Spinning and Winning on TV’s “Wheel of Fortune”
PITTSBURGH
Twins Marquerite Alexander (in red) and Marietta Brown doubled their pleasure and fun after winning $21,695 (in cash and a trailer) on the popular TV show, “Wheel of Fortune.”
The twins from Albany, N.Y., were among 15 AFL-CIO union members and their partners — including AFSCME Local 1930 (D.C. 37) member Stephanie Tolbert and her son Steve — who competed in the day-long, 12-hour taping on “Wheel’s Salute to the American Working Family” that began airing Labor Day and continued throughout the week.
“It really is a whole lot easier playing ‘Wheel’ at home,” says Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000 member Alexander who works as a document specialist at the New York State Department of Law. “We just tried to stay focused, remember the categories and the letters that had already been called,” says Brown, an administrative assistant with the research foundation at the State University of New York.
The twins were well on their way after solving two puzzles. In fact, they made it to the bonus round only to falter in the category on occupations. The answer missed was “baker.” With co-host Pat Sajak consoling them, Alexander belted out, “Mamma’s going to kill us [for not solving the puzzle] — she’s a baker,” holding both hands up to her mouth.
Stephanie and Steve Tolbert appeared on the Sept. 9 broadcast, where they won $3,050. “Time just flew by,” says Tolbert, a supervisory clerk at the N.Y. Public Library. Her son is a chef, who lives in Connecticut.
In early May, the contestants gathered for tryouts in Boston and were informed before June 30 of their selection to appear on the high-energy show.
Among those audience participants thunderously yelling “W-h-e-e-l of F-o-r-t-u-n-e” at the beginning of each show and during commercials, was AFL-CIO Exec. Vice Pres. Linda Chavez-Thompson. “I bring greetings on behalf of the 13 million members of our organization who strive each day to provide the kind of services that make our country a safer and better place to live,” she said, while speaking with the show’s co-hosts on stage during a taping break.
The AFL-CIO co-sponsored the special program and presented the grand-prize winners — Anthony Pileski of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 in Pittsburgh and his sister Janet — with $30,000 in credit on a Union Plus credit card and a trip for 10 family members to Hawaii.
