‘Wheel of Fortune’ connections to Pittsburgh, nearby areas

PITTSBURGH — Our Wheel Watchers know that if you watch Wheel of Fortune enough on Channel 11, you’ll see a Pittsburgh connection.

Do you remember when Wheel of Fortune filmed in Pittsburgh in 1998?

Vanna White does!

“I remember the airport!” she told Channel 11 Anchor Jennifer Tomazic on her recent behind-the-scenes filming at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

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Beyond the airport, the show filmed in our most iconic spots, bringing its most iconic show to the Benedum Center.

“Everybody was so nice,” remembers Vanna. “It was a great city. I really enjoyed it!”

Even Mr. Rogers made a guest appearance on Pittsburgh Week.

When word got out that our Channel 11 crew was at Sony Pictures studios in California doing a story, Pittsburghers checked in with us.

On the current Wheel of Fortune roster, stage manager Jimmy McGuire is from Pittsburgh.

Announcer Jim Thornton grew up in Huntington, West Virginia.

“I remember when I was 8 years old, I had the Pittsburgh Pirates pajamas and I loved those things,” he recalled. “We love Pittsburgh!”

Pittsburgh loves Wheel of Fortune. Just this season, there have already been three contestants who hail from here; one twin sister hails from Pitt!

Katie Currie, a Pitt senior, and her sister, Christina, won $88,248 dollars when they were on the show on January 9.

Andy Kraus from Pittsburgh played in January too.

And how about Randy Bird who had been trying out for more than 10 years and finally made it on the show in March.

“It was just absolutely thrilling!” Randy told Channel 11.

None of the contestants that were in Culver City for the taping when we were there were from Pittsburgh.

Ryan and Vanna have a message for the Steel City:

“We appreciate everybody in Pittsburgh watching this show for so many years and continuing to love this show and watch it,” said Ryan.

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