Capital Region Teacher Featured on Wheel Of Fortune Gives Behind The Scenes Insight Into Show

Capital Region teacher Cara Green will be one of the contestants on Wheel of Fortune tonight (January 10th). She shared the lengthy process of getting selected, her interaction with Vanna White, her overall experience and so much more.

She said how rare it is to make it onto the show so quickly. Cara told me, "Some people wait years to be on, and I got on in a matter of months! A million people try out each year, and only 600 make it. Just being on is like winning."

Cara Green, a Spanish teacher at St. Mary’s in Waterford, began her journey to Wheel of Fortune in September when she submitted an application and video. After a Zoom interview with other hopefuls and a producer, she moved on to more rounds, including a mock game where contestants practiced “buzzing in.”

One of the most challenging stages involved solving timed puzzles under pressure—four puzzles on a screen in 90 seconds, repeated across multiple rounds. Cara said, "They definitely wanted to see how we could handle pressure!"

In November, just two weeks before taping on November 7, Cara received the exciting news: she was officially chosen for the show!

Reflecting on the experience, Cara described it as one of the best moments of her life. She said they treated her like a star adding that her hair was styled by the daughter of Vanna White’s stylist, and her makeup was done by the same person who handles Ken Jennings’ makeup for Jeopardy!

Vanna White greeted the contestants first thing in the morning, wearing casual attire, simply to welcome them. Cara's hairdresser said she was the nicest woman in Hollywood, and she agreed.

Her day began at 7 p.m. and lasted until 6 p.m., as she was part of the fifth of six episodes filmed that day. This gave her plenty of time to bond with her fellow contestants, all of whom she described as wonderful. She said they started a group chat, and they have been cheering each other on all week.

This week’s theme celebrated the 50th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune, and each contestant was invited to mark a milestone or special event. For Cara, it was to celebrate her 25th year of teaching at St. Mary’s in Waterford.

She also shared some behind-the-scenes insight she said, "They tell us we aren’t competing against each other; we’re competing against the wheel."

Cara emphasized how kind everyone on set was and noted that people often say Wheel of Fortune is one of the nicest places in Hollywood to work. She also expressed her sincere thoughts and prayers for everyone in that area and the devastating wildfires.

She also said how rare it is to make it onto the show so quickly. Cara told me, "Some people wait years to be on, and I got on in a matter of months! A million people try out each year, and only 600 make it. Just being on is like winning."

Keeping the experience a secret was one of the biggest challenges. She said they tell you not to even tell your kids because they might spread the news. She admitted it was so hard not to share it with her 7-year-old daughter.

Catch Cara Green on Wheel of Fortune tonight on News 10 ABC at 7 pm. St. Mary's School in Waterford is holding a watch party tonight.