Finally telling my story here...and no, I wasn't picked. Oh well. Anyway, in addition to the puzzles you'll see me update, here's my story. I even got to meet my fellow admin, MarioGS, on the 2nd day. He's all kinds of awesome! We got to discuss Wheel trends, gameplay, why some of the categories at this event aren't used on the real show today, etc. Never met a fellow game show fan, a seriously awesome one like you, in real life before-so I want to give major props to him.
I was there for all 6 shows (each day has 3 'shows'), which was simply the best time I've had for no charge, well, ever. You'll see quite a few puzzle updates, and I noticed some of them are repeats with others in the first post. Puzzleboard, because I counted, is 11-13-11, making the total number of character spaces (including spaces between words) 35; 17 less than that of the actual show board.
So here we are:
It was October 5th (and 6th, on day 2), and the weather was nice, and around 12:45PM, and the event started at 1. Yup, that's right, I didn't heed my own advice! I got there late, but just late enough with that dang sign. Marty was telling everyone to get your voices, your HANDS up (in the air, cuz everyone's a playah!), and to me, soon as I get to that parking lot, the locale of the event, "your SIGNS up!" (see my previous post in this thread). Marty noticed immediately and was seemingly impressed. Tracey was my traveling Vanna (makes sense, given her Buffalo roots/livings). Somehow, this is a funny concept to folks; Marty mentioned that Tracey was "one of our many Vannas", which elicited heavy laughter from a lady behind me. Tracey also tended to pick straight slips-and notably ones with stickers and other decorations on them a LOT, for whatever reason. Based on my event, that's an absolutely great strategy to use for future reference.
It was awesome-I still got to about the midway point of the crowd, despite this, as the crowd wasn't large. RI isn't a big state by any stretch, but I was surprised to see this after my first experience in the same mall all those years ago.
Before the show, we're talking optimum strategy for letters, how to play Wheel, etc. This one guy comes up to me, as we discuss how to beat the BR, he tells me CDMA, I give him BGHO, and the stats rate for both of S29 (43 vs. 21 in effectiveness). Everyone is amazed I can quote Wheel stats, so I gotta give it up for Wayo here for making me look good numbers wise, and Mario graphically so (for the Wheel designs on the sign). This continued the next day, too...anyone asked anything, I could answer it.
So Marty asks if we all have our names in the raffle swirler (it was the gold one, by the way--I think that's basically confirmed for all future events). First thing we had though, before any stage players come up, was the local affiliate WPRI12 (CBS)'s local show, called The Rhode Show (clever, eh?) play a mock game. They used the male host and the female hosts of this show in a pseudo battle of the sexes, both claiming they would win, then surveying the crowd. As expected, mostly women, so she got the louder cheers (and was the one to solve). The puzzle was ON THE MAP: ----- / ------. And I'm thinking...oh gosh darn it, it's ALREADY themed. Boo. But it wasn't-excellent troll work, for a great laugh on my end, as it was NORTH DAKOTA.
We had quite a cast of characters, and seemingly unfortunate blunders, with some classic fail solves in there too. We were only laughing with you guys, not at you! Contestants were called in groups of 5, but went up to 7 player games, which elicited amazing cheers from the crowd. These were typically due to early solves of the previous groupings/contestants, which even I didn't realize at the time.
Here's some of the fun stuff people said/did/experienced, or needed to read this guide: A lady who claimed she had no free time, wanted more (kind of like Mario with the auto mechanic story), someone claiming they had watched since "Chuck and shopping" (which I let out a big ol' whoop for), a failsolve of ROARING BIRDCAGE (the second word was FIREPLACE, though this lady surely got the Matilda reference right), a lady claiming to have had breakfast with Merv Griffin, lots of no letter solves (not in the traditional sense-these players would pick no letter, and then solve as their turn), lots of groups of players picking no vowels (see my speedup comment in OP!!), frequent dancing (e.g: YMCA, Zumba dancing). There was also a funny story by a lady who worked at Taco Bell, who complained about her drunk customers late at night--it was genuinely funny, in a standup comedic way, but really not appropriate for this event. This was all in Show 1, day 1. Each show was roughly 90 minutes, with 3 shows in a day. I screwed lunch, as I didn't want to miss anything. We also had a legit contestant named Mike Hunt at one point...say that one out loud, and umm, yeah, even Marty thought he was a trickster.
Around the time of the YMCA dancing, a newsman who was focusing on the stage was alerted to my sign, and shooed the one person in front of me, as I was in the 2nd closest location to the puzzleboard at this point.
Before each show, same old routine..."Heeeeey, shoppers!" It was a great trick to advertise the new restaurants opening for business in the coming months in the area (Not Your Average Joe's Bar and Grill and Buffalo Wild Wings). Once that was done, about 5 minutes following this ad of sorts, the 1983 Wheel theme played, where everyone clapped to it. About 30 seconds away from the end, Tracey and Marty walk up to each other, from other sides of the stage, to "greet" one another, like an odd spin on the Pat and Vanna entrance.
Marty on this show mentioned that it was a 'tough workout' (haha!) to get the million on the actual show, during the warmup.
By show 2, day 1, I had met a bunch of ladies who were obsessed with the show like I was...one of them in particular was awesome. We joked about the contestants the whole time, as we both brought high (and dry) senses of humor. Not to mention, this same lady not only got there early, but she also was a killer solver, way before the contestants, and typically got them around the same time I did. I didn't mention BAV to her...silly me. She also got interviewed by the local news station (guess they really liked us!), having asked what she'd do with the money, with the response, "I'd go to VEGAS, babyyyyyyy!" I told her about seeing her on the news the previous night, on the second day, which apparently she hadn't noticed. She was a bit embarrassed about the babyyyy bit; "Did I
really say 'babyyyy'?", but her friends and I laughed it all off as being awesomely enthusiastic. She was also awesome in another way to me...but that's for a lot later.
Tracey started this interestingly...with an O in one of the puzzles, she made it a smilie face. I liked that, but just unexpected, and worthy of note. Someone also called out an answer from the crowd, and Marty bluntly stated that he could hear him from onstage. Oops.
We had a guess of USED CAR DEALER for a B&A...it's amazing how people don't know categories. There were also some rarely seen prizes there, that very rarely came up. The WOF mug (pretty sure it was AWESOME), the WOF sippy cup, and the WOF deck of cards. There were also guesses of CURLY HAIR and FART for the puzzle CORDLESS VACUUM. This bugs me, it's not even respectful of the game...doubt he got an audition invite. Marty then said to treat the game like the speed up round...hmm, did he write what I wrote?
Marty actually said it's now 4 months to wait for your audition email or whatnot, but also stated it was totally random...that shocked me, as some of us had wondered that before. He also mentioned "did you try the cheese?" to any player who mentioned they went to a tropical location at some point, for all 6 shows. I really couldn't find what he was alluding to, whatsoever, and came across odd. I know you want to test people's potential with oddness at times, but hey...it should at least make sense, or have a subtle meaning to it.
More bad interviews including "not much to say, what am I gonna tell you?". Thankfully there were some good ones like mentioning they had a single (and at least 2 of the folks called had singles-my friend Richard was called up the 2nd day, and he has one--also called back for an invite, he was actually on the same time as friend of BAV on Twitter;
stacey803, who ALSO has an invite). Following him was an Elvis impersonator who kinda looked the part, and did part of Blue Suede Shoes, and actually did a half decent job of it.
We also had some fun generational stories...one contestant with a mother who got on via a Detroit tryout, but claimed to only win wax, and Rice-a-Roni. The first lady at Rice-a-Roni show was too polite, stating EACH AND EVERY TIME, "May I please have a [letter]?" I love manners otherwise, but ugh. We also had a drummer, who did an "air drum", but was not only terribly unenthused about doing so (Marty got more into it than him!), but also called the letters as if he was asleep. The gameplay was atrocious this game, as the puzzle was NOT solved with the following: B&A; CREAM CORN DO-. Yup. Really.
Then we had a singer decline to sing (you say you can sing, you sing!), and then someone tried twerking, which was pretty awesome, though Marty said it wouldn't be allowed. Interestingly, for this last show of the day (with MAYBE 60 folks total there at that last show of day 1), Marty spun a Minipack-but changed it to a surprise. At this point, I had made a chant that later echoed around me, rooting for the surprise, since it meant more swag for the contestants. It was basically of in the vein of "Big money, big money!", but with surprise in its place.
I forget what show it was, but we had this older guy in yellow, must've been at least in his upper 70s, didn't know where he was, or what he was doing, played awful...it was disturbing to see him picked because I think he was hitting on some women, too. Everything immediately became uncomfortable from Marty, right on down to all my fellow crowdmates. There was also one lady who described her husband as 'awful' because she was tired of everyone saying they had great families. Well played. Marty asked for an explanation and she gave the annoyance with perfection Wheel shows-but did admit her husband was amazing, and the awful bit was just a joke.
Day 2 (rainy as hell, so maybe 50 people, if that, by the last show) started with another generational Wheel story, with a grandma on the show who won "nothing". This same game, a player, like so many other times, solved the puzzle without guessing a letter first. Just why. At least they had amazing energy-they ran across the stage after being told they were right.
During day 2, a meme broke from Marty's "from...CONNECTICUT!", as there were a lot of folks from the Constitution State there that day, mostly bundled in a huge throng of people who started this meme. It was slightly annoying as the event was in RI, after all.
We had then another solve with no vowels picked by any of them players, which killed me, as if I wasn't decomposing from this gameplay already. This was then one upped, as one lady the next puzzle buzzed out...with NO letter called, no solve attempt, nothing. She just stood there.
Next puzzle had an air guitar player, who did really quite awesome work to Guns-n-Roses' Welcome to the Jungle (and the category for his game was...yup, Fun and Games).
Marty brought out the stinky cheese line again, and then came back with a nice reference from this one lady stating she used to play in bands: "Did you ever go to band camp?" Sadly, we didn't get a "This one time in band camp...", but an American Pie reference is awesome. Good work, Marty. Too bad solving was bad here too: PEOPLE; SCHOOL -O-RD, unsolved.
One guy the next game called himself a homely husband and a singer, with a blah AGT joke that followed. We had a former contestant on TPiR there, from 10 years ago, who claimed she lost "ten thousand dollars", so I'm assuming she played Grand Game.
Next game had more cheese jokes, this time about Ireland--but the lady actually played off it. Same Name had an ampersand...but 2 players IN A ROW forgot to say AND for the ampersand. Holy wow. This made Marty mentioned CORNO CURRO CABINET post-solve, and he made sure everyone said all the words in the puzzle, as well as saying the nice and clearly, from there on out.
Show 2, day 2, the nice ladies I made friends with/chatted with during downtime? We bemoaned everyone getting called up but us, and were nice enough to lend me an umbrella between shows, since it was getting rather drizzly, and fast.
The first player batch in this show had someone sing their intro. When they asked to Marty if this was possible (affirmed), he responded "Surely you can't be serious!" Another reference...Airplane! this time, if also discreet. Seems like I was the only one who caught onto what he was doing/referencing 99% of the time, besides Mario (who I met between show 1/2).
Someone from this group also claimed to be the "best player to never get on the show". They didn't solve...and I think Bobby, Mario, and I may take beef with that.
(Can't count you Josh, sorry.)
L was repeated as a guess...and wasn't even in the puzzle, at all.
Next group had another Price player, though this one didn't make it out of Contestant's Row, at all (sadly no Vanna joke made, as it'd have be perfect). Most folks took awhile on this puzzle-including me-it's rarely known as a Slogan, though it is, and has been since the 1920s.
After this slogan, the next puzzle had a J, then a W called. Not to mention, no letter picked prior to the solve. Again.
Next group Marty had fun with. This older guy answered 25 to Marty's age question, and Marty said it was the #1 answer. Good timing with the Feud. This puzzle Bobby had before-and MArty danced all over the room for it, TOGA PARTY. I didn't realize it then, but Marty's following actions were a pretty clear reference to Animal House. Sweet.
We had more kickboxers, dancers, and more no letters picked prior to the solving player. Why is this hard to understand!?
Next puzzle had a dancer, someone who claimed to do karaoke, leading to the response: "Oh shit!" Doubt that goes through!
After this,
stacey803 and my family friend Richard were called up...yep, same game. How about that? It was a Same Name with an ampersand, which made Mario and I happy. We had a funny failsolve here, too, with BELLY AND SNOOKI (was SNOOZE) BUTTON.
Next game had a guy with a solid poker face, and a dancer, who had fun with Gangham Style. Tracey goofed here, putting an hearing an L instead of R, which is a weird one. It took like 3 turns later to realize to guess the L!!
Next game has the puzzle of GROUNDHOG DAY, and Marty exclaims "NED RYERSON!" I kept thinking, "Marty? Marty LUBLIN?! I haven't seen you since grade school! Rates have never been better, you wanna get your stage insured?" I wish he had taken the movie reference a bit further here, but that's personal taste.
Next game had a lazy interview person...mentioned nothing besides the fact that she liked to drink beer. Nothing about a husband or anything. R, a letter not in this puzzle, was a double repeated dud. Marty referenced Anchorman here...I forget how though, sadly. Probably something about San Diego.
More singers singing songs like Amazing Grace, dancers, and bad guesses, like LUCKY LADY for LEADING LADY. Oh yeah, and no letter picked prior to solving here either, for two puzzles in a row. Yuck. Sheldon the ceramic dalmatian was brought up by someone which was a nice close to the day.
But yet! One more game, as Mario begged and pleaded with Marty for it to not be so! My good friend who was interviewed, Dineen, was called on the LAST show. She literally fell out of her seat in excitement...I had to help her get back up, along with her friends.
I danced like crazy, as I was so happy she got on. She didn't do it, but she wanted to tell Marty, when he asked where she was from, "My mother's uterus." She had an awesome wit. Like the last game of the day on day 1, Marty didn't hit surprise, but he turned it to that (from Shirt). It ended with a Same Name with an ampersand again. L was repeated, thankfully not too bad of gameplay, and sadly not Dineen solved as I was hoping. I don't think she did, but I'd love to see her get an audition for tomorrow's stuff in RI, and eventually get on Wheel. Here's hoping!
So, she says how awesome it was...and then, out of the goodness of her heart, she gives me most of the stuff she got (and it was a surprise hit, so that meant a lot, like hat, minipack, etc.), because I was so enthusiastic, from sign, to dance, and so on. How awesome is THAT! Dineen, if you're reading that at some, this mad props, you are AWESOME, and I can't thank you enough.
Miscellany...that dang Taboo buzzer immediately sounded as you solve attempted, or literally a millisecond after. This is important to note, simply because it meant you could NOT get in more than one guess at the puzzle. There was another girl at this who had a Wheel of Fortune shirt with like 12 spaces, that Mario seemed to like, though it wasn't authentic (namely since it had $750, on both fronts). I found her interesting, because she vaguely enough stayed in my mind from the previous event, finding her shirt intriguing then, as well. Mario (with his Express shirt), this girl, and me with my sign, were the only ones who brought Wheel-related clothes or signage to the event.
Congrats on getting called and solving the puzzle! Great questions, too.
