Wheel of Fortune is a United States television game show created by Merv Griffin. Three contestants (occasionally three pairs of contestants) compete against each other to solve a word puzzle, similar to those seen in the game hangman. The name of the show comes from the large wheel that determines the dollar amounts and prizes won (or lost) by the contestants. Image File history File links Question_book-new. ... This article is about the now-defunct daytime edition of the U.S. game show . ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Quiz show redirects here. ... Mervyn Edward Merv Griffin, Jr. ... Pat Sajak (born Patrick Leonard Sajdak on October 26, 1946), is an Emmy Award-winning television personality and one-time talk show host, best known as the host of the popular and long-running American television game show, Wheel of Fortune. ... Vanna White (born February 18, 1957) is an American television personality, best known as puzzle-board presenter and co-host on the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune. ... Charlie ODonnell (born August 12, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a television announcer best known for his work on Wheel of Fortune. ... M. G. Kelly aka Machine Gun Kelly (born in 1954 in Ada, Oklahoma) is an actor, disc jockey and radio personality from Los Angeles, California. ... Jack Clark (December 13, 1921 - July 21, 1988) was a American game show emcee and announcer. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... NTSC is the analog television system in use in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and some other countries (see map). ... 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... JOHN HERMAN SUCKS FAT DICK ... 1080i is a shorthand name for a category of video modes. ... High-definition television (HDTV) means broadcast of television signals with a higher resolution than traditional formats (NTSC, SECAM, PAL) allow. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ... Quiz show redirects here. ... Mervyn Edward Merv Griffin, Jr. ... This article is about the guessing game. ...

The show first aired in 1975 on daytime network television. The current version has been syndicated in prime time access beginning on September 19, 1983, and has been the most watched syndicated program since May 1984. It is the longest-running syndicated game show in American television history, and the second-longest in either network or syndication (behind the current CBS version of The Price Is Right, which began airing in 1972). The show is produced by Sony Pictures Television and syndicated by CBS Television Distribution (which was formerly King World Productions). In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... Prime time is the block of programming on television during the middle of the evening. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ... This article is about the current version of the U.S. game show. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sony Pictures Television, Inc. ... CBS Television Distribution is a United States and Global television distribution company, a merger of the television distribution arms of CBS Paramount Domestic Television, CBS Paramount International Television and King World. ... King World Productions logo debuted in late 2006. ...

Pat Sajak and Vanna White have hosted this version of the show since its debut, and Charlie O'Donnell has been the show's announcer since early 1989. Jack Clark served as the show's announcer until his death in July 1988; M. G. Kelly and Don Pardo filled in between 1988 and 1989 before O'Donnell, who had previously announced the daytime version, arrived. ^[1] Pat Sajak (born Patrick Leonard Sajdak on October 26, 1946), is an Emmy Award-winning television personality and one-time talk show host, best known as the host of the popular and long-running American television game show, Wheel of Fortune. ... Vanna White (born February 18, 1957) is an American television personality, best known as puzzle-board presenter and co-host on the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune. ... Charlie ODonnell (born August 12, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a television announcer best known for his work on Wheel of Fortune. ... Jack Clark (November 25, 1925 - July 21, 1988) was an American game show emcee and announcer. ... M. G. Kelly aka Machine Gun Kelly (born in 1954 in Ada, Oklahoma) is an actor, disc jockey and radio personality from Los Angeles, California. ... Dominick George Don Pardo (born February 22, 1918 in Westfield, Massachusetts) is a legendary American radio and television announcer. ...

The show's 26th nighttime season premieres on September 8, 2008.

Game play

Before taping begins, the players draw numbers to determine their positions on stage. Play proceeds from right to left from the contestant's perspective: from the red player to yellow, then to blue, then back to red.

Categories

Main article: List of Wheel of Fortune puzzle categories

The game uses a wide variety of categories for its puzzles. Some are generic, such as "Place" or "Thing." Puzzles frequently refer to popular culture, such as the name of a celebrity, television show, book, song, or sports team. It is also common for puzzles to refer to everyday life, including common activities, foods, or objects usually found somewhere in one's house. Some puzzle categories involve word games which are unique to the show, and others allow a solving player to earn an additional cash prize by answering a question related to it. Prize puzzles (discussed below) offer a player a trip to a destination described by the puzzle. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Toss-Up Puzzles

The game contains three Toss-Up Puzzles. Players are given the category, and the hostess activates the board. Letters are randomly revealed until a player buzzes in and solves the puzzle. An incorrect guess disqualifies the player for the rest of the puzzle. The player solving the first Toss-Up wins $1,000 and is introduced first by the host. The player solving the second Toss-up wins $2,000 and starts the first round of the game. A $3,000 Toss-Up is played will decide which player will start Round 4.

Spinning the Wheel

The wheel has 24 spaces. These represent cash values, prizes, penalty spaces, two elements for use in the game, and some features which are specific to each round of the game (see below). A player who does not land on a penalty space asks for a consonant. If it is not in the puzzle, play proceeds to the next player. If the letter appears in the puzzle, the hostess reveals all instances of it, and the player is credited with cash or a prize. All descriptions of players being credited with cash or prizes in the remainder of this article assume that the player calls a consonant which appears in the puzzle.

The $5000 space as seen in a 1997 episode of Wheel

Cash Spaces: A player who spins a cash value is credited with that amount for each instance of that letter in the puzzle. Currently, the minimum cash value on the wheel is $300, and the top value (except as described below) is $2,500 in Round 1, $3,500 in Rounds 2 and 3, and $5,000 in Round 4 or more. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Prize Spaces and Gift Tags: A player who lands on one of these and picks a correct consonant in the puzzle picks it up from the wheel, and wins that prize or gift by solving the puzzle without hitting Bankrupt. If not claimed, these are removed from the wheel after Round 3. From 1992-1998, there was also a prize wedge marked SURPRISE in black with the wedge in magenta glitter. Unlike the prize wedge, the prize was not announced until it was won.

Free Spin: The Free Spin token may be used once to continue the player's turn if he solves the puzzle incorrectly, selects a letter that is not in the puzzle, or lands on Bankrupt or Lose a Turn; its use is optional. Starting in 2007, the space is also worth $300 per letter when a player originally lands on it to pick it up. The token is available during the first three rounds.

Wild Card: The Wild Card allows a player who spins a cash value and successfully picks a consonant to call a second consonant, without spinning again, for the exact same value. A contestant with the Wild Card loses it upon hitting Bankrupt, but if a contestant wins the game without using it, that contestant may select an extra consonant in the Bonus Round; unlike the Free Spin, there is no cash value. The Wild Card may be used once.

Lose a Turn: A player who lands on Lose a Turn loses his or her turn, but keeps any money and/or prizes.

Bankrupt: Bankrupt ends a player's turn, but also costs the player any money or prizes accumulated in the current round; a contestant with the Wild Card also loses that as well. One Bankrupt remains on the wheel throughout the game; a second Bankrupt appears in rounds 2 and 3, and additional ones occur as indicated below.

The Bankrupt/$10,000/Bankrupt space, as seen in 2007

Bankrupt/$10,000/Bankrupt: Round 1 features a three-part wedge with a $10,000 cash prize sandwiched by two Bankrupts (see illustration). The $10,000 space is treated like a prize; if the contestant lands on the $10,000 space and guesses correctly the space is removed from the wheel. This money is not multiplied per letter, and cannot be spent on vowels. The Bankrupt spaces act like a regular Bankrupt. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Jackpot: Round 2 features a progressive jackpot which begins at $5,000 and increases by the value of each cash space landed on. A player who lands on the Jackpot space and calls a consonant which appears in the puzzle may try to win the Jackpot by solving the puzzle immediately. Landing on this space also adds $500 to the Jackpot, and the contestant receives $500 per consonant in the puzzle. This round debuted on September 16, 1996. This was in Round 3 until 2000, when it moved to Round 2. In 1998, the Jackpot Round added a sponsor.

25 Wedge: Round 2 also features a prize wedge marked "25" in commemoration of the syndicated show's 25th anniversary season (2007-08). This prize consists of "25 of something," such as gift certificates from a sponsor, or even $2,500 cash (i.e., 25 $100 bills). (Also, for a few weeks in the 25th season, the wheel featured a sponsored $2500 space double the size of a normal space.)

Big Money Wedge: Starting with the 25th season, Round 3 features a wedge with a small flat-screen TV monitor initially displaying "Big Money". The monitor randomly displays one of five values for each spin: $5,000, $7,500, $25,000, Bankrupt, or Lose a Turn. A contestant who lands on the wedge when it displays a cash value is credited with the amount of money on the monitor at the time. The money is not increased by multiple consonants, but the space can be used with the Wild Card, and can be spent on vowels. After the Big Money amount is claimed, the space becomes a regular $1,000 space.

Mystery Wedges: Round 3 also features two "Mystery wedges," spaces with question marks. A player landing here may either take $1,000 ($500 until 2004) per letter occurrence, or decline that money and turn over the wedge to reveal either a prize or a Bankrupt. Originally, the Mystery prize was a car; it is now almost always $10,000 in cash. After one Mystery wedge is revealed, the other acts as a $1,000 cash space for the rest of the round. Since 2005, the value of the wedge is shown to the home audience before the contestant makes a decision whether to reveal it. ? redirects here. ...

Buying a vowel

A player who has sufficient cash in bank during the current round may choose to buy a vowel while in control of the wheel. The cost of the vowel, $250, is deducted from the player's score, and all instances of the requested vowel in the puzzle are revealed. If the purchased vowel is not in the puzzle, the player loses his or her turn in addition to the aforementioned cost.

The host will notify the players that there's "NO MORE VOWELS" if all vowels contained in the puzzle have been revealed, even if all five vowels have not been called. Multiple vowels may be purchased until either the player's bank or the supply of vowels is exhausted. After purchasing a vowel the player must either spin the wheel or try to solve the puzzle.

Solving the puzzle

The player whose turn it is may guess the solution to the puzzle. If correct, the round ends, the complete puzzle is revealed, and the solving player wins the cash and prizes accumulated. A player who guesses incorrectly loses his turn. Totals less than $1,000 are automatically increased to the "house minimum" of that amount (per player in games with two-member teams). Only the player who solves the puzzle keeps the winnings from that round. The puzzle must be read exactly as it appears, and pronounced correctly, although dialectal variations in pronunciation are generally accepted.

Bonus solution: Occasionally, the solving player is asked a question for an additional cash bonus, currently $3,000. If the puzzle is the first part of a phrase or quotation, the player is asked to give the next line. A player may be asked to identify the author of a book or product associated with a slogan. Players may also be asked to fill in a blank or identify a number or location associated with the puzzle.

Prize Puzzles award the winner with an additional prize, usually a trip, which is somehow related to the solution (e.g. if the solution is "Fun in the Sun", the prize might be a vacation to a tropical island). The prize puzzle will be randomly select the puzzle in either Rounds 1, 2, and/or 3.

SPIN I.D.: Home viewers in the U.S. are given a chance to win some of the same prizes as the studio players, under the title "Wheel Watchers Club". Viewers who sign up on the show's website are given a "Special Prize Identification Number" (S.P.I.N.) A viewer whose number is revealed has 24 hours to go to the website and claim the prize, either the trip associated with a Prize Puzzle or a car won by the studio player in the Bonus Round. Sony Card holders who win the prize are awarded an additional $50,000.

Speed-Up Round (Final Spin)

The speed-up round happens no earlier than the fourth round, but may occur later, depending on how much time is left in the game. The speed-up round happens in four, five, and/or even six rounds. When time is running short in the game, a bell rings. The host spins the wheel, and all remaining consonants in the puzzle are worth $1,000 plus the value of this spin. The Wild Card or Free Spin cannot be used during this portion of the game. The players take turns giving one letter each. A vowel can be called at no cost, but also with no cash value. If the called letter appears in the puzzle, the player has three seconds to try to solve the puzzle. There is always a Final Spin, unlike in the past when the game could end after a puzzle is solved without one.

End of the game

The player who has won the most wins the game and proceeds to the Bonus Round. Players who fail to earn any cash or prizes on the show are awarded a consolation prize, currently $1,000 ($2,000 during special weeks where two non-celebrity players--such as family members of friends--play in teams). If two or more players finish the game with the same score, they play an additional Toss-Up puzzle to determine the winner.

Celebrity weeks

The show sometimes features themed weeks with celebrities paired with contestants. The celebrities play for charity. Each charity receives at least $10,000, and the winning celebrity's charity earns an amount equal to their partner's total. In earlier years, celebrities played alone, with the winner playing the Bonus Round for $25,000.

Bonus Round

The player who wins the game plays the Bonus Round. The Bonus Wheel consists of 24 wedges, each containing an unmarked envelope. The contestant spins it to determine the prize he will win for solving the puzzle. The contestant is given a puzzle, its category, and the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E as they appear in it. The contestant then selects three more consonants and a second vowel. A contestant who has the Wild Card picks an additional consonant (before it is revealed whether or not any of the first three consonants are in the puzzle). The selected letters are revealed and the player has 10 seconds to solve the puzzle. The player may win a cash amount from $25,000 to $100,000, or one of two cars.

Previous formats

Originally, when the contestants played for prizes rather than cash, the Bonus Round contestant selected one of the larger prizes which had not been won in the main game. The contestant was not given any letters automatically, but chose five consonants and one vowel, and had 15 seconds to solve the puzzle.

Beginning in 1989, the bonus round no longer allowed the contestants to choose their prize. The player drew an envelope placed behind one of the letters in the word WHEEL. Each prize could only be won once in each week of shows, although eventually the $25,000 prize was available every day. This format continued until the current Bonus Round format, allowing for a possible $100,000 prize, was adopted in 2001. Since its introduction, the $100,000 bonus prize has been won 16 times.^[2]

In June 2008, Wheel announced, during in-show advertisements, that the bonus round for season 26 (starting fall 2008) will have a top prize of $1,000,000. In order to win the top prize, a player must (1) land on a $1 million wedge, (2) solve the puzzle, (3) avoid Bankrupt for the remainder of the game, (4) win the game, (5) land on a $1,000,000 envelope on the bonus round spin, and (6) solve the Bonus Round puzzle.^[3]

Retired Gameplay Elements

Wheel of Fortune has utilized a number of production elements in the past that it has since retired from use.

Shopping

Prior to 1987, the game was not played for cash winnings. Money earned in solving a puzzle was used to shop for prizes displayed in the studio, primarily cars, furniture, trips, furs, and jewelry. A particular prize could only be bought once per episode. Each round had a themed prize showcase. The most expensive prizes were available throughout the game and in the Bonus Round. The winner of a round could place all or part of his or her winnings "On Account," banking (and risking) it to save toward a more expensive prize. Unlike already-purchased prizes, winnings On Account were lost if the player hit Bankrupt or did not win another round of the game. A player who could not buy the least expensive remaining prize was offered a gift certificate in the remaining amount for merchandise from a particular retailer (usually Service Merchandise). In 1987, the show adopted a play-for-cash format, which sped up game play by removing the time-consuming shopping segments between puzzles. Scrip is any substitute for currency, which is not legal tender. ... Service Merchandise is a defunct chain store carrying fine jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics that existed from 1934 to 2002. ...

Returning champions

Until 1989, and again since 1998, contestants have been limited to one appearance. From 1989 through 1996, winning contestants could appear on up to three episodes. From 1996 to 1998, a "Friday Finals" format, which had been previously seen on some specialty weeks, was used regularly. The top three winners from the week's first four shows would return to play on Friday, with a Jackpot beginning at $10,000 instead of $5,000. For the first season of this format, the weekly champion also received a prize package.

Note: There was a contestant on a Season 25 episode from Wheel of Fortune in 2007 whom appeared on the show in 2000, which broke the rules above.

The Double Play token, as seen in 1995

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Puzzle and wheel elements

From 1983 to 1989, a tan Free Spin space was part of the first-round wheel, allowing contestants to earn a "Free Spin" token at any time they landed in the space. It was removed in favor of the current rules in the fall of 1989. Several contestants were known to land on the space several times in a row (and thus rack up several "Free Spin" tokens) without attempting to land on a dollar amount.

From 1992 to 1998, a Surprise space appeared on the wheel, representing a prize which was not revealed unless won. In 1995-96, a Double Play token appeared on the wheel. A player who earned it could turn it in before a future spin to double the spin's value. From 1992 to 1995, some puzzles would contain a set of specially designated, red-colored letters, which could be unscrambled to form another word or phrase. These Red Letter Puzzles were introduced in 1992 as a basis for home viewers to win cash or prizes by guessing the word and submitting a contest entry, and kept through 1995 to provide studio players with additional winnings. In the 1998-2000 seasons, a Puzzler was featured. The winner of a round was given an additional puzzle related to the same topic (for example, DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA would lead to a Puzzler called AUTO RACING). In 1999-2000, a Preview Puzzle was shown to home viewers near the introduction of the show; it had no bearing on gameplay and was replaced by the Toss-Up Puzzles the following year.

Sets

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Puzzle boards

Until 1997, the show used a manually-operated puzzle board composed of 48 trilons in four rows. The board was surrounded by a double-arched border of lights which flashed at the beginning and end of the round. When a letter was placed in the puzzle, its space would light up, and White would turn the trilon to reveal it. In February 1997, the show adopted a computerized board composed of 52 monitors; to illuminate a letter, Vanna simply touches the right edge of the monitor. This board makes Toss-Up puzzles possible, and reveals a solution instantly. The digital board also has an advantage over the old one in that it no longer requires taping to stop in segments that had more than one puzzle. With the prior board, after a puzzle was solved, Pat would face the camera and announce "Here is our next puzzle", and while the viewers at home saw a seamless transition to the next puzzle, what actually happened was a show stop down. During the stop down, the board would be wheeled off stage and the new puzzle loaded in by hand out of sight of the contestants. On some episodes, reflections of the puzzle board being whisked off could be seen. With the new board, no stop downs were necessary, meaning tapings could finish quicker at a lower cost to the production company.^[4] Also, as a result, some question whether a hostess is required since during Toss Up puzzles and revealing the answers are done instantly, instead of the hostess turning each letter, this meant that the hostess' role is less that a hostess wouldn't be required to reveal letters since they can done automatically. A trilon is a box in the shape of an equilateral-triangular right prism that is occasionally used on certain older game shows to hide information until needed. ...

Score displays

Until 2002, the show used eggcrate displays to display scores. These were replaced by LCD monitors, which also display special "Bankrupt" and "Lose a Turn" animations when those spaces are hit. Flat-panel displays were used beginning in 2007. An eggcrate display is a display technology that consists of a matrix of lightbulbs. ...

The Wheel

The Wheel mechanism weighs two tons (4000 lbs.)^[5], and is surrounded by light extensions. Until 1997, the wheel featured alternating gold lights and panels. This design was replaced by a metallic blue circle surrounded by gold panels, with several similar paneled spikes going around the wheel. However, the wheel's automation was discontinued as a result of this change. The current LED and glass light extension debuted in 2003.

The Wheel's configuration

The wheel's configuration used for round 4 from 1999-2007, with $5,000 as the top dollar value.

Main article: Wheel of Fortune (The wheel's configuration)

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 599 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1141 × 1142 pixel, file size: 737 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The wheel from Wheel of Fortune in used during the 25th season. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 599 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1141 × 1142 pixel, file size: 737 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The wheel from Wheel of Fortune in used during the 25th season. ... This is the distribution of wedge values and colors currently appearing on the wheel during sponsored weeks of the 25th season (2007-2008) in syndication of the game show Wheel of Fortune, based on observation of the show. ...

Changes

The following is a list of some of the changes over the show's history.

Cash Prizes and Wheel Dollar Values

• 1984: The top dollar value for Round 1 is raised from $750 to $1,000.
• 1986: The lowest dollar value on the wheel is increased to $150 in Rounds 1, 2 and 3, and $200 in Round 4 and onward.
• 1987: Shopping is replaced by play for cash. $2,500 becomes the top dollar value for Round 2, $3,500 for Round 3, and $5,000 for Round 4.
• 1990: Bonus solutions are introduced, at a value of $500.
• 1995: The value of a bonus solution is raised to $2,000.
• 1996: The lowest dollar value on the wheel is increased to $250.
• 1999: The lowest dollar value on the wheel is increased to $300, and $1,000 is added to the value of the Final Spin.
• 2000: The top dollar value on the wheel is increased to $2,500 in Round 1 and $3,500 in Rounds 2 and 3. Toss-Up Puzzles are introduced.

• 2002: $500 cash is the new consolation prize (formally parting gifts).
• 2004: The value of the Mystery wedges is increased to $1,000.
• 2005: The "house minimum" and consolation prize are increased to $1,000.
• 2006: The Wild Card is introduced, replacing the second gift tag. The Jackpot wedge is now worth $500 per consonant.
• 2007: The Free Spin space is also worth $300 per consonant. The "Big Money" wedge is introduced in Round 3 replacing the second Bankrupt.

Prizes

• 1987: A second prize is placed on the wheel in Round 4.
• 1992: The Surprise wedge is introduced, and used until 1998.
• 1994: The Bankrupt/$10,000/Bankrupt wedge is introduced.
• 2000: The $1,000 gift tag is introduced.
• 2002: The Mystery wedges and a second gift tag are introduced.
• 2003: Prize Puzzles are introduced.
• 2004: The SPIN I.D. is introduced for home viewers.
• 2007: The "25 Prize" is introduced.
• 2008: The top bonus prize is raised from $100,000 to $1,000,000, as seen on a promo for the show.

Set

• 1987: A neon "$25,000" sign represents as a prize in the Bonus Round.
• 1988: Diamond-shaped backdrops are introduced and used for road shows until 1995. The neon "$25,000" sign is replaced with a grid-like version which is used until 1996.
• 1989: Production moves to CBS Television City. Chevron-shaped backdrops are introduced and used until 1991.
• 1990: A shiny black floor is introduced.
• 1991: The diamond-shaped road show backdrops are used full-time until 1992.
• 1992: Asterisk-shaped, firework-like backdrops are introduced and used until 1996.
• 1994: The puzzle board gets a new border with golden spiked lights.
• 1995: Production moves to Sony Pictures Studios. The pink $1,000 wedge is replaced with a sequin green one which is used until 2000.
• 1996: A central video display is introduced. The backdrops are randomized until 1998. A single wheel template is now used for the entire game. The LOSE A TURN wedge (formerly Yellow) becomes white for enhanced contrast with the BANKRUPT wedge. The yellow $750, $1,000, and $1,500 wedges are discontinued.
• 1997: The touch-screen puzzle board debuts. Arrow-shaped spires are added to the wheel's lighting. The wheel's automation is discontinued.
• 1998: The randomized backdrops are replaced with a large flat-screen display. Prize wedges are given distinct artistic designs.
• 2002: The eggcrate score displays are replaced with new flat-screens which feature BANKRUPT & LOSE A TURN.
• 2003: The show receives a new set featuring LED lights. The color font on the Bonus Wheel is Blue instead of Red.
• 2004: A New LED Bonus Wheel is introduced.
• 2005: The Bonus Wheel is part of the closing of every episode.
• 2006: The wheel is redesigned for high-definition broadcasting.
• 2007: The score displays and the Puzzle Board are revamped with new flat-screens for the 25th season. The Second BANKRUPT no longer appears on the Wheel after Round 3.
• 2008: The Bonus Wheel no longer appears at the closing of every episode.

Theme music

From 1983 to 2000, the show's theme music was "Changing Keys" by program creator Merv Griffin. Since 2000, the theme has been "Happy Wheels" by Steve Kaplan. Several variations on each theme have been used throughout the years.

Production

Wheel of Fortune's original home was NBC Studios in Burbank, the same place where its daytime counterpart was taped. In 1989 the show moved to CBS Television City, remaining there until 1995 when production moved to its current home at Sony Pictures Studios. NBC Studios are the two studio facilities belonging to the National Broadcasting Company, with one of them being located at Rockefeller Center in New York City, and the other located in Burbank, California, just outside of Los Angeles. ... This article is about the now-defunct daytime edition of the U.S. game show . ... Television City redirects here. ... The Sony Pictures Studios are located on 10202 West Washington Boulevard in Culver City, California. ...

Winnings records

Jack Wagner (born October 3, 1959 in Washington, Missouri) is an Emmy Award-nominated American actor. ...

Episode Status

Repeat episodes of this version of the show are seen on GSN. Several seasons have been aired on GSN. The current season being rerun is The 1994-95 Season. GSN redirects here. ...

Merchandise

Board games

Numerous board games version of the game have been released by different toy companies. The games are all similar, however, incorporating a wheel, a puzzle display board, fake money and various accessories like free spin tokens.

• Milton Bradley released the first board game in 1975. In addition to all the supplies mentioned above, the game included 20 prize cards (to simulate the "shopping" prizes of the show; the prizes ranged in value from $100 to $3,000). Two editions were released.
• Pressman Toy Corp. released several different editions from 1985 to 1991.
• Tyco/Mattel created three editions from 1992 to 1998
• Parker Brothers released their own version in 1999
• Pressman Toy Corp. has released four editions since 2002, including a 20th Anniversary edition,a Simpsons edition,and a Disney Version as well and retains the rights at present.

Milton Bradley (1836 - 1911) was a game pioneer, credited by many with launching the game industry in North America. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pressman Toy Corporation is a toy manufacturer based in New York, NY which was founded in 1922 by Jack Pressman. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... Tyco has been used as the name for a number of distinct companies: Tyco International is a Bermuda-based conglomerate. ... Mattel headquarters in El Segundo Mattel Inc. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Parker Brothers logo. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Video, arcade, slot, and online games

Main article: Wheel of Fortune (video game)

Like Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune has had many video games released over the years. ...

Mobile game

In 2005, Info Space Games teamed up with Sony Pictures Mobile to create the mobile game Wheel of Fortune for Prizes. Players competed against others across the U.S. in multi-player tournaments for a chance to win daily and weekly prizes.

References

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official site
• U-gottaseethis.com A website from Sony with classic Wheel video clips