Area grad goes for big bucks

BILL O ’ BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

WYOMING – Who wants to be a millionaire?

Michael Pulcini, a 2001 graduate of Wyoming Area High School, does, and he might have the opportunity to win the big bucks on ABC-TV’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 10th Anniversary” show.

Pulcini, 26, is the son of Ray and Chris Pulcini of Harding. Chris Pulcini said her son always loved game shows and dreamed of being a contestant one day.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the hit show with host Regis Philbin comes back to television on ABC prime time this summer for a special two-week event. “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” premiers Sunday, Aug. 9, at 8 p.m. and will air for 11 nights, Sundays through Thursdays, at 8 p.m. The finale airs on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m.

Michael Pulcini is one of 10 contestants vying to sit in the hot seat across from Philbin and hopefully answer 15 questions en route to the seven figure prize. His mom said Pulcini will have to have the “fastest fingers” to earn a chance at the $1 million prize. Contestants are given a list of events and must put them in chronological order. The fastest to do it correctly gets a shot at the prize.

Pulcini said her son graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology and holds a master’s degree in computer science. Pulcini got married in June and his wife, Mina, will accompany him to the show taping in New York City.

“He always wanted to be on ‘Jeopardy’,” Pulcini said of her son. “When he was young, he loved to watch ‘The Price is Right’. He used to call Bob Barker ‘Bob Bob.’ I’m just so happy that he will finally get this experience.”

Chris Pulcini said the show will start taping on Thursday. She said her husband, Ray, is on the phone-a-friend lifeline list.

“We will be sitting home waiting for the phone to ring,” she said. “Hopefully, he will get the chance to go for the million and we’ll be ready to help.”

Pulcini said she hopes all of her son’s friends and teachers watch and support him.

“He really is very intelligent,” she said. “I know he will do well.”