By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica resident Adam Vanderwielen’s skills in trivia, strategy, current events and tic-tac-toe will be put to the test when he steps in as a contestant on Hollywood Squares, beginning today.
Vanderwielen will be interacting with Ellen DeGeneres, who will occupy the Center Square this season. The Santa Monica resident will be put through the rigors of a fast-paced game that pays off with cars, trips and cash awards.
Vanderwielen, a stay at home dad, keeps busy by taking care of his three children, Aspen, 4, Ivy, 2, and Tucker, 9 months. To secure his spot on the popular show, he called the Hollywood Squares hotline and auditioned.
When contestants come to Hollywood’s CBS Television City to play, they can expect to tape up to five episodes each production day before a live studio audience.
“I had a great time in the Green Room,” Vanderwielen said. “Overall, it was a great experience.”
His advice to fellow contestants coming on the show? “Your strategic position is much more important than going on a feeling towards a particular star,” he said.
In addition to Center Square Ellen DeGeneres, Vanderwielen shared the stage with a wide range of television and film stars, including “Boston Public’s” Joey McIntyre, actor Martin Mull, Robert Wagner (Austin Powers), boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, rapper Rob Van Winkle (a.k.a. Vanilla Ice), talk show host Christina Saralegui, actress Florence Henderson, and Jeff Corwin (Animal Planet’s The Jeff Corwin Experience). Also, a new bonus round includes all nine celebrities, and gives each day’s champion the opportunity to take home great prizes, including brand new automobiles, trips around the world and everybody’s favorite, cash.
“If I win big money, I’m going to spoil my wife,” Vanderwielen said. The nationally syndicated Hollywood Squares can be seen locally each Monday- Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Los Angeles’ KCAL-TV.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 4, 2003. Read the original PDF.