Grab an opportunity to spin the wheel of fortune

KNOXVILLE -- The Wheel of Fortune Wheelmobile is heading to Knoxville on April 14 and 15 for two days of qualifying rounds to select potential contestants for the popular game show. Sponsored by Rural/Metro and Turkey Creek Public Market, the Wheelmobile will be stationed at Turkey Creek Public Market in the main food court area to audition Knoxville contestant hopefuls from 1-5 p.m. each day.

Three Wheel of Fortune shows will be featured each day at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Staff will begin handing out applications one hour before the start of each show. While waiting for the shows to start, guests can tour the Rural/Metro fire engines, ambulances and other state-of-the-art emergency vehicles that will be on-site during the event.

"This is a great opportunity for someone from the Knoxville area to be on Wheel of Fortune," said Rural/Metro Division General Manager Rob Webb. "We are pleased to help make the auditions possible."

During the shows, participants in groups of five will be selected to come to the stage in a random draw. Everyone who participates in the shows will receive complimentary Wheel of Fortune merchandise regardless of whether they win or lose.

The contestants that are judged to have the most potential will be invited to a final auditions round that will take place within a few months. In addition, a few people who attended the shows but were not selected to come to the stage will also be drawn at random to participate in the final auditions. From this group, a few lucky Knoxvillians will appear as contestants on the Wheel of Fortune show in Los Angeles.

Contestants must be 18 years of age and have not participated in any other reality television show in the past year. The contestant will be responsible for any expenses incurred while interviewing and appearing on the show, including airfare, hotel and other expenses. A contestant audition does not guarantee a spot on the show.

Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights at 7 p.m. on WBIR-TV, an NBC-affiliate.

Published April 12, 2012