ORWIGSBURG - A local couple will appear on the Jan. 31 episode of a television show they watch every night together - "Wheel of Fortune."
"My wife has been watching 'Wheel of Fortune' forever with her grandparents," Greg Solga, a U.S. Airways Express captain and flight instructor at Bright Sky LLC, said recently. "I've been watching ever since I met my wife so it's a family routine here."
Solga said he watches the show every night with his wife, Angie, a biology teacher at Kutztown, and their daughter, Mary, 2.
"I remember when I was 5 or 6 at my grandmother's house watching it with my brother," Angie Solga said.
She said when she first heard the "Wheelmobile" was coming to the area at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs to audition potential contestants on May 19 and 20, she knew it was finally their chance to get on the show.
"As soon as I saw it on TV, I said we were going," Angie Solga said.
Greg Solga said about 1,000 people showed up for the first auditions.
"I never thought we were going to go all the way," Greg Solga said. "Only about 600 people a year make it on the show out of millions who try out."
On the second day of auditions, the couple were randomly selected to try out on a mock stage of the show. The couple said the judges were looking for enthusiasm and excitement as they were picking contestants for "couples' week" on the show.
After being called back for two more auditions with candidates being narrowed down from 100 to 20, the Solgas received a letter in the mail on Dec. 1 asking them to fly out to Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles for filming on Dec. 13.
"It is one of the things you don't really say no to," Greg Solga said.
"You don't get another chance." Angie Solga added.
The theme for the show was "Making Family Memories at Disney," with prizes and trips related to Disney theme parks. The couple said they studied "everything Disney," including songs and characters.
Greg Solga said the theme was somewhat ironic since the family had to push back their first trip to a Disney park with their daughter to January to make the filming. It was also the first time they had to leave their toddler, who stayed with grandparents.
"Everybody was nervous," Greg Solga said, noting that there were about 15 couples from across the nation at the studio. "It was an age group in their 30s and 40s and had to leave their kids for the first time."
Greg Solga said they flew out to California the day before and took a red-eye flight back home the night the episode was taped. Greg Solga said their episode was the third of five being taped that day.
"It was a very intense experience. We went though every emotion and before you know it, it's over," Angie Solga said. "It was neat, it was a different experience. It was one of those bucket list things and I can't believe it's over."
The couple were not allowed to discuss how they did as contestants since the episode has yet to debut on television.
"We can't say exactly, but it definitely was worth the trip," Angie Solga said.
The couple said they are planning to have a viewing party with family on Jan. 31.
"I have been watching for 30 years and I always said I wanted to be on the show," Angie Solga said. "When you finally get the chance, you always wish you could have did better. I'm afraid seeing it might bring up those feelings again."
The couple said there is much more pressure put on contestants in the studio than those watching from home may realize.
"There's a lot going on, things you don't realize. There's people that keep hurrying you," Greg Solga said.
"You always do better at home," Angie Solga said. "It was totally different than watching at home."
After witnessing how "Wheel of Fortune" is produced, the couple see the show in a new light as they still watch it at home.
"It's kind of different to watch now," Angie Solga said.
"The magic has been taken away," Greg Solga said.
For the "Wheel of Fortune" fans aspiring for their chance to get on the show, Angie Solga offered some advice: "Don't give up because it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said. "Just do it. We were very fortunate and never thought it would happen."