Carla Clark | For The Republic Diana and Tony Gambaiani, having the highest points for matching responses, hold their trophy GOAT during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
THE eventual champion married couple of Turning Point Domestic Violence Services’ Not-So-Newlywed Game Finale made a not-so-optimistic prediction beforehand: They didn’t have a real chance at winning. So the two who said “I do” more than 24 years ago decided pretty understandably that “we won’t” — that is, beat another couple, Paul and Julie Furber, who had recorded a perfect score in the last competition in 2019.
“So we didn’t even practice (questions),” said a beaming Diana Gambaiani immediately afterward. “And look what happened.”
Indeed, look: She and husband Tony Gambaiani scored 50 points, and racked up enough harmony that, even when they didn’t match answers on questions such as Diana’s superpower, they still lovingly smooched — partly because he had answered “her kindness.”
“That’s so sweet,” she said, as a crowd of 300 people at The Commons audibly ooohed.
Thursday’s fundraiser, held from 2015 to 2019 until the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted everything, raised raised more than $60,000 in support of programs, services and scholarships for local students.
The charity event is a spoof of the classic TV game show, “The Newlywed Game.” Its intent is to show healthy, lasting, give-and take relationships since Turning Point’s mission is to stop dating and domestic violence, which is rising locally.
And just like the game show from which it was spun, five competing couples — the winners from each of the five preceding competitions — had to give answers as they felt their spouse would answer so that their responses would match. Besides the Gambaianis and Furbers, the other couples were Chuck and Suzanne Wells, Charlie and Jayne Farber, and Charles and Lorraine Smith.
Host Mickey Kim, known for his dry wit, offered his customary reminder at the show’s opening that all questions were rated PG, and there would be no references to “making whoopie,” as TV host Bob Eubanks used to term marital intimacy. And local disc jockey Alan Trisler provided all the expected right sound effects for wrong answers and more after Turning Point leaders honored the two for their service.
The Smiths, married the longest of all couples at 45 years, regularly triggered some of the loudest laughter with their straightforward banter. On a question about what performer that she would most like to see in concert, Lorraine suddenly looked dejected.
“Everybody that we like is dead,” she quipped.
But optimism was alive and well throughout the friendly competition, including when Chuck and Suzanne Wells finally matched answers and scored 10 points very late in the game. Chuck humorously raised his arms in victory and loudly proclaimed, “We’re on the board!”
Scoring the most points with voters donating dollars for their favorite couples were the Furbers, who took considerable ribbing for apparently practicing questions and answers for the evening for some time in the days beforehand. Also kidding the Furbers was contestant Charlie Farber, who repeatedly referred to the two with nearly the same surname as “my cousins.”
In the end, Tony Gambaiani described his own family as “pretty tight” — and summarized his perspective on winning quite simply.
“It’s pretty easy to answer questions accurately,” he said, “when your best friend is up there on stage with you.”
Carla Clark | For The Republic Diana and Tony Gambaiani, having the highest points for matching responses, hold their trophy GOAT during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Charles Smith holds up his answer during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Elisabeth Jones, vice president of resource development, gives Paul Furber the award for the Pitmaster Challenge and Julie Furber reacts during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Charles Smith, left, looks on as Diana and Tony Gambaiani react to a correct answer during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Suzanne and Chuck Wells during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Suzanne and Chuck Wells kiss during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022 Carla Clark.
Carla Clark | For The Republic The contestants react to an answer given by Lorraine and Charles Smith during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Tony Gambaiani shows his moves during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Diana and Tony Gambaiani during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Paul Furber, head in hands, tries to come up with the correct answer for Julie Furber during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Mickey Kim, in back, adds points for a correct answer as Lorraine and Charles Smith and Diana Gambaiani laugh about the response during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Audience members react to the first questions during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Mickey Kim, announcer, at left, Paul and Julie Furber, Suzanne and Chuck Wells, Lorraine and Charles Smith, Diana and Tony Gambaiani, and Jayne and Charlie Farber during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Jayne and Charlie Farber are introduced to the audience during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Judges Ro and Shorty Whittington are introduced during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Elaine Hilber reacts during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic People applaud as Mickey Kim and Alan Trisler are introduced and thanked for their contributions during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Elisabeth Jones, vice president of resource development, brings Mickey Kim, host, and Alan Trisler, announcer, to thank them for their contributions during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Lisa Shafran, at right, is hugged after she receives the Cornerstone Award during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic People fill the Commons during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Dan Netser is served marinara sauce by Paula Watson during the Not So Newlywed Game fundraiser event for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services held at the Commons, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
