Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune is a television game show originally devised by Merv Griffin which runs in local editions around the world. It involves three contestants competing against each other to solve a word puzzle similar to Hangman. The name of the show comes from the large wheel that determines the dollar amounts and prizes won (or lost) by the contestants.

Versions

United States

The early pilot for Wheel was called Shopper's Bazaar; Edd Byrnes and Chuck Woolery hosted pilot episodes in 1974. The theme song used in the 1974 pilot was "Give It One" by Maynard Ferguson.

Related Topics:
Edd Byrnes - Chuck Woolery - 1974

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Wheel debuted on January 6, 1975, on NBC; it was put on the air as compensation for cancelling Jeopardy! (which Griffin produced) with one year remaining on its contract. Woolery was the show's original host, and Susan Stafford was the original hostess. Announcer Charlie O'Donnell has been "the voice of the Wheel" since episode one in 1975, save for a few years in the 1980s when Jack Clark announced due to O'Donnell's obligations to other shows. After Clark passed away in 1988, Los Angeles-area disc jockey MG Kelly briefly filled in until O'Donnell was able to take over permanently.

Related Topics:
January 6 - 1975 - NBC - Jeopardy! - Susan Stafford - Charlie O'Donnell - 1980s - Jack Clark - MG Kelly

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The theme song used from 1975 to July 1983 is called "Big Wheels" by Alan Thicke.

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Chuck Woolery left Wheel on December 25, 1981, after a salary dispute with Merv Griffin. Three days later, Pat Sajak replaced him. Susan Stafford left a year later to pursue volunteer work. She was replaced by Vanna White. Sajak left the daytime show on January 9, 1989, to do a nighttime talk show for CBS that would fail after one year. Former football player Rolf Benirschke hosted the daytime show until NBC dropped it on June 30, 1989; Bob Goen became its host when it moved to CBS on July 17 of that year. The daytime show moved back to NBC on January 14, 1991, and was canceled for good on September 20 of that year.

Related Topics:
December 25 - 1981 - Pat Sajak - Vanna White - January 9 - 1989 - Talk show - CBS - Football - Rolf Benirschke - June 30 - Bob Goen - July 17 - January 14 - 1991 - September 20

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A nighttime version of Wheel, which is syndicated to stations around the country, debuted on September 19, 1983. This version still airs today, and after two decades the show continues to have the highest Nielsen ratings of any syndicated program. Pat Sajak and Vanna White have hosted the nighttime version since its debut. The original theme song from 1983-1989 is called "Changing Keys" by Merv Griffin (listen here.) All others are alterations of this theme from 1989-92 (listen here), 1992-94 (listen here), 1994-97, 1997-2000, and a somewhat new variation from 2000-present.

Related Topics:
Syndicated - September 19 - 1983 - Nielsen ratings - Merv Griffin

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When the show first aired, the money the contestants won had to be used to shop amongst prizes on the TV show, but now the game is played for cash. Eliminating shopping sped up the game, and allowed more time to plug the big prizes, such as cars. Shopping was eliminated beginning with the syndicated Wheel's 1987–88 season premiere, though it would remain on the daytime version until 1989, when the show moved from NBC to CBS.

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The original puzzleboard was three rows consisting of 13 trilons on each row. On December 21, 1981, a new four-row puzzleboard (consisting of 11 trilons on the top and bottom rows and 13 trilons in the middle rows) was introduced, allowing for bigger puzzles and more cash to be given away. This puzzleboard would remain the same, except for light border changes and the "half-trilons" on the sides of the board being removed on road shows, and in 1994 and 1995. In 1997, the original board for displaying the letters was replaced with a digital electronic puzzle board, touching the letter spaces instead of turning them. Also, when the puzzle is solved, instead of the hostess turning the hidden letters to reveal the entire puzzle, the missing letters electronically fill in themselves. A fill-in-the-blank puzzle is displayed on a grid of video displays in front of the players. The puzzle board itself has 52 spaces, divided into four rows (with 12 spaces on the top and bottom rows and 14 spaces in the middle rows; occasionally puzzles will use up almost all of the board).

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In 2002, the tote boards that showed the totals for each player were changed from eggcrate lights to monitors.

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In 2003, as part of the 21st season, the entire studio was revamped. The gold, glitzy decoration that surrounded the wheel was changed to a neon blue decoration. The puzzleboard's border was changed to match that of the wheel.

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In November 2003, Wheel celebrated its 4,000th episode in syndication.

Related Topics:
November - 2003

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The series was produced in the U.S. by Merv Griffin's company, Califon Productions, until 2002. That's when Griffin went into retirement (but kept a small financial stake), and Sony Pictures Television, which had bought Griffin's company several years earlier, took over fully. Wheel is syndicated by King World, although Griffin, through Califon Productions, still holds the show's copyright -- which has been lucrative through its use in casino and lottery games.

Related Topics:
Califon Productions - King World

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Wheel is notable for having 'theme weeks' in which all of the set decorations revolve around a common theme. Other weeks invite sports stars to play for charity along with some of their fans.

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United Kingdom

The British version ran from 1988 to 2001. It was hosted by Nicky Campbell, Bradley Walsh, John Leslie and Paul Hendy with Angela Ekeate, Carol Smillie, Jenny Powell and Terri Seymour in turn being co-hosts. Steve Hamilton was the announcer.

Related Topics:
British - Nicky Campbell - Bradley Walsh - John Leslie - Paul Hendy - Angela Ekeate - Carol Smillie - Jenny Powell - Terri Seymour - Steve Hamilton

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Australia

The current Australian version began in 1981 on the Seven Network, with Ernie Sigley as host. Other hosts included John Burgess (from 1984), Tony Barber (from 1996), Rob Elliott (from 1997) and Steve Oemcke (from 2004). Co-host Adriana Xenides became the longest serving game show hostess in the world having featured on Australia's Wheel Of Fortune from 1981 until 1999 — a total of 18 years. This record stood until 2001 when Vanna White surpassed that total. Sophie Faulkner has co-hosted the show since 1999. John Deeks is the announcer.

Related Topics:
Australia - 1981 - Seven Network - Ernie Sigley - John Burgess - Tony Barber - Rob Elliott - Steve Oemcke - Adriana Xenides - Sophie Faulkner

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The Wheel is currently "resting" and is confirmed to return in early 2006.

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There was also a version in New Zealand with Phillip Leishman as host and Lana Coc-Kroft as co-host. This version ran from 1991 to around 1996.

Related Topics:
New Zealand - Lana Coc-Kroft

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Other countries

Some other countries that air "Wheel of Fortune", and the titles used, include Belgium (Rad van Fortuin), Malaysia (Roda Impian), Brazil (either Roletrando Novelas or Roda a Roda), Vietnam (Chiec Non Ky Dieu), Ecuador, Spain (both use La Ruleta de la Fortuna), Italy (La Ruota Della Fortuna), Germany (Glücksrad), Canada (La Roue Chanceuse in French, Wheel of Fortune in English), Israel (Galgal Hamazal), Turkey (Çarkıfelek), Poland (Koło Fortuny), Finland (Onnenpyörä), Denmark (Lykkehjulet), France (La Roue de la Fortune), Australia (also called Wheel of Fortune) and Argentina (La Rueda de la Fortuna, inside a show called Tiempo Límite XL). Besides the Australian version, France's La Roue de la Fortune is the most famous non-American version.

Related Topics:
Belgium - Malaysia - Brazil - Vietnam - Ecuador - Spain - Italy - Germany - Canada - Israel - Turkey - Poland - Finland - Denmark - France - Australia - Argentina

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