'I'd like to buy a vowel': Sophomore wins 'fortune' on game show

Dressed in a red shirt and tie, with his dark hair gelled back, Rob Greathouse smiled blissfully when he figured out the answer to the question.

"I'd like to solve the puzzle," he said. "Candied yams and roasted marshmallows."

The audience applauded vigorously.

This was the answer that won Greathouse several thousand dollars on the national game show Wheel of Fortune. A sophomore at the university, he won $8,500 in cash and certificates for his performance on the show.

The episode aired on Thanksgiving Day but was taped in Los Angeles on August 11, along with six other shows, Greathouse said.

"It was such a thrilling experience," he said. "I got to do something that not too many people get to do."

Greathouse said he was one of 18 people out of thousands of applicants who appeared on the series of tapings for the show.

Being in the studio was different than what people see on television, he said.

"The stage looks a lot bigger on TV and the time went by really quick," Greathouse said. "During the show you really don't have time to think."

This was evident when he accidentally asked for an "S" to solve a puzzle when the letter was already on the board.

Despite the mistake, Greathouse remained enthusiastic, which was an important part of the show, he said. The producers were constantly reminding the contestants to smile and clap.

"I wasn't worried about the live audience or about being on TV," Greathouse said. "I just was nervous that the producers would stop the show because I wasn't hyped up enough."

Although being on a game show was a great experience for Greathouse, he said he had not planned on appearing on the show when he applied online to be a contestant last spring.

"I figured, 'Why not?' " Greathouse said. "When I came across the Web site, I thought to give it a shot."

Several weeks went by and he almost forgot about it when he received a phone call about a Washington, D.C., audition, he said.

The tryout consisted of 46 people and was cut to 16, Greathouse said. After the elimination each contestant filled out forms about themselves and had to complete written tests and puzzles.

In preparation for the show, he said he watched many episodes and studied letter frequency.

Greathouse's younger sister, Jean, said she did not believe Rob when he told her he might appear on the show.

"At first, I didn't believe him because it seemed unlikely that it would happen to him," she said.

But when she found out, Jean said she knew he would be successful on the show.

"Seeing Rob on TV brings back all the good memories," she said. "It brings back the excitement of everyone in the audience clapping for someone I knew."

Sophomore Jason MacDowall has known Rob since high school and went with Rob and his family for the taping. The night before the show, MacDowall said Rob was not nervous.

"Rob was fine and confident the night before and he had a strategy," he said. "He had every angle covered and everything under control."

MacDowall said he was not surprised with how well Rob did on the show and enjoyed watching his friend succeed.

"I knew he would pull through and win some money," he said. "If anyone deserved to be on the show, it was him because he is so smart."