It is always exciting when someone from the Capital Region pops up on a national show. Tonight, that hometown connection comes from Troy, where a Villanova senior will be spinning the wheel on Wheel of Fortune.
Patrick Casale is a twenty-year-old originally from Troy who graduated from Catholic High in 2022, decided to try out for the game show almost on a whim. He told me he always liked the show, but he was not someone who watched it every night.
How Did He Hear About The Audtition?
Patrick and a friend noticed that there were auditions in Philadelphia, not far from the Villanova campus. They decided to give it a shot and ended up waiting in line for about two hours. When it was finally his turn, he was asked to talk about himself without even mentioning the show. Producers told him that if he advanced, it could take up to a year to hear anything.
Just three weeks later, Patrick received an invitation for a second audition over Zoom. During that round, he moved through different virtual rooms solving puzzles. He said producers seemed more interested in how he chose letters and how he thought through the puzzles rather than simply getting the right answer.
When Did Patrick Find Out He Was Selected?
Two months later, right in the middle of finals week, Patrick got the call asking if he could fly to Hollywood to tape the show. He and his family made the trip out to California for the big day.
What Was He Most Surprised About?
Patrick said what surprised him most was how friendly and normal everyone was on set, including Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest. One moment that stood out to him was seeing Vanna arrive early in the morning, wearing a sweatsuit with her hair pulled back. Patrick said it was refreshing to see such a well-known television star acting completely down-to-earth and just like anyone else…