S40 Taping Report: March 20, 2023

As mentioned in 9821's post, I had to be a contestant guest to be allowed into the studio, because with it being the next to the last tape date, and also Fan Favorites week, the audience was filled with semi-important people. I ended up getting to talk with Randy West for a bit before entering the studio, as well as meeting up with a fellow Price superfan who was at the primetime show taping in someone else's pod. Small world. After that I get pushed in with the rest of the contestant guests, so while I can interact with 9821 and Tris and JJ a little bit at various points during the day, I'm shunned into a bubble to be kept far away from the contestants. As it turned out, there were probably more "memorable" WOF alums in the audience than there were actually playing that week, especially given that 6 of the returnees are from this season, 2 of which didn't even air by the tape date! I don't remember everyone specifically who was in the audience but there were two shopping era contestants and an assortment of contestants from the 2000s-2010s. Apologies if I didn't get to say hi to you! The alternate for the tape date was also a boardie and a local. That should be enough to narrow that down without outright saying who it was. If they want to reveal themselves they can. They said they hoped they'd be asked back next season if this theme returns, and I hope so too. One thing I hope they also do is go back into the vault and find classic contestants. I can name right now at least 5 people who would most likely be willing to go back on that would make great players. 

After the Make-A-Wish game that I do hope turns up online somewhere finishes up, I look over and see the contestant I'm supporting take their place behind the wheel, as does their other guest, their father. I also instantly recognize the two players they're up against and begin to worry a tad about one of them. At that point my priority shifts from "enjoying a great game of Wheel" to "calm down and reassure [contestant's] father that everything is going to be okay" The game starts and I instantly no-letter TU1 which should tell you enough about that. I won't go into details about the game here, but in the recap I'll definitely have a whole bundle of notes. By the end of this show I was in tears. Being in the audience is one thing, but actively cheering for someone to do well is another. 

Game 2 whirrs into motion and again, it's another super emotional game for me. Being in the contestant supporter's bubble means the only people you get to interact with the entire day are the other contestant supporters, so you hear everyone's stories. Hearing how the show touched everyone's lives and then watching them have the time of their lives again was just fantastic. Getting to be in that bubble with everyone's supporters was such a privilege and if you're reading this unsure if you want to make the trip to Sony to support a friend, I highly suggest doing it. It's a super fulfilling experience, even if you don't get anything monetary-wise for it. I won't say anything gameplay wise, but if there's only one game you watch this week, I'd suggest this one. But also I'd suggest the whole week. Watch this week. It's fun.

Game 3. I start to wind down a bit. We've been in the studio for a good three hours by the point, mainly because the Make-A-Wish game took an hour longer than planned. The contestants come out and I can see why this week wasn't called "Some of the Greats!" like I suggested. One of the contestants is the POPSICLE BIKE lady. If you remember, she played with her husband during a team week on her original appearance. She comes out and she's by herself. During her interview segment she mentions that sadly, her husband Larry, has passed since then. That garners some awws from the audience. She also says she "has something from that day with her now" and pulls out Larry's nametag from her pocket. Immediately I start bawling. I was not expecting to be hit in the feels that hard during the show. This is probably a much larger spoiler than I want to give from the specific shows, but this one moment hit me so hard I don't want anyone else to be as unprepared for it as I was. 

There's a half-hour taping break here for lunch. I run over to Sidecar Donuts which is up a block from the Overland gate of Sony and spend more on two donuts than I ever have in my life, but they're damn good. Highly recommend if you have a half-hour to grab something between sessions. Regular audience members who are seeing both sessions don't usually have that kind of time so I'd recommend packing a sandwich or two, but if you're a contestant supporter you should be able to run up and get some. Or get them after the taping. They're seriously good.

At the end of Game 3, during the end of the show chat with Vanna, Pat mentions what the matchup for the next day is going to be, and I immediate drop my jaw. Names weren't mentioned so the contestant supporter alums and I started talking about who specifically the three could be. The alternate's name comes up since we knew they were there. A few other people's name come up who weren't there. We had a discussion on everyone who we knew was there and everyone who we knew who specifically didn't get an invite. We could not for the life of us figure out the third player. That's because one of them was unaired! There was a rumor that one of the players who was airing the day after the tape date was invited back, and as it turned out that was true. I spent a while talking with their guest and they said they were so excited but also super nervous because as soon as the show was over they had to hop a flight to get to their viewing party! Thankfully that all happened as planned and they were able to make it to their watch party on time. Game 4 went by fast enough, and by that point I was starting to get a little burnt out between lunch and hitting that wall of seeing 4 games of Wheel of Fortune in a row. I love the show to death but with the emotional investment of the first three games, I was definitely feeling some burn out.

Pat and Vanna tape some promos in the normal spot. I didn't take any notes or anything so I don't remember everything they taped. But just note they taped some.

Game 5. Friday of the week. By this point I was checked out, and in all honesty so was Sajak. There were multiple times where he would just leave to go to his little hiding spot between rounds before the commercial wipe was over. I know this will never make it to air but I'd love to see them do a toss to break where he just starts walking away early. They have the footage. It happened. C'mon editors, you corrected his math before, let's see you leave in him just being done with the show.

After the taping session was over there was an impromptu reunion in the parking garage. Lots of well wishes, lots of hugs, lots of pictures. I'll have more to recap during the game recaps themselves, but that's the gist of the week.