Steven C.

Steven C.

Theme Week:
Wheel Around the World
Contestant:
Steven C.
Hometown:
Aurora, IL
Week of:
July 21, 2008

I've always been pretty good at word puzzles. Enough so that my friends kept telling me I should go on Wheel of Fortune, but I always laughed it off saying "Like that'll ever happen!" But when I found out they were coming to Chicago soon and holding auditions nearby, I practically jumped out my seat. This was the opportunity of a lifetime! I was fully prepared to attend all three days of the Wheelmobile event in hope of getting picked, even taking some time off work if need be. Luckily at the second-to-last drawing of the first day, the host had drawn MY name. I couldn't believe it and once again leaped out of my seat in pure excitement. I ran to the stage grinning from ear to ear. Four other hopeful contestants and I got a moment to introduce ourselves and show off our personalities. I mention that I am a HUGE fan of Weird Al and busted out a quick verse of his most recent hit "White and Nerdy" by request. After the applause, we all got to play a Speed Up round puzzle. I didn't get to solve the puzzle, but that's okay because I had a LOT of fun just being there.

Afterwards came the toughest part... the waiting. Was my time on stage enough to garner a second look or was this the end of my adventures? Two months go by and no word. Then on January 2nd, the dawn of a new year, I get an email inviting me to the final auditions in a couple weeks. I was thrilled beyond words. Soon I was in a large room with about 70 other hopefuls having fun figuring out puzzles. Then came the written test. On the sheet were five Wheel of Fortune categories with four partially completed puzzles in each. This is where I really got to shine as I managed to solve all but two. ( It really helps to watch as much Wheel of Fortune as possible. ) The hosts collected all the tests and we got a little break while they graded everyone. When we all got back in the room, they read off the list of names of who they wanted to keep. I hear them call out my name and I cheer loudly in my seat. The host thanked the rest of the folks and then it was down to the 20 of us. Four of us at a time got to stand at the front of the room and pretended we were actually on the show spinning the wheel, guessing letters. When it was my turn, I made an extra effort spinning the phantom wheel and called out a "T" only realizing a second too late that the player before me had JUST called that letter also. Ack! I thought it was all over right there. I thought it was the kiss of death for me. Luckily, the turn had gotten back to me and I managed the puzzle and the one after that. At the end, they congratulated all of us and if we were chosen to be a contestant we'd get a letter in the next two weeks. Going home, I couldn't help but wonder if that one mistake would cost me the spot. Two weeks later, no such letter appeared. I was feeling a tad disappointed. Then one day I get a surprise call from California asking if I could fly out to Los Angeles in TWO WEEKS to be a contestant! I check with my boss and say I can definitely make it. This was it! The ultimate achievement for any Wheel Watcher.

I booked my flight and found some old college friends in the area who graciously offered crash space for that week. The next two weeks, I got into "contestant mode" as I watched Wheel of Fortune at home. I stood up with a clicky pen at hand for the Toss-ups and really pushed my brain to figure out what letter I'd call next at every moment. I remember reading that Ken Jennings had prepared for his spot on Jeopardy doing something similar, so I figured it couldn't hurt.

The day before taping, my wife and I did a TON of sightseeing around LA. We got to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Mann's Chinese Theatre, sections blocked off for the Oscars coming up that weekend, and as a special bonus we went to the famous Griffith Observatory for the lunar eclipse that night. It was a magical fun-filled day that also helped to tire me out and I got to sleep VERY WELL that night.

Finally the day came. I got to the studios around 7:30am and for the next four hours the other contestants and I went through all the legalities and rules of the game and practiced spinning the heavy, heavy wheel. Four hours may seem like a long time, but the time just flew by. Before you knew it, you were sitting in the audience cheering on the other contestants playing, or actually spinning the wheel yourself on camera.

Overall it was like getting into one of the most exclusive amusement parks in the world. Every step of the way was SOOO much fun, from attending the Wheelmobile event to getting prepped to be an actual contestant! It was truly one of the most exciting moments of my life.