Contestant Stalks "Wheel of Fortune"

Studio files suit to keep former player away from Pat and Vanna

By Marcus Errico Apr 15, 1997 12:25 AMTags
There's a Wheel of Fortune fanatic on the loose, but this ain't your standard-issue Sajak stalker or White wannabe. No, this is a former contestant who just won't leave.

The contestant in question, one Raymond R. Taylor of Los Angeles, appeared on Wheel several times in 1993, according to a lawsuit filed Friday by Sony Picture Studios, home base of the syndicated game show. Sony says that since December, Taylor, apparently wanting to buy some more vowels, has made four uninvited return trips to the studio and harassed employees.

Not content to be just a Wheel watcher, Taylor even made a cameo appearance in the studio audience a month ago. At that time, Sony says, Taylor was asked to leave but became "aggressively hostile and had to be physically ejected from the stage. He balled his fists and engaged in name calling." Taylor then allegedly claimed to be a Wheel staffer. Unable to convince security guards that he worked with Pat and Vanna, Taylor then asserted he was a "recognized" part of the show.

Eventually he was booted from the lot but, despite the threat of arrest from local cops, Taylor showed up again later that day, only to be chased away one more time.

Not taking the hint, the undaunted former spinner called the Wheel offices several days later and boasted to employees that "nobody can keep me out of here," according to Sony.

The studio's suit asks for a court order keeping Taylor 100 yards away from the studio, plus compensatory and punitive damages for repeated trespassing, interfering with production and intimidating employees.

Lest he think he's safe, Alex Trebek better keep on guard, too. Sony claims Taylor has also trespassed on the nearby Jeopardy! set.