Wheel of Fortune (U.S. syndicated game show): Difference between revisions
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| num_episodes = 5,065+ (as of May 29, 2009) |
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Revision as of 18:31, 4 June 2009
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| Wheel of Fortune | |
|---|---|
| File:WoF title 2008.png Wheel of Fortune 2008-2009 logo | |
| Created by | Merv Griffin |
| Directed by | Dick Carson Mark Corwin |
| Presented by | Pat Sajak Vanna White |
| Narrated by | Jack Clark (1983-1988) M. G. Kelly (1988-1989) Charlie O'Donnell (1989-present) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 5,065+ (as of May 29, 2009) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies | Merv Griffin Productions (1983-1984) Merv Griffin Enterprises (1984-1994) Columbia TriStar Television (1994-2002) Sony Pictures Television (2002-Present) Califon Productions (1983-Present) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Syndicated |
| Release | September 19, 1983 – Present |
Wheel of Fortune is an American 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.
The show first aired in 1975 on daytime network television. The current version, in its 26th Season, has been syndicated in prime time access since September 19, 1983 and has been the most watched syndicated program since May 1984[citation needed]. 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). It is also the third longest running first-run syndicated program in the United States, behind Entertainment Tonight (which began in 1981) and the now-canceled Soul Train (which aired new episodes from 1971-2006). The show is produced by Sony Pictures Television and distributed by CBS Television Distribution in first run; reruns have rights reverted to Sony.
Pat Sajak and Vanna White have hosted this version of the show since its debut and Charlie O'Donnell has served as 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] Wheel Of Fortune Season 27 will premiere September 14, 2009[1]
Game play
Sets
Various changes have been made to the basic set since the show's premiere in 1983, including changes to the color of the floor and various additions of lights/strobes to the puzzle board and contestant backdrops.
In 1996, a large video display was added center stage, which was then upgraded in 2003 as the show began the transition into high-definition broadcasting. The set decorations change with each weekly set of themed programs. Dick Stiles was the show's first art director, and the production is currently designed by Renee Hoss-Johnson.
The show was originally taped at 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.
Puzzle boards
Until 1997, the show used a manually-operated puzzle board composed of 48 trilons in four rows (11, 13, 13 and 11, respectively). 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 Vanna White would turn the trilon to reveal it. On February 24, 1997, the show adopted a computerized board composed of 52 monitors (adding one space to each row). To illuminate a letter during regular gameplay, White simply touches the edge of the monitor, although the board may be controlled remotely to reveal letters or solutions. The new puzzle board made Toss-Up puzzles possible and also facilitated an evolution of the hostess' role, which was originally justified by the need to turn letters.
The digital board also no longer requires taping to stop in segments that feature 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." While the viewers at home saw a seamless transition to the next puzzle, what actually happened was a show stop down. During this time, the board would be wheeled off stage and the new puzzle loaded in by hand out of sight of the contestants, who would typically stand in some place on the sound stage where they could not see the board. 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 more quickly at a lower cost to the production company. In 2007, the current puzzle board was revamped with new flat-screens.
The old puzzle board was offered to the Smithsonian Institution, but it was rejected due to its large size.
Contestant Area
The contestants stand behind a large, padded railing that provides leverage when spinning the wheel. The area behind the contestants originally contained colored shapes that provided a backdrop as well as an additional scoreboard for displaying the amount a contestant had placed "on account" (see Shopping above). In 1997, the backdrops were removed in favor of a display that fit the theme for that week's set of tapings. In 1998, a video wall replaced the themed backdrops displayed behind the contestant. This video wall was upgraded in 2003.
Until 2002, the show used eggcrate displays to display scores. The eggcrate displays were replaced by LCD monitors in 2002 and again were replaced by flat-screen plasma displays in 2007. Also beginning in 2002, special animations play on these monitors if a contestant lands on "Bankrupt" or "Lose a Turn".
The Wheel
The Wheel mechanism weighs two tons (4,000 lbs.)[2] and is surrounded by light extensions. Until 1997, the Wheel was spun automatically during the show's opening and closing and featured alternating gold lights and panels. These were replaced by a metallic blue circle surrounded by gold panels, with several similar paneled spikes going around the Wheel and the Wheel no longer spun automatically during these segments. The current LED and glass light extension debuted in 2003.
Prior to 1996, three different dollar value configurations were used during each show. There have never been amounts under $100 on the syndicated Wheel and the only cash space not to end in "50" or "00" was a $175 wedge that was subsequently removed in 1985. The current configuration is based on the one formerly used in Round 3 (Round 2 prior to 1987). In 2008, the configurations were revamped slightly, with the addition of a few new colors and dollar values.
From 1983-1986, the lowest value on the wheel was $100. This was increased to $150 in 1986 and to $250 in 1996. The lowest value has been $300 since 2000.
Theme Music
From 1983-2000, the show's theme music was "Changing Keys" by the late program creator Merv Griffin, the music was slightly revamped in 1984 perhaps for its stereo broadcasts and was re-recorded in various arrangements–from jazz to big band–in 1989, 1992, 1994, and 1997.
Since 2000, the main theme of the show has been "Happy Wheels" by Steve Kaplan, remixed in 2002 (by Kaplan) and again in 2006 (by Frankie Blue). However, since 2007, a theme by John Hoke opens the show in place of "Happy Wheels" and is also used for Bonus Round wins.
Winnings records
| Record | Set by | Amount | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team winnings, returning champions format | Peter Argyropolous and Deborah Cohen |
$146,529 | February 1996 (two shows)[3] |
| Solo winnings, returning champions format | Mindi Mitola | $146,254 | September 1990 (three shows)[citation needed] |
| Team winnings, single day | Christine Denos and Jack Wagner |
$142,550 | February 28, 2006[2] |
| Solo winnings, single day | Michelle Loewenstein | $1,026,080 | October 14, 2008[4] |
Episode Status
All episodes of the syndicated version of Wheel Of Fortune exist, and many of them have been shown on GSN.
Production schedule
The production schedule is typically one week on and three weeks off. During the active week, five episodes are taped per day in front of a live audience. This efficiently saves both time and money and provides five weeks worth of television programming.
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, play 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 between 1985 and 1991. They also released two Deluxe versions in the mid-1980s that featured a real spinning wheel which allowed dollar amounts on the wheel to be changed for each round (with the help of extra wedges).
- Tyco/Mattel created three editions between 1992 and 1998.
- Parker Brothers released their own version in 1999.
- Pressman, which currently retains rights to the home game, has released four editions since 2002 including a 20th Anniversary edition, a Simpsons Edition and a Disney Edition. The "Disney Edition" has a "hidden Mickey"-shaped wheel in the same style as the company's Deluxe Editions, albeit with only a few specific spots to place certain Disney-related prizes.
- Endless Games released a card game version of the show in the summer of 2008.
Video, arcade, slot and online games
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
- ^ David Schwartz, Steve Ryan and Fred Wostbrock, The Encyclopedia of TV Game $hows, Third Ed., Checkmark Books, 1999.
- ^ a b Wheel of Fortune
- ^ HOW TO GET ON A GAME SHOW Easy, you say. Is that your final answer? If it is, think again. Otherwise,you lose.(SPOTLIGHT) - The Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) - HighBeam Research
- ^ 'Wheel' Finds First $1 Million Winner
External links
- Official website
- U-gottaseethis.com A website from Sony with classic Wheel video clips
- Play Wheel of Fortune online
- Wheel of Fortune franchise
- American game shows
- First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
- Television series by Sony Pictures Television
- Television series by CBS Paramount Television
- Television series by Merv Griffin Enterprises
- Roulette and wheel games
- Mobile phone games
- Sony mobile games
- CBC network shows
- 1980s American television series
- 1990s American television series
- 2000s American television series
- 1983 television series debuts