A Franklin County, Pennsylvania, DJ acquired to satisfy his childhood hero after his mates inspired him to audition for Wheel of Fortune. Ryan Smetzer misplaced out on successful $40,000 within the Bonus Spherical, however nonetheless had his “goals come true.”
Smetzer hosts the MIX95.1 morning present each weekday morning, however followers now acquired to place a face to the title and voice. He wished to turn into a DJ ever since he was a child and would say the morning bulletins day by day at school. However, he additionally had one other dream rising up – to satisfy Ryan Seacrest. So, his mates inspired him to check out and made each of his goals come true.
“I had a few mates that had reached out and mentioned, ‘Hey, Wheel of Fortune is doing a little auditions,” he instructed FOX 43. “You would possibly wanna throw your title within the ring and simply see what occurs.”
Weeks later, Smetzer was chosen to play Wheel, which he had been watching together with his dad and mom since he was two years previous. He instructed The Ben and Kelly Present, which airs earlier than him on the radio, that he would watch Jeopardy!, then Wheel of Fortune, then American Idol. “So, I both wished to be the subsequent Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak, or Ryan Seacrest,” he mentioned. “Btu Seacrest was at all times the highest one.”
He flew to California in December 2024 to movie the episode. “Ever since I used to be about seven years previous, I at all times instructed my dad and mom I wished to be the subsequent Ryan Seacrest,” he instructed FOX 43.
Regardless of watching the sport present nightly, Smetzer needed to brush up on his expertise earlier than approaching. “As quickly as I acquired to the spherical of auditions the place I acquired extra critical they usually had been like ‘hey, we’re gonna do some puzzle rounds,’ I used to be like, alright we’re gonna get the sport out on PlayStation and begin enjoying a number of the video games a bit of bit extra began watching some extra episodes,” he mentioned.
“It’s one of many quickest, most surreal half-hour of your life. You’re in there, you’re doing the present, you’re enjoying the sport. It’s precisely what you see once you’re watching it on TV each single night time.”
Smetzer’s episode aired Friday, February 28. “It was a enjoyable expertise,” he instructed Fox 43.
Regardless of having enjoyable and getting to satisfy his idol, Smetzer tousled within the Bonus Spherical. He received $16,300 and a visit to St. Croix within the Carribean after enjoying in opposition to Janelle Fulford, one other sport present fanatic and up to date cubist from West Palm Seaside, Florida, and Jessica Frey, from Las Vegas, Nevada, who’s a proud mother of 4 kids.
When it got here time for the Bonus Spherical, Smetzer choked in entrance of his idol. He introduced his girlfriend, Kaitlin, with him, whom he’s going to take to St. Croix. Smetzer selected “Factor” for his remaining puzzle. After Wheel gave him “R, S, T, L, N, and E,” he selected “B, H, W, and A.”
Smetzer’s puzzle appeared like: “_R_ _ _ _ WEATHER.” After Seacrest began the 10-second countdown, Smetzer guessed, “Breezy Climate,” however that wasn’t right. “Drizzly Climate,” he mentioned once more proper earlier than the buzzer went off. Nonetheless, he was flawed each occasions, because the puzzle was revealed to be “Frigid Climate.” He misplaced out on including $40,000 to his winnings.
“It was so good to satisfy you,” Seacrest instructed Smetzer whereas shaking his hand.
With an enormous smile on his face, the contestant replied, “Good to satisfy you too, man.”
On Thursday, February 20, an area ex-TV anchor from Wisconsin, Heather Foster, appeared on Wheel, and in contrast to Smetzer, she received almost $90,000 and a visit to Iceland after accurately successful the Bonus Spherical.
Wheel of Fortune, Weeknights, Examine Native Listings