Houston woman takes her spin on 'Wheel of Fortune'

A Houston County resident checked a longtime dream off her "bucket list" when she got behind America's most famous wheel recently. Warner Robin's Jan Morton and her her friend Jan Leary, of Atlanta, became "two in a million" when they were filmed on "Wheel of Fortune" in Culver City, California, on Jan. 8. Their episode will air on CBS at 7 p.m. Feb. 10.

"Just the fact that Jan and I were able to be on the show, this makes it feel special all by itself. Millions of people apply, and only 600 a year get to be on the show," Leary said. "It was a blast."

Morton, administrative assistant to the Houston County superintendent of schools, and Leary, a portrait artist and custom report writer for Philips Respironics, became fast friends after Leary moved to Warner Robins and started attending Second Baptist Church a decade ago. The two Jans sat next to each other in the choir, and they have remained close since Leary moved to Atlanta in 2011. Morton has been watching "Wheel of Fortune" since the game show debuted in 1983, and Leary remembers tuning in during her college years when it aired in the daytime.

"I am a word person," said Morton, who has done proofreading and editing work in the past. "It's a strength. Words and reading are just something that I love."

Leary started submitting applications to be a "Wheel of Fortune" contestant in the early 1990s, and Morton began about 10 years ago.

Three years ago, they finally got the opportunity they'd been waiting for. The show's producers emailed Leary, asking her to submit a video. Leary said she was selected to audition and told to bring a friend since they were looking for teams for a themed week.

Leary and Morton auditioned in Atlanta in June 2013, along with about 120 other people, and were invited to be on the show in January 2014. However, the giant storm dubbed "Snowpocalypse" struck, canceling their flight and stranding Morton at the airport and Leary on the interstate, Morton said. The pair notified the producers, who promised to get them on "Wheel of Fortune" another time.

"It was beyond our control and their control," Morton said. "They knew we really wanted to be there, and it was sad that we couldn't."

The producers kept in touch, and almost exactly two years later, Team Jan was in California solving word puzzles in front of the camera. Morton said they were at the studio from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 8, with a lot of that time devoted to intensive training and preparation for filming. They also got to meet hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White, who are just as nice in person as they seem on TV, Leary said.

"The training was perfect. When we got up there, we felt confident," Morton said. "I can't say enough about what a wonderful organization they are. They are so kind and so professional. They had it so organized. They knew what they were doing."

Morton and Leary were among 15 pairs of women from all over the United States who were taped for five "Girlfriend Getaways" themed episodes, which will air Feb. 8-12. Morton said she had trouble spinning the 2,400-pound wheel, so Leary was the spinner while she focused more on the puzzles. It was a true team effort, they said.

"I look at it as one of those 'bucket list' experiences for me, and it was fun," Morton. "I will say it is a lot harder live than it is sitting on your sofa. It is fast and furious. I just felt really blessed to get to go."

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 10:10 AM with the headline "Houston woman takes her spin on 'Wheel of Fortune' ."