- December 05, 2025
- By Karen Shih ’09
It’s not déjà vu: A Terp with the last name Oliveira will compete on “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday night during its Disney-themed Secret Santa week. But this time, it’s LGBTQ+ Equity Center Director Kristopher Oliveira’s turn to buy a vowel, two years after husband Alfredo.
“I thought, ‘There’s no way they’re going to pick me,’” said Oliveira. But luckily, after months of urging from Honors Global Communities Program Manager Alfredo to apply, Oliveira was selected as a contestant for the game show’s holiday kickoff.
Guessing under the bright lights in the Culver City, Calif., studio was totally different from shouting out answers from the couch or playing the game on his phone, said Oliveira, who taped in late October. First, Alfredo couldn’t accompany him because their Chihuahua was recovering from an injury. Then Oliveira had to sit through four other tapings and practice, trying to stifle his nervousness about spinning the giant wheel. “I was afraid of smashing my fingers!” he said. “There’s an art to pulling it and pushing it away.”
When he took his place on stage, introduced by new host Ryan Seacrest, he kept a tip from Alfredo (who won about $6,700 during his appearance) in mind: The letterboard out in the audience tells contestants which letters have been used and called—something easy to miss in the excitement of the moment. It helped as he tackled new categories being introduced for the first time; the show is shaking things up after longtime host Pat Sajak retired last year.
Though Oliveira can’t divulge the results, he did enjoy bantering about pizza with Seacrest backstage. One of the best parts of his day, however, wasn’t even “Wheel of Fortune”-related. Instead, he marveled at the fact that he was in the same Sony Pictures studio where the tornado scene for “The Wizard of Oz,” a lifelong favorite, was filmed in the 1930s. (The massive “Wicked” fan has also seen the stage production 21 times and “Wicked: For Good” five times since it opened.)
On Friday evening, the Oliveiras are hosting a watch party for their friends, and eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot another thing the couple shares: the same red Mickey Mouse holiday-themed tie Alfredo wore in 2023. And while the Disney fanatics would love to win a cruise or other vacation package, the Disney World season pass holders have already planned their next trip to Orlando over New Year’s.
Take the leap, Oliveira encourages potential contestants.
“It’s the most fun you’ll ever have,” he said. “Getting to watch people in real time, seeing some of their wildest dreams come true—you can’t help but be excited.”