A UA student will get his 15 minutes of fame tonight on one of the world’s most renowned television game shows.

Kasey Clapp, a microbiology senior, will appear tonight as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

Clapp went through a lengthy audition process that began February in Tucson, worked its way through Phoenix and ended with a casting call and taping in September in Los Angeles, Calif.

“”They want to see your personality, play some games, there’s a written test, and you have to solve some puzzles,”” Clapp said. “”It was really intense actually.””

Once accepted as a contestant, the work didn’t stop, he said.

Wheel of Fortune tapes five episodes in a one-day period Clapp said. He arrived on set at 7:15 a.m. and didn’t finish until 2:30 p.m.

“”We went through three or four hours of paperwork and going over tons and tons of rules locked in a contestant room,”” Clapp said.

The show had its perks though, said Clapp, adding that the studio “”treated us really well, they fed us well, the hair and makeup people were great.””

That was all before he got to meet Vanna White, the show’s legendary co-host.

“”(White) was really nice,”” Clapp said. “”And she still looked good.””

After the paperwork, contestants participated in a practice round of wheel spinning.

“”It was so heavy I couldn’t believe it,”” Clapp said. “”It was awkward because I’m left handed and you have to spin it a certain way. It was a challenge, and I eventually had to switch to my right hand.””

Contestants were also instructed where to look throughout the show.

“”Don’t stare at the wheel, that was the big thing,”” Clapp said. “”Don’t look too focused, just be having fun, which is really easy to do once you’re up there.””

Clapp said to look for his signature high five during the show.

“”I didn’t want to be the awkward clapping guy so I tried to high five instead,”” he said.

Before the show, Clapp and the others were given a 14-15 page long list of puzzle categories.

“”It’s a lot easier solving these things at home when you’re watching the TV,”” Clapp said. “”It’s surprisingly more difficult when you’re actually on the stage.””

Clapp watched the Wheel of Fortune throughout his life, but it’s his grandparents that are the avid watchers, he said.

“”My grandparents watch the show religiously,”” Clapp said. “”They’ve probably watched it every day since it’s been on, and they always told me ‘you should go on that show,’ and I said there was no chance.””

Clapp, a Nebraska native, expects his whole 7,500-person town to be watching tonight. But expect Arizona to be represented in Clapp’s hometown shout-out.

“”I shouted out to the U of A, of course there’s lots of U of A on that show,”” Clapp said. “”I always have to represent my Wildcats.””

IF YOU WATCH

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Channel: KGUN 9

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