'Wheel' real deal for duo
Oswego brothers take a swing at game show success, hit the jackpot
BY ELISABETH KILPATRICK ekilpatrick@scn1.com
Two words: porch swing.
That simple phrase is now close to the hearts of Brian and Tom Collins. After all, it was the final puzzle they correctly solved on Wheel of Fortune, helping them win more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.
"I'm surprised we lasted this long," Tom said a few minutes before the show began.
"I'm a gossip queen," Brian admitted, laughing. "It's especially hard with the friends who get mad because you won't tell them."
The episode was part of "family-style" week on Wheel of Fortune, featuring three two-person teams from the Chicago area. The brothers are longtime fans of the show, so making the transition from Wheel watchers to players was easy.
"My wife (Mary) and I like to play for (money)," Tom said. "Whoever guesses the puzzle gets a dollar."
As the familiar Wheel theme music filled the banquet hall Thursday, friends grabbed slices of pizza and drinks and settled in to watch the action. The first puzzle, "baby changing table," went to a competing father-and-son team, despite the fact that Tom and Brian have three little girls between them.
"Why didn't you get that?" yelled Brian's wife's grandpa, Ken DeRudder, of Oswego.
Things started looking up from there, though. The brothers guessed an "S," then an "H" and solved the puzzle: "My ship has come in." Next came "experimental theater," then "Candy Land of Lincoln." Loud whoops rippled through the crowd as the show went to a commercial break.
"Did you win, Daddy?" cried Brian's 4-year-old daughter, Caitlin.
"Not yet," he told her.
But a few minutes later, it was clear Brian and Tom were headed toward the bonus round. After sagely guessing "C," "M," "H" and "I," the brothers immediately called out "porch swing" on the show. The entire room erupted in cheers.
"Does this mean I don't have to pay you for pizza?" DeRudder kidded Brian.
"Now I know why you wanted to throw a party," said Brian's aunt, Lois Becker, as she gave him a big hug.
All in all, the Collins brothers each won a trip to Las Vegas, a Carribbean cruise, about $15,000 in cash and a Buick Enclave. They plan to sell off the cars, though, since they own Fox Valley Ford with their brother, Mike.
Brian's wife, Mary, said they're going to take Caitlin and Ashley, 1, to Disney World to celebrate. As for Tom, he and Mary will probably start a college fund for daughter Shannon, 11 months.
"My plan was to take my wife on a trip to Hawaii, but we won two trips," Tom said. "Maybe there will be enough for Hawaii down the road."
