User:Daniel Benfield/Nighttime Video Archive/Season 7

Go back to Seasons 1-6, or forward to Seasons 8-11?

September 4, 1989 - June 15, 1990

Whereas Season 5 brought the play-for-cash format and Season 6 dealt with the aftermath of Jack Clark's death, Season 7 brought a bevy of changes. Despite having a year left on its contract with NBC's Burbank studios, Wheel is forced out and moves taping to Studio 33 at CBS Television City (Bob Barker Studio and the longtime home of The Price Is Right since 1972) in Hollywood, where it remains for the next six years.

Nearly everything is altered in some way, mostly cosmetic: an updated sound effects package (still used), the third set of contestant nametags, the third version of "Changing Keys" (my personal favorite), a new opening and logo (see right), the chevron backdrops, a filled-in contestant railing, and the more familiar Free Spin discs.

The center rug sees some minor changes, including the decreasing of $750 to $150 and the yellow $300 is upgraded to $800 and it and Lose A Turn switches places, as it switches from this to this. This carries over into the 1992 set (with a golden border attached) and lasts until the end of Season 11.

The sponsor list is now prefaced with "The following companies have furnished prizes or paid a fee for their promotion on the program."

Two gameplay changes are made: returning champs (three days, like daytime) and the W-H-E-E-L envelopes in the Bonus Round. Also, the Round 2 Prize moves to the blue $150 between $250 and $400. Ampersands debut on September 5, but are exclusive to Same Name until about March 9.

On October 16, the Free Spin wedge is replaced by the off-model $300, with one Free Spin disc present for Rounds 1-2 on a random wedge; on the 23rd, the off-model $300 becomes an on-model yellow $500.

On January 10, Merv begins to be credited first on full credit rolls (daytime credits Nancy one last time on the 4th). On January 29, the Enterprises logo begins using a "flip down, flip up" transition not unlike the letter cards on the Used Letter Board.

The last fur coat is offered on March 20, at which point they're removed entirely from the show's prize pool at PETA's insistence.

The overhead Wheel shot for the opening spin is dropped on April 9 and Pat stops doing said spin on May 2, but he does it a few more times out of habit and he seems annoyed at himself in those cases. On May 14, the blue $150 two spaces to the left of Lose A Turn in Rounds 1-2 increases to $500.

New Categories: Person/Fictional Character on October 6 (renamed Star & Role on October 16), Person/Title on October 11, Husband & Wife on November 27, Family on December 25.

Road Shows: Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (February 19-March 2).

Repeat Weeks: January 1-5, April 16-20.

GSN Repeat Dates: November 2000-November 2001 (at least one complete cycle, including weekends).

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1989-90 Califon Productions/Merv Griffin Entertainment and associated entities.

September 1989

 * September 4, 1989 (#S-1171/Season Premiere: Giselle/Julie/Jackie; average quality, cuts off at King World logo {"distributed by K-"}, but has commercials {alternate copy})
 * September 5, 1989 (#S-1172: Rob/Jackie/Susie; kinda-blurry video, cuts off at King World logo {"King Wor-"})
 * September 6, 1989 (#S-1173: Susie/Elizabeth/John, may cut off at King World logo {sounds like "King Worl-"})
 * September 7, 1989 (#S-1174: Brain/John/Linda, with a full credit roll; cuts off right at King World logo {"distributed by-"})
 * September 8, 1989 (#S-1175: Cynthia/John/Valerie)
 * September 11, 1989 (#S-1176: Christy/Bob/Renee)
 * September 12, 1989 (#S-1177: Bob/Druanne/Kate; taped from GSN with commercials, begins with a very brief Card Sharks clip from 1979)
 * September 18, 1989 (#S-1181: David/Brent/Bill {taped 8/12/89; alternate copy of some footage, taped from WPVI by Brent})
 * September 19, 1989 (#S-1182: Jill/Rona/Brent, with a full credit roll {taped 8/12/89}; begins right before money graphic, ends right as "Created by Merv Griffin" gets to the center of the screen {alternate copy of some footage including the first 15 seconds, taped from WPVI on January 1, 1990 by Brent})
 * September 20, 1989 (#S-1183: Janet/Jill/Allison, with Pat getting annoyed that a banana is actually fake {it makes sense in context})
 * September 21, 1989 (#S-1184: Jim/Kim/Jill, with a fun final segment where Pat and Vanna guess how many bulbs are in the $25,000 sign {1,206}...after which the sign goes out)
 * September 27, 1989 (#S-1188: Judy/Tony/Susie; begins during Round 1 {R's, T, S's, and E already revealed, so fourth spin at the earliest}, some quality problems)
 * September 29, 1989 (#S-1190: John/Kimberly/Sheri, begins about a second into the opening animation)

October 1989

 * October 2, 1989 (#S-1191: John/Donna/Laurie, first day the dollar sign disappears for scores of $10,000+; taped from CKND in Canada, begins with a promo for The Great Spelling Bee and includes a "CLOSED CAPTIONED FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED" graphic, but fades out during Pat's wardrobe plug {alternate copy, same source})
 * October 3, 1989 (#S-1192: John/Allison/Cathy, begins just before "Of!" in the opening chant; taped from GSN in November-December 2000)
 * October 4, 1989 (#S-1193: Mark/Judy/Allison, with the GEORGE C SCOTT AS PATTON puzzle that caused Person/Fictional Character to be renamed; begins just before "Fortune!" in the opening chant)
 * October 6, 1989 (#S-1195: Stu/Donna/Alan, with the only nighttime use of Person/Fictional Character; begins right at "Of!" in the opening chant)
 * October 9, 1989 (#S-1196: Nancy/Alan/Joyce; begins right at "Wheel!" in the opening chant, end of Round 2 cut out {right after puzzle is solved}, post-game totals cut out, cuts off at "King Worl-")
 * October 10, 1989 (#S-1197: Veronica/Ed/Alan, with a full credit roll; taped from GSN in November-December 2000 {alternate-ish copy... thing})
 * October 11, 1989 (#S-1198: Rodney/Cindy/Tom, with an audience member who either says "you SUCK!" or the F-word after Pat's Final Spin; begins immediately into "Wheel!" part of the opening chant)
 * October 13, 1989 (#S-1200: Bob/Martha/Julie, with a silly final segment where Pat and Vanna talk about the on-set fountain {part of an "ISLAND VACATION" display})

Free Spin wedge retired, Person/Fictional Character becomes Star & Role


 * October 16, 1989 (#S-1201: Martha/Karen/Donna {alternate copies: #1; #2a, #2b, and #2c})
 * October 17, 1989 (#S-1202: Donna/Bruce/Mark, with the DESE DEM AND DOSE GUYS puzzle and the longest three rounds...probably ever, I'm guessing; begins shortly into logo animation, cuts off just after double-buzz in Bonus Round)
 * October 19, 1989 (#S-1204: Susan/Diane/Ellen, features the tail end of what appears to be the previous episode, but unknown)
 * October 20, 1989 (#S-1205: Alan/Steve/Diane, with Pat stopping the Wheel during the opening {alternate copy})

"Off-model" $300 becomes "on-model" $500


 * October 23, 1989 (#S-1206: Michelle/Shelly/Diane {alternate copy... thing})
 * October 25, 1989 (#S-1208: Mark/Monica/Hilary)
 * October 26, 1989 (#S-1209: Mark/Joe/Anne)
 * October 27, 1989 (#S-1210: Susan/Adam/Nicole; contestant interviews cut out, very jumpy video)
 * October 30, 1989 (#S-1211: Tom/Nicole/LaTanya {alternate copy})
 * October 31, 1989 (#S-1212: Beverly/Larry/Nicole, with Disney characters appearing at the end)

November 1989

 * November 13, 1989 (#S-1221: Dawn/Kelley/Dennis; "contest" version)
 * November 14, 1989 (#S-1222: Carolyn/Kelley/Sandy; "contest" version {alternate final segment, with Vanna playing a round for charity: #1, #2, #3})
 * November 15, 1989 (#S-1223: Ann/Kelley/Eddie; "contest" version)
 * November 16, 1989 (#S-1224: Pat/John/Larry; "contest" version)
 * November 17, 1989 (#S-1225: Gary/Emily/Larry; "contest" version)

December 1989

 * December 4, 1989 (#S-1236: Peter/Amanda/Debby, with a full credit roll)
 * December 6, 1989 (#S-1238: Ron/Jana/Dorothy)
 * December 8, 1989 (#S-1240: Steve/Tom/Gary Lee {alternate copy})
 * December 18, 1989 (#S-1246: Sandy/Steve/Margaret)
 * December 22, 1989 (#S-1250: Joseph/Dimitri/Meg, with Pat throwing snow at Vanna during the final segment; fee plugs cut out)
 * December 29, 1989 (#S-1255/Family Week, Finale: Dave & Carol/Bill & Lynn/Rich & Mike)

January 1990

 * January 8, 1990 (#S-1256: Glenda/Barbara/Meg)
 * January 9, 1990 (#S-1257: Meg/Kathy/Guido {alternate copy})

"Executive Producer: Merv Griffin" added to beginning of the full credit roll


 * January 10, 1990 (#S-1258: Mary Beth/Louise/Ed, with a full credit roll)
 * January 11, 1990 (#S-1259: Louise/Don/Loretta)
 * January 12, 1990 (#S-1260: Louise/Sherri/Pat)
 * January 23, 1990 (#S-1267: Glade/Andy/Kathy)

"Flip down, flip up" Enterprises graphic


 * January 30, 1990 (#S-1272: Sue/Alan/Deborah)
 * January 31, 1990 (#S-1273: Alan/Larry/Shirley)

February 1990

 * February 1, 1990 (#S-1274: Alan/Chris/Paul)
 * February 2, 1990 (#S-1275: Paul/Mouse/Ted)
 * February 5, 1990 (#S-1276: Paul/Jeff/Susanna)
 * February 6, 1990 (#S-1277: Ellen/Lisa/Jeff {alternate copy, taped from WPVI with commercials; uploaded by Ellen's cousin in tribute to her})
 * February 7, 1990 (#S-1278: Marnita/John/Ellen {alternate copy, taped from WPVI with commercials; uploaded by Ellen's cousin in tribute to her}, {stand-alone copy})
 * February 19, 1990 (#S-1286/Walt Disney World, Day 1: Patty/Catherine/J.D. {alternate copy})
 * February 22, 1990 (#S-1289/Walt Disney World, Day 4: Nancy/Lee/Randy, with a full credit roll)

March 1990

 * March 2, 1990 (#S-1295/Walt Disney World, Finale: Bob/Cornelia/Ken {alternate copy})
 * March 6, 1990 (#S-1297: Tom/Cornelia/Dick)

Ampersands begin to be used outside Same Name


 * March 9, 1990 (#S-1300: Gerianne/Juli/David)
 * March 12, 1990 (#S-1301: Tad/Marla/Gerianne, with Vanna showing off an afghan she made for Merv)
 * March 13, 1990 (#S-1302: Elizabeth/Debra/Gerianne)
 * March 14, 1990 (#S-1303: Venela/Debra/Bill, with a full credit roll {alternate copy})
 * March 15, 1990 (#S-1304: Bill/Catherine/Suzanne)
 * March 16, 1990 (#S-1305: Kathy/Tom/Catherine {alternate copy})
 * March 27, 1990 (#S-1312: Stephen/Cristina/Emily {alternate copy})
 * March 30, 1990 (#S-1315: Joe/Maureen/Elaine, with a full credit roll; "shaky-cam" upload)

May 1990
May 21-25 is College Week.


 * May 2, 1990 (#S-1333: Vince/Ernie/Mark)
 * May 7, 1990 (#S-1336: Debi/Claire/Kamee, with a cameo by Charlie)
 * May 10, 1990 (#S-1339: Melissa/Tommy/Jackie, with a full credit roll)

Blue $150 near Lose A Turn in R1-2 becomes $500


 * May 18, 1990 (#S-1345: Karen/Angelo/Linda, with PAT AND LESLY SAJAK as a puzzle)
 * May 29, 1990 (#S-1352: Karen/Harvey/Marie)
 * May 30, 1990 (#S-1353: Bonnie/Harvey/Scott {alternate copy})

June 1990

 * June 1, 1990 (#S-1355: Rolland/Larry/Judy, with most of a full credit roll {cuts off at "Technical Director"})
 * June 8, 1990 (#S-1360: Steve/Jana/Denise, with a full credit roll)
 * June 14, 1990 (#S-1364: Kathleen/Yvette/Lynn, with a very lengthy Final Spin {alternate copy})
 * June 15, 1990 (#S-1365/Season Finale: Lynn/Mark/Kathleen)