“I can tell you, it is nothing like doing it from your couch,” says Diane Boucher, Londonderry resident and game show contender. “There’s so much more to it.”
Boucher had the chance to cross off a major bucket list item recently as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. She explained that she had recently auditioned with her best friend of 45 years for “Best Friends Week”, but at that time, she was told that they had too many Friends.
“But they liked my enthusiasm,” Boucher gushed, and before long, she was auditioning in February, against several hundred other hopefuls in Boston. Shortly after that, Boucher found herself in Los Angeles for a second audition, which put her on track to having a lifelong dream fulfilled.
Boucher explained that being on the game show set was completely different than playing along from home. Contestants were expected to be very quick on their feet and be able to keep up with the fast pace of the game and keep things moving along.
Boucher noted that meeting Pat Sajak and Vanna White were the highlights of her experience. “They were very gracious,” she said of the game show celebrities. She also commended the folks working behind the scenes, and how expertly they were able to keep things moving for people to enjoy at home.
When asked what was next on her bucket list, Boucher remarked that she was disappointed at the prospect of not being able to compete on Wheel of Fortune again, but she held out hope that one day she may spin the wheel again.
Boucher’s in-laws, Bill and Eleanor, who have both since passed, were active members of the community and faithful members of the Londonderry Senior Center. They were avid Wheel watchers and would have thoroughly enjoyed watching her on the show!
To see Diane Boucher Spin The Wheel, tune in to WBZ Channel 4 on Thursday, May 25, from 7 to 7:30 p.m.