TV & VIDEO - Dec. 13, 1988

Don’t bother to buy a vowel, the name of the new host of the daytime version of TV’s hit game show “The Wheel of Fortune”--is . . . Rolf Benirschke. Benirschke, a former place kicker with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, beat out Jimmy Connors and more than 400 other contestants for the coveted job that Pat Sajak is giving up (he’ll stay on the night-time version) for his own late-night talk show. A spokeswoman for Merv Griffin Enterprises said Benirschke “looked very good with Vanna (White), and Vanna likes him.” Benirschke, 32, tapes his first show Wednesday for Jan. 9 airing.