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Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune intertitle commemorating its 25th season.
Format	Game show
Created by	Merv Griffin
Starring	Pat Sajak, host (1983-present) Vanna White, hostess (1983-present) Charlie O'Donnell, announcer (1989-present) Jack Clark, announcer (1983-1988) M. G. Kelly, announcer (1988-1989)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	4,755 as of December 21, 2007
Broadcast
Original channel	Syndicated
Picture format	NTSC (480i), 720p & 1080i (HDTV)
Original run	September 19, 1983 –
External links
Official website

Wheel of Fortune is a United States television game show created by Merv Griffin. Three 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 program was syndicated in prime time beginning on September 19, 1983, and in the following year it was the most watched syndicated program — and has held that honor every year since. It is the longest-running syndicated game show in American television history, and the second-longest in either network or syndication (behind the current version of The Price Is Right, which began airing in 1972).

Wheel of Fortune is currently airing its 25th season and is under contract to run through at least the 2011-12 television season.^[1] Since 2006, Wheel of Fortune has broadcast its episodes in High Definition.^[2][3][4]

Pat Sajak and Vanna White in the show's 24th season

Pat Sajak and Vanna White have hosted the syndicated nighttime show since its debut in 1983. Charlie O'Donnell has been the show's announcer since 1989. All three also appeared on the daytime show: Sajak from 1981 to 1989, White from 1982 to 1991, and O'Donnell from 1975 to 1982 and again from 1989 to 1991. Jack Clark served as the show's announcer from 1982 until his death in 1988. Los Angeles radio personality M.G. Kelly served as announcer between Clark's death in 1988 and O'Donnell's return in 1989.^[5]

Before taping begins, the players draw numbered dice to determine their positions at the contestant podiums. The white arrow in front of each player determines the value of that player's spin on the wheel. Play proceeds from right to left from the contestant's perspective: from red to yellow, then to blue, then back to red. Prior to the introduction of the Toss-Up puzzles in 2000 (see below), the red player played first in Round 1, yellow in Round 2, and blue in Round 3. If time permitted, the order repeated itself beginning with the red player in Round 4.

Main article: Wheel of Fortune (List of puzzle categories)

The Wheel during Round 1 of a game in Season 24 (2006-07), with $2,500 as the top dollar value

A player spins the wheel, and the result is determined by which space is in front of that player's white arrow when the wheel stops. The wheel may stop on a cash value, a prize (including a Free Spin or Wild card for use later in the game), or penalty spaces marked LOSE A TURN or BANKRUPT. If the result is anything but a penalty space, the player 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.

A player whose spin lands on a dollar value is credited with that amount for each appearance of the letter in the puzzle. For example, if the player lands on $700 and calls D, and there are 4 Ds, $2,800 is earned.

The $5000 space, the top dollar value in Round Four, as seen in a late 1980s episode of Wheel

The minimum cash value on the wheel is currently $300. The top dollar value is currently $2,500 in Round 1, $3,500 in Rounds 2 and 3, and $5,000 from Round 4 until the end of the game.

A player landing on a prize wedge or gift tag picks up the wedge or tag from the wheel. If the contestant wins that round without hitting Bankrupt, the prize is won. Unclaimed prizes and gift tags are removed from the wheel after Round 3.

A player who lands on the Free Spin token claims it. If the player later lands on Bankrupt or Lose a Turn, guesses an incorrect letter, or solves the puzzle incorrectly, the Free Spin can be redeemed to claim an extra turn at any point in the game. Until 1989, Free Spin was a permanent wedge on the wheel, and a Free Spin was awarded every time a player landed on it, without having to first call a letter. Since then, it has consisted of a single token placed on one of the money wedges, and it may only be claimed once during the game. As of Season 25, the contestant who claims the Free Spin also earns the multipliable cash value beneath it (currently $300).

The wheel contains one Lose a Turn space. A player who lands here loses his turn, but not cash or prizes accumulated in the round. The wheel contains one Bankrupt space throughout the game, with others which vary by round. A player who lands on Bankrupt loses his turn and any cash or prizes accumulated during round, as well as the Wild card if it has been earned at any point in the game. However, the player does not lose any cash or prize winnings from previous rounds, or the Free Spin.

A player who has at least $250 in cash during the current round may choose to buy a vowel for that amount. A flat rate of $250 is deducted from the player's score, and all instances of the requested vowel in the puzzle are revealed; if the vowel is not in the puzzle, the player loses his or her turn.

The host will notify the contestants when all vowels contained in the puzzle have been revealed, even if all vowel choices have not been exhausted.

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; if incorrect, the player loses his or her turn. Totals less than $1,000 are automatically increased to the "house minimum" of $1,000. (The house minimum is given to each 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); no words can be added or omitted.

During the earliest years of the show, a round was sometimes interrupted by a commercial break. Pat Sajak would order the contestants to face away from the board so nobody could gain an unfair advantage of studying it during the break. Today, while the show only breaks between rounds, the contestants still have to face away from the board as the next puzzle is installed onto the board and especially when the Mystery wedges are placed on the wheel.

When time is running short in the game, a bell (similar to a cable car bell) rings signaling the start of the speed-up round. The host spins the wheel, and any further consonants in the puzzle are worth $1,000 plus the value of this spin. The speed-up rounds happens in four, five and/or even six rounds. The Wild Card or Free Spin cannot be used by players during the Speed-Up Round.

The extra $1,000 was added to the value of the Final Spin beginning in 1999. This rule change makes it less likely that the round will be anti-climactic, as was often the case when one player had a large lead making it impossible for the other players to catch up.^{[citation needed]}

Beginning with the player whose turn it was when the bell rang, control then rotates among the three contestants. Each player is allowed to give one letter per turn. A vowel may also 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 solve the puzzle (five seconds prior to 1996). The timer does not begin until the hostess completely moves over to one side of the board. The player is allowed to guess as many times possible on the same turn within the allotted time. If the player does not solve correctly, control passes to the next player.

Until 1987, cash winnings from a round were used to shop for prizes displayed in the studio, generally including cars, furniture, trips, furs, and jewelry. A particular prize could only be bought once per episode. Each show had three themed prize showcases, one for each of the three rounds usually seen in the game. Each showcase was available to the player who won that particular round. The prizes were displayed on a large partitioned turntable which revolved to show only the available showcase. The third showcase remained available if the game went to extra rounds, and the largest prizes, such as cars, were available throughout the show and not limited to a specific showcase.

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). A less frequent option was to place the money "On Account," where a player could bank some or all of his cash to save toward a bigger prize. This required winning a future round without hitting Bankrupt; otherwise, the money On Account was forfeited.

Contestants kept their purchased prizes even if they hit Bankrupt in a future round, or did not ultimately win the game. The host would always remind them to "Try not to hit Bankrupt, because if you do, you lose your cash, but not your merchandise, because once you buy a prize, it's yours to keep."

In 1987, the show adopted a play-for-cash format. The person who solves the puzzle wins whatever amount he or she has in cash, in addition to any prizes earned during the round. Removing the shopping segments after each round sped up game play considerably, making it common to see four or more puzzles on a given night instead of the three seen during the shopping format. The daily winner is the player with the highest total value of cash and prizes won. As with the Shopping era, a player keeps all winnings from solving a puzzle, regardless of Bankrupts later in the game and whether or not he ultimately wins the game. Players who do not solve any puzzles in the game receive a $1,000 consolation prize.

The game begins with a Toss-Up Puzzle. 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 this Toss-Up wins $1,000 and is introduced first by the host. After the player introductions, a second Toss-Up, worth $2,000, is played to determine which player will begin the first round. The right to start the second and third rounds proceeds in the same order as game play, and a $3,000 Toss-Up is played to determine which player will start Round 4.

If no one solves a Toss-Up before all spaces are revealed, no cash is won. If one of the first two Toss-Ups is not won, the red player is introduced first or begins the first round. If the third Toss-Up is not won, the person who started Round 1 begins Round 4.

Toss-Ups, which were suggested by Pat Sajak^{[citation needed]}, were introduced in Season 18 to increase the number of puzzles per show and make the game more fair. Previously, the red player started Rounds 1 and 4, was often the only one to start two rounds.

Since 2002, at least one special wedge has been present on the wheel exclusively for each of the first three rounds.

The Bankrupt/$10,000/Bankrupt space, as seen in 1995

Round 1 features a wedge with Bankrupts in the outer two sections and a gold-colored middle section representing a $10,000 cash prize. A player who lands on the $10,000 section and guesses a letter appearing in the puzzle picks up the wedge, flips it over and reveals a full-size sequined gold $10,000 space on the reverse. This money is treated in the same way as a prize space (see above), and cannot be spent on vowels. This space was introduced in 1994, and has been in Round 1 since 2002.

Round 2 features a silver sequined space, marked with the word JACKPOT. In this round, a progressive jackpot 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. As usual, an incorrect guess ends the player's turn. The Jackpot Round debuted in 1996. Since 2006, landing on the Jackpot space also adds $500 per valid consonant to a player's score, and adds $500 to the Jackpot value itself.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary, a prize wedge marked "25" also appears on the wheel exclusively in the second round; contestants earning the right to pick up the wedge with a correct consonant could win "25 of something" (e.g. 25 gift certificates from a sponsor, or even $2,500 cash) by solving the puzzle without first hitting Bankrupt.

Starting with the 25th season, Round 3 features a wedge with a flat-screen TV monitor initially displaying BIG MONEY. The value shown on the monitor randomly changes with each spin, among $5,000, $7,500, $25,000, BANKRUPT and LOSE A TURN. A contestant who lands on the wedge when it does not display a penalty is credited with the amount of money on the monitor at the time. The wedge then functions as a regular $1,000 space for the remainder of the round. The WILD card may be used immediately after landing on the BIG MONEY space to call an additional consonant for the same amount. The Big Money prize is not multiplied by the number of times the called consonant appears; however, unlike other cash prizes, it may be spent on vowels.

The Big Money round also features the "Mystery wedges," two indigo $1,000 spaces with a question mark on each. A player who lands on one of these wedges may either take $1,000 per letter occurrence or decline that money and turn over the wedge. One wedge is backed with Bankrupt, and the other features a prize. Originally, the Mystery prize was always a car, although most often it is now $10,000 cash. If the prize is revealed, it is treated the same as other prizes, and the player must solve the puzzle without hitting a Bankrupt to win it. After one Mystery wedge is revealed, the other acts as a regular $1,000 cash space for the rest of the round. This feature debuted in 2002 and the value was raised from $500 to $1,000 in 2004. Since Season 23 (2005-06), the home audience is shown the value of the Mystery wedge before the player decides whether to use it.

Beginning in 1990, some puzzle categories occasionally allow the solving player to answer a question for additional money (currently $3,000). Sometimes, the puzzle was the first part of a phrase or quotation, and the player was asked to give the next line. Other times, a title or slogan was revealed and the player had to identify the author or product. Players were also asked to fill in a blank or identify a number associated with the puzzle. Originally, if the solving player did not win the bonus money, the other players in turn were given a chance; now, only the player who solves the puzzle is eligible for the bonus.

From 1992 to 1994, some puzzles would contain a set of specially designated (red) 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 1994 to provide studio players with additional winnings.

In the 1998-2000 seasons, a Puzzler was featured. After a puzzle was solved, the contestant who won it was given a puzzle which was related to the one that was just solved (for example, DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA would lead to a Puzzler called AUTO RACING).

From 1992 to 1998, there was a pink space marked SURPRISE on the wheel in Round 1, in the style of the prize wedge also used at that time. It was earned just like a normal prize, but its identity was not revealed unless it was won. Like other prize spaces, it carried over to later rounds if no one claimed it; originally, it was only available in Rounds 1 and 2, and was made available for the entire game beginning in 1995. The Surprise wedge was discontinued in 1998.

In Season 13 (1995-96), a special red token shaped like two conjoined Free Spins, marked DOUBLE PLAY, was placed on the wheel. A player who landed on the token and called a consonant in the puzzle won possession of it and could redeem it before any later spin. If the wheel landed on a dollar amount, that amount was doubled for that turn (e.g. if $550 was spun, each correct consonant was worth $1100). If a player's spin landed on a penalty space, the player forfeited the token but only endured the penalty once. If the wheel landed on a prize, the Double Play was returned for later use.

Introduced in 2003, Prize Puzzles are special puzzles that award the winner with an additional prize 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 is almost always a trip. These puzzles originally did not appear in every episode, but became an everyday element of the game in 2005, appearing randomly in any one of the first three rounds. This feature guarantees a substantial addition to the score of whoever solves the puzzle without the risk of spinning the wheel. It speeds up game play by making it advantageous for the contestants to solve as soon as they know the answer to the puzzle.

Since early 2004, home viewers in the U.S. are given a chance to win 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.), which consists of the player's first and last initials and seven numbers (example: AB1234567). A winning home viewer has 24 hours from the time the number is revealed to go to the website and claim his/her prize. Beginning in 2005, if a contestant wins a car in the Bonus Round, the home viewer with a matching S.P.I.N wins the same type of car. The rules for claiming the car are the same as those for a Prize Puzzle. Also, starting in 2005, a home player who is a SonyCard holder would win an additional $50,000. The S.P.I.N. is not announced during the taping of the show, but is inserted in post-production. Summer and weekend episodes are given a new and unique S.P.I.N. for each Prize Puzzle appearance, providing an incentive for viewers to watch previously aired episodes.

The Wild card was introduced in Season 24 (2006-07). Magenta in color and marked simply with the word WILD, it is placed on the wheel (currently over the green $700 space) in the same way a gift tag or Free Spin token and may be picked up after a contestant lands on it and calls a consonant which appears in the puzzle. A player holding the card, who subsequently lands on a cash space and calls a consonant appearing in the puzzle, may turn it in for the chance to call a second consonant for the same cash value in the same turn, regardless of whether vowels have been called in between. This feature is especially advantageous when a player spins a high dollar amount before typical high-frequency letters have been called.

The Wild Card may not be turned in when the wheel sits on a tag, prize wedge or token. It may be used when a player's arrow sits on Jackpot ($500 per letter) or an unturned Mystery wedge ($1,000 per letter), but does not allow a second chance to solve for the Jackpot, nor a second chance to flip the Mystery wedge, after calling another consonant. However, beginning with the 25th season, the Wild card allows a contestant who chooses an incorrect consonant to immediately try again for the same cash value previously spun; in this sense, the contestant gets a Free Spin without incurring the risk of actually spinning the wheel.

As with Free Spins, a contestant does not have to solve the puzzle to retain the Wild card. However, the contestant must surrender the Wild card if they land on Bankrupt at anytime during the remainder of the game. It disappears from the wheel if no one has claimed it before a full speed-up round, and cannot be used in any speed-up round. A winning contestant who keeps the Wild card through the end of the game uses it during the Bonus Round to select a fourth consonant after the standard three consonants and one vowel.

During shows on which contestants are partnered with celebrities (athletes, soap stars, etc.), the celebrity's favorite charity receives either a minimum of $10,000 or the same amount won by the regular contestant, whichever is higher. In the past, some or all celebrities on an episode played alone for charity. Each celebrity would receive a guaranteed $5,000 with the top celebrity advancing to the Bonus Round playing for a flat $25,000. Celebrity weeks were rarer during the shopping era.

Rarely, two or more players finish the game with the same score. In syndication, the tied players originally (until 2000) played an extra Speed-Up puzzle for the right to advance to the Bonus Round. Since the introduction of the electronic puzzle board, which allowed for the introduction of Toss-Up puzzles in 2000, ties have been broken by a Toss-Up with no cash value, played exclusively among the tied contestants.

Since its inception, the current nighttime version of Wheel of Fortune has featured a special bonus round, played only by the contestant with the most money, at the end of the show. The round has always consisted of a smaller puzzle which the contestant has to guess within a certain time limit, although its format has changed over time.

Originally, the contestant selected any prize with a large gold star attached, and then faced the board for the last puzzle of the episode. Sajak revealed the category and then asked the player to select five consonants and one vowel. Occurrences of these letters were shown and the contestant was given fifteen seconds to provide as many guesses as necessary to solve the puzzle and win the bonus prize. The format first began on the daytime show in 1981, and carried over to the nighttime syndicated version.

• 1987 – When Wheel began its all-cash format in Season 5, larger bonus prizes were offered, such as sports cars, recreational vehicles, boats, vacations, and annuities. $25,000 in cash was also offered as a prize. Nearly all the contestants chose to play for the cash, even though the other prizes were often worth more than $25,000. (Exceptions included special "Wipeout" weeks, where prizes were eliminated after being won.)

• 1988 – Since most contestants who made the Bonus Round guessed the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E, the rules were changed partway through season 6 (1988-1989). From this point onward, every occurrence of the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E in the puzzle is now revealed, and the contestant is now asked for three additional consonants and an additional vowel. Also, the time to solve was reduced to ten seconds.

After these rules took place, Bonus Round puzzles have become increasingly difficult. 'In One Ear And Out The Other' was the longest bonus round puzzle used, but under the original rules. Sometimes, none of the automatic appearing letters would appear, sometimes none of the extra guesses would appear in the puzzle, sometimes neither would appear. Most bonus round puzzles currently are usually two to three words. On very rare occasions, a contestant who selected their three consonants and one vowel would cause the entire board to be filled up, making it obvious what the correct answer is. Sometimes, puzzles were known to be three-letter words.

• 1989-2001 – In Season 7, each of the week's five prizes went into a blind draw, hidden in an envelope and placed behind a letter in the word "WHEEL". Each prize could be won only once per week. By 1998, with contestants still preferring $25,000 (or at least one of the available cars), the cash was once again made available every day; the other prizes could still only be won once per week. For the last two months of this format in Season 19, the large prize packages were no longer offered; three envelopes contained cars, while the other two had the $25,000 cash prize.

• 2001-present – A bonus wheel was added to the show in 2001. Before the puzzle is displayed, the contestant spins a small wheel with twenty-four envelopes in it, to determine which prize he or she will play for. Each envelope represents a prize; the envelope is then handed to Sajak before the puzzle is revealed, and the prize inside it is not shown until after the puzzle has been played. The distribution of cash amounts and cars on the wheel has varied, but the minimum cash prize has always been $25,000, and one envelope always holds $100,000. Currently, the bonus wheel has ten envelopes for cars (five for each of two cars) and fourteen for cash (six $25,000, three $30,000 and one each of $35,000, $40,000, $45,000, $50,000 and $100,000). Since the introduction of the Wild Card in 2006, a player who keeps it until the Bonus Round has been allowed to pick a fourth consonant in addition to the usual letters.

The puzzle board which was used until early 1997 had four rows, with 11 trilons each on the top and bottom rows and 13 trilons each in the two middle rows (48 spaces total). The board was surrounded by a light border, which underwent a number of style changes over the years.

In early 1997, this manually-controlled puzzle board, on which letters were revealed by turning trilons, was replaced with a digital electronic (computerized) board. Letters are revealed automatically during Toss-Up puzzles and when a solution is revealed; during normal rounds, White touches the right side of a border around the letter in order to reveal it. The board now contains 52 spaces, with 12 each on the top and bottom rows and 14 in the two middle rows. Flat-screen monitors were installed on the puzzle board in 2007.

The last message that was displayed on the original puzzle board was "FOR SALE," as an obvious hint that Wheel of Fortune wanted to auction the board off. It currently resides in the Smithsonian Institution.

The tote boards that showed the scores on Wheel of Fortune were originally egg crate light displays that displayed a $ sign and 5 digits (expanded to 6 digits in 1990). In 2002, the displays were replaced with video monitors which use animation to show the scores and display 'Bankrupt' and 'Lose a Turn' if the wheel landed on either of these two wedges. In 2007, the scoreboards were updated to a larger size. Originally, the score display had red, yellow or blue borders that would flash to signal when it was the player's turn; these were replaced in 2007 by two flashing white arrows to the sides of the display.

The wheel's configuration in a round 4 speed-up from 1999-2007, with $5,000 as the top dollar value. This configuration is based on the Wheel template used for the show's second segment before 1996, in the days when three templates were used on the Wheel.

The Wheel, used since early 1975, weighs about two tons. Until 1997, the Wheel spun by itself during the opening and ending credits. During the show's years at NBC Studios, the solid green center of the wheel was used for greenscreen camera shots of Pat and Vanna with the wheel spinning around them during the final credits. This practice was discontinued following the show's move to CBS Television City in 1989.

Since 1983, the top multipliable dollar value for the show has been represented by a sequined silver $5,000 wedge and introduced for the final main game segment (originally Round 3).

Prior to 1996, different dollar value templates were used for each of the three segments of the main game (between 1987 and 2005, the first segment of the main game included both of the first two rounds).

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

• 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 and 2, and $200 in Round 3.
• 1987: The shopping format is replaced by playing for cash. $2,500 becomes the top dollar value for Round 2, and $3,500 in Round 3. The $5,000 space is moved from Round 3 to Round 4. A second prize is also placed on the Wheel in Round 4. Bonus prizes are now displayed in a section behind the host's podium, including turntable-like displays using mock Wheel templates. A giant neon sign displaying the $25,000 cash prize is available to be lowered from the rafters.
• 1988: The neon $25,000 sign is replaced with a grid-like version. Wheel makes its first appearance on the road (in New York City) and debuts the diamond-shaped backdrops for road shows.
• 1989: With the move to CBS, the "sunburst"-shaped backdrops behind the contestants are replaced with new chevron-shaped versions. The permanent Free Spin wedge is replaced with a token concealing a dollar amount.
• 1990: The set is given a shiny black floor and the mock wheel templates are discontinued.
• 1991: The chevron-shaped backdrops are replaced with the diamond-shaped versions originally used only for road shows.
• 1992: The Surprise wedge is introduced. Asterisk-shaped, firework-like backdrops are adopted.
• 1994: The Bankrupt/$10,000/Bankrupt wedge is introduced.

The sequined green $1000 space, used as the top dollar value in Round 1 from 1995-2000

• 1995: Production moves to Sony Pictures Studios. The Double Play token is introduced. The pink $1000 space in round one becomes sequined green.
• 1996: The $25,000 sign is discontinued, a large video display is set at the center of the stage, and the backdrops are randomized. A single wheel template, similar to the one used originally for the second main-game segment, is now used for the entire show. $250 becomes the lowest value on the wheel. The Jackpot round is introduced. The Lose a Turn wedge, originally yellow, becomes white for enhanced contrast with Bankrupt. The prize wedges are only introduced one per round and are gold (except during "Sweethearts Week" when they are Valentine pink).
• 1997: The touch-screen puzzle board debuts. The wheel's lighting is updated. and arrow-shaped spires are added to the wheel.. updated lighting is added to the wheel. The wheel is no longer shown spinning automatically during the opening and closing of the show.
• 1998: A new video display is set in place behind the contestants, replacing the backdrops. The Surprise wedge is discontinued. Prize wedges are given distinct artistic designs.
• 1999: $300 is now the lowest dollar value on the wheel. The font for the three-digit dollar values and the Lose a Turn space receive a white shaded outline. The wheel click tone is slightly louder.
• 2000: The first gift tag is introduced for the wheel; one for $1,000. The $1,000 wedge is discontinued, so the sequined blue $2,500 wedge takes over as the top dollar value for Round 1. $3,500 takes over as the top value for Rounds 2 and 3, and the silver $5,000 wedge takes over for all remaining main-game segment rounds.
• 2001: A bonus wheel with gold glitter, red letters, numbers and symbols and four colored wedges is adopted for the new $100,000 Bonus Round.
• 2002: The $500 "Mystery" wedges are introduced, as well as a second gift tag. The original eggcrate displaying scores are changed to video monitors that also display 'Lose A Turn' and 'Bankrupt' whenever a contestant lands on either of these two wedges.
• 2003: Streamlined neon blue lights are added to the bottom of the wheel and around the puzzle board. A new wheel clicking tone is introduced, softer in sound.
• 2004: The Mystery wedges are changed from black to indigo, and their values are raised from $500 to $1,000. The Bonus Wheel's characters are changed to blue. Beginning in the 2004-2005 season when the show tapes in Las Vegas, Nevada or in themed week such as "Casino Night Week" in Los Angeles, the slot-machines are used behind the contestants. The slot machines matching the $X,000 only when somebody won the Toss-up, spinning and stopped at random objects during the main game, matching any objects when solving the puzzle and won, and matching "Final Spin" when it's time for the Speed-Up round.
• 2005: A new silver Jackpot wedge replaces the red colored one, but the silver Jackpot wedge does have red at the edges. The Bonus Wheel is neon-lit and changes color as it spins.
• 2006: The wheel is redesigned for high definition broadcasting. New colors, sequins and shading are used. The wheel gains a stainless steel border with taller spokes, and the Jackpot wedge gains a large 3-D gold star. The Wild card is introduced to the Wheel, replacing one gift tag.
• 2007: Landing on Free Spin now earns both the token and $300 per valid consonant. A new six-peg $2,500 wedge is occasionally used. The "25" wedge is introduced, as is the "Big Money" wedge, containing a monitor displaying various values, a blue background with pink flashing lights.

1983-2000: "Changing Keys" by Merv Griffin

• 1983-1989 — Original disco-swing arrangement (slightly truncated in 1984).
• 1989-1992 — First smooth jazz arrangement (Used as closing theme in 1993-1994).
• 1992-1994 — Second "smoother" jazz arrangement.
• 1994-1997 — Big band arrangement.
• 1997-2000 — Final, "smoother" big band arrangement.

2000-present: "Happy Wheels" by Steve Kaplan

• 2000-2002 — Modern big-band style theme with heavy rock guitar and percussion, beginning with the first bars of "Changing Keys".
• 2002-2006 — Same theme with jazz sax and percussion.
• 2006-present - New variation of Kaplan's theme, arranged by Frankie Blue, opening reference to "Changing Keys" removed.

• Note: John Hoke is credited for the 25th Anniversary theme, which has opened most shows during the 2007-08 season and is played during Bonus Round wins; Blue's arrangement of "Happy Wheels" is still used as the closing theme and accompanies flashback segments.

For the first six seasons in syndication (from 1983-1989), players were eligible to make only one appearance, although a returning champions rule was used on a special series of episodes in 1988. From 1989 through 1996, winning contestants could appear on up to three episodes. In 1996, a "Friday Finals" format was adopted (although some Friday Finals were instituted earlier in specialty weeks). 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. The Friday winner also received a prize package until 1997. The single-appearance rule returned in 1998.

Since its introduction in 2001, the $100,000 bonus prize has been won 15 times. ^[8]

The show's official rules state that any winnings over a set amount are donated to the player's favorite charity. The current winnings limit is $200,000, though no contestant has ever reached that total.

All episodes from the syndicated series are intact. Episodes were shown on GSN regularly until 2004, but have not aired on that network since then except for a ten-episode marathon in August 2007 to honor the deceased Merv Griffin. Episodes will once again start airing on a regular schedule in January.

Numerous board games version of the game have been released by different toy companies.^[9] 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.
• 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 and a Simpsons edition, and retains the rights at present.

Main article: Wheel of Fortune (video game)

• Wheel of Fortune Pinball Machine

In 2005, InfoSpace 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 multiplayer tournaments for a chance to win daily and weekly prizes.

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Wheel of Fortune (US game show)

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