Marin man competes on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
As Matt Jones sat on his couch in his Mill Valley home and watched “Wheel of Fortune” with his girlfriend, he answered most of the puzzles correctly.
“She was like, ‘ You know, you're pretty good at this. You should apply,'” said Jones, 29. “And before I did anything, she got on her laptop and filled out the application for me to get on the show.”
After attaching a 10- second video of Jones to the application, they sent it off with their fingers crossed.
“I said anything that happens on this show, I'm doing it for my 11-year-old son Xavier,” said Jones, a store manager. “I want him to
know that I went out to compete hard and make him proud.”
Two weeks later, Jones was invited to participate in a competition on Zoom, and six weeks later he was in Los Angeles, meeting hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the set of the show.
“It was a super cool experience,” he said. “I never thought I'd be on a game show.”
Jones learned he was selected from a pool of about 10,000 applicants.
“We want good game players and good puzzle solvers,” said Erica Laible, spokeswoman for the show. “We also look for people who play with a nice, natural enthusiasm and a nice big voice.”
Laible said while contestants can be selected nationwide, the
show has selected contestants within driving distance of Los Angeles because of the pandemic.
She said the pandemic is also why the audition process is now conducted online, making it easier to audition than before.
There have also been adjustments to the set, which has a redesigned platform surrounding the wheel to allow for 6 feet of space between Sajak and each contestant. Other changes include a new curved monitor surrounding the wheel and a “spinning cap” that lets contestants turn the wheel without touching the spokes.
Jones said he is excited to see his interaction with Sajak at the wheel when the episode airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday on ABC.