OCTOBER 31 • 2024 | 25
J
N
J
enny Bordelove and Alisa Berke
were lifelong Wheel of Fortune
fans, but the Jewish best friends
never imagined they’d one day find
themselves competing on the popular
game show.
On Oct. 10, their Wheel of Fortune epi-
sode finally went live on the air.
It was a big secret Bordelove and Berke
kept since June; they couldn’t discuss
their Wheel of Fortune experience and
winnings until their episode finally
debuted four months later.
“Since I was younger, I’ve always want-
ed to be on Wheel of Fortune,” Berke,
associate director of lifelong learning and
SHORESH at Temple Shir Shalom, says.
“It was a bucket list item for me.”
Two decades back, Berke, 50, of West
Bloomfield, signed up for Wheel of
Fortune’s Wheel Watchers Club. It offers
fans a chance to win prizes online. Yet
many years later, in January 2024, a
Wheel Watchers Club email popped into
her inbox that she thought was spam.
It asked Berke if she was interested in
trying out for Wheel of Fortune.
Naturally, once she realized it was the
real deal, Berke eagerly agreed and com-
pleted a Zoom interview. She went on to
the next round, which was a tryout for
Wheel of Fortune consideration.
Berke solved a complicated puzzle,
placing her in a potential contestant pool
for up to one year.
At any point during the year, she
could hear back about being on Wheel of
Fortune.
In April 2024, she received a second
email asking her if she’d like to try out
for Best Friends Week. Berke immediate-
ly contacted her best friend, Bordelove,
51, and also of West Bloomfield, to join
her.
Both women completed the interviews,
and one month later, received the news
that they were flying out to California to
officially compete on Wheel of Fortune.
“We were screaming,” Bordelove
recalls. “Every step of the way, we
couldn’t believe it.”
Berke and Bordelove flew out to
Culver City, California, in June with their
families (the only ones able to know
about their Wheel of Fortune experience)
to film their upcoming episode.
There they met Wheel of Fortune hosts
Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White.
The duo practiced nonstop at home
but found themselves facing the perils
of the game. The wheel was unlucky,
landing twice on “bankrupt” and once on
“lose a turn.”
Still, Berke and Bordelove walked away
with $2,000 and a spa trip to St. Maarten.
To celebrate their episode’s debut, the
pair held a watch party at Edgewood
Country Club for friends and family.
“Every time we spun bankrupt, the
crowd would moan,” Bordelove says with
a laugh, “and when we finally won some-
thing big, the crowd would clap.”
“It was so fun listening to everyone,”
she adds. “Everybody has been so sup-
portive since day one.”
When asked if they would compete
on Wheel of Fortune if given the chance
again, Berke and Bordelove unanimously
agreed they’d sign up in a heartbeat.
“Every now and again, Wheel of
Fortune brings back old contestants,”
Berke says. “That’s our secret wish.”
Best Friends
Compete on
Wheel of Fortune
West Bloomfield women walk away with
$2,000 and a spa trip to St. Maarten.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
TOP: Jenny Bordelove and Alisa Berke. ABOVE: The best friends chat
with Ryan Seacrest.
PHOTOS: SONY PICTURES TELEVISION, PHOTOGRAPHER TYLER GORDON