Columbia woman competes on classic game show Wheel of Fortune

When Katie Moon, a Columbia resident, got the call to head to Los Angeles to appear as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune a few months ago, she had almost put her January 2021 application totally out of mind.

“I had been practicing and watching all the shows I could,” Moon said. “As the year went on, I kind of just stopped and thought they forgot about me.”

Moon’s mother had also enjoyed the show and submitted an application decades ago to appear as a contestant — it turned out to be a family full circle-type of spin.

“When I was 6 months old, my mom flew with me out to California,” Moon said. “She auditioned back when they did all auditions in person. She tried out and did well but ultimately didn’t make it on the show.

“But she was so happy for me and thought it was so cool.”

Following an audition, she soon found correspondence from her application that she had been selected last fall.

A follow up email and a notice to be ready within a two-week timeframe, and she soon found herself on a flight out west to meet Pat and Vanna.

“If you get the call, be ready,” Moon said, then filming on location in September.

The episode aired as a special Disney Christmas episode on Dec. 5, a part of the network’s “Secret Santa” kickoff, and Moon pulled in $7,500 in winnings.

“It was such a whirlwind,” Moon said. “The way the show works, is they tape five shows in one day.”

The show production itself was a 12-plus-hour process, she said, which included getting to see the Jeopardy set.Criteria for accepted contestants Moon said included someone who can perform well under pressure, anyone who might have a charismatic personality and who speaks in a clear and concise voice for the viewers.

“There were a lot of cool things we did on tape day,” Moon said. “Vanna [White] is just as sweet in person as she appears on camera.”

Moon said long time host of the show, Pat Sajak was just as nice and made everyone feel welcome and at ease.

“He would come over and talk to us between takes and say, ‘you’re doing great … keep it up,” Moon said. “He was very encouraging.

Moon said while she was visiting that with the show entering its 40th season, Sajak could be close to retirement she has heard, though that was not a definite confirmation.

As for her trip to LA?

“It was cool, but I was ready for home, by the end of it,” Moon said, who traveled with her husband Chris and got to visit Santa Monica Beach on her way home.

Moon gives her suggestion to apply if anyone is interested.

“They are always encouraging applications,” she said. “Be sure to keep it clear and concise and give some interesting details about yourself,” Moon said.

Prospective contestants can fill out the application to audition at wheeloffortune.com. The show appears on ABC, NBC and CBS.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia woman competes on classic game show Wheel of Fortune