If you’re here, then you’re curious about the fact that I, a normally friendly, funny girl who makes friends everywhere…would choose a nemesis in WOF auditions. I discussed this in Part 3 of “How to be a Wheel of Fortune Contestant.” But I did, and here’s why.
Two of my fellow competitors were a late-20s/early-30s guy and his mom, who were trying out as a duo for a 2-player week. Y’all, I try to be cool about other people’s quirks because I certainly have a few of my own, but this guy was asking for it.
He was a middle school theater/music teacher. And I LOVE teachers (I WAS a teacher for 11 years), and I love theater and music teachers (my mom is a retired MUSIC TEACHER), but this guy was my biggest distraction all day, and I knew if for some reason I didn’t become a WOF contestant, I would blame him, find him, and do something awful to his car, probably a 2000 Honda Accord.
In the hallway before we went in for the afternoon session, I watched (in abject horror) as he practiced the faces he would make during different WOF situations in a mirror hanging on the wall. There was the “I just solved a puzzle” celebration (tiny jump up and down, elbows to sides with tiny frantic clap.) How about the “hug my mom while we celebrate”? Yep, they practiced their hug in the hallway…debated whose head would go in front for the cameras (his), should they bounce in a circle while hugging?, and how long was a proper mother-son embrace on a nationally televised game show. There was also the pouty face when a letter wasn’t in the puzzle. There was the wildly over-enthusiastic and sticky-sweet mother/son self-introduction…ick.
He practiced these antics in front of everyone while we were on break. It was loud, awkward (his mom looked uncomfortable), and I just wondered why he couldn’t have done more of this at home.
We all had the same goal (clearly different ideas on how to achieve it), but this prissy over-preparation just made me want to crush him more. Yes, I played one-against-their-two in the afternoon Round 2 session, and though I try not to be too eye-of-the-tiger crazy competitive, having a target seemed to focus me more than ever before… And yes, I jumped up and down a little inside when he incorrectly guessed letters and went all rehearsed-pouty-faced.
Looking back, I see that this guy was doing the best he could to overcome nerves (we all were), and this was his way of coping. Maybe he was trying to psych us out. Maybe nemesis is too strong a word, but he was certainly distracting, and perhaps that was his strategy. More likely, I should thank him because he made me work harder.
I watched for this duo later on, but I never saw them go on. I may have just missed them or maybe the high-drama was just too much for the WOF producers.
But here’s your takeaway: Game shows thrive on bringing real people in front of their audiences, and when people are obviously too rehearsed, their demeanor is unnatural.
Okay, enough of this. Head back to Part 3.
That had to be so amazing obnoxious! And yet, when you see someone acting so ridiculously, it’s hard to look away. I have a girl in my gym weight class that drives me NUTS but I can’t stop watching her! I think she used to be a cheerleader and instead of doing the movements as the instructor is showing us, she always adds a little kick or flourish at the end. It is SO distracting! And ridiculous! I totally understand how you felt here. 😉 I am glad to hear it didn’t completely throw you off your game.