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