Making Big Spins

Back in the 1980s, Meghan Malaney and her grandmother watched contestants spin their way into riches, or dreaded bankruptcy on Wheel of Fortune.

Instead of being a couch-based observer, Malaney, 31, an account manager for Syncada in Naperville, became a player this month, appearing on stage with longtime host Pat Sajak, hostess Vanna White and the glitzy puzzle board. She walked away the day’s winner amassing almost $50,000 with trips to Oahu, Hawaii and Rome, a 2011 Mazda sportscar and about $1,400.

Her game show odyssey began with being a Wheel Watcher Club member a few years ago. Viewers sign up, receive a special number and watch the show to possibly win prizes like those appearing contestants. The club asked members if they wanted to be contestants and Malaney checked the yes box. Last May, the show’s personnel contacted her for an audition in Chicago.

Entrants displayed their word solving abilities in different ways. Malaney was among 100 people who signed obligatory paperwork, played short mock versions of the game and completed a written exam of word puzzles, like those on the show, in five minutes.

“There were people from all over the Midwest region because, I think, this was one of those central audition places,” said Malaney, who is originally from River Falls, Wis. “During the audition process, you could tell who was very enthusiastic. The contestant staffers wanted to keep giving them chances during the puzzles because they were so enthusiastic... but weren’t very good at the game.”  

After a break, staffers whittled down the 100 to 25 potential contestants with Malaney surviving the first cut. After learning more about these folks and playing more mock games, the staff told them that some will receive letters in two weeks to play on the show.

In June, Malaney received an answer.

“I came home one day, got the letter, started jumping up and down and got very excited,” she said.

Receiving the letter doesn’t automatically allow people to jump on the next plane. Malaney explained that chosen contestants had an 18-month wait to be on the show and staffers would call within that period and to give a two-week notice to come. That fateful call came this February and Malaney packed her bags for Los Angeles.

Coming to California, Malaney had built-in support.  She visited her sister Molly who lives nearby the studio. Malaney, along with mom Jan and cousin Amy, who lives in Los Angeles, arrived for the actual taping.

Six shows are filmed in one day, Malaney said. Being on the set was, for her, an “unreal experience.”

“When you first see the studio, it’s so much smaller in person than it looks like on TV,” she said. “The wheel is much smaller than you think it would be. The puzzle board is much closer. The set is much colder than what you would expect. It can get really warm with the lights on.”

Before going on the set, contestants received a friendly hello and good luck from White sans makeup. Sajak also made an impression as well.

“We all just kind of looked at Vanna and thought ‘Who are you?’” Malaney said. “She looked very different from what she looks like on TV, but she was the nicest person. She really was nice throughout the whole experience, as was Pat.  Pat is the consummate professional. He is exactly like he is on TV.”

Solving the puzzles is not as easy in person as it is at home.

“When you’re up there, it’s so quick,” she said. “The staff push you throughout the day to keep telling yourself that you have to be quick about it because you don’t realize how quick your time runs out. You also feel the pressure that’s involved with all those people watching. It’s very nerve-wracking.”

Unlike the main game, Malaney mastered the bonus game because she instantly recognized the puzzle without having other contestants buzz in with their responses. With the prizes, Malaney’s excitement came from grabbing her two getaways.

“I’ve been to Rome,” she said. “I’ve lived in France when I was in college. I visited Rome, but only in one day. That was about 10 years ago. I’m kind of excited to go for a longer period of time in a more relaxing setting. With Hawaii, the resort is on the north shore of Oahu. I’ve checked it out online and it’s very nice. I’ve never been to Hawaii.”

For Wheel fans who long to play the game in person, Malaney advised them to sign up for the Wheel Watcher Club as she did, to be enthusiastic in auditions and to get some practice.

“I practiced on the Wheel of Fortune Nintendo Wii game to get me up to speed,” she said. “Going on the show was a great experience and one that you don’t really ever expect to have.”