User:Daniel Benfield/Nighttime Video Archive/Seasons 15-18

Go back to Season 14 or forward to Seasons 19-22?

Like Seasons 8-11, these were cluttering up the main subpage but none had enough for their own page...so there you go.

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 ©1997-2001 Califon Productions/Merv Griffin Entertainment and associated entities.

Season 15 (1997-98)
September 1, 1997 - June 12, 1998

The sixth and final "Changing Keys" debuts, as well as a new solve cue that differs from the actual theme. The logo changes to one similar to the traditional logo but with no dots, and the Wheel inside the circle; each word pops up as said in the chant. The Wheel's base changes to have four golden spikes and brand new light layers (among them is a new top layer similar to that of the old one, but with smaller bulbs, one of which simply flashes during the chase pattern as the Wheel spins; this is seen from the front).

The W-H-E-E-L lights are now aligned vertically, and on September 15 its final prop debuts: a glass table with a design on the front and no lights except the letters.

On September 19, the Prize Puzzle debuts. No, seriously. At least this one was limited to Round 1 of Friday Finals shows, so it couldn't do that much damage...but not only is it almost entirely similar to the frickin' Trip Puzzle we've come to know and make fun of a whole lot, but the puzzles are worse, outright describing the prize rather than being related to it.

By October 6, the Prize wedges now have unique designs, and the "bonus category" solve cue is changed to be different from the regular one.

The Jackpot wedge undergoes several changes: sometime between September 19 and 29, it becomes blue with the logo in a semicircle and the sponsorship of NordicTrack; sometime between then and October 23, it becomes red again (and possibly also sparkly; the available copy of 10/23 leaves this unclear, although the sparkles were definitely added by November 4); and by November 17 it settles on the design seen at right, which remains through the end of Season 20 (although the sponsor graphics are dropped after Season 18). Strangely, the week of November 24 uses the wedge's late-Season 14/early Season 15 design.

For the week of December 22 (Happy Holidays), the Surprise wedge is altered to contain a gift box that, when the wedge is claimed, is opened to reveal a card that reads "I've won (name of prize). Tell me about it, Charlie!" to segue into the prize description.

On April 13, the time limit in the Speed-Up is reduced from 5 seconds to 3. The Puzzler debuts on June 12.

New Categories: Fill In the Number on April 7.

Road Shows: Ohio State Fair in Columbus (September 1-12); Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado (November 10-21); Las Vegas Hilton in Nevada (February 2-13); George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (May 4-15).

Repeat Weeks: December 29-January 2, March 30-April 3.

GSN Repeat Dates: N/A as of yet.

1997


 * September 5, 1997 (#S-2735/Family Week, Finale; the teams play for a guaranteed $24,000 trip for 10 and a chance at a hideous-looking Hummer, because nothing says "Made in the USA" quite like a gas-guzzling automobile; taped from WABC, with commercials)

Back to Culver City, W-H-E-E-L prop changes to final design


 * September 19, 1997 (#S-2745/French & Italian Riviera, Finale: Steven/Deanna/Chris, with the debut of the frickin' Trip Puzzle {and it's worse than it's been since Season 21!}; taped from WLKY, with commercials)

Jackpot Wedge becomes blue with semicircle and NordicTrack sponsorship


 * September 29, 1997 (#S-2751/Inns of New England, Day 1: Ann/Rodney/Tony, with a six-round game and a post-Round 5 comment by Pat that definitely doesn't apply these days; taped from WPVI with commercials, plus the first 20 seconds of that night's Timecop)

Jackpot Wedge becomes red again


 * October 23, 1997 (#S-2769/Broadway Week, Day 4: Heather/Millicent/Mike, with Millicent beating up Pat)

Llights added to Jackpot Wedge semicircle, NordicTrack logo removed


 * November 20, 1997 (#S-2789/College Week, Day 4: Roel/Paige/Holly; "buzzy" audio and bright video throughout)
 * November 24, 1997 (#S-2791/Best Friends Week, Day 1: Melanie & Amy/George {the only known deaf contestant in the long history of Wheel} & Darren/Rick & Darryll, with the late Season 14 Jackpot wedge; montage with VCR counter in corner throughout, preceded by an intro from George)


 * December 5, 1997 (#S-2800/European Vacation, Finale: Leon {$24,850 on Monday}/Bruce {$38,615 on Thursday}/Becky {$43,500 on Tuesday or Wednesday})


 * December 1997 (?/Bob/Bob{?!}, clip of Pat's Final Spin hitting Bankrupt {has a lot of balloons on-set, some motorcycles, and a green car right behind Pat})
 * December? 1997 (Ben/?/?, complete Bonus Round where Ben clearly loses, they check the tape anyway, and...he loses; surprised? {set and video wall suggest a Scandinavia Week})


 * December 9, 1997 (#S-2802/Escape to Puerto Rico, Day 2: Steven/Barbara/Brooke, with a rare wordless Prize wedge {artwork Pat claims they got from Cartoon Network}, a rare six-round game {including a rare combo of Fill In the Blank and Fictional Place}, and an amazing Bonus Round; repeat from August 4, 1998, with three commercials)
 * December 10, 1997 (#S-2803/Escape to Puerto Rico, Day 3: Jeff/Laura/Mel, with a huge win in Round 2 and "thanks to three new AA batteries our Jackpot is sparkling there on the Wheel"; repeat from August 5, 1998, ends after Round 3)

1998


 * February 12, 1998 (#S-2844/Las Vegas Week, Day 4: Joanna/Chris/Q{?!})
 * February 26, 1998 (#S-2854/[themeless?], Day 4: Althea/Steve/Tammy, with the generic contestant backdrop used for this season; taped from WWL, with commercials)


 * May 4, 1998 (#S-2896/Houston, Day 1: Paul/Michael/Sherry, with a contestant having some fun with the $10,000 Wedge so Pat will come over; chopped up considerably, but gameplay is intact {alternate copy})
 * May 14, 1998 (#S-2904/College Week, Day 4: Joe Bob/Courtney/Alvaro, with a contestant going nuts after a huge Speed-Up; taped from KTAL, preceded by a small teaser for a Wheel-related report during the 10:00 news and followed by said report {this was the night Seinfeld ended, so there's some mentions of that as well})


 * June 4?, 1998 (#S-2919?/Summer In The City, Day 4?: Joel/Ayesha/Joy, with the generic contestant backdrop used for this season; several audio issues, intro missing)

Season 16 (1998-99)
September 7, 1998 - June 4, 1999

The intro makes some minor changes: After the flyover to the Sony Pictures Studios complex, we fade into the inside, with a picture of Pat and Vanna on the left. The logo introduced last year is now on top of a marquee and composed of flashing lights, in which each word lights up as said in the chant. A sign with a red two-row logo and a small "ON AIR" sign are in front of two doors, with "STAGE 11" on the left and the Columbia-TriStar Television logo on the right. After the chant, the doors open to reveal the studio. The intro graphics are later used on the British version from 1999-2000.

Several gameplay changes are made: Surprise is retired (and is replaced by the second Wheel prize, which is introduced in Round 3), the elimination (with one exception) of the Friday Finals (meaning the show returns to one-and-done), and the $25,000 being available every day. On the Wheel, the pink $250s are all increased to $300, and the one next to the top value becomes yellow. The yellow $1,000 beneath the top value is removed and replaced by a blank silver wedge. The Jackpot is also moved to the green $500, while the purple $500 is decreased to $250.

For at least the first two weeks, the closing credits still include the www.wheeloffortune.com URL tag, and the King World logo still uses the show's closing theme. Later on, after the closing credits comes the Wheel of Fortune online promo, which has upbeat music and a remix of the "Wheel! of! Fortune!" chant and ends with the category chimes. From then until January 1999, the promo's music continues into the King World logo, which then uses the final portion of the Wheel of Fortune Online promo's music. From early-mid 1999, the promo's music ends when the promo does and the King World logo music returns until the entire logo is replaced by a new one that uses a ribbon to form the "star", and contains a sunny sky background complete with thunderclap.

On September 21, the second video wall is introduced and the Puzzler becomes official; the latter's bells are removed sometime between October 12 and November 9. Dick Carson's last episode airs May 21.

New Categories: Rhyme Time on November 12, On the Map on April 14.

Road Shows: Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (September 7-18); Las Vegas Hilton in Nevada (November 16-27); Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel in Honolulu (February 15-26); Apollo of Temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 3-14).

GSN Repeat Dates: N/A as of yet.

1998


 * September 14, 1998 (#S-2931/Pittsburgh Week, Day 1: Bill/Amy/Ray, with an appearance by Fred Rogers)

Video wall added behind players, bells removed from Puzzler


 * November 20, 1998 (#S-2980 {ceremonial #3,000} CLIPFEST)


 * December 11, 1998 (#S-2995/Winter Sports, Finale: Annette/Melissa/Ari, with a full credit roll; has commercials {mostly Christmas/holiday-related, one mentioning the 27th} and a scrolling-text-crawl promo for Radio Wheel of Fortune, begins as Pat and Vanna walk out {alternate copies: #1 and #2})


 * December 30, 1998 (#S-3008/Wheel Into 1999, Day 3: Orlando/Ian/Kelley; Round 4 and final tally)

1999


 * January 18, 1999 (#S-3021/West Coast Adventures, Day 1: John/Patrick/Leanna; taped from WPVI, with commercials {including over 90 seconds after the show} and a plug for next week's NFL Players Week "Fantasy Football Sweepstakes")


 * March 22-26, 1999 (#S-30??/Mexico Week {as suggested by the video wall}, Day ?: Tara/? [male]/?; brief clip of Tara solving the Round 3 puzzle LUBBOCK TEXAS {categorized as Place, therefore definitely dating this episode before April 14, the debut of On The Map} and Pat mentioning her total score, preceded by 10 seconds of an ABC broadcast of Disney's Sleeping Beauty)


 * May 6, 1999 (#S-3099/Philadelphia Week, Day 4: Frank/Megan/John; ends at double-buzz of Bonus Round)
 * May 11, 1999 (#S-3102/College Week, Day 2: Christopher/LaJewel/Kerrie {taped 4/18/99})
 * May 21, 1999 (Wheel Goes to the Movies; Kermit, Gonzo, and Vanna promote a Sony home theater system including a TV and a 50-title Columbia-TriStar VHS library)

Season 17 (1999-2000)
September 6, 1999 - June 2, 2000

Wheel allows viewers to play along using the new WebTV interactive service, and the intro is altered to a new CGI Sony Pictures Studios complex, complete with pictures of Pat and Vanna on the left and right, respectively. As the gate opens, a spark flies out and flashes out to a flashback clip before switching to the logo and going from there. The logo starts out as the altered traditional style (no dots) before switching to the altered two-row style (normal-looking "O" in "of"); each word shines as said in the chant. The template housing the logo is similar to that of the 1996-98 template, but with the green $1,000 on the lone Bankrupt.

The Preview Puzzle debuts October 4. The "bonus" categories are increased to $3,000 sometime between September 23 and about the end of October.

Also on October 4, the Wheel undergoes a major change: the purple, golden, and orange $250 wedges are increased to $600, $500, and $800 respectively, making the minimum $300. Also, all wedges except Bankrupt receive white outlines, and $1,000 is added to the value of the Final Spin.

The Puzzler undergoes a couple of graphical improvements: the "spark" is replaced by a purple-on-purple banner sometime between September 23 and November 8, which becomes gold-on-pink sometime between November 19 and December 3.

The Gift Tag debuts March 20, on the red $900.

In November, Tiger Electronics markets a Deluxe version of the handheld game that is also compatible with the cartridges from the original 1995-96 games. Around the same time, Parker Brothers releases a board game with a Game of Life-style Wheel and a photo of a slightly altered bare 1996 Round 1 template on the box.

New Categories: Around the House on September 6.

Road Shows: Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida (September 20-October 1); Madison Square Garden in New York (November 8-19); Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans (February 14-25).

GSN Repeat Dates: N/A as of yet.

1999


 * September 6, 1999 (#S-3116/Season Premiere/Endless Summer, Day 1: full credit roll only)
 * September 23, 1999 (#S-3134/Universal Studios, Day 4: Mary/David/Jessica)

$250 retired, Final Spin adds $1,000, white-outline wedges (except Bankrupt), "purple-on-purple" Puzzler banner


 * November 2, 1999 (#S-3162/Southern California, Day 2: Darlene/Chantal/Kent; has some commercials, ends before Bonus Round)
 * November 5, 1999 (#S-3165/Southern California, Finale: Denise/Elene/Steve; begins after Preview Puzzle, various portions {Puzzler round, $3,000 question answer, and last segment} missing {alternate copy})


 * November 8, 1999 (#S-3166/New York Week, Day 1 {"Two things you should know: we haven't done anything yet and we're not that good."}: Romy/Nicole/Pedro, with the out-of-work clog-dancing group Regis & Kathie Lee Preview Puzzle and Pat addressing the tremendous applause he and Vanna get upon entering; audio/video gets poor occasionally)
 * November 11, 1999 (#S-3169/New York Week, Day 4 {"This is Wheel of Fortune, Joe!"}: David/Chandra/Joe, with the A GROUP OF PILL-PUSHERS mis-solve {alternate copies: full episode #1, full episode #2; mis-solve only})


 * November 16-19, 1999 (#S-317?/Best Friends Week, Day ?: Michelle & Scott/Kathleen & April/Charlie & Greg; begins at end of opening montage, with a bunch of stuff missing {most of the contestant interviews, for one, plus there's no last segment})
 * [Pat mentions that the show is "getting close to the end of our two-week stay", and one envelope is missing from the W-H-E-E-L holder.]

"Gold-on-Pink" Puzzler banner


 * December 27, 1999 (#S-3201/Retro Week I, Day 1 {CLIPFEST}: Jill/Brad/Ed, taped 11/18/99 {retro Preview Puzzle: IT'S SHOWTIME, 11/22/88; intro clip: female celebrates after winning $25,000 in the Bonus Round; the diamond backdrops are visible, but I can't see the score displays too well and it really could be anywhere between Seasons 7-12; Pat's intro clip: Bob/Pearl/Carmen, 10/83})
 * December 28, 1999 (#S-3202/Retro Week I, Day 2 {CLIPFEST}: Natalie/Gary/Rachel, taped 11/18/99 {retro Preview Puzzle: MARSHMALLOWS, road show with the Gill Sans chyrons between 12/93 and 5/95; intro clip: Pat dancing with Carmen and her family, 10/83; Pat's intro clip: Anita/Paula/Wayne, 9/84}; taped from KNSD, with most commercials)

2000


 * January 17-21, 2000 (#S-31??/Ultimate Adventures, Day ?: C.C./Pat/Eric {Part 4, Part 5}, with the CO-WORKERS debacle and really only one decent round in the entire game {intro clip: Mark Anthony celebrates after winning a Range Rover in the Bonus Round, 10/2/96}; ends after Speed-Up segment)
 * March 13-16, 2000 (#S-325?/African Safari, Day 1-4: Lynn/Michelle/Danny; montage uploaded by Danny, various portions missing {including Preview Puzzle and Bonus Round onward})
 * March 17, 2000 (#S-3260/African Safari, Finale: Vicki/Emanuel/Mike; partial Speed-Up – starts at Pat announcing the Final Spin value, ends after he congratulates the round's winner)


 * May 18, 2000 (#S-3309/Wheel Goes to the Movies, Day 4: Don/Matt/Noel {Part 4, Part 5}, with a movie-style clapper after the opening which states this is "Scene 3"...which actually makes sense {intro clip: Sandra wins $25,000 in the Bonus Round, 12/3/99}; begins during Preview Puzzle {"-cter. Can you solve it?"}, ends during fee plugs)

Season 18 (2000-01)
September 4, 2000 - June 1, 2001

The Preview Puzzle and Puzzler are retired and replaced by a pair of Toss-Ups, both used to determine who starts Rounds 1 and 4 respectively, each worth $1,000 and revealed by a golden coin sporting the traditional logo. As a result, the "Just before the show, we drew numbers to see who would start the game" spiel is no more.

The category strips are now revealed by the logo rolling right to left and the strip coming out from the left (or the logo's right). The sequin-green $1,000 is also retired, resulting in the current $2,500/$3,500/$3,500/$5,000 structure, which Pat no longer reminds the players about.

Also retiring: Merv Griffin, leaving Friedman as the sole Executive Producer. "Changing Keys" is gone as well, replaced by "Happy Wheels". The Bonus Round timer is also changed, as well as its solve cue.

The Wheel's lights flash as Pat and Vanna are introduced. This lasts until the end of Season 20.

As each round's puzzle is revealed, the puzzle board is seen with its flashing lights "frozen". By the time the category is revealed, it changes to the usual lighting. This lasts at least until the end of the season.

The Jackpot moves to Round 2, and the $10,000 Wedge moves back to Round 3 (and is removed after that round ends, even if unclaimed). As a result, the second Bankrupt is now present in Round 2 only.

Bonus Round puzzles begin using redundant A's at the beginning, resulting in lots of wasted vowel calls.

For this season only, the contestant's Bonus Round letter choices fade in.

At least the season premiere uses a new cue for solving main-game puzzles and right answers on "bonus" categories, while the Toss-Ups use a different cue. By September 22, the latter cue disappears and the former is used in the Toss-Ups (with the 1997 "puzzle solve" cue returning). On November 6, background music is added to the Speed-Up.

November 2 is inexplicably the last all-celebrity game, with three famous stars dressed in costume as part of a sweepstakes. Sometime between then and February 9, fourth rounds that begin with a Final Spin now show the puzzle and category first, and around that point, the practice of ending in a Speed-Up becomes permanent.

Sometime between January 1 and March 5, the WebTV elements are dropped from Wheel and Jeopardy! due to a financial dispute with Sony.

The "Inner Tube" episode of The King of Queens (with Wheel in a brief appearance) airs February 26.

New Categories: Living Thing on March 14.

Road Shows: DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. (November 6-10, January 22-26, February 5-9); Hilton Hawaiian Village in Hawaii (February 12-23); Dallas Convention Center in Texas (May 7-18).

GSN Repeat Dates: N/A as of yet.

2000


 * September 4, 2000 (#S-3316/Season Premiere/Fast Cars, Day 1: Karen/Joe/Cecelia {alternate copy})
 * September 29, 2000 (#S-3335/European Vacation, Finale: Brian/Dorceia/Tom; montage of Tom including the end of Round 1 and full Speed-Up Round, preceded by a news report on his appearance which shows clips of an episode from earlier this week on a TV and Brian in the Bonus Round)
 * October 2000 (Ships Ahoy, Day ?: Nick/Michelle/Beverly, {available info suggests the week of October 2, 9, 16, or 23} with a full credit roll; ends during Wheel of Fortune Online promo)


 * November 2, 2000 (#S-3359/Halloween, Day 4: William Shakespeare/[unnamed female genie]/Osment {alternate copy}}
 * November 27, 2000 (#S-3376/Ultimate Adventures, Day 1 {"Already given away almost $40,000 in cash and prizes tonight...oh, that's our producer falling to the ground."}: Felicia/Perry/Mica; taped from WPLG with commercials, begins during Mica's interview, no closing segment)

2001


 * January 2001 (Mexico Week, Day ?: Steve/Frantz/Melissa, with a weird glitch in Speed-Up {available info suggests the week of January 8 or 15}; taped from WPLG, second Toss-Up missing, no Bonus Round or closing segment)
 * January 29, 2001 (#S-3421/San Francisco Week, Day 1: Jim/Heather/Richard, with a weird mis-solve {CAEK?}; taped from WFAA with commercials, begins just before Pat and Vanna's intro, no last segment)

R4s that begin as Speed-Up show puzzle and category first; games begin always ending in a Speed-Up


 * February 9, 2001 (#S-3430/College Week, Finale: Julia/David/Travis; {[$12,650 Jackpot win]})
 * February 26, 2001 (#S-3441/Winter Sports, Day 1: Sarah/Kathryn/Rishi, with a close call in the Bonus Round; ends during fee plugs)


 * March 21, 2001 (#S-3458: Vicki/Danny/Jimmy, begins in Round 1, ends in the total in the Bonus Round, no closing segment)


 * March 22, 2001 (#S-3459: Dia/Michael/Blythe, with the only known instance of the 1997 puzzle-solve cue being used for main game and Toss-Up puzzles)


 * April 2, 2001 (#S-3466/Travel USA, Day 1: Steve/Kevin/Keri, with WHEEL OF FORTUNE as the second Toss-Up; ends before closing)


 * May 18, 2001 (#S-3500!/Best Friends Week, Finale: Becky & Sherri/Kurt & Mike/Anelia & Kirk, with Pat realizing his zipper is down after Round 1...and Charlie's not helping; taped from KENS)