needed to show them that I could play the game so I called a consonant, bought a vowel and then solved the puzzle! After everyone got an opportunity to play, they had everyone take a 5-minute test which contained puzzles that were partially filled. The five minutes felt like 30 seconds when I was taking the test! Afterwards we were given a small break for the contestant team to grade our exams and to evaluate our performance.
Once we all returned to room, they began calling all the folks that made it through the first cut. I ended up being the last person called...phew! Thank God! We then proceeded to play some more puzzles and at the end were told that we'd get a letter in the mail in two weeks if we were chosen to be a contestant.
At first I thought I didn't make the final cut since I didn't receive a letter in two weeks. But I was wrong about a week later I received the letter saying that I was going to be a contestant!!! In the letter they mention you could be waiting up to 18 months for the taping.
Well lucky for me I didn't have to wait the 18 months...about a week before Christmas I received a phone call from the contestant team to tape after the holidays! What a way to start the holiday season! I immediately called my husband and mom and told them to pack your bags because we're on our way to California to be on Wheel of Fortune!
Join me on Thursday, April 26th as I take on America's Game!