Scot Epling poses next to a billboard at the entrance
to the taping at Sony Studios in Culver City, California
Photos by Kelli Ingram, also a Spencer native
Spencer native, Scot Epling, is set to appear as a contestant
on Wheel of Fortune this Thursday, September 25th.
A 1980 graduate of the former Spencer High School, Epling flew to Los Angeles on July 21st for the taping of the episode set to air in just a few days. Says Epling, "The whole experience was amazing. It really was the experience of a lifetime."
"The highlight of the trip was probably the morning of the taping when Vanna White appeared on the set in her street clothes with no makeup and her breakfast in hand. She sat with us, chatting and laughing before disappearing to get ready for the show."
Scot Epling (left) after the show wearing his official "Wheel of Fortune" nametag
Since most Wheel of Fortune episodes are taped in advance, contestants are bound by a non-disclosure agreement preventing them from discussing the outcome of their experience. Since his return from California Epling has been showered with questions about the outcome of the show.
"I guess you'll just have to watch," says Epling, to most inquiries. Occasionally, he finds it necessary to do a little tap dance to disguise his happiness when he thinks about the experience. So he just looks away and tries real hard not to smile when he says, "Well, let me put it this way...I don't think I have any reason to be embarrassed by my experience on the Wheel."
After graduating from Spencer High, Epling went on to earn two degrees simultaneously at West Virginia University and lived in Morgantown, West Virginia for more than 30 years. In March of 2014 he relocated to Charleston, South Carolina where he now lives less than 5 minutes from the beach. "I love my new home. This was my plan - to retire at the beach - I just got lucky and moved here before I actually retired."
According to the website www.tvguide.com, Spencer residents have two choices where they can view Wheel of Fortune at 7:00 p.m on September 25th: WSAZ Channel 3 in Huntington or WTAP Channel 4 in Parkersburg.
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