Interesting story about the Sept. 2001 Miami tapings
Sept 11, 2015 15:49:35 GMT -5
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levesp08 likes this
Post by woffan4ever on Sept 11, 2015 15:49:35 GMT -5
Vanna shared a photo on Facebook regarding the 9/11 attacks and sharing her love. A former contestant, Bernie Perry, shared this story in the comments:
"On September 11, 2001, I was in Miami participating in the final auditions to be on Wheel of Fortune. I don’t know if it’s still true, but back then they recorded a full week of five shows on the same evening. The shows we were auditioning for were scheduled to be recorded just a few days later on Friday, September 14.
Before we were finished for the day the show’s producers told us that they had considered canceling in light of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. But instead they concluded that they should go ahead with their plans. They gave two main reasons. First of all, they felt that canceling would be just what the terrorist would want us to do, retreat from our day-to-day living based on fear. Secondly, they pointed out that the show would have a large audience and that those folks would probably appreciate an opportunity to think about something other than the current tragedy. The producers said that if any of us who ultimately got picked for the show didn’t feel comfortable going ahead that they would find a place for those folks in some future show.
Fortunately I did get picked to be on one of the shows. On Friday evening, before recording the first show, all of the participants, all of the Wheel of Fortune staff, and the entire audience stood together and sang the National Anthem. The WOF staff had also arranged for a preacher to lead us in prayer and reflection prior to getting started. At the end of the evening everyone I talked with agreed that going ahead was the absolute right thing to do.
We also heard an interesting story which I can’t say for certain is actually true. Perhaps Vanna might be able to shed some light on it. All flights in the US had been canceled so there was a question of how to get Vanna and Pat to Miami in time for the recording on Friday. We heard that Vanna was actually in the Bahamas at the time and that she would be coming by private boat. As far as Pat goes, we heard that he would be arriving from his home in an RV. Whatever the case, they both made it. And of course they did their usual fantastic job of helping everyone enjoy the evening."
A very interesting story. My heart still goes out to the families who lost loved ones on that tragic day 14 years ago. Never forget!
"On September 11, 2001, I was in Miami participating in the final auditions to be on Wheel of Fortune. I don’t know if it’s still true, but back then they recorded a full week of five shows on the same evening. The shows we were auditioning for were scheduled to be recorded just a few days later on Friday, September 14.
Before we were finished for the day the show’s producers told us that they had considered canceling in light of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. But instead they concluded that they should go ahead with their plans. They gave two main reasons. First of all, they felt that canceling would be just what the terrorist would want us to do, retreat from our day-to-day living based on fear. Secondly, they pointed out that the show would have a large audience and that those folks would probably appreciate an opportunity to think about something other than the current tragedy. The producers said that if any of us who ultimately got picked for the show didn’t feel comfortable going ahead that they would find a place for those folks in some future show.
Fortunately I did get picked to be on one of the shows. On Friday evening, before recording the first show, all of the participants, all of the Wheel of Fortune staff, and the entire audience stood together and sang the National Anthem. The WOF staff had also arranged for a preacher to lead us in prayer and reflection prior to getting started. At the end of the evening everyone I talked with agreed that going ahead was the absolute right thing to do.
We also heard an interesting story which I can’t say for certain is actually true. Perhaps Vanna might be able to shed some light on it. All flights in the US had been canceled so there was a question of how to get Vanna and Pat to Miami in time for the recording on Friday. We heard that Vanna was actually in the Bahamas at the time and that she would be coming by private boat. As far as Pat goes, we heard that he would be arriving from his home in an RV. Whatever the case, they both made it. And of course they did their usual fantastic job of helping everyone enjoy the evening."
A very interesting story. My heart still goes out to the families who lost loved ones on that tragic day 14 years ago. Never forget!
It's good to be back home... 