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

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)
The sixth and final version of Changing Keys debuts, as well as a new solve cue (that differs from the actual theme) and a new bonus category solve cue. 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). The Prize wedges, starting with the return to Culver City, now have unique designs, and the Jackpot wedge is changed again to one that lights up.

The W-H-E-E-L holders are now aligned vertically, and after two weeks its final prop debuts: a glass table with a design on the front. All the lights are removed except the ones for the letters.

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), and the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (May 4-15).

Repeat Weeks: December 29-January 2, March 23-27.

1997
 * September 1, 1997 (Season Premiere {alternate copy})
 * September 5, 1997 {alternate copy}
 * September 11, 1997
 * September 16, 1997
 * September 29, 1997
 * October 6, 1997
 * November 1997
 * November 21, 1997 (College Week)
 * 1997 (College Week)
 * College Week 1997

1998
 * February 18, 1998
 * February 26, 1998

Season 16 (1998-99)
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.

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 dollar becomes yellow. The yellow $1,000 beneath the top dollar is removed and replaced by a blank silver wedge. The Jackpot is also moved to the green $500.

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 at some point, On the Map on April 14.

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

1998


 * September 7, 1998 (Season Premiere/"Working Families", Day 1)
 * September 14, 1998 (Pittsburgh Week, Day 1; Fred Rogers appears {alternate copy})
 * October 12, 1998

Bells removed from Puzzler


 * November 12, 1998 (#S-2974/Soap Stars Week, Day 4)
 * November 20, 1998 (#S-2980 {ceremonial #3,000} CLIPFEST)
 * December 3, 1998 (#S-2989/Cruise Week, Day 4)
 * December 25, 1998 (#S-3005/Christmas Week, Finale)

1999


 * May 3, 1999 (Philadelphia Week, Day 1)
 * May 4, 1999 (Philadelphia Week, Day 2)
 * May 5, 1999 (Philadelphia Week, Day 3)
 * May 6, 1999 (Philadelphia Week, Day 4 {alternate copy})
 * May 7, 1999 (Philadelphia Week, Finale)
 * May 1999 (College Week from Philadelphia, Day ? {alternate copy})
 * May 1999 (College Week from Philadelphia, Day ?)
 * May 21, 1999 (Dick Carson's final show)

Season 17 (1999-2000)
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 in the altered traditional style (no dots) before switching to the two-row style (normal looking "O" in "of"). The template housing the logo is similar to that of the 1996-98 template but with the green $1,000 space over the lone Bankrupt.

The "bonus" categories are now worth $3,000, while the Preview Puzzle debuts October 4.

On October 6, the Wheel undergoes a major change: $250 is retired, making the minimum $300, and the purple, golden, and orange $250s are replaced with $600, $500, and $800, respectively. Also, all the wedges on the wheel (except Bankrupt) receive white outlines. Also on this date, $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 between November 19 and December 27.

The Gift Tag debuts on March 20. Around the same point, Wheel allows viewers to play along using the new WebTV interactive service.

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).

1999


 * September 6, 1999 (Season Premiere)
 * September 23, 1999 (Universal Studios, Day 4: Mary/David/Jessica {alternate copy})

"Purple-on-Purple" Puzzler banner


 * November 8, 1999 (New York Week, Day 2)
 * November 11, 1999 (New York Week, Finale: David/Chandra/Joe {alternate copy})
 * November 16-19, 1999 (Best Friends Week, Day ?: Michelle & Scott/Kathleen & April/Charlie & Greg, begins at tail end of opening with a bunch of stuff edited out {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 podium)

"Gold-on-Pink" Puzzler banner


 * 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})

2000


 * May 15-19, 2000 (Wheel Goes to the Movies, Day ?: Don/Matt/Noel)

Season 18 (2000-01)
The Preview Puzzle and Puzzler are retired and are replaced by the Toss-Ups; there are two per show, both used to determine who starts Round 1 and 4, respectively, each worth $1,000 and both revealed by a golden traditional logo coin. The category strips are now revealed by the logo rolling right to left and the strip coming out from the left. The sequin-green $1,000 is also retired, resulting in a $2,500/$3,500/$3,500/$5,000 format, which Pat no longer reminds the players about.

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

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.

Bonus Round puzzles begin using redundant A's at the beginning, resulting in many instances of wasted vowel calls. On November 6, background music is added to the Speed-Up Round.

November 2 is inexplicably the last all-celebrity game, with Richard Simmons, Tara Lipinski, and Alex Trebek dressed in costume as part of a sweepstakes. 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).

2000


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

2001


 * February 9, 2001 (College Week, Finale: Julia/David/Travis)
 * March 21, 2001 (Dia/Michael/Blythe)
 * April 13, 2001 (Retro Week II, Finale {CLIPFEST}: Dorothy/Cat/Greg)
 * May 2001 (Best Friends Week from Dallas, Day ?: Becky & Sherri/Kurt & Mike/Anelia & Kirk)