Judi S.

Judi S.

Theme Week:
Sandals Resorts Week
Contestant:
Judi S.
Hometown:
Boynton Beach, FL
Week of:
July 27, 2009

Posted on 07-27


It was quite a long time from when I first tried out for Wheel until I was on the set for the taping. I had tried out when the Wheelmobile came to south Florida in November 2007. Several months later, I was asked to return for a second audition, then it was several weeks before I got the letter saying I had been chosen as a contestant. But then... it was a full year before I got the call from one of the contestant coordinators to come out to Culver City for the taping. My friends and family were beginning to think I had imagined the whole thing!!!!

My husband and I flew to LA for the taping. When we told the flight attendants I was going to be on Wheel, they moved us up to first class, treated us like celebrities, and gave us cookies to give to Vanna. It was really exciting. I already felt like a “star”!! I was quite nervous the night before the taping. I was tossing and turning, trying to remember all I wanted to say to Pat during the short interview portion. Of course, during the actual taping, I was so nervous that I have no idea what I actually said. All of the people on the set were wonderful and accommodating and tried to put us at ease. It was also a lot of fun meeting the other contestants (there were 20 of us that day) and hearing their stories.

My strategies were that as soon as I knew a puzzle answer, I was going to solve it and if I landed on the bankrupt/$10,000 wedge, I was not going to “go for it”. I’m not a betting person and I didn’t want to take any chances.

Being on the show is quite different from watching it in your own home. It went so fast, there was so much to remember to do and not do, where to look, where to stand, etc. That half hour was like a big blur and I don’t remember many of the details. It’s sort of like being at your own wedding and looking forward to seeing the video because it’s almost surreal and you don’t really know what actually happened.

I have invited my entire community to watch the show with me in our clubhouse on the giant screen. I can’t wait to see it!!!!!!