User:Daniel Benfield/Nighttime Video Archive

Suggested by TPH but for various reasons, primarily 1) the preservation of my sanity and 2) the lack of returning champions during this period, I'm only focusing on Seasons 1-6 at this point. 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. 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. It also appears that the Wheel flippers become longer and thinner sometime between September 22 and October 31, but that may 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.

1983


 * September 19, 1983 (#S-001/Premiere: Jeff/Leslie/Linda, with green-leaf trees on-set, the puzzle board's original chase light sequence {counterclockwise on the left, clockwise on the right} and black-outline money graphic/logo; 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})
 * September 22, 1983 (#S-004: Lou/Cindy/Karen, with green-leaf trees on-set, original chase light sequence, white-outline money graphic/logo, $1,000 in Round 1, 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})
 * September-October 1983 (Bob/Pearl/Carmen, with brown-leaf trees on-set, original chase light sequence, white-outline money graphic/logo, and a different shot of the King World logo; repeat from Summer 1984, free registration required to watch)
 * September-October 1983 (Ed/Dawn/Ellen, with brown-leaf trees on-set, original chase light sequence, and white-outline money graphic/logo {taped 9/83, suggesting the latter end of this period; alternate copy})
 * October 1983-January 1984 (Rick/Joan/Cecelia, with light-up white trees on-set, white-outline money graphic/logo, 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 light-up white trees on-set, original chase light sequence, Vanna White spinning the Wheel at the end, and the animated Griffin logo; repeat from August, begins just after opening chant)
 * January-February 1984 (Thelma/Sam/Lisa, with light-up white trees on-set, the curtain screwing up, reversed chase light sequence {clockwise on the left, counterclockwise on the right}, and animated Griffin logo; repeat from June, 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 light-up white trees on-set, reversed chase light sequence, and animated Griffin logo; repeat from Summer with commercials)
 * 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 strips 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.

Beginning here, episodes that have the exact same "distinctions" (i.e., regular animated logo/wide-font $1,000/third Helvetica category strips) 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.

1984


 * September 1984 (Kersteen/Cinders {Cynthia}/Jack, with the regular $1,000/$5,000, 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})


 * Fall 1984 (Dave/Joan/Kathy, with the regular $1,000/$5,000, reversed chase light sequence, and shorter Prize wedge letters)
 * Fall 1984 (Janice/Faye/Marvin, with the regular $1,000/$5,000, reversed chase light sequence, and $300 next to Bankrupt {alternate copies: Round 3/"FRANKFURTERS AND SAUERKRAUT" only, complete})
 * Fall 1984 (Father Rob/Betty/Maria, with the regular $1,000/$5,000 and reversed chase light sequence {alternate copies: #1, #2})
 * Fall 1984 (Bill/Brilla/Teddy, with the regular $1,000/$5,000 and reversed chase light sequence)


 * November 23, 1984 (E.R. {Elizabeth Renae}/Casey/Stacey, with the regular $1,000/$5,000, no $700/$800/$900 in Round 1, reversed chase light sequence, $100 next to $1,000 in Round 2, and $300 next to Bankrupt in Rounds 2+ {opening through Vanna's intro and full closing segment, from original broadcast})
 * November-December 1984 (Sharon/DeeDee/Brent, with the wide-font $1,000/$5,000, no $700/$800/$900 in Round 1, no Winter decorations, $100 next to $1,000 in Round 2, $300 next to Bankrupt in Rounds 2+, reversed chase light sequence, and smaller Prize wedge letters)
 * November-December 1984 (Jeannette/Tim/Colleen, with the wide-font $1,000, regular $5,000, no $700/$800/$900 in Round 1, no Winter decorations, $100 next to $1,000 in Round 2, $300 next to Bankrupt in Rounds 2+, reversed chase light sequence, and smaller Prize wedge letters {alternate copies: Rounds 1 and 3, full episode})
 * December 19, 1984 (Kathe/Esther/Dennis, with the wide-font $1,000, regular $5,000, $700/$800/$900 in Round 1, Winter decorations {including wreaths and bows}, $600 next to $1,000 in Round 2, $500 next to Bankrupt in Rounds 2+, and reversed chase light sequence)

1985


 * January 1985 (Mike/Renita/Laura, with the original logo, monospaced category strips, wide-font $1,000, regular $5,000, Winter decorations, and reversed chase light sequence; was listed as December 25, 1984 on the timeline)
 * January 1985 (Pam/Carmen/Michael, with the original logo, monospaced category strips, wide-font $1,000, Winter decorations, and 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 the original logo, monospaced category strips, $800 on $750 in Round 1, wide-font $1,000, regular $5,000, Winter decorations, and reversed chase light sequence; beginning of Bonus Round segment cut out {begins during Jack's description}, cuts off during Griffin announcement)


 * January 1985 (Doc/?/?, tail end of Bonus Round with original Helvetica category strips {minus the shadow effect})
 * January 1985 (Steve/Christina/Debra, with prototype{?} animated logo, wide-font $1,000, regular $5,000, Winter decorations, original Helvetica category strips {minus the shadow effect}/Bonus Round totals/credits, original chase light sequence, and shorter Prize wedge letters)
 * January 1985 (Mary/Dick/Chris, with the regular animated logo, wide-font $1,000, original Helvetica category strips, no Winter decorations, and reversed chase light sequence)


 * February (or so) 1985 (Hal/Chris/Rita, with the regular animated logo, wide-font $1,000, second Helvetica category strips {also on the February 1 daytime show}, reversed chase light sequence, no Winter decorations, and shorter Prize wedge letters; audio/video seriously out of sync for the first four minutes {slightly off for the rest}, and no last segment)


 * February-June 1985 (Jerry/JoAn/Elaine, with the regular animated logo, wide-font $1,000, third Helvetica category strips {white all around each letter}, and an unknown chase light sequence; taped from GSN in 1999, rough video {especially at beginning})
 * February-June 1985 (Deborah/Cheryl/Robin, with the regular animated logo, wide-font $1,000, third Helvetica category strips, and reversed chase light sequence; begins just before Jack's opening spiel)
 * February-June 1985 (Gina/Cindy/Mike, with the regular animated logo, wide-font $1,000, third Helvetica category strips, and reversed chase light sequence)
 * February-June 1985 (Kim/Brad/Carla, with the regular animated logo, wide-font $1,000, third Helvetica category strips, and reversed chase light sequence; GSN airing with no logos)


 * February-June 1985 (Lori/Peggy/David, with the regular animated logo, regular $1,000/$5,000, third Helvetica category strips, 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.

1985


 * December 5, 1985 (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 (Dick/Diane/Betty, with the reversed chase light sequence; has commercials {alternate copy})
 * May 5, 1986 (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.

1986


 * Week of October 13, 1986 (Julie/David/Nita, with the Seasons 2-3 starbursts, the 1984 "walls", and original chase light sequence; has commercials, one mentioning the 18th {alternate copy without commercials})
 * October 1986-June 1989 (? {female}/Paula{?}/? {male}, with the third starburst backdrops and post-"walls" area behind Pat; other than that, 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 (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)
 * Week of April 1, 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 between November 2 and December 17, the yellow $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.

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.

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})
 * November 2?, 1987 (Big Bonanza of Cash, Day 1?: Geri/Chip/Betsy, with $600 in Round 1, $500-$400-$250 in Round 3, reversed chase light sequence, and "A unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION"; contestant interviews and fee plugs cut out {Jack's opening of "as we continue by popular demand our Big Bonanza of Cash on Wheel of Fortune!" suggests the first post-BMOC show; I've never heard him say it on any other episode})
 * November 10, 1987 (Big Bonanza of Cash, Day 7: ?/?/?, with the reversed chase light sequence; complete final segment, with Pat talking to a pair of mannequins on-set, full credit roll {albeit less "full" than usual due to an NBC technicians' strike}, and "A unit of Coca-Cola TELEVISION")
 * November-December 1987 (Sheila/Greg/Dick, with the Rounds 1/3 changes, 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 Rounds 1/3 changes, reversed chase light sequence, and the first known nighttime tie; taped from GSN circa 1995 {recorded 12/87})
 * December 17, 1987 (Eileen/Peggy/Paul, with the Rounds 1/3 changes and reversed chase light sequence; has commercials, cuts off just before King World logo)
 * Late December 1987 (Marj/Paula/Denia, with the Rounds 1/3 changes, Free Spin in Round 2, and "squished" Prize wedge lettering...but no last segment; also, a "WHA?!" moment in Round 4 when Pat says "Vanna will show you her hyphen.")

1988


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

The New York Contest is held from September 5-26, with the winners attending a special series of episodes. Said shows air November 14-25, done at Radio City Music Hall in New York City with Don Pardo announcing. M.G. leaves after February 17, with Charlie returning on the 20th.

1988


 * September 5, 1988 (#S-976/Season Premiere: Ann/Constance/Jan {alternate copy})
 * 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)


 * October 3, 1988 (#S-996: Rick/Renee/Chris, with the debut of the three-and-a-vowel 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)
 * November 14, 1988 (Radio City, Day 1: Meg/Dave/Matt; taped from GSN on August 18, 2007 {alternate copy})
 * November 17, 1988 (Radio City, Day 4: Amy/Bill/Mary Lou, begins at newspaper graphic)
 * November 18, 1988 (Radio City, Day 5: Alan/Karl/Nikki)
 * November 25, 1988 (Radio City, Finale: Martha/Linda/Willie)
 * December 23, 1988 (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})


 * February 20, 1989 (Renee/Carol/Damon, with Charlie's return and Marla Gibbs making an appearance {taped 1/89?})
 * February 27, 1989 (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})
 * 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 (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 (Robin/Franklin/Tom, 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
The sole exceptions to the above, at least for the moment. Originally made for episodes that contain a bunch of clips (now marked as "CLIPFEST"), I've since added four seasons (8, 11, and 18-19) that don't seem to have that many episodes available. Still, my focus remains on Seasons 1-6.

Season 8 will be moved out of here once I catalog 7...which, given that traders have almost the entire season and Kingskip has at least 30 episodes, I'm not exactly looking forward to. Same goes for 12, which GSN aired in its entirety at least three times.

Season 8 (1990-91)
The road show diamond backdrops become permanent at home base starting this season, and the floor is now black (daytime continues to use the chevron backdrops and white floor). Sometime between September 11 and January, the W-H-E-E-L envelope holder gets a thick golden ring around it. Sometime between September 11 and April 16, Prize wedges begin to stay on the Wheel past the round they're introduced in (reversing a change introduced at the beginning of 1989).

The chevrons behind Pat get some lights sometime between April 16 and May 14.

1990


 * September 10, 1990 (Gemini/Julia/Mark)
 * September 11, 1990 (Dede/Don/Gemini)

1991


 * January 1991 (Tricia Gist fills in {Wednesday or Thursday}: Ken/Shelly/Patti; has the gold-ringed W-H-E-E-L envelope holder)
 * April 16, 1991 (Stella/Bill/Scott)
 * Spring? 1991 (Carla/Bob/Winston; comes between the April 16 and May 14 changes)
 * May 14, 1991 (College Week, Day 2: Becky/Andrea/Vince)

Season 11 (1993-94)
1993


 * September 21, 1993 (Sam/Lou/Jon)
 * October 4, 1993 (Susie/Amy/Rod, begins during chant)
 * October 5, 1993 (Rod/Jim/Belinda, with commercials)
 * November 12, 1993 (#S-2,000: Stephen/Chanelle/Darryle)
 * December 24, 1993 (Family Week, Finale)

1994


 * March 11, 1994 (Bob/Dan/Robin)
 * March 14, 1994 (Deborah/Bob/Tony)
 * April 22, 1994 (Disney World, Finale: Gloria/Chris/Donna)
 * May 3, 1994 (Music Stars, Day 2: Gladys Knight/Tammy Wynette/"Weird Al" Yankovic)

Season 16 (1998-99)
1998


 * November 20, 1998 (#S-2,980 {ceremonial #3,000} CLIPFEST)

Season 17 (1999-2000)
1999


 * December 27, 1999 (Retro Week I, Day 1 {CLIPFEST}: Jill/Brad/Ed)
 * December 28, 1999 (Retro Week I, Day 2 {CLIPFEST}: Natalie/Gary/Rachel {intro clip is of Bob/Pearl/Carmen, linked waaaaaaayyyyyyy above})

Season 18 (2000-01)
Toss-Ups debut on the season premiere. The "Inner Tube" episode of The King of Queens (with Wheel in a brief appearance) airs February 26, 2001.

2000


 * September 4, 2000 (Season Premiere: Karen/Joe/Cecelia)
 * September 22, 2000 (Sally/Deanna/Leonard Stone)
 * November 2, 2000 (Halloween Week, Finale)

2001


 * February 9, 2001 (College Week, Finals: Julia/David/Travis)
 * March 21, 2001 (Dia/Michael/Blythe)
 * April 13, 2001 (Retro Week II, Day 5 {CLIPFEST}: Dorothy/Cat/Greg)

Season 19 (2001-02)
Begins with the W-H-E-E-L envelopes comprising three cars and two $25,000 all week, then on October 22 changes to the Bonus Wheel. By December 19, the center of the Bonus Wheel becomes a larger dome-ish light.

2001


 * September 3, 2001 (Season Premiere)
 * October 22, 2001 (debut of the Bonus Wheel)
 * December 19, 2001 (Douglas/Beckie/Mike, with the first $100,000 win)
 * December 20, 2001 (Danielle/Cori/Dave {alternate copy})

2002


 * 2002 ("At the Movies": Nicole/Randy/Peggy)
 * 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)
 * April 25, 2002 (NASCAR Week, Day 4: Jim/Brian/Debbie)

Season 21 (2003-04)
2003


 * November 10, 2003 (#S-4,000 CLIPFEST, taped from GSN on August 18, 2007 {alternate copies: original/repeat #1, original/repeat #2, same-ish source/lower quality})