Pflugerville man to appear on 'Wheel of Fortune'
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In one week from Wednesday, Central Texans will want to tune in to "Wheel of Fortune" right here on KXAN. One of the contestants who will step up and spin the iconic wheel is from right here in Central Texas.
Before you watch him compete, we're giving you a chance to get to know him. Gregory Harrington joined our Will DuPree and Avery Travis to talk about how he's feeling about the episode of "Wheel of Fortune" airing April 23.
Read a transcription of the interview below, or watch in the video player above. Some responses have been edited for clarity.
Will DuPree: I feel like when you walked in the room smiles just immediately went on our faces. So I'm so excited about this.
Gregory Harrington: Thank you, man. I feel the energy even way back when we filmed it in March. But it's so cool to just be a week away. I'm getting excited about it even right now.
Avery Travis: I bet every day. Okay, so we know that this actually coincided with a really big milestone in your life. So tell people how all the fates came together to make this happen.
Harrington: So long story short, I turned 50 on March 6, and I received a phone call about a week before and and that was, "Hey, I'm Aaron from Wheel of Fortune." I was about to go and speak for the Black History program, so I was walked out about to screen. I was like, let's get the details. He say, Well, I say, Well, I have a event from March 1 through March 5, Dominican Republic. So if it's after that, we good. So, he said it's March 7, I said, "Put me in coach. Put me in coach. Lock it in." So I literally came back on March 5 of the Dominican Republic. Shoutout to my girlfriend, who actually planned that great event. And then on the sixth, went to flew to L.A. and filmed the show on March 7. So I encourage everybody to jump in, jump in, jump in, apply. It's such a great experience. You know what? I mean? They want personality.
DuPree: So was "Wheel of Fortune" something that you had always watched or dreamt of being on? Talk to us about that.
Harrington: I don't watch it all the time, but there's one of these random times I literally just was watching it, and I say, let me see what it takes to apply. It was a whopping five minutes at most. At most five minutes, and they called me about a month later, we did the first audition, all on Zoom. Everything's on Zoom. And then a week later, it must have like what they first like the first audition, and then we went deeper, and then I got the call on Feb. 25 to be on the filming on March 7. So it really went fast, and I'm just happy to be there. I can't tell you all what happens. You go to tune in April 23.
DuPree: What was that like, stepping onto the set after having watched it even just a few times through your life?
Harrington: Super surreal. I think the main thing is, like you see this on TV, and you almost see yourself wanting to be on it, but just to have the reality of being on set with Vanna [White] and with Ryan [Seacrest] spinning the wheel is a whole different experience, man. And so I'm just smiling from ear to ear. Now, even I can't tell y'all the results, but you want to tune in, man. You want to tune in. That's what I'm trying to say. Like I say, "Put me in coach."
Travis: Here's the thing in TV, we call that a tease, and that is one of the best teases I have ever heard. Okay, we want people to know you a little bit better, so that when they're watching the show, they feel invested. You're from here in Central Texas. Give us some of your background.
Harrington: I'm born and raised in Louisiana. Been here since 1997 fresh out of school from Jackson State University, moved here because of IBM, spent a lot of years, even at Dell. And I've been here like June will be 28 years. So I've been here longer than I've been in Louisiana. So I live in Pflugerville, so shout out to P-ville. Definitely want to give love to that. We are going to be doing a watch party in specifically Pflugerville. So y'all want to come out Cajun Eats down south, right there behind Tinseltown. We're going to have a party, man. I mean, why not? You only do this one time. You only turn 50 one time. You only be on "Wheel of Fortune" one time, but I want to hype it up, because just as much as you want to be on the show, they want energy for the show as well. So apply. Man, apply. I mean, at the end of the day, whether you're good at solving puzzles or not, I think it's entertainment, you know what I mean? It's entertainment. So they want energy. They want some personality. So don't just get on audition. Say, I just want to solve a puzzle. You won't be chosen, bro. You won't get chosen. That actually did happen, one of the other guys, that was on audition with me. So, I don't think he got chose. So give a little energy. I mean, you don't have to be this turned up, but I got a reason to be turned out. I'm 50, I had amazing week and the gift just keeps on giving, man. So, even to be on the show today, thank you so much. But it's like it's just a gift that keeps on giving. The celebration 50 year is still continuing. What a way to close that week out, right?
Travis: Oh my gosh. And we're just so proud. We're gonna be rooting for you. We can't wait to know the outcome.