Advice/Strategies For My Episode!

Upon further review, it appears as if the whole chain of events that caused the thread to be locked may have been unintentional, henceforth, I'm reopening this thread.

Please keep this thread to serious suggestions/advice only. We've already seen how sarcasm can sometimes be misunderstood over forums.

My previous point about not bombarding Sanam for nitpicky details remains, though. Let her focus on winning.

So this is what I'm worried about:

1. Landmarks - what if they choose a landmark I don't know? I saw the California Coast "what are you doing" prize puzzle recently that had something to do with the Trevi Fountain. UM - I've NEVER HEARD OF THAT FOUNTAIN!!! And being that the theme is Wheel Around The World...seriously not in touch with my history books.

2. Terrified of pronouncing something wrong. Don't get me wrong - I'm pretty great with words, and I can absolutely pronounce things like "picturesque" - but I'm talking about a less common word that I've never heard of. For example, "Hass Avocados" - I know it's pronounced Hoss, but a simple word like that (if I've never heard it) could ruin me. Thoughts on that? Am I overthinking things?

3. Calling a letter that's already been called. It happens way too many times.

4. Not recognizing my pattern of spinning. I'm concerned with this because I'm left handed and will have to spin differently than everyone else. My spin won't be as strong - what if I can't get a full rotation?

5. Toss-Ups ... not my strong suit. I'm probably a lot better at them now than I was in February/March...but I really want to get them all!

6. Speed-Up Round - Pat landing on $5k could be my worst nightmare if someone else solves that puzzle.


And by the way...since February (when I found out I was selected), I have had 3 nightmares about Wheel. Each one involved me showing up really late - everything kept holding me back from getting there. One time when I actually got on, I picked all the wrong letters. Another time it started as a nightmare but ended well - I ended up winning around $53k...which was great, but in my dream I had no recollection of the actual experience of being on the show.

Again, any recommendations for a chill pill is much appreciated

The Prize Puzzles usually aren't themed. Here's a tip though. If the lowest row look like this: "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _" it's NATIONAL PARK, so try studying those. Landmark isn't a very common category these days, though. And remember that Free Play is a godsend when you're stuck, so use it right.



I think you are, no offense. I doubt they'd have a puzzle like HOSS AVOCADOS anyway since that sounds pretty obscure to me and they probably know it could easily cause a mispronounciation judgment.



Here's another very important tip. Don't look down at the Wheel when it spins. This is one reason why Pat always calls out the dollar amount it lands on. Take that time to check the puzzle and the used letter board and know what letter you'll pick as soon as the Wheel stops. Like the auditions. When I went, I made sure to know what letter I would pick the moment I said "spin" or asked to buy a vowel.



Don't worry about not getting a full rotation. This isn't like "The Price is Right" where you'll get booed if you don't. I don't expect anyone left handed to get it all the way around anyway. You're not a "Wheel layout guru" like some of us are, but try to see how many wedges your practice spin goes, and if you fear a penalty area coming up on your next spin, don't put as much strength into it, but you can't make it look like you're aiming or they'll make you do it again (and edit it out).



Try the Toss Up Game on the iPhone, or look up recent episodes on YouTube that you haven't seen before and play along with the Toss Ups there. You can even use the space bar as your buzzer to pause the video.



If that happens and you're in the lead, call vowels since all you have to do is solve ASAP to win.

Another very important thing to keep in mind in the first two rounds: If you plan on solving a puzzle in R1 or R2, make sure your score (prizes included) will bring your total over $5,000. This way, you won't be overtaken by too much, if at all, if someone else wins the Prize Puzzle. A lot of people will win Round 1 with about $2,000 then end up way behind thanks to somebody else winning around $7,000 in R3.

Again, don't worry too much. Just have fun. Think of it like the auditions. We both know how fun those are to play.

Thanks everyone - this is all really, really helpful. I'll definitely study the compendium. Also great idea to not look down at the wheel when it spins. I will absolutely keep that in mind and I think that will help A LOT! Also - as for being a "wheel guru" - I am working on that too! My goal is to have the wheel memorized before Thursday.

I would also look at Hammer's BR archive for puzzles 3-4 years ago - they are repeating in that time frame often.

Can't you just play it straight? "Hey to everyone at Wheel of Fortune Lovers"?

Then I suggest you tell Sanam the new name of the forum so the shout-out won't be outdated when it airs.

Of course, knowing Wheel, they'll dub over her shout-out so it ends up like

Sanam: And I just wanna give a shout-out to the-
*sudden cut to Pat standing by himself* Sony Pictures online forums, they're really great and they're the #1 official source on my Wheel knowledge! WOO!
Pat: Well, that's great and I'm sure they'll appreciate that. Next we have John J.J. Schmidt *shot of Pat and the players*...


I prefer the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

/not Sledge Hammer!
//completely different
///last I heard, it was "let's rename after the useless and redundant wedge"
////ooh, slashies

You know what dafuq I'm talking about. We want Sanam to give a shout-out to what this forum's going to be when her episode airs, not what it currently is when her episode tapes.

I mean, unless you want us to look as out-of-touch and behind-the-times as Wheel.

/this ain't gonna be a Battle of Dafuq's
//wait, lemme rephrase that
///

Yeah, but why? Because Wheel would be accused of picking contestants who had something to promote?

(Also, I'm sure we want to be subtle because of who we are. After all, we've constantly pointed out the show's idiocies over the past two seasons, and my rants on the disaster that was Season 28 means I'm never going to be a contestant.)

I mean, I'm sure this forum would welcome the Wheel staff as members, so long as they're honest about who they are (like Mr. Hall was) and willing to take some constructive criticism. I respect the staff for their longevity in the genre, mind you, and when they get things right.


QFT.