Post by woffan9821 on Mar 25, 2023 17:26:26 GMT -5
Tape Date: 3/21/2023
Air Dates: 5/15-19/2023, no AG.
if you don't like spoilers, turn back, and abandon hope, ye who enter there.
Today, I arrived at SPE right before 11AM. wheellover65 already waiting in line with a novelty pride t-shirt. The shirt was impressive enough that one of the staff thought it was authentic merchandise. Soon afterwards, wheellover65 was joined by a friend he brought to the TPIR Superfan episode and her partner (I don't know if either have an account here?). I don't recall much happening in line to me besides general game show banter and getting a blank white wristband instead of the inverted yellow like Monday.
However, while sitting down on the benches waiting for security to turn on the metal detectors, a couple next to us asked how wheellover65 and I got our Wheel of Fortune bags. I explained, and then wheellover65 went on to display all the Wheel stuff he had ready, including his socks with wedges on them, his custom-made shirt, and his umbrella with the S36 layout.
During Monday's tapings, the show tested out a Shopping Spree graphic. Sure enough, the slates say the week was "HSN / HSN+ Shopping Spree". Although it was still the generic set, HSN's color style involves hot pink and light blue, so the show looked brighter than normal. A joke was made in our group about the columns looking like a trans flag.
The previous taping report thread mentioned the possibility of shopping coming back. Quickly fast forwarding to after the taping, Bellamie was asked if shopping was ever coming back. Her immediate response? "Never." She claimed shopping ruined the pace of the game, which it absolutely does. Instead, this week is a $10,000 giveaway week, with a $10,000 HSN shopping spree and $1,000 HSN gift tag on the wheel. HSN couldn't stop Wheel from offering 5 Collete Trip Puzzles though.
Warmup is the same as always. Jim talks about who he is, hypes up the crowd, and then loosens the crowd with his corny jokes. It's funny to see a crowd after a groaner, but after hearing the same joke four or five times, that's a majority of the fun. I kind of visually showed that in the middle of his John Travolta joke, so he held the microphone in front of me to deliver both punchlines. If you want to hear it, season 41 should tape sometime before August.
Otherwise, the morning taping consisted of three episodes, as usual. I faintly recall two stop downs from the first taping session: one was a weird edge case where Vanna touched the last of a consonant at the same time production tried to pull up the next vowel, causing that last consonant to go from revealed to blue. Vanna tried touching the consonant again, but once again, when trying to pull up the next letter, the monitor turned blue. The contestants were turned around, and Vanna ended up taking quite a few questions from the audience. The glitch was so bad, the board operators had to restart the round and reveal all the letters in the same order.
The other time, the center screen feed cut out for a few seconds, possibly causing lost footage of a contestant landing on a penalty wedge. After a shorter stop down, all systems were operational.
During the bathroom break between the Tuesday and Wednesday episodes, I got separated from the group and missed being in the selfie next to an image of the big hot dog. However, I did come back in time to take a group photo with Jim Thorton!
In the middle of the third episode, one of the staffers, Julie, came to the four of us and confirmed we coming back to the second session. There was a slight logistical hiccup, but it got settled quickly.
Like Monday, after the first taping, we were escorted back to the benches in the Overland lot. However, when we had to line up outside, it started to mist lightly. Of course, wheellover65 took the opportunity to use his umbrella while the rest of us managed with our jackets.
I... really don't recall anything notable happening in the second taping session that wouldn't make it on air, sorry. I guess because of the theme, most of the outros namedropped HSN. One of the Pat Chats brought back Lacey Chabert, who briefly mentioned her CWOF appearance before plugging her jewelry line or something.
Once the last episode taped, we were kicked out of the building, but due to heavy rain, were stuck in the awning between Stage 10 and 11. Sony ended up shuttling a bus from Harry Friedman Way to the Overland garage. Because the bus only seated so many people, it took at least two trips. Calmly, when our party stood near the back of the line, we saw many staffers enter into their cars. (One time, staff shouted NO PHOTOS, and apparently Pat walked out to his car? I couldn't see him through the throng.) One of those staffers ended up being Bellamie, who spent quite a few minutes talking to other fans about stories that aren't mine to tell.
After that, it was head back to the lot, claim my $50 check, and head home. For some reason, of the four taping reports I wrote this season, this was the hardest one to write? It's not because it's the last taping of the XL Season (although playing Alice Cooper's School's Out after the Friday episode was a nice touch), or I've had to describe 22 episodes of Wheel without spoiling outcomes, but I just feel like there was a lot more I could have done than clap every time Vanna clapped? Of course, if you have the opportunity to go to a taping, I'd advise doing so. It's a much different atmosphere in studio than on a TV set. Once again, I'm open to answer any non-spoiler questions, but until then, I'll see you next season!
Air Dates: 5/15-19/2023, no AG.
if you don't like spoilers, turn back, and abandon hope, ye who enter there.
Today, I arrived at SPE right before 11AM. wheellover65 already waiting in line with a novelty pride t-shirt. The shirt was impressive enough that one of the staff thought it was authentic merchandise. Soon afterwards, wheellover65 was joined by a friend he brought to the TPIR Superfan episode and her partner (I don't know if either have an account here?). I don't recall much happening in line to me besides general game show banter and getting a blank white wristband instead of the inverted yellow like Monday.
However, while sitting down on the benches waiting for security to turn on the metal detectors, a couple next to us asked how wheellover65 and I got our Wheel of Fortune bags. I explained, and then wheellover65 went on to display all the Wheel stuff he had ready, including his socks with wedges on them, his custom-made shirt, and his umbrella with the S36 layout.
During Monday's tapings, the show tested out a Shopping Spree graphic. Sure enough, the slates say the week was "HSN / HSN+ Shopping Spree". Although it was still the generic set, HSN's color style involves hot pink and light blue, so the show looked brighter than normal. A joke was made in our group about the columns looking like a trans flag.
The previous taping report thread mentioned the possibility of shopping coming back. Quickly fast forwarding to after the taping, Bellamie was asked if shopping was ever coming back. Her immediate response? "Never." She claimed shopping ruined the pace of the game, which it absolutely does. Instead, this week is a $10,000 giveaway week, with a $10,000 HSN shopping spree and $1,000 HSN gift tag on the wheel. HSN couldn't stop Wheel from offering 5 Collete Trip Puzzles though.
Warmup is the same as always. Jim talks about who he is, hypes up the crowd, and then loosens the crowd with his corny jokes. It's funny to see a crowd after a groaner, but after hearing the same joke four or five times, that's a majority of the fun. I kind of visually showed that in the middle of his John Travolta joke, so he held the microphone in front of me to deliver both punchlines. If you want to hear it, season 41 should tape sometime before August.
Otherwise, the morning taping consisted of three episodes, as usual. I faintly recall two stop downs from the first taping session: one was a weird edge case where Vanna touched the last of a consonant at the same time production tried to pull up the next vowel, causing that last consonant to go from revealed to blue. Vanna tried touching the consonant again, but once again, when trying to pull up the next letter, the monitor turned blue. The contestants were turned around, and Vanna ended up taking quite a few questions from the audience. The glitch was so bad, the board operators had to restart the round and reveal all the letters in the same order.
The other time, the center screen feed cut out for a few seconds, possibly causing lost footage of a contestant landing on a penalty wedge. After a shorter stop down, all systems were operational.
During the bathroom break between the Tuesday and Wednesday episodes, I got separated from the group and missed being in the selfie next to an image of the big hot dog. However, I did come back in time to take a group photo with Jim Thorton!
In the middle of the third episode, one of the staffers, Julie, came to the four of us and confirmed we coming back to the second session. There was a slight logistical hiccup, but it got settled quickly.
Like Monday, after the first taping, we were escorted back to the benches in the Overland lot. However, when we had to line up outside, it started to mist lightly. Of course, wheellover65 took the opportunity to use his umbrella while the rest of us managed with our jackets.
I... really don't recall anything notable happening in the second taping session that wouldn't make it on air, sorry. I guess because of the theme, most of the outros namedropped HSN. One of the Pat Chats brought back Lacey Chabert, who briefly mentioned her CWOF appearance before plugging her jewelry line or something.
Once the last episode taped, we were kicked out of the building, but due to heavy rain, were stuck in the awning between Stage 10 and 11. Sony ended up shuttling a bus from Harry Friedman Way to the Overland garage. Because the bus only seated so many people, it took at least two trips. Calmly, when our party stood near the back of the line, we saw many staffers enter into their cars. (One time, staff shouted NO PHOTOS, and apparently Pat walked out to his car? I couldn't see him through the throng.) One of those staffers ended up being Bellamie, who spent quite a few minutes talking to other fans about stories that aren't mine to tell.
After that, it was head back to the lot, claim my $50 check, and head home. For some reason, of the four taping reports I wrote this season, this was the hardest one to write? It's not because it's the last taping of the XL Season (although playing Alice Cooper's School's Out after the Friday episode was a nice touch), or I've had to describe 22 episodes of Wheel without spoiling outcomes, but I just feel like there was a lot more I could have done than clap every time Vanna clapped? Of course, if you have the opportunity to go to a taping, I'd advise doing so. It's a much different atmosphere in studio than on a TV set. Once again, I'm open to answer any non-spoiler questions, but until then, I'll see you next season!
:eek: Z
