Pat Sajak and Vanna White didn’t buy a vowel — they bought tickets to South Florida while taking a break from hosting “Wheel of Fortune” in Los Angeles.
The TV game show hosts were in town this week where they spent three days shooting in various spots. They filmed in Fort Lauderdale beach, Miami Beach, Everglades National Park, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables and Café La Trova in Miami, according to their social media posts. Some scenes were also filmed at Big City Tavern on Las Olas Boulevard.
“Next season, there will be a week saluting South Florida,” Sajak told WPLG-Channel 10 while filming on Fort Lauderdale beach Thursday.
That will happen when it’s typically Chamber of Commerce weather here and frost bitten in many other parts of the country.
The South Florida episodes will air in February 2020, according to the Pembroke Park station which broadcasts the game show 7 p.m. weeknights. In Palm Beach county, the show airs at the same time on WPBF Channel 25.
Broward film and tourism officials were happy to welcome back the show which last filmed in the region in 2004.
“They are an iconic show and we were absolutely thrilled to see them come back,” said Noelle Stevenson, vice president of The Underground division of film, music, fashion & create in Broward. “A lot of people are going to be smack in the middle of winter as they watch it and they are showing us while we are at our best weather…It’s great timing.”
If you’re a diehard fan and want a chance to spin the giant colorful wheel and solve puzzles on the show, the “Wheelmobile” will be in South Florida Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 this year looking for contestants.
The 36-foot-long yellow bus travels around the country to audition potential players. WPLG hasn’t announced yet where the bus will be stationed for the tryouts.
In recent years, the bus has pulled into the Westfield Broward Mall where people were called on stage for a mock show. That’s where South Florida friends Staci Hill and Cathy Murray tried out in 2016. A year later, they competed on the show a year during “Girlfriend Getaways” week when they won $65,100 in cash and a trip to Puerto Rico.
“You want someone who could be outgoing and is not afraid to talk in front of people,” Sajak told WPLG about what the show looks for in contestants. “The best advice is to be yourself. It’s fun. Even if you don’t make it on the show, it’s a fun experience trying out.”
For more information on trying out for the show, visit wheeloffortune.com and search “join the show.”
