Season 39 taping this month with non-SoCal players

I wonder what you mean by non-SoCal, because we’ve had people from other parts of California as well as Phoenix and Vegas.

July 22 is Teacher's Week. Likely the first taping.

^ No word on guests yet.

Slightly off subject, while were all excited Wheel begins again, with LA Variant's on the rise, what happens? I mean is there any specific age groups Wheel's looking for to keep the show going, I understand young people are coming down with it, but any further issue we should keep an eye open for at this point?

Exciting to hear they will be taking contestants from all over and not just locally again. I take it they require a negative test before booking regardless of vaccination status?

It will be interesting to see if their plans change with the newly-reenacted mask mandate in LA County.

Although true, J! preferred to refer solely to the contestants' original hometowns; some of them were living in SoCal at the time of taping. I know that champion Dennis Chase was living in Palm Springs when he taped, even though Johnny mentioned him being from elsewhere.

Do any J! people have any insight as to whether non-SoCal contestants this season had to self-quarantine? I'm especially curious about what went on when they finally brought back the champion from the 2019-20 season finale, and either why they figured it was the right time, or if circumstances happened to bring him to LA.

I wanted to reply to Mario’s other point separately, as this is just speculation: I think Jeopardy! caved so early on “no non-local contestants” because they quickly ran out of suitable LA-area contestants.

I haven’t watched Jeopardy! much this season, but when I have, it seemed like most of the contestants’ hometowns were outside of LA (and they were NOT listed as “originally from”, which leads me to believe that’s where they are currently living).

I do know that some S38 contestants were contacted by casting agents after applying for other game shows and did not apply online. One of them was Jennifer Marie. She talks about it here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBouUuRbPLU Worth noting that she is also an actress, with her repertoire including a Super Bowl commercial for Rockstar Energy Drink.

I also recall another contestant being given a Wheel audition after applying for Price is Right because the casting agent felt he would be a better fit for Wheel.