Woman, needing money for new car, spins 'Wheel of Fortune'

With her 10-year-old Dodge Avenger getting really ready to expire, Mary Dean knew she needed a new car. Desperately. So she came up with the "Wheel of Fortune" plan.

She figured it was worth going to Savannah, Ga., twice, to audition for the TV game show. And once she got an invite, she figured it was worth making her first trip to Los Angeles, at her own expense, to appear on the show.

So was it worth it? Will the Avenger have to keep limping along?

She can't say.

She's not allowed to tell anyone how she did. To find that out, they'll have to watch the show at 7 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

But she can tell you that the wheel you spin is heavy, heavier than it looks, but they let you give it a few a practice spins. And she can say that she was a bit nervous at first.

"There was one time I got a little flustered, called the same letter twice, which is not cool," she said. "For the most part I forgot about the camera. It was fun. It was a lot of fun.”

Dean, 62, lives in Baymeadows and works in the credentialing department of a medical practice. She sings at her church and is also a member of the North Florida Chorale. "That would be great to put in the paper because we’re having two free concerts coming up in May,” she said.

She went to an open "Wheel of Fortune" audition in Savannah in November, where she filled out an application, though she didn't get to play then. She got called back to audition there in February, where she was the first of 50 hopefuls called up to compete. She aced her world puzzle, which turned out be "making a great first impression."

That seemed a good sign. And it was: Four days later she got an email inviting her on a show taped on March 1.

Her son Ben Dean, 24, and her sister, Claire Fox, flew with her to California, where it was rainy and cold. Mary Dean was as ready as she could be. She has watched "Wheel of Fortune" off and on for years (it's been on TV since 1975) and started watching it more once she got the invite. She also practiced on the show's website. 

She reads a lot and does crosswords and word puzzles. “It definitely helps. You just try to look for word patterns, those kind of things," she said. "And they tell you to buy a vowel. That always helps. Even though it costs money to buy a vowel, it helps you figure out the words.”

Dean said the crew taped six shows in one day, three contestants per show. She was in the fourth show. She and the other 17 contestants, all in the same situation, built up some camaraderie during the day.

“You get to know the other contestants and you root for them, it was nice to get your hair and makeup done," she said. "Every commercial break they come out and redo your makeup. You feel like a star.”

So will Thursday's show make her a star? She can tell the world Thursday evening. She'll be watching with her book club.

Matt Soergel: (904) 359-4082