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 "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).

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.

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 16 and 29, it becomes blue with the logo in a semicircle and the sponsorship of NordicTrack; by about November 4, it becomes red again; and by November 17, it settles on the design seen at right, which is retained through the end of Season 20 (although the sponsor graphics are dropped at the end of Season 18).

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 23-27.

1997


 * September 1, 1997 (#S-2731/Season Premiere)
 * September 5, 1997 (#S-2735 {alternate copy})
 * September 11, 1997 (#S-2739)

Final W-H-E-E-L Prop


 * September 16, 1997 (#S-2742)

Jackpot Wedge becomes blue w/semicircle and NordicTrack sponsorship


 * September 29, 1997 (#S-2751)
 * October 6, 1997 (#S-2756)

Jackpot Wedge becomes red again


 * November 4?, 1997 (#S-2777?/Celebrity Week, Day 2?: Lindsay Wagner/Robert Guillaume/Jane Seymour)

Lights added to Jackpot Wedge semicircle


 * November 19, 1997 (#S-2788/College Week, Day 3)
 * November 20, 1997 (#S-2789/College Week, Day 4: Roel/Paige/Holly; "buzzy" audio and bright video throughout)
 * November 21, 1997 (#S-2790/College Week, Finale)

1998


 * February 18, 1998 (#S-2848)
 * February 26, 1998 (#S-2854)
 * May 4, 1998 (#S-2896/Houston, Day 1: Paul/Michael/Sherry; chopped up considerably, but gameplay is intact)
 * May 14, 1998 (#S-2904/College Week, Day 4: Joe Bob/Courtney/Alvaro; some portions cut out, including Bonus Round onward)
 * June 11, 1998 (#S-2924: Several audio issues, opening missing)

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. The intro itself is similar to the UK version at the time.

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, while the purple $500 is decreased to $250.

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).

1998


 * September 7, 1998 (#S-2926/Season Premiere/"Working Families", Day 1)
 * September 14, 1998 (#S-2931/Pittsburgh Week, Day 1: Bill/Amy/Ray, with an appearance by Fred Rogers {alternate copy})
 * October 12, 1998 (#S-2951)

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 (#S-3096/Philadelphia Week, Day 1)
 * May 4, 1999 (#S-3097/Philadelphia Week, Day 2)
 * May 5, 1999 (#S-3098/Philadelphia Week, Day 3)
 * May 6, 1999 (#S-3099/Philadelphia Week, Day 4: Frank/Megan/John {alternate copy, ends at double-buzz of Bonus Round})
 * May 7, 1999 (#S-3100/Philadelphia Week, Finale)
 * May 11, 1999 (#S-3102/College Week from Philadelphia, Day 2: Christopher/LaJewel/Kerrie {taped 4/18; alternate copy})
 * May 12, 1999 (#S-3103/College Week, Day 3: Jon/Herb/Genene)
 * May 21, 1999 (#S-3110: 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 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 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, on the red $900. Around the same point, Wheel allows viewers to play along using the new WebTV interactive service.

Sometime in November, Tiger Electronics markets a Deluxe version of the handheld game that is also compatible with the cartridges from the original 1995-1996 games. For more information, see Video games.

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 (#S-3121/Season Premiere)
 * September 23, 1999 (#S-3134/Universal Studios, Day 4: Mary/David/Jessica {alternate copy})

Retirement of $250s, $1,000 + Final Spin, Wheel spaces get white outlines (except Bankrupt)
 * Early-Late October 1999 (Rounds 1-3 only)

"Purple-on-Purple" Puzzler banner


 * November 8, 1999 (#S-3166/New York Week, Day 2)
 * November 11, 1999 (#S-3169/New York Week, Finale: David/Chandra/Joe {alternate copy})
 * November 16-19, 1999 (#S-317?/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 (#S-3201/Retro Week I, Day 1 {CLIPFEST}: Jill/Brad/Ed)
 * December 28, 1999 (#S-3202/Retro Week I, Day 2 {CLIPFEST}: Natalie/Gary/Rachel {intro clip is of Bob/Pearl/Carmen})

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 (or the logo's right). 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.

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.

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 Richard Simmons, Tara Lipinski, and Alex Trebek 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.

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 (#S-3316/Season Premiere: Karen/Joe/Cecelia {alternate copy})
 * September 22, 2000 (#S-3330: Sally/Deanna/Leonard {Stone, of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory})
 * November 2, 2000 (#S-3359/Halloween Week, Day 4 {alternate copy}}

2001


 * February 9, 2001 (#S-3430/College Week, Finale: Julia/David/Travis {alternate copy})
 * March 21, 2001 (#S-3458: Dia/Michael/Blythe {alternate copy... thing, pretty self-explanatory})
 * April 13, 2001 (#S-3475/Retro Week II, Finale {CLIPFEST}: Dorothy/Cat/Greg)
 * May 18, 2001 (#S-3500/Best Friends Week, Finale: Becky & Sherri/Kurt & Mike/Anelia & Kirk {alternate copy})