User:Daniel Benfield/Nighttime Video Archive

Suggested by TPH, I began this page by focusing on Seasons 1-6 due to A) the preservation of my sanity and B) the lack of returning champions during that period. Since then, Guint and Gameshowguy2000 (and myself) have added episodes from afterward.

The timeline is here, and daytime videos here. (If any of these 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 ©1983-2012 Califon Productions/Merv Griffin Entertainment and associated entities.

Season 1 (1983-84)
Distinguishable primarily by the first iteration of "Changing Keys" and the squared-off contestant backdrops. At least the premiere, and possibly the second and third shows as well, have $750 as the top value in Round 1. The original Merv Griffin Productions logo is replaced on November 28 by an animated one, whose griffin becomes static (along with a larger picture and smaller font) in February.

The trees behind Pat change from green to brown in late September or early October, then to light-up white ones by the end of October (no, seriously; the October 31 and November 9 daytime shows have them). By September 22, the outlines of the money graphic and subsequent logo become white, resulting in a brighter/cleaner appearance.

"Walls" replace the trees in February and remain until late 1986, although the trees still show up and the walls' decorations/foliage still help in dating. The Wheel flippers may become longer and thinner sometime between September 22 and October 31, but that could just be me going by some less-than-optimal video quality.

Summer repeats for this and the next few seasons can usually be determined by a sudden cut to another screen just after the fee plugs to show the replacement fee sponsors.

Repeat Weeks: December 26-30 or January 2-6, April 23-27.

1983


 * September 19, 1983 (#S-001/Premiere: Jeff/Leslie/Linda, with the puzzle board's original chase light sequence {counterclockwise on the left, clockwise on the right}; taped from GSN's first day, prefaced by a history dossier by Peter Tomarken but cuts off shortly after fee plugs {alternate copies: same day, no Tomarken intro, ends just before the above vid does; pristine copy from August 18, 2007})

$1,000 In R1, White-Outline Money Graphic/Logo


 * September 22, 1983 (#S-004: Lou/Cindy/Karen, with the original chase light sequence and a three-minute voiceover by Jack Clark...but several cuts {begins after Jack's first opening line, no Round 1 prize plugs, several other brief portions cut out, and no last segment})

Brown-Leaf Trees


 * September-October 1983 (Bob/Pearl/Carmen, with the original chase light sequence and a different shot of the King World logo; repeat from Summer 1984 {alternate copy, free registration required to watch})
 * September-October 1983 (Ed/Dawn/Ellen, with the original chase light sequence {taped 9/83, suggesting the latter end of this period; alternate copy})

Light-Up White Trees


 * October 1983-January 1984 (Rick/Joan/Cecelia, with the original chase light sequence and really small Prize wedge letters...but no last segment)

1984


 * January 1984 (Lloyd/Linda/Debbie, aka "And now, here's your litterer: Pat Sajak!" with the original chase light sequence and Vanna White spinning the Wheel at the end; repeat from August, begins just after opening chant)
 * January-February 1984 (Thelma/Sam/Lisa, with the curtain screwing up and the reversed chase light sequence {clockwise on the left, counterclockwise on the right}; repeat from June {most likely in a pre-9/19-debut market}, audio lags about 2-3 seconds behind video after Round 2 puzzle is shown {gets considerably better after Segment 2})
 * January-February 1984 (Tom/Cindi/Velma, with the reversed chase light sequence; repeat from Summer with commercials)

"Walls" Replace Trees, "Static" Griffin Logo


 * April 1984 (Virginia/Bob/Norma, with the reversed chase light sequence but no last segment; has commercials, one promoting the 1984 Olympic Games {taped 2/14/84; alternate copy by the original uploader})
 * May? 1984 (Mark/Carol/Debi, with the reversed chase light sequence {taped 4/84})

Season 2 (1984-85)
Distinguishable primarily by the second "Changing Keys", the second starburst backdrops, "Merv Griffin Productions" becoming "Merv Griffin Enterprises" (with a completely-static logo), and the King World logo adopting its familiar "star" motif.

By November 23, the $150 next to $1,000 in Round 2 decreases to $100; sometime between then and December 19, the green $1,000 gets a wider font (most noticeably the $ and first 0). Sometime after this change, and by December 19, Round 1 adds $700, $800, and $900; the aforementioned $100 is upped to $600; and the red $300 next to Bankrupt in Rounds 2+ becomes a yellow $500 (although a GSN-aired episode sometime afterward has said $500 next to Lose A Turn).

The wide-font $5,000 is used at least twice, both after the wide-font $1,000 debuts, and leaves by December 19. The Winter decorations return again in early or mid-December (definitely by the 19th, which is also clearly decorated for Christmas), and leave by February 1.

Episodes before January 1985 have the monospaced font (for the category strips and wardrobe plugs), no animated Wheel logo, and no Helvetica. The Helvetica chyrons are altered by February 1, and again sometime afterward; the regular $1,000 returns sometime between the debut of the third Helvetica chyrons and the season finale. At the same time, the opening logo is altered so that the transparent wedges are now filled in.

Beginning here, episodes that have the exact same "distinctions" (i.e., regular animated logo/wide-font $1,000/third Helvetica chyrons) and fall into the same timeframe (i.e., "February-June 1985") are ordered arbitrarily unless I know or have reason to suspect otherwise, in which case they're noted.

Repeat Weeks: December 24-28 or 31-January 4, April 8-12.

1984


 * September 1984 (Kersteen/Cinders {Cynthia}/Jack, with the reversed chase light sequence and full credit roll; uses the Enterprises logo, but otherwise has all the markings of Season 1 {I remember reading somewhere that S2 began taping before the changes were made})

Second "Changing Keys"/Starburst Backdrops


 * Fall 1984 (Dave/Joan/Kathy, with the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters)
 * Fall 1984 (Janice/Faye/Marvin, with the reversed chase light sequence and $300 next to Bankrupt {alternate copies: Round 3/"FRANKFURTERS AND SAUERKRAUT", complete})
 * Fall 1984 (Father Rob/Betty/Maria, with the reversed chase light sequence {alternate copies: #1, #2})
 * Fall 1984 (Bill/Brilla/Teddy, with the reversed chase light sequence)

$150 in R2 (next to $1,000) becomes $100


 * November 23, 1984 (#S-250: E.R. {Elizabeth Renae}/Casey/Stacey, with the reversed chase light sequence {opening through Vanna's intro and full closing segment from original broadcast, with commercials})

Wide-Font $1,000


 * November-December 1984 (Sharon/DeeDee/Brent, with the wide-font $5,000, reversed chase light sequence, and smaller Prize wedge letters)
 * November-December 1984 (Jeannette/Tim/Colleen, with the regular $5,000, reversed chase light sequence, and smaller Prize wedge letters {alternate copies: Rounds 1 and 3; complete})

$700/$800/$900 in R1, $100 next to $1,000 in R2 becomes $600, $300 next to Bankrupt in R2+ becomes $500, Winter Decorations


 * December 19, 1984 (#S-268: Kathe/Esther/Dennis, with the regular $5,000, wreaths and bows on-set, and reversed chase light sequence)

1985


 * January 1985 (Mike/Renita/Laura, with the reversed chase light sequence; was listed as December 25, 1984 on the timeline)
 * January 1985 (Pam/Carmen/Michael, with the reversed chase light sequence; taped from GSN, with commercials {begins during opening spiel, albeit with some playback issues for the first two seconds})
 * January 1985 (Rita/Lynn/Jonas, with $800 on $750 in Round 1 and the reversed chase light sequence; beginning of Bonus Round segment cut out {begins during Jack's description}, cuts off during Griffin announcement)

Animated Logo; First Helvetica Chyrons (no Shadows)/Bonus Round totals/credits


 * January 1985 (Steve/Christina/Debra, with prototype{?} animated logo, original chase light sequence, and shorter Prize wedge letters)
 * January 1985 (Doc/?/?, tail end of Bonus Round)

Regular Animated Logo, Winter Decorations Removed, First Helvetica Chyrons (with Shadows)


 * January 1985 (Mary/Dick/Chris, with the reversed chase light sequence)

Second Helvetica Chyrons


 * February (or so) 1985 (Hal/Chris/Rita, with the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters; audio/video seriously out of sync for the first four minutes {slightly off for the rest}, no last segment)

Third Helvetica Chyrons (white all around each letter)


 * February-June 1985 (Jerry/JoAn/Elaine, with an unknown chase light sequence; taped from GSN in 1999, rough video {especially at beginning})
 * February-June 1985 (Deborah/Cheryl/Robin, with the reversed chase light sequence; begins just before Jack's opening spiel)
 * February-June 1985 (Gina/Cindy/Mike, with the reversed chase light sequence)
 * February-June 1985 (Kim/Brad/Carla, with the reversed chase light sequence; GSN airing with no logos)

Regular $1,000 Returns


 * February-June 1985 (Lori/Peggy/David, with the reversed chase light sequence and shorter Prize wedge letters)

Season 3 (1985-86)
Distinguishable primarily by the green $1,000 becoming yellow, the nearby $800 becoming orange, and the Griffin logo using pacific-blue font instead of the previous silver. Charlie O'Donnell fills in from October 21-November 1.

GSN never reran this season, so any 1985 shows without a GSN logo or Columbia-Tristar Television announcement are likely Season 3.

Repeat Weeks: December 30-January 3, March 31-April 4.

1985


 * December 5, 1985 (#S-454: Nikki/Tony/Terry; the THRILL OF VICTORY episode, with the reversed chase light sequence and no Winter decorations {alternate copy})
 * Fall 1985-Spring 1986 (Darlene/Frank{?}/Marilyn; various clips aired during VH-1's I Love The 80s for 1986)

1986


 * March 14, 1986 (#S-525: Dick/Diane/Betty, with the reversed chase light sequence; has commercials {alternate copy})
 * May 5, 1986 (#S-561: Ken/John/Andra, with green $1,000 in Round 1{?!}, reversed chase light sequence, and AT MY CAT'S END mis-solve {alternate copy by the original uploader})

Season 4 (1986-87)
Distinguishable primarily by the new Wheel colors (notably the pink $1,000 in Round 1) and third starburst backdrops (introduced sometime between mid-October and November 13). Between November 13 and December 22, the Griffin logo changes to add "A unit of The Coca-Cola Company"; around Spring, the text "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED" is added below the copyright stamp. Sometime between mid-October and November 13, the walls introduced in February 1984 are removed.

GSN never reran this season, so any 1987 shopping episodes without said logo or Columbia-Tristar announcement are likely Season 4. The "Wheel of Misfortune" episode of 227 (using the third starburst backdrops, post-"walls" setup, and the tan/lime-green $900 wedges) airs October 4; an available copy of its press release has "AUG 26 1986" stamped on it.

Repeat Weeks: December 29-January 2, April 20-24.

1986


 * October 13-17, 1986 (Julie/David/Nita, with the original chase light sequence; has commercials, one mentioning the 18th {alternate copy without commercials})

Third Starbursts, post-"Walls" Backdrop


 * October 1986-June 1989 (? {female}/Paula{?}/? {male}...but other than the above, there's really nothing to date this; clip {possibly whole} of a round likely between 3 and 5, not sure about that...oh, and there's no sound {a comment says GSN reran this episode, suggesting Seasons 5-6})

1987


 * January 5-7, 1987 (Ann/Valerie/Helen, with the original chase light sequence; begins immediately before money graphic, ends a few seconds into the fee plugs, but includes commercials {alternate copy by the original uploader})
 * February 12, 1987 (#S-694: LeGrande/?/?, with the reversed chase light sequence; partial Bonus Round only {taped 1/18/87}, LeGrande later became an Oprah staffer/producer from 1990-97; by the way, if you're curious, the airdate is given here and the tapedate here)
 * March 30-April 3, 1987 (?/Nancy/Eleanor, Round 2 only)
 * May 1987 (Mark/Barbara/Susan; Round 4 through end of show, cuts off just before Griffin logo)
 * June 1987 (Martine/Jim/Gerri, begins just before player interviews; has commercials, two mentioning Father's Day as upcoming and a third plugging a car giveaway on the 18th; Griffin logo still has "A unit of The Coca-Cola Company")

Season 5 (1987-88)
Distinguishable primarily by the Big Month/Bonanza of Cash (October 5 through at least February 12); Free Spin is available in Rounds 1-2 until January, at which point it's replaced by an off-model $200. "A unit of The Coca-Cola Company" changes to "A unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION" by November 10, then "A unit of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc." on February 8.

Sometime in November, while "continue by popular demand" is used in the open, the tan $600 in Round 1 becomes $900. Also, the $250 and $500 between Lose A Turn and Bankrupt in Round 3 swap positions, the spin order going from $500-$400-$250 to $250-$400-$500. Sometime afterward, the opening is altered to replace those words with "present".

Jack leaves on May 6, with Charlie returning for at least the following week. Other than the different-looking fee credits, Summer repeats are distinguishable by the fee plugs being read by Pat and/or Vanna.

Repeat Weeks: December 28-January 1, April 4-8.

1987


 * October 5, 1987 (#S-796/Big Month of Cash, Day 1: John/Nancy/Peter, with the reversed chase light sequence; taped from GSN on August 18, 2007 {alternate copy})

"Big Bonanza of Cash", "Coca-Cola TELEVISION" replaces "The Coca-Cola Company"


 * November 1987 (Geri/Chip/Betsy, with the reversed chase light sequence; contestant interviews and fee plugs cut out {Jack's use of "continue by popular demand" suggests a very early post-BMOC show; the only other episode I'm aware of that uses it [Deb/Art/Amy, recorded 10/87] has the Rounds 1/3 changes})
 * November 10, 1987 (#S-822: Elliot/?/?, with the reversed chase light sequence; complete final segment, with Pat talking to a pair of mannequins on-set and full credit roll {albeit less "full" than usual due to an NBC technicians' strike})

"Present" replaces "continue by popular demand", $600 in R1 becomes $900, R3 spin order becomes $250-$400-$500


 * November-December 1987 (Sheila/Greg/Dick, with the reversed chase light sequence and Pat dropping his pants; repeat from February 18, 1989 with commercials and Pat reading the replacement fee plugs)
 * December 1987 (Rick/Julie/Gretchen, with the reversed chase light sequence and first known nighttime tie; taped from GSN circa 1995 {recorded 12/87})
 * December 17, 1987 (#S-849: Eileen/Peggy/Paul, with the reversed chase light sequence; has commercials, cuts off just before King World logo {alternate copy})
 * Late December 1987 (Marj/Paula/Denia, with Free Spin in Round 2, "squished" Prize wedge lettering, and a "WHA?!" moment in Round 4 when Pat says "Vanna will show you her hyphen."; has brief bits of commercials, but some portions are missing {begins as Jack says the value of the last item, no last segment})

1988


 * February 12, 1988 (#S-890: Hank/Nancy/Becky; begins at "-filled with glamorous prizes", no last segment)

"Big Bonanza of Cash" dropped


 * February-May 1988 (Gerri/Maria/Kevin, with the off-model $200 present through the opening spin, a thin-font $3,500, and Vanna getting her dress soaked; repeat from June 28, with Pat and Vanna reading the replacement fee plugs)

Jack Leaves


 * May-June 1988 (?/?/?, with a full credit roll; begins just after fee plugs {a comment says it's May due to the season ending May 27, which I doubt because that's the 37th week})

Season 6 (1988-89)
Distinguishable primarily by M. G. Kelly announcing and the more familiar $25,000 sign. The 10-second/three-and-a-vowel Bonus Round debuts October 3.

$2,500 becomes darker this season, while $3,500 adopts the same font. $5,000 does the same by October 3.

The New York Contest is held from September 5-26, with the winners attending a special series of episodes. M.G. leaves after February 17, with Charlie returning on the 20th.

New Categories: Same Name on September 6, Before & After on February 27.

Road Shows: Radio City Music Hall, New York City (November 14-25; Don Pardo announces).

Repeat Weeks: December 26-30, March 27-31.

1988


 * September 5, 1988 (#S-976/Season Premiere: Ann/Constance/Jan; taped from GSN, with commercials {alternate copies: #1a and #1b, #2a and #2b})
 * September 6, 1988 (#S-977: Sharon/Nathalie/Peter, with M.G.'s first nighttime appearance at the end)
 * September 8, 1988 (#S-979: Mitchell/Diana/Colin)
 * September 14?, 1988 (#S-983?: Terri/Debra/Mike, with the New York Contest)

"Three-and-a-Vowel" Bonus Round


 * October 3, 1988 (#S-996: Rick/Renee/Chris, the debut of the "new" Bonus Round)
 * October 1988 (Shari/Tom/David, with the bonus puzzle THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE {same week as below; alternate copy})
 * October 1988 (Diana/Judy/Dan {same week as above})
 * October 25, 1988 (#S-1012/Wipeout Week I, Day 2: Allan/Shirley/Peggy)
 * October-December 1988 (Emerald{?}/Chris/Janice, partial Round 3 and Bonus Round {WHICH OLD WITCH and CANADIAN BORDER}; video is accidentally slowed down slightly)

Radio City Music Hall


 * November 14, 1988 (#S-1026: Meg/Dave/Matt; taped from GSN on August 18, 2007 {alternate copy})
 * November 17, 1988 (#S-1029: Amy/Bill/Mary Lou, begins at newspaper graphic)
 * November 18, 1988 (#S-1030: Alan/Karl/Nikki)
 * November 25, 1988 (#S-1035: Martha/Linda/Willie)

Back to Burbank


 * December 23, 1988 (#S-1055: Jan/Don/Eric, with Pat singing an off-key "White Christmas")

1989

(All "January-February" episodes are before February 13/"Wipeout Week II".)
 * January-February 1989 (Bill/Gail/Carolyn, with the mispronunciation of MILAN ITALY; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * January-February 1989 (Eileen/Irene/Ray {same week as below})
 * January-February 1989 (Joy/?/?, Bonus Round through sign-off {same week as above; possibly Hal/Joy/Sherrill})
 * January-February 1989 (Arnie/Judy/Valerie, with "I was getting ready to tell him about Vanna!"; taped from GSN in early 2004, small portion of Bonus Round cut out {possibly same week as above; the His-and-Hers signs are Hers-His})

Charlie Returns


 * February 20, 1989 (#S-1091: Renee/Carol/Damon, with Marla Gibbs making an appearance {taped 1/89?})
 * February 27, 1989 (#S-1096: Michelle/Bettye/Andy, debut of Before & After; montage of Rounds 1-3 and Bonus Round, prefaced by Andy's brother Jeff winning a car in October-December 1986 {third starburst backdrops, post-"walls" backdrop, late-1984 Griffin logo})
 * February-March 1989 (Donn/Rachel/Jackie, with some very audible Wheel automation in the opening chant and a detailed explanation of "our newest category" Before & After; taped from GSN, with commercials)


 * March-June 1989 (Yvonne/Stephanie/Joy; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * March-June 1989 (Cynthia/Scott/Jeff; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * March-June 1989 (Maxie/Penny/Steve, with a goofy hat contest; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * March-June 1989 (Lori/Dianne/Teri; most of contestant interviews and small portion of Bonus Round cut out)
 * March-June 1989 (Callie/Semaj/Sterling, with the audience machine drowning out Charlie in the opening)
 * March-June 1989 (Liz/Victor/Leo {same week as below?}; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * March-June 1989 (Robin/Franklin/Tom {same week as above?}, with a full credit roll; most of contestant interviews cut out)
 * March-June 1989 (Gina/Gordie/Rob {same week as below})
 * March-June 1989 (Arlene/Tina/Bill {same week as above; alternate copy})

Post-Season 6
Originally created by me for the episodes that contain a bunch of clips (now marked as "CLIPFEST"), Guint and Gameshowguy2000 (primarily, but I've also chipped in) started adding episodes from various seasons. Personally, my focus remains on Seasons 1-6.

Seasons 7-12 (1989-95)
So many episodes are available, we needed sub-subpages: 7, 8-11, 12.

Seasons 13-18 (1995-2001)
Again, we needed sub-subpages: 13, 14, 15-18.

Season 19 (2001-02)
The current $1,000-$2,000-$3,000 Toss-Up structure is introduced, and the puzzles are revealed using a purple disc that says "Toss" on the edges (the first being right-side-up and the second being upside-down), and "Up" in the center. Also, the W-H-E-E-L envelopes remove all non-car/cash items in favor of having three cars and two $25,000 all week.

By this season, the Final Spin is not done until after the puzzle and category are shown.

October 22 brings the largest change, namely the Bonus Wheel, whose center changes by December 19 to a larger dome-ish light. The Big Money Week of February 18-22 introduces $30,000, $35,000, $40,000, $45,000, and $50,000, which become permanent the next season.

New Categories: Song Lyrics at...some point.

Road Shows: Knight International Center in Miami, Florida (November 5-23); Las Vegas Hilton in Nevada (February 11-March 1); Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois (May 6-24).

2001


 * September 3, 2001 (Season Premiere {alternate copy})

Bonus Wheel debuts


 * October 22, 2001 (Big Money Week, Day 1 {alternate copy})

"Domed" Bonus Wheel center


 * December 19, 2001 (Douglas/Beckie/Mike, with the first $100,000 win {alternate copy})
 * December 20, 2001 (Danielle/Cori/Dave {alternate copies: #1 #2})

2002


 * January 7-10, 2002 (NFL Players Week, Day ?: Shannon/Mazi/Kristy)
 * February 5, 2002 (Hershey's Pot of Gold Sweepstakes, Day 4)
 * February 6, 2002 (Hershey's Pot of Gold Sweepstakes, Day 5 {alternate copy by the same uploader})
 * February 14, 2002 (Sweethearts Week, Day 4 {alternate copy})
 * April 25, 2002 (NASCAR Week, Day 4: Jim/Brian/Debbie {alternate copy})
 * May 2002 ("At the Movies", Day ?: Nicole/Randy/Peggy)

Season 20 (2002-03)
On September 16, Columbia-TriStar Television becomes Sony Pictures Television. New music is added to the Toss-Ups (including its solve cue), main solve cue, Final Spin, Bonus Round, and credits.

The scoreboards are now computerized, and swivel when the scores change; at the show's open, the scoreboards read "WHEEL", "OF", and "FORTUNE", respectively; upon the revealing of the first letter of the $1,000 Toss-Up, they vanish via an explosion graphic. When Bankrupt or Lose A Turn is hit, the appropriate colors appear with the words of the space hit.

Gameplay-wise, the Mystery Round debuts on September 2 in Round 3, and feature two black $500 spaces with question marks on them, one with a Bankrupt, the other an economy car; both appear on the colored $500 spaces. As a result, the $10,000 space moves to Round 1, and is now over the orange $800. Also, the second Bankrupt returns to Round 3, over the purple $600 next to the top dollar, the Round 3 Prize is removed, and the Gift Tag moves to $700.

The Bonus Round now makes the cash amounts from last season's Big Money Week permanent; when announced, there is a graphic of the Bonus Wheel slowly spinning as each envelope opens and its amount is announced; after the $50,000 envelope, it zooms in for a shot of the stage and the announcement of the $100,000 top prize.

Sometime in January, all cash amounts on the Wheel (except the top values) get their current font and Lose A Turn also changes to Clarendon.

On April 28, the puzzle board's frames are removed except for the ones on the bottom.

Retired Categories: Fill in the Blank by September, possibly earlier.

Road Shows: Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle (November 4-22), Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee (February 3-21), and the San Diego Convention Center in California (April 28-May 16).

2002


 * September 2, 2002 (Season Premiere {alternate copy})
 * November 4, 2002 (Seattle Week, Day 1)
 * November 5, 2002 (Seattle Week, Day 2)
 * November 8, 2002 (Seattle Week, Day 5)
 * November 21, 2002 (Family Week, Day 4)
 * November 22, 2002 (Family Week, Finale)
 * December 3, 2002
 * December 4, 2002 ({alternate copy})
 * December 5, 2002
 * December 6, 2002
 * December 13, 2002

2003


 * 2003
 * February 3, 2003 ({alternate copy})
 * February 7, 2003 ({alternate copy})
 * April 24, 2003
 * May 1, 2003 ({alternate copy})

Season 21 (2003-04)
The puzzle board adds black carpeting and changes its border to a neon frame, which is also added to both video walls. The Wheel's base also changes to neon, and the Prize Puzzle debuts September 11. Also, this is the only season thus far with no $100,000 winners.

New Categories: On the Menu on September 10.

Retired Categories: Fill In the Number on April 28, oddly with two different numbers.

Road Shows: Radio City Music Hall in New York (November 3-21); Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona (February 9-27); Moscone Center in San Francisco (May 3-21).

2003


 * September 8, 2003 (#S-3901/Season Premiere {alternate copy})
 * September 22, 2003 (#S-3911 {alternate copy})
 * November 10, 2003 (#S-3946 {ceremonial #4,000} CLIPFEST, taped from GSN on August 18, 2007 {alternate copies: original/repeat #1, original/repeat #2, same-ish source/lower quality})
 * November 11, 2003 (#S-3947/New York Week, Day 2)

2004


 * January 5, 2004 (#S-3986/NFL Players, Day 1)
 * January 6, 2004 (#S-3987/NFL Players, Day 2)
 * January 7, 2004 (#S-3988/NFL Players, Day 3)
 * January 8, 2004 (#S-3989/NFL Players, Day 4)
 * January 12, 2004 (#S-3991/"Winter Sports", Day 1 {alternate copy})
 * January 19, 2004 (#S-3996/"Coast to Coast", Day 1)
 * May 3, 2004 ("Mom & Me" Week, Day 1; has commercials)
 * May 4, 2004 ("Mom & Me" Week, Day 2; has most commercials)

Season 22 (2004-05)
There are now three Gift Tags on the Wheel: in addition to the one on the pink $300 (moved from the red $900), the other two are placed over the $700 and yellow $400 near Lose A Turn, respectively. Also, the Mystery Wedges are now worth $1,000 and the Bonus Wheel's lettering becomes blue.

New Categories: Best Seller on September 8 (oddly, in Round 5).

Road Shows: Wachovia Center in Philadelphia (November 8-19, January 31-February 4); Las Vegas Hilton in Nevada (February 7-25); Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri (May 2-20).

2004


 * September 6, 2004 (Season Premiere)
 * September 27, 2004 ({alternate copy})
 * October 19, 2004 ({alternate copies: #1; #2a, #2b, and #2c})
 * October 29, 2004 (Halloween Week, Finale {alternate copies: #1; #2a and #2b})
 * December 2, 2004

2005


 * January 3, 2005 (NFL Players Week, Day 1)
 * January 4, 2005 (NFL Players Week, Day 2)
 * January 5, 2005 (NFL Players Week, Day 3)
 * January 6, 2005 (NFL Players Week, Day 4)
 * January 7, 2005 (NFL Players Week, Finale)
 * March 22, 2005
 * April 15, 2005
 * 2005