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.

Road Shows: Ohio State Fair in Columbus (August 29-September 2).

Repeat Weeks: December 26-30, 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 begins slightly into chant and 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 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-520: Dick/Diane/Betty, with the reversed chase light sequence; has commercials {alternate copy})
 * May 5, 1986 (#S-551: 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.

Oddly, $900 is removed from Round 1 and the spin order there is altered, going from $900-$250-$400-LAT to $250-$400-$200-LAT. Sometime this season, the $200 between $500 and $550 in Rounds 2+ temporarily becomes $900 while the peach $900 temporarily becomes lime green.

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)

"Temporary" R2 changes reverted


 * March 30-April 3, 1987 (?/Nancy/Eleanor, with the reversed chase light sequence; full Round 2)
 * May 1987 (Mark/Barbara/Susan, with the reversed chase light sequence; Round 4 through end of show, fee plugs cut out, ends during Jack's closing spiel {"Wheel of-"})
 * 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-885: 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 7-13 (1989-96)
So many episodes are available, we needed sub-subpages: 7, 8-11, 12, 13.

Seasons 14-26 (1996-2009)
Again, we needed to make sub-subpages: 14, 15-18, 19-22, 23-26.

Season 27 (2009-10)
More gameplay changes are made: Free Spin is retired and replaced with Free Play (which permanently replaces the $400 between $600 and $300), the Jackpot Round is moved to Round 1, and the second Bankrupt is made permanent to the Wheel, replacing the purple $600 next to the top dollar. Also, until November 30, only cash is available in the Bonus Round.

Aesthetically, the contestant railing is changed to feature plexiglass and LED lighting. The borders around the puzzle board and video wall also begin to behave differently.

Road Shows: The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada (September 14-18, February 8-12); The Palazzo in Las Vegas (September 21-25, February 15-19); Boston Convention & Exhibit Center in Massachusetts (November 2-20).

2009

2010
 * September 15, 2009 (Venetian Week I, Day 2)
 * October 8, 2009 (Fall Foliage, Day 4)
 * October 15, 2009 (Wheel Around the World, Day 4)
 * October 16, 2009 (Wheel Around the World, Finale)
 * October 26, 2009 (Halloween Week, Day 1)
 * October 28, 2009 (Halloween Week, Day 3)
 * November 3, 2009 (Boston Week, Day 2)
 * November 4, 2009 (Boston Week, Day 3)
 * November 5, 2009 (Boston Week, Day 4)
 * November 6, 2009 (Boston Week, Finale)
 * November 9, 2009 (College Week, Day 1)
 * November 10, 2009 (College Week, Day 2)
 * November 11, 2009 (College Week, Day 3)
 * November 12, 2009 (College Week, Day 4)
 * November 13, 2009 (College Week, Finale)
 * November 17, 2009 ("Boston's Got Game!", Day 2)
 * November 18, 2009 ("Boston's Got Game!", Day 3)
 * November 19, 2009 ("Boston's Got Game!", Day 4)
 * November 20, 2009 ("Boston's Got Game!", Finale {alternate copy by the original uploader})
 * November 23, 2009 (America's Game I, Day 1)
 * December 4, 2009 (Pet Lover's Week, Finale {alternate copy})
 * December 21, 2009 (Happy Holidays, Day 1)
 * December 24, 2009 (Happy Holidays, Day 4)
 * December 28, 2009 (Wheel Across America, Day 1)
 * December 30, 2009 (Wheel Across America, Day 3)


 * January 1, 2010 (Wheel Across America, Finale)
 * January 4, 2010 (America's Game II, Day 1)
 * January 5, 2010 (America's Game II, Day 2)
 * January 6, 2010 (America's Game II, Day 3)
 * January 7, 2010 (America's Game II, Day 4)
 * January 19, 2010 (Wheel Watchers Club, Day 2)
 * January 21, 2010 (Wheel Watchers Club, Day 4)
 * April 1, 2010 (Hawaii Week, Day 4; April Fool's Show) {Here are the answers!}
 * April 7, 2010 (Going Green, Day 3)

Season 28 (2010-11)
Ah, yes...the season where the show did three utterly-inexcusable things that made me lose any respect I had left for modern-day Wheel. Gonna be hard to talk about this without feeling bitter, but you'll see why.

Mind you, it started out well: the traditional logo returns to prominence in new intros based on the Wii game released in November (you can see those here), $30,000 becomes the lowest amount on the Bonus Wheel, and winning a car in the Bonus Round awards an additional $5,000 (probably so they can offer cheap cars without looking cheap; bit late for that). Prize Puzzles now stay out of the Jackpot Round, too.

Charlie dies on November 1, and despite a heartfelt tribute aired on the 5th, Wheel went and did their first utterly-inexcusable decision: dubbing over his 40 yet-to-air episodes because "it was a tough decision, but it would have been too sad to hear his voice so close to his death" (the fact the concept was even suggested was a middle finger for Charlie's fans and anybody with common sense; the fact they actually went through with it and gave an excuse inflated the finger). A bunch of announcers (Lora Cain, Joe Cipriano, John Cramer, Rich Fields, Johnny Gilbert, and Jim Thornton) are used through April 15, being dubbed over Charlie along the way because hey, they're clearly of a higher caliber than O'Donnell ever was and, you know, they have to keep up the "We don't tape out of order!" appearance.

The "Vanna for a Day" contest begins in January, and the winner (Katie Cantrell) gets to do Rounds 2 and 3 on March 24...which, as you may have guessed, isn't actually a "day" (the second utterly-inexcusable decision).

The ½ Car wedges are used the week of April 11, and become permanent (albeit with major tweaks) the next season. During this week, the Wild Card moves to the pink $900 and the red $900 (due to being next to one) becomes blue for Rounds 1-3.

Jim becomes the new announcer on April 18, although his hiring isn't announced until June, at which point Summer repeats include him being dubbed over the other substitutes to "establish" him (which, if you're keeping score, is the third utterly-inexcusable decision)...although repeats repeats of the first two months of this season retain Charlie's voice as well as weekend repeats of Season 27. I'd hate to see what happens if Jim can't make it to a taping...

New Categories: Same Letter on September 15, What's That Song? on September 16.

Retired Categories: Rock On! on February 9.

Road Shows: The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada (September 13-17, November 8-12, February 7-11); The Palazzo in Las Vegas (September 20-24, December 27-31, March 28-April 1); Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana (May 2-20).

2010

2011
 * September 13, 2010 (Season Premiere/Venetian Week I, Day 1)
 * October 22, 2010 (Halloween Week, Day 1) {clips provided by Pipeworks Software: Intro, Prize, and Prize won}
 * November 1, 2010 (Wheel Loves L.A., Day 1) {Johnny Gilbert}
 * November 5, 2010 (Wheel Loves L.A., Finale; tribute to Charlie included) {Johnny Gilbert}
 * December 13, 2010 (National Parks, Day 1) {Rich Fields}
 * December 22, 2010 (Happy Holidays, Day 3) {Rich Fields}

Season 29 (2011-12)
The show is cheapened: $700 is reduced to $500, and Wild Card moves to the pink $900. Also, the Prize Puzzle no longer offers $50,000 to winners who have an active Sony Card.

On September 26, the ½ Car tags (now ½ Kia tags) are added permanently over the blue $500 between $900 and $300 and the green $500. The tags begin awarding $500 per consonant on September 28.

October 17 brings two more changes: the Mystery Round moves to Round 2, while the Prize Puzzle finally gets its own round (3). Additionally, the Wheel Prize is now removed after Round 2. This change reverts for two weeks taped out of order and various America's Game shows.

New Categories: Movie Quote on September 29, TV Quote on October 3.

Road Shows: Oregon Convention Center in Portland (April 30-May 25).

2011

2012

Season 30 (2012-13)
Changes are whatever Harry Friedman feels like changing...which, really, is what the guy does every season.

Road Shows: Madison Square Garden in New York City (May).

2012

2013