I’d like to solve, Seacrest: “Get these New Englanders their own show.”
If you were surprised to tune into the “Wheel of Fortune” Monday night and hear all three contestants say they were from Rhode Island, you might’ve been more surprised when the banter started. As the kids say, they ate.
The co-workers, all firefighters in North Providence, R.I., appeared on “Wheel” Monday night: Darrin “Poppa” Gallagher from Narragansett, Tim Stebenne from Lincoln, and Missy Porter from Johnston. The episode theme was “Bragging Rights,” featuring contestants who know each other, a new theme for the show.
Some New England magic — that “Boston Rob,” Dunkin-drinkin’, It factor— dropped when Gallagher and Stebenne began debating the etiquette of firehouse donuts before the game even commenced. Gallagher complained about people who cut donuts in half instead of taking the whole donut: “We all know you’re going to come back for the rest of it anyways.” Stebenne said if you cut it in half, it’s better for you.
It was the type of “Seinfeld” Jerry and George-banter game shows seldom get.
In the end, Chief Gallagher won with $20,150 — and had a mind-blowing solve with “Permanent Vacation” with only “m” “n” and “t” on the board. Stebenne placed second with $12,750 and Porter third with $7,000.
Gallagher got a laugh at the end saying he’d save the real bragging for when they get back to Rhode Island.
The three then got “Wheel of Fortune” medals and stood on a Wheel podium. (Can any Wheel-watchers out there confirm this is a show-first?)
In a post-game interview on “Wheel’s” Insta, all wearing their Wheel medals, Gallagher said: “I feel great.… We had a fantastic time. I got to meet Vanna. She’s an icon. I shook her hand said, ‘How you doin.’” Missy said she was ok with placing third because it’s the number of her fire engine. “Might put that on the front of the fire truck, actually,” Gallagher added, referring to her third-place Wheel medallion.
Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1 and Instagram at @laurendaley1.
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