THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290336
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
At precisely 7:02 Friday evening, the sign mounted high in a hangar bay aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower began flashing an urgent message.
``Applause.'' ``Applause.'' ``Applause.''
It was time to start taping ``Wheel of Fortune'' - show No. S-2136, to be exact - in ``beautiful and historic Norfolk.'' The show's announcer used that flowery phrase when he introduced the co-hosts, Vanna White and former Air Force enlisted man Pat Sajak, to the 850 people in the audience.
That is four times the number of people who usually witness a taping of the world's most popular game show when it's done in downtown Los Angeles.
White, who in person appears taller and even thinner than her television image, paraded onto the ``Wheel of Fortune'' set in a satiny green suit with lace sleeves.
The tapings will continue at Norfolk Naval Base today and conclude Monday, when all the contestants will be in uniform. Ten tapings. Ten different outfits for Vanna White, who is a whiz at turning the letters on a puzzle board and smiling at the same time. Looks easy.
Before the taping began, White was smiling and relaxed backstage in a red pantsuit, spending time with her 10-month-old son, Nicholas. Then she disappeared into her trailer, where wardrobe mistress Frankie Robinson helped her choose an outfit for the show.
In its 12 years in syndication, ``Wheel of Fortune'' has taped other shows with the military, but this is the first time that cast and crew have set up shop on an aircraft carrier. The show's creator and executive producer, Merv Griffin, flew in on his private jet to be a part of the event.
How could he stay away?
Years back, when he was with the Freddy Martin orchestra, Griffin sang his heart out (``I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts'') at a club located surfside in Virginia Beach.
Welcome back, Merv.
Dressed in a blue blazer, silk tie and white slacks, surrounded by people who work for him, Griffin looked like a tycoon on the move, which he is. His hair is as white as a snowy mountaintop. Griffin's enterprises include hotels in Atlantic City, Beverly Hills, Florida, New Mexico and Arizona. He owns radio stations - and a vineyard.
Even with all that serious business to tend to, he puts in his hours on the lighthearted ``Wheel of Fortune.''
``I still do the puzzles,'' he said.
And he counts the number of times White applauds during a taping. It's about 720 claps per show.
To see show biz giant Griffin sitting among them on a folding chair in the hangar bay was a surprise for Carl and Rose Lifland and the dozens of other locals in the audience who won their tickets in a lottery.
Were they excited?
You bet, said Rose Lifland, who likes ``Wheel of Fortune'' so much that she intended to watch the doings aboard the Eisenhower and tape Friday evening's show on WVEC if Channel 13 hadn't pre-empted it for a home and garden magazine.
The ``Wheel of Fortune'' taped Friday will be seen in syndication May 22.
Griffin was a talk-show host when he hit on the idea of converting the children's spelling game ``Hangman'' into a TV show. That idea created a TV phenomenon seen in 29 countries.
``The show has become an American institution as well as a show with a cult following,'' Griffin said. ``People just love to play this game. And Vanna and Pat are perfect in what they do.''
And so-o-o-o-o-o relaxed about it.
With the tapings just minutes away, Sajak was schmoozing with a camera crew from Cleveland, saying he could do the show in a deep sleep if he had to. But he is always fully awake and up for the show, bubbling over with energy, because he wants the contestants to remember their time on ``Wheel of Fortune'' as a supreme thrill.
``We want it to be fun for them,'' he said.
Rebecca Schneider of Newport News was one of the contestants spinning the rather large wheel against the backdrop of a Navy F-14 Tomcat Friday. In other tapings here this weekend, James Williams Jr. of Suffolk, Valerie Walker of Norfolk, Mark Rankin of Virginia Beach and Karen Wilborn of Virginia Beach are scheduled to compete for cash and prizes.
The ``Wheel of Fortune'' payout since 1983 has been more than $60 million.
``Wheel of Fortune'' is in Norfolk this weekend because Griffin likes to salute the armed forces at least once a year. He wanted to include the Navy in 1995. Why? ``Because there is no more romantic setting that a ship at sea,'' said Griffin.
The Eisenhower is snugly tied to a pier at the Norfolk Naval Base. That's hardly at sea. Close enough, said Griffin. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA, Staff
Vanna White walks to the ``Wheel of Fortune'' stage on the carrier
Eisenhower Friday at the Norfolk Naval Base.
by CNB