From our parents to their parents, and maybe to our couch-comfy selves, the ritual of gathering around the living room TV every evening and playing along to Wheel Of Fortune’s theatrical game of hangman has been more than just our entertainment. It’s been a fandom. Sweaters, board games, mobile phone apps, truly “America’s Game” has become a celebrated institution over its 40 years on television. Recently we caught a Wheel Of Fortune Live stop at the gorgeous Kauffman Center in Kansas City.
Having seen the television production, it’s not hard to imagine only scaling a few elements to bring Wheel Of Fortune to a live amphitheater stage, but to my surprise, there’s such an energy to being in the crowd here that’s different from being at the Sony studio in Culver City. While the live tour does not have the iconic duo of Pat Sayjack and Vanna White, here the pair of co-hosts Clay Aiken and Kalpana Pot bring an energy suited to a live night-out crowd looking for a good time. Aiken delivered on playing off the crowd whimsically. The format of randomly selecting contestants to be on stage could have been disastrous since there were no producers to pre-interview contestants but it’s clear Wheel Live chose the best host. He brought out the personality of the housewives, business owners, and white-collar ordinary people of the midwest as he also brings the energy in from the audience afar. As these contestants let their guards down we got to see some real joy and a little bit of pain on the nerves of their faces every time that wheel clunked on a bankrupt wedge.
If you’re going to do Wheel, you have to bring fabulous prizes. Wheel Of Fortune LIVE did not skim in that department. People won things as simple as show merch, to gift cards, but a lucky one took home a trip to NYC and nearly another one to Vegas. Even a member of the audience not on stage took home their own top cash prize when the mini tournament winner on stage solved the bonus round puzzle.
There’s a moment of intimidation as you truly sink in making a move from armchair quarterback puzzles to putting yourself in the thick of it. For those willing to put themselves out there, one of the funniest nights out Wheel fans can have is checking out Wheel Of Fortune LIVE. The tour has only a few more stops in December and if you want to see if it’s coming to a city near you check out the show’s site here.
