URI student to appear on Wheel of Fortune's College Week
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: News
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Last Friday, in front of a live studio audience at the Boston Convention Center, McMurray took a deep breath and spun the wheel. For the next 20 minutes he concentrated on buying vowels, guessing letters and ultimately, trying to solve the puzzles.
Wheel of Fortune, usually taped at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif., came to Boston to tape 15 episodes in three days. Five of the shows featured students from New England colleges, all competing for that "big money."
McMurray, 21, said as he was growing up he would watch the show with his parents. When he heard the show was coming to Boston, he gave it some thought and figured he'd apply to try out.
"I said 'Sure, why not? I'll throw an application online,'" he said. "And then I got an e-mail back that I'd gotten an audition spot."
McMurray said at that point, he'd almost forgotten he applied.
Not long after McMurray arrived at Boston's Lenox Hotel for the auditions, where he made it through several cuts.
Wheel of Fortune contestant coordinator, Cassandra Thompson said judges pick contestants based on two main factors: "Focus and Juice."
"You have some people who are very focused, they're very, very smart players," Thompson said. "You know, eye on the puzzle board, they're using the letter board, but they're very serious - no smile, no happiness."
That's where the "juice" comes in. Thompson explained that judges are also looking for contestants that seem energetic and excited about the prospect of winning.
"You want someone who does both," she said. "They are focused on the game, but they're very excited."
McMurray said his strategy was to earn as much money as possible and solve the puzzles as soon as he figured them out.
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