Michigan husbands walk away with cash, trip on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Lathrup Village men are second same-sex couple to appear on show
Weekday evenings at 7 p.m., you’ll find Greg Ruvolo and Tom Bayer hunkered in their Lathrup Village home, intent on solving riddles posed on the “Wheel of Fortune.”
Except for the most recent Feb. 13, on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
On that night, the couple was joined by 120 friends and family, their eyes locked on a 30-feet screen at the Birmingham Village Players showing that evening’s “Wheel” episode.
The stars of the watch party?
Greg and Tom, a couple for 18 years and a married couple for six years. Their appearance together on that evening’s special episode of “Wheel of Fortune” was part of “Sweethearts Week” programming, as well as the second time in the show’s history that a same-sex couple had been contestants.
Competing on the show — taped weeks earlier at a California studio — meant they were living the dream of Wheel Watchers who can’t help but wonder how they would do as contestants.
“It’s an iconic game show,” said Ruvolo, 51, a communications manager for a property and construction company. “Everybody grew up watching it and trying to guess the puzzle before anybody else does.”
Added Bayer, 59, an operations and human resources manager for a health business: “We are dedicated Wheel Watchers — every night, Monday through Friday. If you are at our house at 7 p.m., it’s turned on.”
Show officials said the convivial couple charmed the studio audience of some 200 when the program was taped in January.
And they came out on top, winning the main part of the game and advancing to the Bonus Round.