Wheel Of Fortune

Wheel Of Fortune was Originally Posted on September 17, 2014 by lavarock

At 5pm, two of us went to Waikoloa Marriott to the filming of Wheel of Fortune. It was a fun diversion from working on the farm. I have done radio and television (on air talent) and have also run a camera for a few hours during a special event.

We sat though the taping of 3 shows, to be shown February 9, 10 and 11. The filming of 2 more days of shows occurred during the 9pm seating.

With a couple of exceptions, the shows are filmed as you see them, with everyone waiting while the viewers see commercials at home. By doing this, there is less editing needed.

Between each episode, Pat and Vanna slipped to the back to change clothes.

The opening on the 3rd show was restarted and I think I know why. Many people attending did not realize they would be sitting through 3 shows and some left. As the camera showed Pat and Vanna entering, there was a shot of the audience and there were some major holes where pople should have been. The redone opening looked better when the camera came lower in the audience where everyone was sitting.

I may be in a few audience shots, but the most obvious (if it stays there) was me in the audience at the end of the show to be seen Wednesday Feb 11th. I was in the shot on the TV screen shown to the audience.

Anyway, I’ve seen myself on TV, so no big deal if it doesn’t make it to air.

The reason there are no shots of the actual set or filming is that they do not allow cameras or cellphones anywhere on the set. There are many legal reasons, but an obvious reason is that people would be posting names and scores of people and that spoils it for the viewers and why would people want to watch if they know who won.

—

Updated 9/17/14 (because some info was a spoiler)

I did wave and you should see me at the end of the Feb 11th show. Unless they cut it short I was there above the middle of the shot near the left as they started panning to the right.

Also, they explained how the recent (but not aired until tonight) show where the teacher won the Million Dollars. Because they know where the envelope was placed, the floor director was notified over his earpiece that she had picked the proper envelope. That allowed him to get ready.

For our taping, 2 or 3 staff come out and replace certain wheel segments. One section looks like 3 slices attached together.  The contestants are getting their makeup touched up with their back to the wheel. The staff is pretty careful not to show the backs of the cards to the audience or contestants because the one where the BANKRUPT of monetary amount is on the back, might be seen by audience members. When removing them the staff is not so careful. I was able to see one slice removed that had BANKRUPT on the back.

In one episode of our filming, there was a restart of a game. The contestant said something like “G” and the show thought they said “E”. They stopped the game, made all contestants turn their back to the board while they decided how to proceed. They threw out that game are started a new one. Later in that episode you can hear someone say “G, as in” to make sure there was no mistake

Some of Pats comments could not be heard by the audience as we were clapping.

The wheel and envelope unit are the actual ones used for all shows, they shipped them here. The wheel looks smaller in person

Vanna and Pat spend some time chatting with audience members and seemed to be over by the VIPs and Wheel Watchers Club members who we think were put further to the right as you look at the audience (closer to Vanna).

The setup for us was very similar to what you see on other shows, except there was no backdrop, they left that space open and you could see the ocean between the letter board and contestants. They also created a waterfall.