THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503290033
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LAWRENCE MADDRY
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
TALK ABOUT DUMB. I must be the only person in Hampton Roads who doesn't watch ``Wheel of Fortune,'' America's No. 1 game show.
I used to watch. But now, if I'm watching the local news on WVEC, I make it a point to change the channel at 7 p.m., before Pat Sajak welcomes viewers and Vanna comes clicking onscreen in a new dress and high heels.
It isn't that I don't dig ``Wheel.'' I used to watch the show regularly until I adopted my pal, Mabel, a cocker spaniel, from the SPCA.
Now I don't watch the show because it freaks Mabel out.
There are a lot of things that unsettle the dog, but ``Wheel'' is way up there on the list. The list includes the grinding that the garbage disposal makes, the sound of a fire engine siren and any movement of the rubber raft on my deck caused by a sudden gust of wind.
What disturbs Mabel during ``Wheel of Fortune'' is the binging sound that occurs when someone guesses the right letters and Vanna White reveals them by turning the puzzle panels.
Bing. . . bing. It's the same sound heard when someone pushes our door bell. Whenever Mabel hears the doorbell sound, she springs off her usual resting place on the back of the couch and races to the front door.
The second bing finds her with feet spread, barking at the stranger she perceives to be on the other side of the door. ``Woof! Woof!''
Mabel believes she is merely doing her duty. She takes pride in protecting our home from monsters, ax murderers, salesmen, dogs, cats, pizza delivery persons, wind-tossed rubber rafts or whatever is on the other side of the door.
The first couple of times it happened on the show, I tried to calm her. I patted her head, told her everything was OK, opened the door to show her no one was on the other side and led her back to the sofa.
She scratched at the cushions with her paws and lay down for a second, but leaped right off again at the next ``bing,'' barking as she charged toward the front door.
Hoo-boy. There are more bings on that program than a week of televised Crosby movies over Christmas.
And with each sound of the tone, Mabel's ferocity increased. She began waiting, with ears alert, for the next bing. When it sounded, she was off like a shot, barking her head off.
Near the end of the show she stood with her nose an inch from the door, trembling. A slow, rumbling growl sounded deep in her chest as she waited for the next bing with a wild look in her eye that was painful to see. Her dotted pupils revealed her repressed rage at the torment being inflicted upon her. She was clearly losing it. I haven't seen eyes like that since the movie ``Psycho'' when Norman Bates, knife in hand, headed for the shower curtain.
That's when I decided it was best for Mabel's mental health - and my own - not to watch ``Wheel of Fortune.'' I've felt a little guilty about it right along. And never more than now - since the show is coming to Norfolk.
I'm sure you read about it in the paper.
On April 28, 29, and May 1, co-hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White and the entire crew of ``Wheel'' will be taping the show aboard the aircraft carrier Dwight Eisenhower in Norfolk.
Robert W. Smithwick, the director of Norfolk's Department of Development and his staff arranged the show's visit here. The tapings will include views of Norfolk and other Hampton Roads cities.
The show reaches 100 million weekly viewers worldwide and is the most popular television game show on Earth. So, our region will get a colossal audience - one that money can't buy - when the show airs between May 15 and May 26.
But I won't be watching it at my house, that's for sure. Guess I'll leave Mabel at home and watch the locally done ``Wheel'' programs on a neighbor's TV.
This morning I placed a phone call to Lisa Dee, who is a marketing specialist with ``Wheel'' in California.
``Your dog does what?'' she asked. I explained Mabel's problem to her and asked if other dog owners around the country haven't written or phoned to report a similar response from their pets.
``No,'' she said, ``this is the first time I've heard of anything like that.''
I can't believe Mabel is the only uneasy rider on ``Wheel.'' If your dog has the same reaction to that show or goes nuts over something else, please lemme hear from you. by CNB