Vanna White talks Wheel of Fortune and how much vacation she gets! Watch Wheel of Fortune weeknights on ABC 7 at 7:30 PM.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Live from the Mercedes Benz Interview Lounge.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Bena White right here, it's so don't take this the
wrong way. It's just kind of weird and wacky to
have you in the same room as us because you
you are in our lives, your TV royalty.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Oh that's so.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Is that embarrassing to hear that?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
No? Are you kidding? After forty two years? I love
hearing that.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Two years with eight thousand episodes?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Over eight thousand episodes?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Never the same dress? Right? Do you get to keep
any of those dresses? No?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
None of them.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Where would I wear them? That's true? Okay, they got
a point.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
You got a point.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
It'd be funny to be watching Wheel one night and go,
I've seen her in that dress before. Oh well, well,
welcome to our Showvana, good to be here. I don't
know where to start. Eight thousand episodes. You're you're still
going strong, You're still signed until twenty twenty six?
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Right?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
You did the math, the Masa?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
What is it you love most about? What you do?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Everything? It's a happy show. It's fun. We give away
lots of money, We make other people rich, and they
fulfill their dreams. What could be better?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I almost feel like you being this close to me,
I should scream out my questions, just like contestants.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Scream very slowly.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah, so what are those rules if you're contestants, I'm
sure they say you got to scream those others out
because we got to hear exactly what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Otherwise, well, they say don't scream, but speak clearly. You
don't have to yell. But they do a good job,
don't you think. I mean, think about it. They're on TV,
there's three hundred people in the audience, there's millions of
people at home watching. They don't want to make a
fool of themselves, and they're so nervous.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
There's so many people that make fools of themselves.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
How do you not laugh at that?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I feel for them, I just I do. I mean,
we're we're in the public eye, right, so we know
about all that. But they're, you know, from a small
town and they've never been to Hollywood, and they're nervous
to begin with.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Yeah, when those lights go on, you know, on you
on the stage, you forget everything.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
You get miserable.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I was on the weakest link and I got voted
off first.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Link. How'd you feel like a dumb ass.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You get nervous when you're on like yes.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Yes, yes, but just sometimes there's one just one letter
missing and you know what it is, and they get
it wrong and I'm just yelling at the TV. I
don't know how you're not. It's amazing that you can
just keep your composure.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Well it's I go darn. I wish they would have
gotten it that. That's kind of the way I look
at it.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
This is why everyone loves you, because you're such a
lovely person.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, well thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So who's who's this guy's end of the table over here?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
That is my son Nico.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Hey there, Hey, Nico. I follow you on Instagram, by
the way, all because one day I will be able
to afford to buy a mansion and bel air, you
know who to call? Okay, is it weird having a
son who's sort of he's a sex symbol? People call
your son sexy? Is that gross?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
No, it's not. It's not.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
But you don't think that would be kind of No?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
No, I mean I've known him his whole life.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
You have naked, not in a.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Long long time.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
The day is young. What's it like having van A
White as a mom? Do you it's just every day.
Speaker 6 (03:19):
I mean, you see who she is. It's amazing. She's
the best. She's super sweet and yeah, really privileged childhood.
So it's been amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Is that like a party a party trick when you're
having a good time?
Speaker 6 (03:31):
Hey, by the way, it totally it's like a built
in party trick, like from birth.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, absolutely, for sure.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
I mean I don't really tell too many people, but
when when people find out, it's really interesting because she's
an icon.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Everybody knows her.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
When you were a.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Kid, were you allowed to run around the set and
like spin wheels and everything?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, I mean to, yeah, of course.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
And then we go to like Hawaii together because they
used to shoot like it all over the country, so on,
like for the good locations. We would go together and
make a family vacation out of it.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So it's a good locations. So I guess she never
made it to the Cleveland. In Cleveland, they love us,
don't renumber one. I'm sorry we're turning this to the
Nico interview.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
That's okay, I don't mind at all, because I want
to point out something I listened to you for a
long time. My daughter went to school here. She went
to NYU for four years, so I listened to you
all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You know that we get a little crass in this room,
but we're on our best behavior with you here.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
I said dumb ass before and then I went, oh,
my gosh, fan of white sitting next to me.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I just thought I shouldn't have said that.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I met you and Pat Sage years ago at some function.
We were doing something I don't know, and my husband
Alex had a drink or two because it was a fundraiser,
and he invited you guys to our house in Santa Fe.
And you can't. You can't invite these people to our house.
They don't they don't know us. They think you're stalking them.
But now we know you better come on out. How's
(04:55):
everything with Ryan, because you know, we've known Ryan Seacrest
for many years. Yes, the guy owes me and everyone money,
I'm sure, but for so many years with Pat and
now you know, I'm assuming there's some adjustment, a little
bit of adjustment there, of.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Course, and not just for me, for everybody who watches.
For forty one years, Patt and I have been doing
the show, and then Pat decided to retire, and he's
very happy. I saw him a couple of weeks ago.
He looks great and Ryan took over and he's doing
a great job. And he said, look, no one could
ever replace Pat. Say Jack, I'm just here to fill in.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Okay, I feel like you should be in charge now though,
because like you know, you're.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
A van of white.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Like you listen to me, Ryan, maybe I think he
would listen to me, But I don't have anything to say.
He's doing a fine job.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
She's from the Bronx. Daniel, You're a friggin white.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Come on, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Scary of a question for Vana.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Wait about a year and a half ago, you got
to be a contestant on the show.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I just want to know what that experience was like,
especially since you were, I believe, playing against Ken Jennings
from Jeopardy exactly. I felt like a dumb you know what.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
The oh the tables turned. Yes, it's got to be
a really rough job to be a contestant on that show.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
I think it is, I really do, because you don't
realize what if you're standing there, There's so many things
to think about. There's the wheel, there's the puzzle board,
there's six cameras everywhere, and there's directors telling you this
and that it's just ah, so I understand how they feel,
and I felt the same way.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
A lot of people are going to work right now
listening to the show, maybe doing a job they've been
doing for eight years, ten years, whatever. You've been doing
this for forty two years.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I was eleven when I started.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Of course, what's your advice for someone out there who
wants to feel that same feeling of longevity at what
they do?
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Well? I think if you're happy in your job, stay
with it. And if you're not happy in your job
and you can't leave your job, make the best of it.
There's always something good in everything. That's the way I
look at it. That is good.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
We need to start thinking more like Vana White because
we're a bunch of sarcastic New York's.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
But you guys have fun, don't you know?
Speaker 6 (07:04):
We we do.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Even when we hate each other, we're having a good time.
We actually enjoy hating each other sometimes it's part of
the part of the day.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
So how do you guys pick the contestants to go
on the show?
Speaker 1 (07:15):
How would one apply?
Speaker 5 (07:16):
I need my dad to go on there.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
He's go to Wheel of Fortune Dot com okay, and
how to be a contestant? It will be on there.
Of course, I'm not involved in the contestant search, but
I think they have to do I'm not really sure.
I shouldn't say, because I don't really know how can
do it? But go to Wheel of Fortune dot com.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
It's always better not to know. I try to. I
try to stay out of the loop when our job
is brought up. Wait, you can't get us on the show.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
No, you can't be on the show if we know
each other. Oh, so all of us are out. Yeah,
I have a nice day. It is it a live
studio audience? Yeah? Yess is so how many people?
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Because I always feel like when you go to a show,
it looks so much bigger on television than when you
get there.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, I think there's two hundred and fifty three hundred
people in the audience something like that.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
It does.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
What's up, Nate, don't you have?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I always thought you guys did this show live every night?
When I'm a kid sitting there watching at my parents
living roo, I'm like, boy, it looks great tonight. You
must had a good day. Come to find out? You
feel that like three months ago. Yes, how does that work?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
We filmed about thirty four days a year.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
That's it, stop it?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yes, but how many in a day?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Six shows a day?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Wait, I'm sorry, I do not feel sorry for you.
One day. That sounds like a great job.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Dresses it is? It is?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Wait, you have three hundred he's thirty one days off
a year. He was doing the math.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yes, I guess so.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You know, and no one deserves it more than you
because you're just the best. Okay, I know you get
these same stupid questions over and over. So when you
went from turning the letters to touching the.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Letters, does it?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Did it just like the static electricity shock you? At
some point when they were trying to.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Or not, I'll tell you that, I said, is there
any way you can make my job easier?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It was a bit much, was it? I mean, when
you touch the letter, does it actually activate it? Or
is there someone out bag going okay, she's touching it,
pushed the button and it lights up.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Well, there's two two things happened. First I physically turned
the letters, and then I went to touching the letters.
And now a couple of years ago they changed the
set where honestly I don't even have to touch the letter.
There's a laser up there, and the motion of my
hand that gets near the letter, it will light up.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Have you ever activated the wrong letter? Yeah, you know
the answers yes. In eight thousand episodes Vanas Drinking Again.
Have you read the wrong letter?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
One time I did, and that was when I was
physically turning them. The puzzle was either doctor Spock or
mister Spock. It was an M or a D. And
I turned the wrong one. It was like I was devastated.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Did they keep it or did they read?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
No, we had to redid it. Oh because I revealed
a letter, a letter which.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Oh my gosh. The people in the back office and went,
oh that Fana. She ruined doctor Spock.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
They never saw it at home.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
I always used to think that the wheel was rigged,
which I know nobody could ever admit to you, just
because it seems like people are doing so well, they
have all this money and fan bankruptcy every time she.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Just accused you of working at rigged wheel.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Not Fana.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
I don't think she did it.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
No, we would all we would all be in jail
if that. No, they are there are people there that
watch everything. We do Will Waters? Oh yeah, yes, auditors.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Were you a fan of game shows when you're growing up?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
I watched Wheel of Fortune? Can you believe that? I
even wrote in to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.
I wish you would have saved that letter. It said
if you're ever in the Los Angeles area, give us
a call. And so this was like, this was like
in seventy nine.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
That's so kind of crazy, isn't it? Yeah, but that's
that's a dream come true?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It is? And how did you get the job?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Like to begin with?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
What was the audition process that ivery?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Well?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
First I went to a taping of Dance Fever, which
was a MERV Griffin show, and Janet Jones, who's now
Janet Gretzky, was one of the dancers. So I said
to Janet, can you introduce me to somebody? This is
a MERV Griffin show. I hear they're looking for a
replacement on Wheel. And she introduced me to Merv's right
hand man and I said, can I come in an audition?
He said, you call me on October fifth at ten
o'clock and we haven't made a decision. You can come
(11:24):
in ten o'clock. I called him and I went in
for the audition. Wow. Right and at the right place
at the right time. Wow.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So that's a part of it. So cool to be
successfully right time, right place. Sometimes what about the price
is right? Didn't you do something over there?
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I was a contestant. Oh my again, didn't win a
dog one thing. But a great story about that is
my dressing room was the same dressing room that Bob
Barker had when we were filming at CBS.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Wow, Bob Barker is he is he still with us? No?
We were because he lived in West Hollywood, not far
from a friend of mine, and we would drive by
his house. He'd be after watering the garden. He had
a really cool house. This really great.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
He had very spade and neutered pets.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Yea, his pets never his pets never gave birth. But
I mean, I always loved watching game shows when I
was growing up. I was kind of a loner kid.
I get home from school, you know, mom and dad
be working, and so I would make the peanut butter
and jelly sandwich and I would zoom through every single
game show. I always wanted to be on one. Never
(12:29):
were never was, never was invited but now I met you,
I can't be on yours ruined it for us. You
can come usit, I will us. I would love it. Yes,
Why is Wheel.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Of Fortune one of the chosen few?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
What has made it last? This long? Very good question?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
I wish I knew that answer. I honestly don't know.
The only thing I can think of. It's a half
hour of family fun and there's no drama. It is
what it is. It makes you feel good. You love
watching people win. Do you tell me?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think it's all you. But another thing is it's
not a no brainer show. You do have to think.
You do have to actively try to figure these puzzles out.
There's a lot of games out there that say no whammies.
No one is to think about that, right, no offense
(13:20):
to whatever that was. But you know, it's good to
play along at home, Like when we have contests on
our show, we try to make it where people can
play along and they scream at the radio when they
don't get it right, and they can activate with it.
At least that's one of the things. Also, MERV Griffin
was MERV Griffin.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
And this is this is old fashioned to think about it.
This came from Hangman. Remember that show, not show that
game where you would I'm so old.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
They actually with hang men Downtown Bank bank robbers and
but Hangman was the original.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
You're right, and those We grew up playing games. My
children played games, right, We played games so often.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Yeah, all kinds of stuff, par cheesy and scrabble and.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Game nights are a very important thing. We had that
at my house too.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
If you could be on a game show, which one
would you choose?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I would not do that because then I would be
against wheel fortunes.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Okay, okay, wow, good answer, Van, I'm loyal.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
That is like, I'm not new to this guy.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I have an idea with that, and I don't just
a thought unlessen I'm gonna give the idea and just okay,
great and we'll move on. Let's not say it could
happen or who we need to call whatever? We need
a space on the wheel. I Heart needs to have
a space on the wheel.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, just a thought. Well, speaking of that, I'm hearing
rumors that something big is going to be happening with iHeart.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
What Okay, Well, I renew that. But I was trying
to play it off. I was merely active and now
you're gonna get us all fire and things. But there
could be something coming up.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Yes, I'm hearing rumors. We shall see all right, right,
this is cool.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
We'll leave it to that.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yes, yeah, i'd love to you. Guys are so on me.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
We have we have spoiled nothing. We're just we're just
dreaming the big, the big dreams. But Vanna, it's just
such a pleasure to have you on our show.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
It's such a it's my pleasure. As I said, I
I feel like I know you because I've listened to
you for years, and thank you so much for letting
me be part of this and letting my son join
me too.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Oh no, it's her. It's our bed. He was going
to give us a good price on the house. And you,
you truly are a charming, beautiful, wonderful woman. Something tells
me when you walk out of here and the mics off,
you kick a kitting across the there's got to be
some evil evil side when you throw sharp objects, and
I'm not seeing it quite yet.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
A lot of you.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Hello, Hello, Hello
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Elvis Duran in the Morning Show
Live from the Mercedes Benz Interview Lounge.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Bena White right here, it's so don't take this the
wrong way. It's just kind of weird and wacky to
have you in the same room as us because you
you are in our lives, your TV royalty.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Oh that's so.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Is that embarrassing to hear that?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
No? Are you kidding? After forty two years? I love
hearing that.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Two years with eight thousand episodes?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Over eight thousand episodes?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Never the same dress? Right? Do you get to keep
any of those dresses? No?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
None of them.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Where would I wear them? That's true? Okay, they got
a point.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
You got a point.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
It'd be funny to be watching Wheel one night and go,
I've seen her in that dress before. Oh well, well,
welcome to our Showvana, good to be here. I don't
know where to start. Eight thousand episodes. You're you're still
going strong, You're still signed until twenty twenty six?
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Right?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
You did the math, the Masa?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
What is it you love most about? What you do?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Everything? It's a happy show. It's fun. We give away
lots of money, We make other people rich, and they
fulfill their dreams. What could be better?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I almost feel like you being this close to me,
I should scream out my questions, just like contestants.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Scream very slowly.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah, so what are those rules if you're contestants, I'm
sure they say you got to scream those others out
because we got to hear exactly what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Otherwise, well, they say don't scream, but speak clearly. You
don't have to yell. But they do a good job,
don't you think. I mean, think about it. They're on TV,
there's three hundred people in the audience, there's millions of
people at home watching. They don't want to make a
fool of themselves, and they're so nervous.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
There's so many people that make fools of themselves.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
How do you not laugh at that?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
No?
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I feel for them, I just I do. I mean,
we're we're in the public eye, right, so we know
about all that. But they're, you know, from a small
town and they've never been to Hollywood, and they're nervous
to begin with.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Yeah, when those lights go on, you know, on you
on the stage, you forget everything.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
You get miserable.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I was on the weakest link and I got voted
off first.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Link. How'd you feel like a dumb ass.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You get nervous when you're on like yes.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
Yes, yes, but just sometimes there's one just one letter
missing and you know what it is, and they get
it wrong and I'm just yelling at the TV. I
don't know how you're not. It's amazing that you can
just keep your composure.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Well it's I go darn. I wish they would have
gotten it that. That's kind of the way I look
at it.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
This is why everyone loves you, because you're such a
lovely person.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, well thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So who's who's this guy's end of the table over here?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
That is my son Nico.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Hey there, Hey, Nico. I follow you on Instagram, by
the way, all because one day I will be able
to afford to buy a mansion and bel air, you
know who to call? Okay, is it weird having a
son who's sort of he's a sex symbol? People call
your son sexy? Is that gross?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
No, it's not. It's not.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
But you don't think that would be kind of No?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
No, I mean I've known him his whole life.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
You have naked, not in a.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Long long time.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
The day is young. What's it like having van A
White as a mom? Do you it's just every day.
Speaker 6 (03:19):
I mean, you see who she is. It's amazing. She's
the best. She's super sweet and yeah, really privileged childhood.
So it's been amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Is that like a party a party trick when you're
having a good time?
Speaker 6 (03:31):
Hey, by the way, it totally it's like a built
in party trick, like from birth.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Yeah, absolutely, for sure.
Speaker 6 (03:37):
I mean I don't really tell too many people, but
when when people find out, it's really interesting because she's
an icon.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Everybody knows her.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
When you were a.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Kid, were you allowed to run around the set and
like spin wheels and everything?
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, I mean to, yeah, of course.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
And then we go to like Hawaii together because they
used to shoot like it all over the country, so on,
like for the good locations. We would go together and
make a family vacation out of it.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So it's a good locations. So I guess she never
made it to the Cleveland. In Cleveland, they love us,
don't renumber one. I'm sorry we're turning this to the
Nico interview.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
That's okay, I don't mind at all, because I want
to point out something I listened to you for a
long time. My daughter went to school here. She went
to NYU for four years, so I listened to you
all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
You know that we get a little crass in this room,
but we're on our best behavior with you here.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
I said dumb ass before and then I went, oh,
my gosh, fan of white sitting next to me.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I just thought I shouldn't have said that.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I met you and Pat Sage years ago at some function.
We were doing something I don't know, and my husband
Alex had a drink or two because it was a fundraiser,
and he invited you guys to our house in Santa Fe.
And you can't. You can't invite these people to our house.
They don't they don't know us. They think you're stalking them.
But now we know you better come on out. How's
(04:55):
everything with Ryan, because you know, we've known Ryan Seacrest
for many years. Yes, the guy owes me and everyone money,
I'm sure, but for so many years with Pat and
now you know, I'm assuming there's some adjustment, a little
bit of adjustment there, of.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Course, and not just for me, for everybody who watches.
For forty one years, Patt and I have been doing
the show, and then Pat decided to retire, and he's
very happy. I saw him a couple of weeks ago.
He looks great and Ryan took over and he's doing
a great job. And he said, look, no one could
ever replace Pat. Say Jack, I'm just here to fill in.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Okay, I feel like you should be in charge now though,
because like you know, you're.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
A van of white.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Like you listen to me, Ryan, maybe I think he
would listen to me, But I don't have anything to say.
He's doing a fine job.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
She's from the Bronx. Daniel, You're a friggin white.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Come on, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Scary of a question for Vana.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Wait about a year and a half ago, you got
to be a contestant on the show.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I just want to know what that experience was like,
especially since you were, I believe, playing against Ken Jennings
from Jeopardy exactly. I felt like a dumb you know what.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
The oh the tables turned. Yes, it's got to be
a really rough job to be a contestant on that show.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
I think it is, I really do, because you don't
realize what if you're standing there, There's so many things
to think about. There's the wheel, there's the puzzle board,
there's six cameras everywhere, and there's directors telling you this
and that it's just ah, so I understand how they feel,
and I felt the same way.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
A lot of people are going to work right now
listening to the show, maybe doing a job they've been
doing for eight years, ten years, whatever. You've been doing
this for forty two years.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I was eleven when I started.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Of course, what's your advice for someone out there who
wants to feel that same feeling of longevity at what
they do?
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Well? I think if you're happy in your job, stay
with it. And if you're not happy in your job
and you can't leave your job, make the best of it.
There's always something good in everything. That's the way I
look at it. That is good.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
We need to start thinking more like Vana White because
we're a bunch of sarcastic New York's.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
But you guys have fun, don't you know?
Speaker 6 (07:04):
We we do.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Even when we hate each other, we're having a good time.
We actually enjoy hating each other sometimes it's part of
the part of the day.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
So how do you guys pick the contestants to go
on the show?
Speaker 1 (07:15):
How would one apply?
Speaker 5 (07:16):
I need my dad to go on there.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
He's go to Wheel of Fortune Dot com okay, and
how to be a contestant? It will be on there.
Of course, I'm not involved in the contestant search, but
I think they have to do I'm not really sure.
I shouldn't say, because I don't really know how can
do it? But go to Wheel of Fortune dot com.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
It's always better not to know. I try to. I
try to stay out of the loop when our job
is brought up. Wait, you can't get us on the show.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
No, you can't be on the show if we know
each other. Oh, so all of us are out. Yeah,
I have a nice day. It is it a live
studio audience? Yeah? Yess is so how many people?
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Because I always feel like when you go to a show,
it looks so much bigger on television than when you
get there.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, I think there's two hundred and fifty three hundred
people in the audience something like that.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
It does.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
What's up, Nate, don't you have?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I always thought you guys did this show live every night?
When I'm a kid sitting there watching at my parents
living roo, I'm like, boy, it looks great tonight. You
must had a good day. Come to find out? You
feel that like three months ago. Yes, how does that work?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
We filmed about thirty four days a year.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
That's it, stop it?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yes, but how many in a day?
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Six shows a day?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Wait, I'm sorry, I do not feel sorry for you.
One day. That sounds like a great job.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Dresses it is? It is?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Wait, you have three hundred he's thirty one days off
a year. He was doing the math.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yes, I guess so.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You know, and no one deserves it more than you
because you're just the best. Okay, I know you get
these same stupid questions over and over. So when you
went from turning the letters to touching the.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Letters, does it?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Did it just like the static electricity shock you? At
some point when they were trying to.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Or not, I'll tell you that, I said, is there
any way you can make my job easier?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It was a bit much, was it? I mean, when
you touch the letter, does it actually activate it? Or
is there someone out bag going okay, she's touching it,
pushed the button and it lights up.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Well, there's two two things happened. First I physically turned
the letters, and then I went to touching the letters.
And now a couple of years ago they changed the
set where honestly I don't even have to touch the letter.
There's a laser up there, and the motion of my
hand that gets near the letter, it will light up.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Have you ever activated the wrong letter? Yeah, you know
the answers yes. In eight thousand episodes Vanas Drinking Again.
Have you read the wrong letter?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
One time I did, and that was when I was
physically turning them. The puzzle was either doctor Spock or
mister Spock. It was an M or a D. And
I turned the wrong one. It was like I was devastated.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Did they keep it or did they read?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
No, we had to redid it. Oh because I revealed
a letter, a letter which.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Oh my gosh. The people in the back office and went,
oh that Fana. She ruined doctor Spock.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
They never saw it at home.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
I always used to think that the wheel was rigged,
which I know nobody could ever admit to you, just
because it seems like people are doing so well, they
have all this money and fan bankruptcy every time she.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Just accused you of working at rigged wheel.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Not Fana.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
I don't think she did it.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
No, we would all we would all be in jail
if that. No, they are there are people there that
watch everything. We do Will Waters? Oh yeah, yes, auditors.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Were you a fan of game shows when you're growing up?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
I watched Wheel of Fortune? Can you believe that? I
even wrote in to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.
I wish you would have saved that letter. It said
if you're ever in the Los Angeles area, give us
a call. And so this was like, this was like
in seventy nine.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
That's so kind of crazy, isn't it? Yeah, but that's
that's a dream come true?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It is? And how did you get the job?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Like to begin with?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
What was the audition process that ivery?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Well?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
First I went to a taping of Dance Fever, which
was a MERV Griffin show, and Janet Jones, who's now
Janet Gretzky, was one of the dancers. So I said
to Janet, can you introduce me to somebody? This is
a MERV Griffin show. I hear they're looking for a
replacement on Wheel. And she introduced me to Merv's right
hand man and I said, can I come in an audition?
He said, you call me on October fifth at ten
o'clock and we haven't made a decision. You can come
(11:24):
in ten o'clock. I called him and I went in
for the audition. Wow. Right and at the right place
at the right time. Wow.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So that's a part of it. So cool to be
successfully right time, right place. Sometimes what about the price
is right? Didn't you do something over there?
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I was a contestant. Oh my again, didn't win a
dog one thing. But a great story about that is
my dressing room was the same dressing room that Bob
Barker had when we were filming at CBS.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Wow, Bob Barker is he is he still with us? No?
We were because he lived in West Hollywood, not far
from a friend of mine, and we would drive by
his house. He'd be after watering the garden. He had
a really cool house. This really great.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
He had very spade and neutered pets.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Yea, his pets never his pets never gave birth. But
I mean, I always loved watching game shows when I
was growing up. I was kind of a loner kid.
I get home from school, you know, mom and dad
be working, and so I would make the peanut butter
and jelly sandwich and I would zoom through every single
game show. I always wanted to be on one. Never
(12:29):
were never was, never was invited but now I met you,
I can't be on yours ruined it for us. You
can come usit, I will us. I would love it. Yes,
Why is Wheel.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Of Fortune one of the chosen few?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
What has made it last? This long? Very good question?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
I wish I knew that answer. I honestly don't know.
The only thing I can think of. It's a half
hour of family fun and there's no drama. It is
what it is. It makes you feel good. You love
watching people win. Do you tell me?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think it's all you. But another thing is it's
not a no brainer show. You do have to think.
You do have to actively try to figure these puzzles out.
There's a lot of games out there that say no whammies.
No one is to think about that, right, no offense
(13:20):
to whatever that was. But you know, it's good to
play along at home, Like when we have contests on
our show, we try to make it where people can
play along and they scream at the radio when they
don't get it right, and they can activate with it.
At least that's one of the things. Also, MERV Griffin
was MERV Griffin.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
And this is this is old fashioned to think about it.
This came from Hangman. Remember that show, not show that
game where you would I'm so old.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
They actually with hang men Downtown Bank bank robbers and
but Hangman was the original.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
You're right, and those We grew up playing games. My
children played games, right, We played games so often.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
Yeah, all kinds of stuff, par cheesy and scrabble and.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Game nights are a very important thing. We had that
at my house too.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
If you could be on a game show, which one
would you choose?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I would not do that because then I would be
against wheel fortunes.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Okay, okay, wow, good answer, Van, I'm loyal.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
That is like, I'm not new to this guy.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I have an idea with that, and I don't just
a thought unlessen I'm gonna give the idea and just okay,
great and we'll move on. Let's not say it could
happen or who we need to call whatever? We need
a space on the wheel. I Heart needs to have
a space on the wheel.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah, just a thought. Well, speaking of that, I'm hearing
rumors that something big is going to be happening with iHeart.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
What Okay, Well, I renew that. But I was trying
to play it off. I was merely active and now
you're gonna get us all fire and things. But there
could be something coming up.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Yes, I'm hearing rumors. We shall see all right, right,
this is cool.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
We'll leave it to that.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yes, yeah, i'd love to you. Guys are so on me.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
We have we have spoiled nothing. We're just we're just
dreaming the big, the big dreams. But Vanna, it's just
such a pleasure to have you on our show.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
It's such a it's my pleasure. As I said, I
I feel like I know you because I've listened to
you for years, and thank you so much for letting
me be part of this and letting my son join
me too.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Oh no, it's her. It's our bed. He was going
to give us a good price on the house. And you,
you truly are a charming, beautiful, wonderful woman. Something tells
me when you walk out of here and the mics off,
you kick a kitting across the there's got to be
some evil evil side when you throw sharp objects, and
I'm not seeing it quite yet.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
A lot of you.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Hello, Hello, Hello
Speaker 4 (16:06):
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