My Favorite Oprah Winfrey Show Episode

My moment on Oprah!

I know this is a movie blog, but I have to share my Oprah story. With her show coming to an end people are asking for your favorite episode, and I say…the ONE I WAS ON!


Fifteen years ago this month, I had a whirlwind that will never be forgotten. I was brought on, as a kind of guest, to the Oprah Winfrey show. How did this happen you ask? Read On.



I was lucky enough to win a chance to audition for Wheel of Fortune (yes this is the Oprah story, be patient). This was a show that I watched with my Grandma and played since I was a tot! The audition process wasn’t tough enough that we found out Oprah’s crew was there to and she was filming for an upcoming segment on what it takes to get on a game show. So not only did we have the stress of the audition process, but the Oprah show was there!


After the audition process was complete, Oprah’s crew did some exit interviews with us and we were sent on our way.


Shortly after the audition I got a call that Oprah’s producers wanted me to come to Chicago. So I started making plans. Where to park, where to go, where is the studio….when I received another call, that they would be sending a car for me and my family.


Ok, so this got a little better – So my Mom (who was also a big wheel watcher with me and my grandma) and my brother Bob that could make it at the time were ready to go. I expected maybe a van, perhaps taking myself and a couple of the other people who auditioned to show up at my house. Instead…yep you guessed it, a stretch limo for my family alone. Oprah spared NO expense.


Arriving in Chicago we were whisked into our seats in the audience (there were 6-8 of us from the audition that were invited to the show). So we were all together to do a brief segment. Yes my ugly mug showed up in the highlight package that led into things and then, without warning, Oprah pulled the big moment that she knew which of us were making Wheel of Fortune. It was ALL OF US.


Talk about elation, there you have it…and it wasn’t until later that we found out that the producers didn’t even know we had made the show until that morning. Seems the Oprah producers and the Wheel producers were looking for the same type of individual and they were good judges of what went on.


My charismatic debut on Oprah, led to an appearance on Wheel of Fortune. And to this day…that will still be my FAVORITE Oprah episode ever.


Thanks Oprah!