U. students try out for 'Wheel'

Scream, yell, cheer, jump, even cry. And if you do them all right, you just may be on your way to $25,000. That's what nearly 100 Penn students learned yesterday afternoon as they assembled at the University Museum for the first round of a contestant search for the popular syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune. The search, organized by WPVI-TV, Philadelphia's ABC affiliate, was designed to scout out possible contestants for an upcoming local "College Week" of Wheel of Fortune shows. Penn students anxious to show their "Wheel spirit" started showing up first thing in the morning -- some as early as 8 a.m. -- to get a guaranteed place on the audition line. Their lack of sleep would prove unnecessary, though, as search organizers only distributed approximately half of the 200 tickets that were available. When the prospective contestants did finally get their shot at an audition, they quickly discovered that a simple knowledge of consonants and vowels wouldn't cut it. "We are looking for nothing less than rampant enthusiasm," said search coordinator Caroline Welch, WPVI's director of creative services. "It's sort of like an acting class," she added. "You may look or feel like you're showing excitement or sadness but you really have to overdo it in order to communicate that to an audience of millions." With these instructions, most of the excited contestant-hopefuls launched into a huge variety of emotional outbursts as they participated in short interviews and then mock "wheel spinnings," each vying for one of a number of Channel 6 giveaways. Screaming "Big money!" or "Come on, $25,000!" students tried to demonstrate the extent of their enthusiasm. "They wanted to know what I would do if I won the big prize -- the $25,000," College freshman Jonathan Adler said. "So I proceeded to scream and run to the cardboard standouts of Pat Sajak and Vanna White. I then proceeded to kiss Pat and knock over Vanna," he added. Others showed just as much fervor for the game show, as well as for their own prospects for being selected. "I guarantee I'm going to be on the show," said College sophomore Ray Valerio, the Sophomore Class president. "I want it all," he said. "The glamour, the money, the fame, the ladies -- everything." Despite the enormous turnout at contestant searches all over the Delaware Valley -- including a 15,000-person audition earlier this month at the King of Prussia Mall -- only 30 lucky individuals will have the chance to spin the wheel when the show comes to Philadelphia next month. Two weeks of programs will be taped with the college-themed shows scheduled to run the week of May 10. WPVI officials will review the audition reports from yesterday and a number of applicants may be called back for a second tryout sometime next month. If they pass that hurdle, it's on to the show -- and a chance for the "big money" when the program tapes at Temple University's Apollo Theater on April 18. The slim odds, however, didn't seem to deter the Wheel hopefuls from showing their enthusiasm. "I watch the show all the time and I love it," College sophomore Madeleine Fersh said. Others had different reasons for trying out. "I love Pat Sajak," College senior Liz Weinstein said. "He's a hunk, a little short maybe, but he's a winner. I really want to meet him."