Malibu resident Michelle Loewenstein’s practice of yelling out answers while watching “Wheel of Fortune” at home pays off, in a big way.
By Olivia Damavandi / Special to The Malibu Times
Some people are very passionate about what they choose to watch on television, about which they typically express their feelings, positive or negative, by shouting at the screen. Sports fans yell obscenities, horror film junkies shout warnings at the next murder victim, and Michelle Loewenstein shouts consonants, and the occasional vowel.
Since childhood, 24-year-old Loewenstein has been an ardent fan of “Wheel of Fortune,” the popular televised game show that has been in syndication for the past 25 years.
“I have watched it for as long as I can remember,” she said. “You have to be at least 18, but I was probably entering [to be a contestant] before then. I always wanted to be on the show.”
The current Santa Monica resident and florist for Cosentino’s flower shop in Malibu was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., raised in Edison, N.J. and moved to California approximately one year ago to be with her fiancée at the time (whom she married in July).
“Up until I moved to California, I’d been entering forever to be on the show,” Loewenstein said. “I applied with my new California address and got an e-mail asking me to audition for ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in June. I think having a local address made it was easier.”
After the audition, Loewenstein was told she would be notified of its outcome in three weeks via snail mail.
“It was like torture because I would wait to check the mail everyday,” she said.
Finally, she got an acceptance letter from “Wheel of Fortune.” “We got back from our honeymoon in Maui on a Monday, and on Wednesday I got a call from the contestant coordinator who said they wanted me to be on the show on the following Friday, the 8th of August.
“It’s [being a contestant on Wheel of Fortune] totally different than watching it at home,” Loewenstein continued. “When you’re at home you can call out the answers whenever you want, but on the show you have to stay focused and be careful not to blurt anything out.”
All the years she has spent shouting out letters at the television have paid off-literally. Not only did Loewenstein excel in the first two rounds of the game, but she advanced to the bonus round in which she selected a random envelope that contained a $1 million grand prize.
“In the bonus round, I looked at the puzzle, which had two words, and realized that the category was one of my favorites-‘things around the house’,” she said.
With only four of the total 11 letters of the mystery words revealed, she correctly guessed two more letters and instantly solved the puzzle, “leaky faucet.”
Overcome by emotion, Loewenstein said she ran away from host Pat Sajak even before she realized she had won a million dollars. “[When I solved the puzzle] I screamed and ran away from him [Sajak]. And then I realized I won a million dollars, so I ran back!” she said. “Pat is awesome, he’s funny, witty and really, really nice. “
There was, however, a prerequisite: until after it aired on Oct 14, Loewenstein could not disclose to anyone (with the exception of her husband, who was in the audience) how much money she won on the game show. “So for two months, I had to keep it a secret,” she said. “If I told someone how much money I had won and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ found out, I could have had to forfeit all of it.”
Loewenstein’s sister three years her senior, Stacy, fondly recalled watching the episode with many friends and family in New Jersey.
“Oh my gosh, I was totally blown away! It was so exciting because we knew she was on it but we didn’t know how much she won,” she said. “Not in my wildest imagination did I think she’d win a million dollars. I kept trying to get it out of her but she wouldn’t tell.”
Perhaps the common question posed to a new millionaire is how the money will be spent.
“We’ll probably buy a house, and I will help out my family,” Loewenstein said. “The experience far exceeded my expectations. There aren’t any words to describe it. It’s so surreal, but a little overwhelming at the same time.”
She envisions starting a family at some point, but for now, Loewenstein said she’s “just living life” and, of course, still watching “Wheel of Fortune.”