User:Daniel Benfield/Daytime Video Archive

Suggested by TPH, and created first due to there being about...what, less than half of a nighttime season? The timeline is here, "existing episodes" list here, nighttime videos here, and international videos here. (If any video links don't work, remove or substitute as necessary.)

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 ©1973-91/1997-98 Califon Productions/Merv Griffin Entertainment and associated entities.

AND ANOTHER THING: All opinions on this page are my own (see my name above the door?), and as per the rules of the MOS I'm doing it within my userspace. Mind you, the fact you're seeing this means you're here for a reason, so please don't let my thoughts sour you in any way.

Pilots (1973-74)
1973 In the beginning...a turd with Chuck Woolery as host, Mike Lawrence as announcer, and Bill Carruthers as both producer and director.

I kinda liked it, though. Sure, it's definitely not the greatest pilot ever made, but it's also nowhere close to being offensive or time-wasting. That said, Merv really should've put out the decaf before the taping...


 * September 1973 (Pilot #1/Shopper's Bazaar: Marilyn/Dawn/Maureen {alternate copy of opening segment})

1974

A near-complete overhaul, almost entirely for the better: Edd Byrnes becomes host, with Charlie O'Donnell as announcer and Susan Stafford as hostess...except the host's drunk, people can't hear or do math properly, Susan forgets to turn stuff, nobody remembers that hey there's allegedly returning champs so we should make up fake prior totals for them, and there's arguments between Merv and Marty Pasetta.

Leap of faith, indeed...


 * August 28, 1974 (Pilot #2/first Byrnes taping: Marge {Champ}/Gary/Roseanne) {Clip from said pilot}
 * August 28, 1974 (Pilot #3/second Byrnes taping: Tanya {Champ}/Frank/Lois; ends during Round 2)

1975
Smart heads prevailed: Chuck's back as host, with center stage occupied by some doors that are replaced sometime (about July?) in favor of the original curtain. The main contestant displays also change sometime this year, from white to the color of each arrow.

Most of the weird stuff is sorted out within the year: Buy A Vowel goes from redundant to required sometime after July 15 before Wheel just kicks it (and its duplicate) out by November 3, new categories are added, the minimum Wheel value is upped to $100, and the gift certificates come into play.

The hour-long shows are done from November 3-7, then return on a regular basis on December 1. Presumably with the latter set of shows, the top values go to $500/$1,000/$1,500.


 * January 6, 1975 (#001/Premiere: June/? {female}/? {male}; audio of last 49 seconds)

Gift certificates added (debuted by 7/15/75)


 * July 15, 1975 (Mike {Day 3 - $2,700}/Laura/Bobbie; has commercials, audio only {alternate copy})
 * [Note that the visuals are a reconstruction by the uploader.]

Wheel minimum becomes $100 (began by 10/31/75); Buy A Vowel removed (began by 11/3/75)


 * November 3, 1975 (?/?/?, 20 seconds of opening {alternate copy, same source})

1976
The hour-long era ends on January 16, with another bevy of changes: the contestant displays become white again, and the light ring above the Wheel (and the ever-changing color of the chroma-key center) is removed. Sometime between May 20 and June 7, the opening spiel changes to the one people remember from this era,


 * January 19?, 1976 (NBC's All-Star Dream Machine Championship, Day 1: Rick/Patti/Richard; studio master!)
 * [Spiegel catalog shown at 20:55 is the Spring/Summer 1976 one.]
 * May 20, 1976 (Elliot/Kathi/Lee {Day 3 - $10,575}; studio master!. ends during eligibility disclaimer)
 * [Closing voiceover: "The Kansas City Royals meet the Minnesota Twins, Saturday afternoon on NBC. Stay tuned now for The Hollywood Squ-".]

Intro overhauled (began by 6/7/76)
 * June 7, 1976 (#368: Gerry/Linda {Day 4 - $16,975}/Lee; taped from GSN on 8/18/07)
 * [Has the three-line puzzle board's original (clockwise) chase light sequence.]

1977
You know how "one is the loneliest number"? This is the only year in the show's history that is represented in the Video Archives by...nothing. Not yet, at least, since at least one episode (July 5) does exist.

By January 24 (the first known Brides Week), the regular curtain is introduced. By July 5, the championship limit is decreased from five days to three.

Susan injures herself around early September while rehearsing for Circus of the Stars, with Summer Bartholomew (who also modeled for Brides Week) filling in. Probably around September 30 is one of the strangest incidents of the show's run, when Arte Johnson fills in to promote his new NBC game Knockout.


 * 1977?-78 (Barbara/Herb {Day 2 - $3,300}/Pat, with the original chase light sequence; montage including partial intro and most of Round 3)
 * [Confusing airdate timeframe is freaking confusing: oh, boy, where to start...
 * The Wheel layouts appear to be the same as they are on January 18 and March 15, complete with the blue $400 next to a blue $300 in Round 1. The blue $400 became red by April 6, so it's no later than March 30 since Karen retired on April 5 with a three-day total of $16,334 {as Chuck notes on the 6th}.
 * The end of the intro is unlike anything used in the 1976 or '78 episodes {except the All-Star Dream Machine show, but that's a special case} and didn't become the norm until 1981: the Wheel logo is used at the end, with Charlie saying "And now, here's your host: Chuck Woolery!" The latter is used on March 15, but not the former, and on January 18 it was "Now, let's meet your host".
 * The biggest sign is that Barbara purchases a 1978 Camaro after Round 3, as the Camaro model years ran from September-August. This puts it no earlier than September 1977, but that might be pushing it because of Susan's absence during that period and she's pretty clearly in this episode.
 * Don't get me wrong in the slightest – I'm happy that Mike Adams has shared what he has with the world – the thing is that there's not enough in the uploads to get a more accurate timeframe than "September? 1977-March 30, 1978". An NBC voiceover during the credits of either of Barbara's episodes would likely solve this instantly or at least narrow it down. If Bankrupt was hit and didn't use the slide whistle, it'd be narrowed to about four-and-a-half months. If Barbara's second episode has the Star Bonus {which seems unlikely, but I've been proven wrong before}, it's locked to late March.]

1978
The score displays extend to six digits, and the Wheel changes up again, by January 18 (with the blue $400 in Round 1 becoming red sometime between March 15 and April 6). Quotation debuts by January 18, with the Star Bonus introduced in...late March? Not sure when it finally left, though.

Another memorable episode airs Christmas Day, on which Jo Ann Pflug and Chuck's daughter Melissa visit; Charlie also makes his first known on-camera appearance, wearing a Santa Claus costume.


 * March 15, 1978 (#785: Beth/Carol/MaryAnn {Day 2 - $8,350}, with Gordon MacRae making an appearance; original broadcast)

Blue $400 in Round 1 becomes red (began by 4/6/78)
 * April 6, 1978 (Scott/Glenda/Gail {champ retired last time}, with something weird at the top of the puzzle board at 11:30 and a very game show-ish prize cue in Round 4; taped from KNBC, begins during Charlie's opening spiel {"-these extravagant prizes!"}, video collapses hard at Chuck's entrance)
 * April 7, 1978 (Scott/Peggy/Laura; taped from KNBC, begins shortly before Chuck introduces Susan, ends during eligibility disclaimer)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]

1979
By March 2, the 7's on the Wheel change to having a flat bottom; previously, they were round. Occupation debuts by March 27.

Susan is absent from May 24-June 8 due to a car accident which dislocates her shoulder; Summer fills in through June 1, with the next week handled by Cynthia Washington. May 31 is the first known appearance of Nickname, which seems to disappear back into the sands of time until September 1988.

Sometime between June 1 and December 4, the top amounts become $750/$1,000/$2,000 with $125, $275, $650, and $850 retired for...some reason. Also debuting in December are two new commercial cues, also composed by Alan Thicke.

7's on Wheel become flat-bottomed (began by 3/2/79)


 * March 27, 1979 (Gwen {Day 2 - $5,500}/Brian/Anita, with a Bankrupt-filled round {and Chuck starts that round's intro spiel over at one point, eerily predicting the modern practice of cutting out "null" cycles} and the first known appearance of Occupation)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]

Summer fills in
 * May 31, 1979 (Hilarie/David/? {female}, with what may be the reversed chase light sequence; Hilarie's interview only)
 * June 1, 1979 (Henry?/Hilarie/Janet?, with what may be the reversed chase light sequence; game montage)

Susan returns (began 6/11/79); massive Wheel overhaul, new commercial cues added (debuted by 12/4/79)


 * December 4, 1979 (Susan/Lea/Ginger {Day 2 - $3,000}; taped from WNBC with commercials, ends shortly into fee plugs {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * ["Luxurious" is still in the intro.]
 * December 13, 1979 (Linda?/?/?; closing segment, taped from WNBC)
 * December 31, 1979 (Lou/Allan {Day 3 - $9,425}/Jackie {Part 3}, with "extravagant" replacing "luxurious" in the intro; taped from WNBC, with commercials {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]

1980
The Wheel is altered at times during the year, as well as the placement and frequency of the three commercial cues (which continues for the next three years, when Merv finally gets sick of paying royalties to Thicke). The supposed "finale" airs August 1; in the wake of Charlie's departure, Don Morrow does August 4-8 with Jack Clark becoming announcer on the 11th.


 * January? 1980 (?/Mary/?, clip of Round 2; taped by contestant Mary Goebel and posted online by her husband)
 * March 20, 1980 (Charline/Becky {Day 2 - $5,050}/Les, with "extravagant" in the intro; taped from WNBC)
 * [Has "extravagant" in the intro. Uses the original chase light sequence.]
 * March 25, 1980 (Mazel/Bob/Kevin {Day 3 - $6,350}, with a five-round game and a full credit roll; taped from WNBC with most commercials, audio/video cuts out for six seconds during last shopping round {alternate copy})
 * [Has "luxurious" back in the intro. Uses the original chase light sequence.]


 * May 7, 1980 (Paul/Diane/Cathy {champ retired last time}, with Chuck and Susan debunking rumors of the show's demise in the final segment; taped from WNBC {alternate copy})
 * [Has "luxurious" in the intro. Uses the original chase light sequence.]
 * June? 1980 (? {female}/?/?; brief clip shown on a promo aired June 20)
 * June 20, 1980 (Ken/Linda/Charlotte {Day 3 - $19,100}; taped from WNBC)

Jack Clark becomes announcer (began 8/18/80)


 * August 22, 1980 (Carole {Day 2 - $4,500}/Mike/Nancy; taped from WNBC with commercials, begins at start of Round 3)


 * October 8, 1980 (Sonny/Ruth {Day 2 - $2,400}/Janet, with the first known instance of a one-word Phrase and only the second known Woolery-era instance of a Speed-Up being played for a gift certificate {alternate copy of final segment})
 * October? 1980 (? {female}/? {female}/? {male}; three brief clips, approximately one second each, shown during a promo detailing the new schedule to begin October 27)


 * November 6, 1980 (Game Show Hosts Week, Finale: Tom Kennedy {Art}/Monty/Minnie), with "luxurious" in the intro and a full credit roll; ends almost immediately after credit roll begins)
 * [Has what may be the original chase light sequence.]


 * December 18, 1980 (Laura/Joyce {Day 3 - $14,600}/Barbara, with "extravagant" back in the intro; taped from WNBC, ends shortly after Chuck congratulates the third-place winner)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]
 * December 24, 1980 (Vicki {Day 3 - $15,700}/Bud/Linda, with "extravagant" in the intro; taped from WNBC)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]

1981
The regular five-and-a-vowel Bonus Round debuts the week of December 14, but returns on the 28th. The set is overhauled on December 21 (including a new 48-trilon/four-row puzzle board, sunburst contestant backdrops, a turntable for the prizes, and a new golden Wheel base), a style that remains for the next eight years.

Chuck leaves on the 25th, replaced by Pat Sajak on the 28th.


 * April 17, 1981 (Teen Week, Finale: Ian/Dan/Craig, 48-second clip from after Round 4 {reran 7/17/81; not sure whether this particular copy is one or the other})
 * April 21, 1981 (Virginia/Jan {Day 2 - $7,400}/Lori; taped from WNBC, audio is kinda static-y {alternate copy of closing segment, same source})


 * September 21-25, 1981 (Portland Week, Day ?: Linda/Frank/? {female}, with the original chase light sequence; partial Round 3)

Set overhauled (debuted 12/21/81); $2,000 becomes peach (began by 12/25/81)
 * December 25, 1981 (Chuck's Finale/Christmas In New York, Finale: Claudia {Day 2 - $5,600}/Betty/Sonny {Part 3, Part 4}; has commercials, audio only {existing video, missing about a second or so and region-locked in at least the States})

1981-82
1981
 * December 28, 1981 (Pat's Debut/Teen Week, Day 1: Jim/Keith/Stacie; taped from KNBC, with commercials {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * [Has the four-line puzzle board's original chase light sequence (counterclockwise on the left, clockwise on the right).]

1982 By September 2, the money graphic becomes animated, the puzzle board adds another four trilons to the corners (inaccessible due to the border), and Bonus Round players begin playing from center stage. Susan leaves on October 22 with Summer, Vicki McCarty, and Vanna White filling in until Vanna becomes permanent on December 13 (by which point the opening logo begins to be displayed in different colors).


 * September? 1982 (WBZ promo for Wheel, Card Sharks repeats, and the dying days of Match Game; I really only put this here because the Wheel clips are from 9/2/82)
 * September 2, 1982 (Nancy {Day 2 - $4,300}/Beverly/Karen; taped from WTCN)
 * September 3, 1982 (Beverly/Dorian/Bill; begins during intro {"-glamorous prizes"})
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]

Vanna White becomes permanent hostess (began 12/13/82)


 * December 13, 1982 (#2016/Vanna's Premiere {Philadelphia Week, Day 1}: Robin {Day 3 - $11,150}/Louis/Linda; taped from GSN on 8/18/07)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]
 * December 29, 1982 (#2023/Teen Week, Day 3: Chris/Evangelina/Jonathan; begins just into opening {"-dio"}, video tends to screw up, but still very watchable)

1983
Probably the biggest musical change of all: on August 8, Thicke's music package is replaced by a set composed by Merv, most notably "Changing Keys". A mid-show bumper is added by October 31, while the Merv Griffin Productions logo becomes a full-color drawing of a griffin against a black background on November 28.


 * January 20, 1983 (#2044: ? {female}/? {female?}/? {male}; first 1:11, including slate)

Merv's music debuts (debuted 8/8/83)


 * October 31, 1983 (Tina {Day 2 - $9,686}/Janet/Tim; taped from WNBC {alternate copies: #1, #2})
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]
 * November? 1983 (Brief promo with Pat mentioning some kind of contest; might be the Home Puzzle Contest, known to be held the first full week of November)


 * November 9, 1983 (Couples Week, Day 3: Bill & Kathy/Don & Susan/Frank & Debbie, with light-up white trees on-set and the "flipping" green money graphic; taped from WNBC)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]

1984
In February, the Griffin logo is altered to make the griffin static and the text smaller, while the trees are replaced by a set of walls. "Merv Griffin Productions" becomes "Merv Griffin Enterprises" on September 10, "Changing Keys" is redone around the 17th (with the opening slightly altered), and the sunburst backdrops become sharp-edged around October 1. Sometime between then and November 23, the $150 next to $1,000 in Round 2 becomes $100.

The Wheel-related episode of Gimme A Break! ("The Big Apple") airs February 16. From what I can tell, it uses the light-up white trees, but like the 227 show in '86 it could've aired "out of order".


 * January 1984 (Lynn {Day 2 - $10,375}/Doug/Cathy; taped from KXAS with a few commercials, no last segment {alternate copies: #1; #2a, #2b, #2c, and #2d, by the original uploader})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence (clockwise on the left, counterclockwise on the right).]

Walls replace trees; static Griffin logo


 * February-October 1984 (Montage of Pat playing with prizes; most of the clips have the original "Changing Keys" and no Winter decorations on the walls, although at least two appear to use the '84 "Keys"; one clip mentions a "beat the heat" package, suggesting May or so)
 * February 29, 1984 (Battle of the Sexes, Day 3: Ron/Ray/Rick, with a full credit roll)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]


 * April 12-May 24, 1984 (Thursday: Staa/Nickie {Day 2 - $5,836}/Bill; taped from WNBC with a couple of commercials {okay, who thought it'd be a good idea to name their product "AYDS"?} and Jack Cafferty doing a Live At Five promo before the show, audio/video goes a bit off beginning late in Round 1 {alternate copy})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]

Second "Changing Keys" (debuted 9/17?/84)


 * September 17-24?, 1984 (Monday: Celia {Day 3 - $19,625}/Joseph/Gloria, with the reversed chase light sequence; begins about 10 seconds before money graphic, some tracking problems)

Second sunburst backdrops; $150 next to $1,000 in R2 becomes $100; Winter decorations added


 * November 29-December 13, 1984 (Battle of the Sexes, Day 4: Jeanne/Stephanie/Terri; begins during opening glissando {just before "Look at this studio..."})
 * [According to this post, all NBC shows at this point {except Super Password, for some reason} used the airdate for copyright purposes.]
 * December 19, 1984 (Dolly {Day 2 - $11,250}/Robert/Connie, with probably the oddest point to do a commercial break I've ever seen on this show {and I hope it's the only time they tried it because it's freaking awkward}; taped from WNBC)

1985
The graphics are redone around January 21: the logo during the open (shown over the Wheel) has its transparent spaces colored in white, the logo after the money graphic becomes animated, the category displays become Helvetica chyrons (which get shadows later that month), and the Enterprises logo font changed to Peignot. By February 8, the chyrons become bolder with no shadows and a white outline around the bottom of each character, which expands to have white around each character by March 29.

Sometime in February, the show celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a week-long home-viewer contest because hey, why celebrate it on time when we can do it for sweeps?

Opening logo's transparent spaces covered in white; animated logo; second Helvetica chyrons; Enterprises logo changed to Peignot font


 * February 8, 1985 (Warren/Sol {Day 2 - $14,376}/Linda {alternate copy})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]

Third Helvetica Chyrons


 * April 24, 1985 (Mary/Mirtha/Chuck)
 * 1985-86 (Teen Week, Day ?: J.P. {Jean-Paul Manoux}/?/?; brief Bonus Round clip, begins at tail end of prize description)

1986
Susan returns from June 16-20 (you know, back when Wheel did legit callbacks). The Wheel gets a color overhaul in late August or early September (definitely by September 8), while the Jackpot wedge debuts September 15.

The walls are removed sometime between October 13 and November 13; likely at the same time, the sunburst backdrops change to a more flower-ish design. Sometime between November 13 and December 22, the Enterprises logo adds "A Unit of The Coca-Cola Company" (with every word in the script font).

The "Wheel of Fortune" episode of The A-Team airs January 14.


 * February 14, 1986 (Couples Week, Finale: Randy & Melissa {$16,450}/Matt & Lori {$8,065}/Morton & Patti {$9,065}, with a full credit roll; taped from WESH {alternate copies of intro, mid-show break, and final segment, with commercials})


 * Late April-Early June 1986 (Monday: Naomi/Dennis {Day 2 - $2,200}/Faye, with an extremely rare dual-category disclaimer {taped 4/86}; taped from KCST, begins during opening glissando, ends during sponsor list {alternate copy by the original uploader, region-blocked in at least the States})
 * [According to the original uploader, "I think the show was taped April 21 (through 23) 1986, but it didn't actually air until several weeks later." The timeframe is based on that and Pat's comments about being the first show after a College Week.]


 * June 20, 1986 (Susan fills in/Teen Week, Finale: Peter/Aurora/Wendy, with a full credit roll)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * July 1986 (Tom/?/?, with the original chase light sequence; most of Bonus Round)

Wheel color overhaul; Jackpot debuts; third sunburst backdrops; post-walls backdrops
 * October 1986 (KDSK behind-the-scenes reports, showing various clips from around this point; interestingly, part of the first report uses the 1983 "Changing Keys")
 * October-December 1986 (Monday; Dean/Kathy/Karen {Jackpot: $4,000} {alternate copy})
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * November 13, 1986 (Mike/Jill/Dawn {Jackpot: $3,000}, with a daytime tie which results in a fun final segment; ends during credits)
 * [Has the original chase light sequence.]

Enterprises logo adds "A Unit of The Coca-Cola Company"


 * December 22, 1986 (Teen Week, Day 1: Chrissy/Tom/Danny {Part 3, Part 4}, with the original chase light sequence {taped 11/22/86} {alternate copy})
 * December 23, 1986 (Teen Week, Day 2: Jim/Tracey/Carol {taped 11/22/86}, with an unknown chase light sequence {there's a giant bow blocking what little is visible}; last few minutes due to being mostly pre-empted on the East Coast)
 * December 24, 1986 (Teen Week, Day 3: Kathy/Leslie/Victor {Part 3, Part 4}, with the original chase light sequence {taped 11/22/86} {alternate copy})
 * December 25, 1986 (Teen Week, Day 4: Valerie/Ian/Paula {Part 3, Part 4}, with the original chase light sequence {taped 11/22/86} {alternate copy})

1987
The Enterprises logo changes slightly (to a yellow background and "A unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION") between mid-June and about mid-October. The fee plugs are dropped on December 28, with a parting gift announced before the beginning of Round 3 or 4.


 * 1987 (KAMC behind-the-scenes report, one of a series)
 * 1987 (WGRZ promo for the show {with a bunch of 1984-85ish clips}, airing weekdays at...Noon?!)


 * January 1987 (Mitzi/Tony/Cheryl {Jackpot: $?,000}, with the original chase light sequence; most of Round 2 and part of Round 3)
 * February 13, 1987 (Battle of the Sexes, Finale: Mike/Renee; begins a bit before "Fortune!" of opening chant)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]


 * March 17, 1987 (Phyllis/Alan/Clay {Jackpot: $2,000}, with Pat wearing a green frog hat)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]
 * March 30, 1987 (Randy/Robin/Jim {Jackpot: $7,000}, with a Jack Clark mini-interview, a Contestant Plug, and probably the worst game of the circulating daytime footage; taped from WNBC)
 * [Has the reversed chase light sequence.]


 * April 1, 1987 (Steven/Gail/Missy, with a Contestant Plug and full credit roll; taped from KYW, video speeds up shortly into the opening chant...and then it's about 3-4 seconds ahead of the audio, although at least the desync is only for Round 1)
 * April 27, 1987 (Pete/Carolyn/Elaine {Jackpot: $7,000}, with a Ticket Plug and full credit roll)
 * June 15, 1987 (Rod/MaryKay/Angie, with Pat not doing the "Try not to hit Bankrupt..." spiel because "I don't feel like it."; ends during Vanna's wardrobe credit)

"A Unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION"


 * November 30, 1987 (Dave/Diana/Susan {Jackpot: $1,000}, with Pat doing the Topkcaj joke he'd repeat nine years later; taped from KCEN)

1988-89
1988

On February 8, the Enterprises logo replaces "A unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION" with "A Unit of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc." Jack Clark leaves around May 6, with Charlie and Johnny Gilbert filling in afterward until M. G. Kelly becomes the permanent announcer around August 8.

For reasons unknown, the Jackpot wedge is removed on September 16. On October 3, the Bonus Round is altered to give the player RSTLNE plus three-and-a-vowel, then 10 seconds to solve.

M.G. becomes announcer
 * August 1988 (Montage of Tim Brando's audition to replace Pat, done on the nighttime set: David/Jennifer/Ellen)
 * August (or so) 1988 (Partial montage of Kelly's audition to replace Pat, done on the daytime set {alternate copy, from Kelly's website})


 * October 26, 1988 (Trick or Treat Week, Day 3: Jeannette/Lenna/Elizabeth)
 * December 7, 1988 (Shawn/Elin/Maddy, with some pricetags oddly using a different font than the usual)


 * Mid-December 1988 (Sports Look {I think that's what it is} interview with new host Rolf Benirschke, who has been taping for less than a week with eight episodes in the can thus far, plus some strong indications that he actually did host Winfall; the Sports Look set has a Christmas tree)

1989
 * January 6, 1989 (#3563: Patti/Carey/Betsy)
 * January 9, 1989 (#3564/Pat's Finale: Betsy/Consuelo/Gigi; with an appearance by Merv Griffin; taped from GSN on 8/18/07)

Rolf Benirschke (1989)
Rolf becomes host on January 10, with Charlie returning on February 20. Sometime between February 22 and June 30 (the last NBC show), something falls through between Wheel and host wardrobe provider Augustus.


 * Early January 1989 (Promo announcing Rolf's debut, "starting Tuesday")
 * January 10, 1989 (#3565/Rolf's Premiere: Karen/Cheryl/Consuelo; alternate copy of closing segment only)
 * January 11, 1989 (#3566: Karen/Judy/Robin)
 * January 12, 1989 (#3567: Kevin/Robin/Rhonda)
 * January 13, 1989 (#3568: Kathy/Keren/Rhonda)

Charlie O'Donnell returns (began 2/20/89)


 * February 22, 1989 (Lois/Cami/Rochelle)
 * June 30, 1989 (Rolf/NBC Finale: Julie/Jay/Marc, with a full credit roll)

1989
The show moves to CBS, with a bevy of changes: a new home base at Television City Studio 33 (where The Price Is Right has been taping since 1972), a slightly different intro (with a new logo that becomes the regular one by August 22 in a new open), new contestant nametags (which begin using black text on July 19), playing for cash with cheaper Wheel layouts (the Rounds 1-2 layout of which increase over the next three months), and a new "Changing Keys" (my personal favorite). The sponsor lists also get changed to two, per CBS' tradition: "The following suppliers of products or services have paid for their use & promotion." and "The following suppliers of products or services have furnished them free or at less than retail." Also, per CBS tradition, the show uses the applause machine used on its other game shows.

On October 16, the Free Spin wedge becomes $400 and the winner's Bonus Round letter choices become black.


 * July 1989 (Promo announcing the show's return with "bigger prizes" and "more cash"; in other news, I'm thin)
 * July 1989 (Promo where Bob becomes a victim of wordplay)
 * July 17, 1989 (CBS This Morning interview with Bob and Vanna, showing clips of a Monday show with only one each of $50♦ and $75♦ on the Wheel)
 * July 17-18, 1989 (Pat Sajak Show segment where Pat walks downstairs to a Wheel taping {alternate copy})


 * July 17, 1989 (#C001/CBS Premiere: Fay/Rick/Lou {taped 7/14/89}; has commercials {alternate copy, no commercials})

Diamonds added to two-digit values (began 7/18/89)


 * July 18, 1989 (#C002: Eva/Patrick/Rick; taped from KCBS {alternate copy})

Contestant nametag letters become black; Rounds 1-2 layout undergoes several more changes (began 7/19/89)
 * July 19, 1989 (#C003: Suzy/Jeff/Patrick; taped from KCBS {alternate copy})
 * July 20, 1989 (#C004: Julie/Patrick/Lesa {alternate copy})
 * July 21, 1989 (#C005: Biff/Jon/Carol {Parts 3, 4, 5, and 6}; pretty low audio {alternate copy})


 * July 1989 (Promo for the "CBS Wake-Up Workout": Wheel and Family Feud)
 * July 1989 (Promo for the "CBS Wake-Up Workout" for Wheel, followed by a promo for that night's CBS Evening News)

"New" intro debuts; $5,000 sign rotation included in credits (began by 8/22/89)


 * August 22, 1989 (Marleen/Mary Ellen/Lee; taped from WCBS {alternate copy of closing segment})

Minimum value now $100 (began by 9/18/89)


 * September 18, 1989 (Dave/Sandra/Ric; montage, ends after final score tally {and region-locked in at least the States})

Free Spin wedge retired (began 10/16/89)


 * December 21, 1989 (Complete final segment, with Wheel celebrating a combined total of 5,000 episodes...and namedrops of Chuck, Susan, Summer, Alex, Pat, and Rolf; somewhat jumpy video)
 * [Also has a promo for Teen Week.]

1990
By January 4, the nighttime car turntables are brought to daytime. Sometime between then and July 5, the vowel costs are dropped from $200 to $100.

Armed Forces Week is July 2-6, with contestants chosen from the audience.

Sometime between July 23 and September 3, several changes are made: the contestant chevron backdrops become darker; the score displays become connected, with seven digits and an adjusting dollar sign; and the Wheel's lights become much brighter, with the bottom layer now going in the same direction as the other layers.

Sometime between September 11 and December 25, the rules for picking up Prize wedges and the Free Spin are altered to need a correct letter call before they can be claimed, a considerably fairer rule.

The "Vowel Play" episode of L.A. Law, using the seven-digit displays and brighter Wheel lights, airs November 29.


 * January 4, 1990 (Mike {Day 2 - $4,099}/Marcia/Don {Part 3}, with a full credit roll {alternate copy})
 * [The last time Nancy Jones was credited first in the full credit rolls. Beginning the following week, Merv got top billing.]

Full credit rolls now begin with "Executive Producer: Merv Griffin" (began 1/90); vowel cost dropped to $100 (began by 7/5/90)


 * July 5, 1990 (Armed Forces Week, Day 4: Begins with Karen/Terry/Barry)
 * [Has players chosen from the audience.]
 * July 23, 1990 (Rochelle/Tammy/Hury, Production Secretary Karen Griffith's fifth-to-last daytime show {except not really} with a long Round 1 and full credit roll plus a crane shot of the $5,000 sign; taped from WCIX, Enterprises logo is clearly edited in)
 * [Still has the six-digit contestant displays. Closing voiceover has Harry Smith and Paula Zahn saying "Tomorrow we'll talk with supermodel Cheryl Tiegs. Also, the wives of Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison join us on CBS This Morning." Zahn joined that show on February 26, and I've gotten confirmation that Tiegs appeared on July 24.]

Seven-digit contestant displays; brighter Wheel lights (debuted around 9/3/90)


 * September 7?, 1990 (Melissa/Benny {Day 2 - $2,125}/Kristin; taped from WCBS with commercials, begins as Bob walks out, kinda-low audio {alternate copy, no commercials})
 * [Bob mentions "tomorrow" a couple of times. I have no reason to doubt the uploader (especially since this is at the beginning of a four-hour block of TV shows from 9/7/90; with Price immediately following, of course), but Bob's comments leave me thinking that WCBS might have tape-delayed Wheel.]


 * December 25, 1990 (Todd {Day 2 - $4,650}/Tom/Philip, with a plug for the 4th Edition board game {alternate copy})
 * [Enterprises logo revealed through a trilon effect.]

1991
...You can just feel the end approaching. Or at least I can...

Wheel moves back to NBC's schedule on January 14 with a few minor changes: most noticeably, the opening spiel becomes a unique style (also adding a shot of the day's players) and the first Prize is now added in Round 1. The sponsor lists are re-merged with a preface of "The following companies have paid a fee and/or furnished merchandise to the production company for promoting their products." Episodes with fee plugs move them to the second break, using a unique logo only seen a few times on the nighttime show (for the same purpose), with only show merchandise (based on nighttime) plugged during the last segment.

Several play-by-phone sweepstakes are held: Cashpot from February 25-March 25, Summer Vacation Bonanza from June 3-July 1. A third, Phone Wheel of Fortune, is held from an unknown point through March 31.

Sometime between March 21 and May 23, Bob stops doing the opening spin (which had been discontinued a year earlier on nighttime). Sometime between April 16 and May 6, the Bonus Round chevron backdrops get lights that flash during the open, bonus prize descriptions, and credits.

On May 27, the black chyrons used for the winner's Bonus Round letters become light green, although this appears to have been a very brief change if not an outright fluke. Sometime between about mid-June and August 9, the Bonus Round chevrons are replaced by...very low clouds?

The show ends on August 30, with repeats airing through September 20.


 * January 11, 1991 (CBS Finale: Brenna/Jim/Sonja)
 * [Enterprises logo revealed by zooming the photo back to reveal a gray background, then flipping over.]

Return to NBC (began 1/14/91)


 * January 14, 1991 (#DT001: Chuck/Jim/Tony, with an almost-entire zoom-out of the Wheel for the sponsor list {very 1974ish :}, a plug for the Travel game, and a full credit roll; taped from WOWT)

"Flashing" Prize value chyrons


 * January 16-Early February, 1991 (#DT0??: Edward/Diana/Patrick; montage including Patrick's interview, tail end of a round, and partial final tally)
 * [Still has the Winter lights behind Bob.]

"Cashpot" Sweepstakes (began 2/25/91)
 * March 11, 1991 (Cashpot, Day 11: Jennifer/Trei/Whitney)
 * March 18, 1991 (Promo for tomorrow's Cashpot puzzle)
 * March 19, 1991 (Cashpot, Day 17: John/Glenn/Elaine)
 * March 21, 1991 (#DT049?/Cashpot, Day 19: Rosie/Dave/Mary)
 * March 1991 (Phone Wheel of Fortune promo)

"Cashpot" ends (began 3/26/91); opening spin dropped, chevron lights added behind Goen


 * May 6, 1991 (#DT081?/Mother's Day Week, Day 1 {"Are there any other people we have to introduce before we can start this game?"}: Jean & Stephanie/Josh & Joanne/Brendan & Arlene; begins just before third team interview due to an NBC News Special Report, flickering video at times but very watchable {alternate copy})


 * May 23, 1991 (#DT094?: Sherrie/Joyce/Suanne {alternate copy})
 * May 24, 1991 (#DT095?: Tracye/Suanne/Mary Lu {alternate copy})

Bonus Round letter choices become light green (began 5/27/91)


 * May 27, 1991 (#DT096?: Suanne/Steve/Danette, with a plug for the 5th Edition board game {alternate copy})
 * [The above letter change may have been a mistake or temporary, as they're black in the below episode and 8/9/91.]

"Summer Vacation Bonanza Sweepstakes" begins (began 6/3/91)
 * June 28?, 1991 (#DT120?/Summer Vacation Bonanza, Day 20?: Gitta/Cheyenne/Ed {alternate copy})
 * [The alleged "Finale". It's definitely Friday, and "June 28" is the only date I've seen banded around for this one that makes sense.]

"Summer Vacation Bonanza Sweepstakes" ends (began 7/2/91); Bonus Round chevrons removed at least temporarily
 * August 9, 1991 (Teen Week, Finale: Staci/Shawn/Sharon)

Wheel 2000 (1997-98)
September 13, 1997 - February 7 [September 26], 1998

Listed here because it aired in daytime and wouldn't really fit anywhere else. There's a bevy of changes, all listed in the above page.

Episodes are grouped by changes, as CBS clearly aired the series out of taping order, a practice also done to The Weird Al Show that same season (and it suffered greatly by comparison). The first tapings have a slightly different Wheel layout and no "turn indicator" bulbs, among other things. Later tapings, including November 1, have red-on-yellow A-B envelopes; previously, they were yellow-on-red.

(The network timeline originally included Wheel 2000 due to its airing schedule, and watching with that mindset may feel like it's the last desperate gasp of daytime Wheel...which it kinda was, since they haven't tried another daytime version after this failed and haven't bothered to do children-only weeks even though the target audience wants them to do it {going so far as to ask Jim Thornton and Vanna White in March 2013}.)

GSN Repeat Dates: February 1998-October 2001 (also reran on Discovery Kids Canada for a time).


 * November 1, 1997 (Footage of the traveling version at Navy Pier)

Earliest tapings (clock on-set, no "turn indicator" bulbs, old Wheel template, no logo on monitors)


 * Fall 1997-Early 1998 (First taped: Gregory/Kayce/Jeremy {Part 4}, with...a mid-round break?!)

Regular Wheel layout and Stunt Wedge rules


 * October 18, 1997 (third taping: Gino/Alana/Jason, with a broken "house minimum" rule and failure in the Speed-Up; taped from WTVR {which pre-empted the show a day}, begins shortly before contestant interviews, first part of Bonus Round cut out {begins as puzzle scrolls up}, cuts off during Sternberg logo animation)

Logo on monitors, "turn indicator" light bulbs
 * September 13, 1997 (Premiere: Marissa/Gerrard/Vinnie)
 * October 4, 1997 (Katie/Seph/Brent, with the GOOSE BUMPS Speed-Up mentioned on ATGS long, long ago; taped from WTVR, which pre-empted the show a day)
 * October 11, 1997 (Lauren/Skye/Murphibennett, with no stunt played and a "Wha?" reaction to the bonus puzzle; taped from WTVR {which pre-empted the show a day}, ends right before Sternberg logo)


 * Fall 1997-Early 1998 (Tara/Zoe/Ryan (Part 3, Part 4})

A-B envelopes changed from yellow-on-red to red-on-yellow


 * Fall 1997-Early 1998 (Jay/Sara/Ian; full Bonus Round)

Known Episodes

For personal reference, in an attempt to make sense of things.
 * 1997: Gregory/Kayce/Jeremy (has a mid-round break)
 * 1997: Erin/Caleb/Nikki (has a mid-round break)
 * 10/18/97: Gino/Alana/Jason (has normal Wheel layout and Stunt Wedge rules)

Mid-run


 * 9/13/97: Marissa/Gerrard/Vinnie (reran 2/14/98)
 * 9/20/97: Jessica/Lea/Dwayne
 * 10/4/97: Katie/Seph/Brent (has the GOOSE BUMPS Speed-Up)
 * 10/11/97: Lauren/Skye/Murphibennett (physical game not played; ends in shutout)
 * 1997: Tara/Zoe/Ryan
 * 1997: Alyssa/Nicole/Simon (ends with a tie which should've been a three-way one, were it not for the broken house minimum rule)

Reversed A-B envelopes (last tapings)


 * 11/1/97: Dawnell/Ebony/Patrick
 * 1997: Jay/Sara/Ian
 * 1997: ? {male}/? {male}/? {female}; clips shown in a promo at the beginning of the October 11 upload

Uncertain placement


 * 1997: Jonathan/Richard/Tamira (last name uncertain)
 * 1997: Jerry/Matt/Lauren
 * 1997: Erin/Caleb/Nikki
 * 1997: Courtney/Tenoa/Cammie
 * 1997: Shananah/Geoff/Jessica
 * 1997?: Alberto/Sarah/Camille
 * 1997?: Natilia (Natalia?)/Julia/Carl; reran 11/1/98 on GSN
 * 1997?: Nick/Tissan/Christine
 * 1997: Ernie/Cody/Regine; last episode aired by CBS (9/26/98)