BEREA, Ky. — For a lot of families, “Wheel of Fortune” is background noise at the end of the day. This month, it wasn’t background at all.
Berea resident Samantha Thomas appeared on the long-running game show recently, and suddenly the familiar routine turned into something else: neighbors messaging neighbors, friends texting screenshots, and the town leaning a little closer to the screen.
It’s not every day you see Berea, Kentucky attached to a national stage.
🎬 What It’s Like to Step Onto a Stage Millions Watch
Getting on a show like “Wheel” is one thing. Standing under the lights is another.
Even for people who’ve watched for years, the set changes everything: the pace is fast, the cameras are everywhere, and the smallest moment feels bigger when you know your hometown might be watching.
Thomas didn’t leave with the night’s top prize, but she did something that’s hard to measure in dollars: she made a whole town feel briefly connected through one shared moment.