Albuquerque resident Buddy Wren will appear on “Wheel of Fortune”at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, on KRQE.
“Wheel of Fortune” has always been a place of comfort for Albuquerque resident Buddy Wren.
As a child, his mother would rock him to sleep while watching the TV game show. Somehow, the loud “Wheel of Fortune” intro would calm his nerves.
As an adult, he and his fiance, while living apart, would call each other and watch the show via video chat every weekday at 6:30 p.m.
Today, the pair play “Wheel of Fortune” on their Nintendo Switch to add more game show into their lives.
Wren was called in December by “Wheel of Fortune” producers to fly out to Los Angeles to compete on an episode.
“I had sent in an audition tape over a year ago,” he says. “I had forgotten about it.”
Wren’s episode will air at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, on KRQE.
When it airs, Wren will be watching it with his 95-year-old grandfather, who lives in Santa Fe.
“My grandfather has been a fan of the show for 40 years,” Wren says. “I moved to Albuquerque to be closer to him and he’ll be able to see me on the TV while we watch the show.”
Wren was on set for one long day — from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.
He saw six episodes tape and spent his time waiting on the “Jeopardy!” set, which is next door.
“It was amazing to watch all of the episodes,” he says. “I also got to witness Vanna White mark her 40th anniversary show. We didn’t know that was happening. They finished the third taping and the puzzleboard starts to reveal ‘Happy 40th Vannaversary!’ She made a post about it on social media. I witnessed a bit of game show history.”
Wren went to school at Western Kentucky University where he studied psychology. He graduated in 2017.
He moved to New Mexico to be closer to his family and is pursuing his master’s in forensic psychology at National University.
“I’ve always loved Albuquerque and I’ve fallen in love with the art and culture,” he says. “I never thought I’d be on ‘Wheel of Fortune.’ The whole experience has been wonderful.”
Wren and his fiance will tie the knot on Feb. 14.
