Go back to 1980, or forward to 1982?
January 1981[]
- Wheel does not air on January 1 or 20; the former due to coverage of the 92nd annual Tournament of Roses parade, the latter due to coverage of Ronald Reagan's inauguration.
February 1981[]
- February 9 is the first known Couples Week. As the name suggests, each day's players are teams of married couples.
March 1981[]
- March 9 is believed to be a week of repeats, as Password Plus (which aired after Wheel at the time) and Card Sharks also aired repeats that week.
April 1981[]
- April 6 is Easter Fashion Parade Week. Just like the Fall Fashion Week the previous September, each daily winner had fifteen seconds to solve a puzzle and win fashions modeled on that day’s show. Models appeared in different themes each day.
- April 13 is Teen Week: three contestants compete on Monday-Thursday, and the three biggest winners return on Friday to play for savings bonds.
- The April 15 show is Craig/Hilary/Marianna.
- On April 16 ([unknown])/Ian/Dina, Ian sweeps the game. Among his prizes is a small gold whistle from Tiffany Jewelers, which he receives in-studio and gives to Dina.
- April 17 is Ian/Dan/Craig, with $2,000 added in Round 5. The rest of the gameplay structure may be the same as the Armed Forces weeks, but this is uncertain.
- By April 21 (Virginia/Jan/Lori), the electric guitar cue returns to use for all commercial breaks and the mid-show catalog plug.
- On April 21:
- Jack's introduction of Chuck is "And now, let's meet your host: Chuck Woolery!"
- Virginia attempts to spin the Wheel during the Speed-Up round, but is stopped by Chuck before she can do so.
- Later in the Speed-Up round, the buzzer fails to sound to end a turn.
- A few turns later, Susan turns the N too hard, causing the plastic letter sheet to slide partway off the trilon.
- Lori sweeps the game.
- After the game, Chuck mentions that about two weeks ago, he had brought up the fact that the show has done over 1,600 episodes. Susan then hopes the audience's income taxes turned out well and wishes her mother and Scott Page a happy birthday before the two sign-off.
May 1981[]
- May 11 is San Francisco Week, with contestants from that city brought in to compete. This is the first known use of such a week. During this week:
- Jack's opening spiel is altered to "Look at these fabulous/luxurious prizes! [three prizes are mentioned] Over [amount] in luxurious/fabulous prizes as we begin/continue San Francisco Week on Wheel of Fortune!" The second part of the opening shows a zoom out from a closeup of the Golden Gate Bridge, with "SAN FRANCISCO WEEK ON" and the show's logo in tan. The money graphic is not used on at least the 12th and 13th.
- Various prizes are from San Francisco-based companies. Jack's prize descriptions suggest that some items were picked up by the show's staff while they were in the city.
- On May 11 (Lynn/Michael/Susie):
- A mid-round break is done during Round 4. This is further notable for being the only mid-round break of the game, with Chuck doing the Final Spin after coming back from break.
- On May 12 (Cathy/Lynn/Gordon):
- Nickname makes its only known appearance between 1979 and 1988.
- Before Round 2, Chuck plugs the San Antonio contestant tryouts occurring on June 3, with the phone number (213) 520-5555 appearing onscreen (to be called to set up an appointment) in the same monospaced style as the category displays.
- The May 13 show (Lynn/Cathy/Debbi) is partially pre-empted by NBC News Special Reports on the shooting of Pope John Paul II. The first interruption affects most of Round 2 and the first part of Round 3, with the second popping in near the end of Round 4. As the available copy of this episode ends just after cutting to the second Special Report, it is unknown whether any of the last segment was aired.
- On May 13:
- After Jack describes a $259 magazine rack following Round 3, Lynn asks Chuck whether the show "jacks up" the prices on the prizes. After Jack finishes his descriptions, Chuck brings Lynn's question up, notes that it's a good question, and states that "They are retail prices that are quoted to us, and that's what we charge."
- A mid-round break is done during Round 4. As with the one two days earlier, it is the only mid-round break of the game and Chuck does the Final Spin after coming back from break. He hits $2,000 on the Final Spin for the second day in a row.
- May 25 is Celebrity Week. Game play was likely similar to the Celebrity Week from September 1980 where each day, a celebrity plays for a selected member of the studio audience against two civilian contestants. It is known that Bruce Reitz of "Hill Street Blues" played on Tuesday, May 26.
June 1981[]
- June 8 is Brides Week, known to have been promoted during the June 8 episode of Blockbusters.
- On June 17 (Walt/Leora/Joan):
- Round 2 (WKRP IN CINCINNATI) lasts 5 minutes and 42 seconds, with 15 turns lost in total.
- The Bankrupt slide whistle is accidentally played when the Round 3 puzzle blanks are shown. The sound stops partway through, with the puzzle chimes playing a second later.
- Walt sweeps the game.
- During the final segment, Chuck and Susan show footage of them in San Antonio, Texas as a preview of next week's shows. The music played under the footage continues through the credits.
- As the sponsor list scrolls, Jack mentions that "Because the category was incorrect, the third puzzle was discarded and the program edited."
- On June 18 (Walt/Nancy/Brenda):
- The Round 1 puzzle FIDDLESTICKS is a rare instance of a one-word Phrase.
- Chuck's Final Spin lands on Lose a Turn.
- During the final segment, Chuck and Susan again show footage of them in San Antonio as a preview of next week's shows.
- June 22 is San Antonio Week, done the same way as San Francisco Week.
- According to one recollection, the Game Show Hosts Week of November 1980 is rerun the week of June 29, one of the only known instances of daytime Wheel airing repeats, due to the WGA Strike in the Summer of 1981. If surrounding information is any indication, July 3rd and the week of July 6th also consisted of repeats. During the week of July 13th, NBC reran the Teen Week of April 13-17. Password Plus was also in reruns for the weeks of July 6th and 13th.
- For these airings, the original fee plugs are replaced by a new set of sponsors, and a cutaway is done afterward to a list of these sponsors. According to a Teen Week contestant, the players are sent new parting gifts by Wheel in the form of checks from the replacement sponsors, "who hoped we'd use the money to buy some of their product".
July 1981[]
- July 20 is Second Honeymoon Week. During this week, a Bonus Round is played, establishing the rules that would also become the norm once the Bonus Round becomes permanent in 1982:
- After being told the category, the contestant picks five consonants and a vowel and is given 15 seconds to solve the puzzle. During this week, the prize offered is a honeymoon.
- A beeping timer sounds while the time is counted down. If the puzzle is solved, the puzzle-solve cue plays; if not, an elongation of the "wrong letter" buzzer sounds after time expires.
- Until some point in early 1982, the Bonus Round is played from the yellow contestant's position.
- Wheel does not air on July 29 due to coverage of the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
August 1981[]
- It is believed that the weeks of August 17th and 24th were repeats, again due to Password Plus also being in repeats at the time.
September 1981[]
- September 21 is Portland Week, taped August 28 and 29 and done the same way as previous [City] Weeks. The week includes footage of Chuck and Susan at the Washington Park Rose Test Gardens, Portland's downtown mall, various fountains, the Columbia River Gorge, and the salmon fishing grounds near Astoria.
- On September 21 (Linda/Frank/Patsy):
- The category displays are purple, matching Susan's outfit.
- During a later round, Linda opts to solve the puzzle AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER before Frank tells her to spin again. She does so and hits Bankrupt, after which (following a mid-round break) he solves for $1,800.
- On September 22 (#1702; Rick/Bernice/Patsy):
- One of the available shopping round prizes is a $13 bud vase, the least expensive known prize ever offered on the show.
- At the start of Round 3, Chuck forgets to mention the puzzle category (Person); he is reminded by contestant Patsy before she takes her first spin.
- During the Speed-Up, the trilon containing the C in the puzzle CHARLES GRODIN squeaks as it is turned.
- The closing overhead shot of the Wheel begins about a second before the Wheel starts spinning.
- During the closing chat, Chuck and Susan show off a montage of Portland, Oregon. Bebu Silvetti's "Spring Rain" plays over the montage and continues over the credits in place of "Big Wheels".
- This is the latest Chuck Woolery episode known to circulate in full with video, including the slate.
- As of the above week:
- The curtain remains visible during all non-shopping portions of the show, except the credits.
- The electric-guitar cue is still used for at least one commercial break.
- $2,000 is still red, and the nearby $250 is still gold.
- The Speed-Up split screen shot still has the puzzle (with category display) above the players.
- Michael Alley played as a part of Portland Week on September 24, 25, & 28 (his appearances were all taped on August 29). He won a total $11,600 in his three appearances while losing on his final day.
October 1981[]
- On October 6, Wheel (along with the rest of NBC's programming) may have been pre-empted by coverage on the assassination of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, which began at 8:40 AM Eastern.
- October 19 is Boston Week.
November 1981[]
- November 9 is Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Week. Per a recollection from contestant Lisa Dowd (who played on the 12th), Chuck's then-upcoming departure was already known; Bob Eubanks was being considered as a replacement host, and he taped an unaired test show during her tape day in which she got to participate.
- The week of November 23 is Birmingham Week, most likely done the same way as previous [City] Weeks.
- Wheel does not air on November 26 due to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Sometime this month, then-future Starcade host Mark Richards is a contestant. He is known to have retired undefeated, and to have participated in the aforementioned "test" episode with Bob Eubanks.
December 1981[]
- December 14 is Christmas Wish Week.
- The opening for this week is "Look at these extravagant prizes! [three prizes are described] Total retail value: over [amount]! As we begin/continue Christmas Wish Week on Wheel of Fortune! And now, here's your host: Chuck Woolery!"
- For this week, each day's winner plays the Christmas Wish Bonus, a Bonus Round which uses the "five consonants and a vowel" format established earlier in the year.
- Due to the presence of the Bonus Round, some games that run overtime by the end of Round 2 do not use the third prize showcase at all.
- On December 18 (Terry/Debbie/Vivia):
- After Terry says he is going to be a "househusband" until January, Chuck says "I'll be a househusband on December 26", indicating that this week was taped after his decision to leave Wheel.
- Vivia is referred to as "Smitty" on her nametag and throughout the show.
- During Round 2, two vowel calls (O and E) and their reveals on the board are done in complete silence, with no applause at any point.
- An instrumental version of "Frosty the Snowman" plays during the Round 3 prize descriptions.
- Rounds 2 and 4 are Thing, while the Bonus Round is Things.
- Following the Bonus Round, Susan mentions the set changes to take effect the following Monday.
- By December 18, the commercial outro cues are changed up once again: "Big Wheels" returns, used after Rounds 1, 3, and the Bonus Round plus the mid-show catalog plug; the "Temptation Eyes"-based cue also returns, used after Round 2.
- The week of December 21 is Christmas in New York, done the same way as previous [City] Weeks.
- The opening for this week is "Look at this glamorous set, filled with prizes! Fabulous and exciting merchandise including Christmas gifts, a diamond pin, bedroom furniture, a new car, home appliances! Over [amount] just waiting to be won today as we present Christmas in New York on Wheel of Fortune! And now, here's your host: Chuck Woolery!" The Wheel logo is not used, instead showing Susan walking in a light New York shower.
- The curtain does not come down after Chuck's entrance on at least the 25th; rather, Susan walks out from next to the puzzle board as the turntable spins.
- On at least the 25th, "HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS AND INTERVIEW FACILITIES FURNISHED BY HOTEL PARKER MERIDIEN NEW YORK" appears between the fee plugs and sponsor list, using the monospaced font on five lines over the spinning Wheel; on at least this occasion, "ACCOMMODATIONS" is misspelled. (Le Parker Meridien in New York City is now known as the Hotel Parker.)
- On December 21:
Bigger puzzles, more money.
Glamorous, indeed.
- The set is overhauled. From left to right:
- The puzzle board adds an extra row and another nine trilons, for a total of 48 (11 on the top and bottom rows, 13 in the middle two). It also has a larger, ribbed, golden frame shaped like a sideways 3, with chase lights that move counterclockwise on the left side and clockwise on the right. The trilon designs and letter font are unchanged.
- With the above changes to the puzzle board, puzzles that use three or four rows will have the middle rows placed one space further to the right than usual so that the puzzle can remain left-justified. If the first line is too long for the top row, the puzzle will use the second through fourth rows of the board.
- As the board now allows for longer puzzles, the show establishes a loose pattern of the first puzzle typically being fairly short compared to the second and third ones, with puzzles typically becoming shorter again if more rounds are played. Previously, there did not appear to be an obvious pattern to puzzle length.
- The three prize platforms are replaced by a single, large, three-sided turntable with two spiral-esque pillars flanking it and light-up white trees (which become green and brown depending on the time of year) to the sides of those. The turntable spins during the opening and credits, and rotates to each prize showcase depending on the round.
- The Wheel's base is changed to a more golden look, with four layers: the top has small bulbs; the layer below it has flashing lights seen in overhead Wheel shots; the third has larger bulbs that flash six at a time when the spinning Wheel is seen from the base's perspective (three at a time for the other layers); and the bottom has sword blade-like spikes and bulbs similar to the third layer. The first three layers' lights continue to flash counterclockwise, while the bottom layer's lights continue to flash clockwise.
- Brown arches are added under the railing, both in front of Chuck and between the displays, while the poles under Chuck's portion are painted brown.
- The green mosaic tiles are removed from the contestant backdrops, and the displays are covered by sunbursts of the same color as the respective contestant's arrow with many white, square-edged "beams" spreading out in all directions. A large, gold ring surrounds each sunburst. As the sunbursts are little more than colored filters, they continue to show money put on account or total champion winnings with the same limitations.
- Chuck's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt, to which he responds by mentioning that this is his last week.
- The set is overhauled. From left to right:
- On December 24:
- Chuck announces that the next show will be his last.
- After the game, Chuck and Susan show footage of their visit to New York.
- "Sleigh Ride" is played during the fee plugs and credits.
- By December 25 (Claudia/Betty/Sonny):
- The "Temptation Eyes"-based cue is once again used for all commercial breaks, plus the mid-show plug for the airline which flew the players to California.
- The $2,000 space and the nearby $250 swap positions, resulting in $250 becoming red and $2,000 becoming gold.
- The first line of the sponsor list is re-centered.
- December 25 is Chuck's last show. On this day:
- Susan's entrance includes her blowing kisses to Chuck.
- There is a commercial break during Round 1. Chuck erroneously states it has never happened before, despite there being at least four known prior instances.
- The "only vowels remain" beeps do not sound in Round 1.
- During Round 2, Chuck quips that one contestant (possibly Betty) is "the only person I've ever known to hit [Lose a Turn] seventeen times consecutively".
- After recapping the scores and announcing the winner, Chuck thanks Susan for being a confidant over the previous years; he then thanks Jeff Goldstein, Dave Williger, John Rhinehart, Nancy Jones, Charlie O'Donnell, Jack Clark, Merv Griffin, Murray Schwartz, and NBC. Chuck follows this by admitting that leaving Wheel is "one of the most difficult things I've ever done".
- The Christmas Wish Bonus is not played, presumably due to Chuck's send-off.
- "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is played during the fee plugs and credits.
- As the sponsor list scrolls, Jack mentions that due to a technical difficulty, "a third puzzle was discarded and the program edited".
- Following the sponsor list, Susan presents Chuck with a gift: a pair of goggles with wipers.
- December 28 is Teen Week. During this week:
- The Wheel logo is not used in the opening. Instead, the graphics say "Teen Week on Wheel of Fortune", with "Teen Week" in quotation marks.
- The Bonus Round is played.
- On December 28 (Jim/Keith/Stacie), Pat Sajak becomes the show's host. On this day:
- Jack's intro is changed to "Look at this studio, filled with glamorous prizes! Fabulous and exciting merchandise, including [five prizes are described]. Over [amount], just waiting to be won today on Wheel of Fortune!"
- The curtain begins to descend once again upon the host's entrance. By this point, it only comes down for the hostess' entrance and remains out of sight for the rest of the show.
- Pat thanks Chuck for hosting the show and wishes him well, then jokes that he is leaving the show as well.
- The contestant interviews are obviously edited down.
- The camera is zoomed too far back when the board is shown at the start of Round 1.
- The commercial cues are changed up once again: the electric-guitar cue returns for use after Rounds 1 and 2, during the mid-show catalog plug, and after the Bonus Round, and the "Temptation Eyes"-based cue (sounding slightly different) is used during Round 2 and after Round 3.
- Susan turns the hyphen in Round 2 before it lights up.
- During Round 2, the camera zooms out from the $550 space while an incorrect letter is called.
- The only vowel bought in the entire game is an A in Round 2.
- Despite winning Round 2 with $2,650, Jim opts not to buy the $2,195 hot tub, instead purchasing the other 10 prizes in that showcase with the remaining $849 put on a gift certificate. The resulting prize copy runs a solid two minutes, and Pat remarks afterward about Jim not buying the hot tub.
- Round 3 begins as a Speed-Up, played for a savings bond instead of a gift certificate.
- The audience accidentally applauds on the first turn of the Speed-Up.
- All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 1 and the Bonus Round being the longest at 16 letters each. While rare, there are a few instances until about 1989 where the bonus puzzle ends up being the longest one of the game.
- By December 28, the Speed-Up split-screen display is reversed to have the puzzle on the bottom and contestants on top. Possibly as a result, the category display is dropped from Speed-Up rounds.
- As of December 28:
- The money graphic is still green and still zooms in.
- The "N" of the puzzle font still does not have a top-left serif.
- The capitalization used at the beginning of the sponsor list is still the same as it was on October 8, 1980.
- Roselon Industries still provides Susan's wardrobe.
- Also during Pat's first week:
- A contestant buys an incorrect vowel, and Pat tells the player to spin again. He is then told by Nancy Jones that the player has in fact lost their turn.
- A contestant mis-solves the puzzle ABRAHAM LINCOLN as ABRAHAM BINCOLN with only the B and L's missing, to which Pat jokes that Bincoln delivered the Bettysburg Address.
