Big money!

Wheel of Fortune's Wheelmobile, the show's promotional vehicle, will be in Chicagoland in search of some good game players who are energetic, enthusiastic and fun to be potential contestants when the show comes to Chicago this spring.

From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road in Rosemont, Ill., fans will have the opportunity to fill out an application and have his or her name drawn at random to play a simulated version of the game onstage, win unique prizes and be evaluated by producers for the chance to be a potential contestant for the broadcast version of the show.

Staff members from the Wheel of Fortune promotions team will begin handing out applications one hour before each of these live audition shows begin. Show audition segments will be staged on Saturday and Sunday in separate blocks at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on Monday at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to allow as many people as possible to have their chance to try out for a shot at spinning the big wheel with host Pat Sajak and his long-time letter-perfect sidekick Vanna White.

(Joan Rivers, who loved to pick on White, once said: "On the Vanna White diet, you only eat what you can spell. Or you can just try the Madonna diet and shave your legs and lose 30 pounds.")

Each of these show audition segments will be like an extended version of a real show broadcast lasting about an hour, with the bonus of audience members also winning prizes. Everyone who attends the event will be able to submit an application and then participants will be selected to come to the stage and audition via a random draw.

"The Wheelmobile tour gives us the opportunity to present local viewers with a unique and personal experience with the show," "Wheel of Fortune" Executive Producer Harry Friedman said.

"It's a way for us to thank our viewers for their long-term support, and for making the show No. 1."

Since its inception in 1999, the Wheelmobile has logged more than 200,000 miles and has visited more than 150 cities, and over the years, more than 600,000 Wheel of Fortune fans have attended Wheelmobile events.

Sajak, a Chicago native, along with White and the entire "Wheel of Fortune" show, will then pack up and travel to Chicago to tape three weeks of shows from downtown Chicago's famed Navy Pier on March 7, 8 and 9. The 15 episodes will air in May. "Wheel of Fortune," now in its silver 25th anniversary season and the shining jewel of the late media mogul Merv Griffin's game show empire, airs Monday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ABC 7.

For more information on the Wheelmobile, tune into ABC7 or log on to www.ABC7Chicago.com.

'Dancing' famous flashes

If you're watching ABC's fancy footwork in the ratings "Dancing with the Stars," you'll notice some famous fans watching intently in the audience. Besides all of fainting Marie Osmond's clan, on this week's broadcast, also in the audience were "Beverly Hills 90210" blonde Tori Spelling and second hubby Dean McDermott, as was as our own famous Hoosier Florence Henderson. A couple weeks ago, "Sesame Street" and late Jim Henson frightening felt Muppet creation The Count showed up as one of the accountants responsible for counting the contestant's votes. On the subject of Henderson, I'll be serving her homemade brownie recipe featured in my new cookbook "More from the Farm" at tonight's free program at 7 at the Wheatfield Public Library. All are welcome. For more information, call the library at (219) 956-3774.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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