Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 11

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A timeline for Season 11 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 6, 1993 through June 17, 1994.

Season Changes

• Except for the removal of the "10th Anniversary" graphic and the addition of a closed-captioning bug, the opening animation is unchanged from last season. The higher-level shot of the set introduced in early 1993 is also retained.
• Charlie's opening narration is slightly changed to begin with "From Hollywood, it's America's Game! A show the whole family can enjoy!" The rest is the same as it was on September 21, 1992.
• For this season only, the 1989 "Changing Keys" is used on road shows as the opening and closing themes, and the 1992 version continues to be used as a bumper.
• This is the final season produced by Merv Griffin Enterprises.
• It is rumored that on an episode sometime this season, a contestant fails to solve a fully-revealed bonus puzzle due to being unable to properly pronounce it.
• On an episode sometime this season, the Surprise is a $10,000+ travel trailer.
• On another episode sometime this season (known to have been rerun in July 1995), AX is a bonus puzzle. This is certainly the shortest puzzle ever used on the show and the only known two letter puzzle to be used also. Interestingly, this puzzle would also be used in the Sega CD adaption of the show.

September 1993

• September 6 is Teen Week, with the 1989 "Changing Keys" used during the credits.
• On September 14:
  • A then-unknown John Ducey is a contestant.
  • Where Are We? debuts in Round 2.
• On September 15, Rounds 1, 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On September 16:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 2 is Where Are We?
  • An unknown person is at the contestant area moving the Wheel a few spaces during the credits.
• On September 14-16, former Rolling Stone magazine writer Ben Fong-Torres is a contestant, retiring undefeated with a total of $98,787.
• On September 21:
  • A very unusual prize is offered in Round 2: a certified authentic autograph of Florence Nightingale with an engraving of her, valued at $1,250.
  • Following the Bonus Round, Vanna offers Pat some tomatoes and bread from her then-husband, George San Pietro.
  • Contestant Jon retires with $108,874, a rare instance of two consecutive undefeated champions.
  • A repeat of this episode from about 1995 uses the "Created by Merv Griffin" credit (no chyron, just Charlie's voice), then segues into the Columbia TriStar Television spiel used since February 1995.
• The weeks of September 27 and October 4 are taped at Walt Disney World.
• On September 27:
  • Rounds 3 and 4 are Title, former is TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA following a trivia question asking who wrote it (Jules Vernes).
  • Contestant Lorilei fills in the bonus puzle COLOR completely and solves it before the timer can start.
  • Lorilei retires undefeated with $87,354.
• On September 28, there are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 4 are Before & After, while Round 3 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On September 29, Round 3 is the first known Red-Letter Puzzle.
• On September 30, contestant Shawn fails to solve the bonus puzzle EXAM with only the X missing.
• Likely around this point and continuing until about 2002, affiliate WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky runs a "Wheel Deal" sweepstakes where an extra puzzle is shown during the program and home viewers in the broadcast area may call in to win a prize from a local store. The promo for this features a snippet of the 1992 version of "Changing Keys", as well as a clip of a contestant picking up Pat and a shot of the partially filled-in answer ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER (possibly from this season). This promo continues to air in this form for over a decade, even after both "Changing Keys" and the trilon board cease to be used by the show.

October 1993

• On October 1:
  • Rounds 1-3 are Phrase.
  • Shawn solves the bonus puzzle HONEY despite getting no help from his extra letters.
• On October 4, two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 a Red-Letter Puzzle and Round 3 is Where Are We?
• On October 5, there are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 2 are Phrase, and Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On October 6, Round 2 is the first known appearance of the "three question marks" variant of Fill In the Blank. Until November 4, 1994; both Fill In the Blank categories are used.
• On October 7:
  • Round 4 (REVOLVING ROOFTOP RESTAURANT) is the longest puzzle.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Place.
• On October 8, Round 2 is the third of only four known instances of The Thirties.
• On October 12:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • When the Super NES and Sega Genesis video games for Jeopardy! and Wheel are plugged by Charlie, the Jeopardy! game for Sega's Game Gear can be seen as well.
• On October 13:
  • The opening uses a star wipe from the logo to studio.
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • The High Rollers chimes are not used when Pat asks for the place identified by the Where Are We? puzzle, but the puzzle-solve cue still sounds when the contestant identifies the place.
  • Rounds 3 and 4 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • Rounds 1, 3, and 4 all use all four rows of the puzzle board, making this the second known game to use three separate four-row puzzles.
  • There is a tie after Round 5. Afterward, Pat asks Nancy Jones how to break the tie, and she explains. Unlike in 1987, the tiebreaker round is played immediately, and the rest of the game proceeds as normal. Pat's comments seem to indicate that this is also the first tie on the nighttime show since then. According to one recollection, a tie occurred on the daytime version after Bob Goen took over, so it is extremely likely that this was Pat's first encounter with a tie game since 1987.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Pat starts doing the tiebreaker Final Spin while the category is revealed. Also, the right-letter dings are accidentally used on the first turn.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • Contestant Jim fills in the bonus puzzle TOP-NOTCH completely.
  • Perhaps due to the tiebreaker, Pat and Vanna only say goodbye at the end.
• Sometime this month, Angela Thompson-Murphy retires with $60,693. She later appears on "Some of the Greats!" in February 1995.
• All five Bonus Rounds are won the week of October 18.
• October 25 is a New York-themed week taped at Studio 33.

November 1993

• November 1 is Cruise Week. During this week:
  • The intro features Vanna wearing sunglasses and saying "It's Cruise Week on...", after which the winners of the Red Letter Sweepstakes contest are depicted on said cruise and performing the "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" chant. The winners are holding a banner reading "Wheel of Fortune aboard MS Windward", with a graphic of the Round 1 template on either side. "O'La Soca" by Arrow then plays over footage of various onboard activities. Charlie's intro is "Join us as we sail the Caribbean aboard the MS Windward! And now your host and hostess, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • The ships' captains help model the Prizes and Surprises.
  • Sometime this week, a contestant may have failed to claim $29,800 in Round 4.
• On November 5:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 4 Prize is a $10,000 annuity.
  • Round 5 (LIGHTEN UP) is shorter than ten letters.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Slang, while Rounds 2 and 4 are Phrase.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 (COLLABORATIVE EFFORT) being the longest at only 19 letters.
• On November 8:
  • Contestant Maria accidentally asks for a "spoon" in Round 2, whose answer has the word SPOON in it. This is disregarded, and she calls a P.
  • After Maria solves the Round 3 Before & After puzzle LOCK STOCK AND BARREL OF MONKEYS, Pat recalls a contestant from "years ago" who incorrectly solved a puzzle of MORE FUN THAN A BARREL OF MONKEYS by guessing VIKINGS for the last word; Vanna would acknowledge the same moment on December 15, 2008.
  • The right-letter ding is sounded in the Speed-Up Round for the reveal of the apostrophe.
  • The bonus puzzle JOY is an extremely rare three-letter answer without RSTLNE in it. No letters are revealed.
• On November 9:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Where Are We?
  • Maria fills in the bonus puzzle FROM NOW ON entirely.
  • Rounds 2, 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Maria pulls Pat down to the floor after winning the Bonus Round. This clip was seen in several retrospectives including the 3000th and 4000th episodes.
• On November 10, Maria retires with $76,421. She later appears on "Some of the Greats!" in February 1995.
• On November 12:
  • In honor of the show's 2,000th nighttime episode, the hosts of the Hungarian version congratulate Pat after Round 2, and the hosts of the Greek version congratulate him after Round 3.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1, 2, and 5 are Phrase, Round 3 is People, and the Bonus Round is Person.
  • The Bonus Round cars are on rugs rather than turntables.
  • At the end of the episode, footage is shown of Vanna, Merv, and the King brothers at a press conference.
• November 15 is the second My Favorite Teacher Week. This is the only such week taped at Studio 33.
• From around this point until near the end of the season, Vanna starts wearing suits or maternity clothes while pregnant with her son, Nicholas.
• On November 17, three "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue, Round 2 is a Red-Letter Puzzle, and Round 3 is a Title of THE COURTSHIP OF MILES STANDISH followed by a trivia question asking for the author's name (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).

December 1993

• Sometime this month, there is a rare instance of a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it: DUCK.
• December 13 is a New York themed week, taped November 5th.
• On December 13, two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Where Are We? and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
• On December 14:
  • At the start of Round 3, Pat asks Charlie to announce a new prize, after which Charlie starts to announce a prize but is interrupted by Pat telling him "I just was tricking you". There is no prize to announce.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On December 15:
  • Three "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue, Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle, and Round 4 is an Event puzzle of MICHAEL JORDAN RETIRES FROM BASKETBALL followed by a trivia question asking what team Jordan played for (Chicago Bulls). Round 4 is also the longest puzzle in the main game.
  • Contestant Marcan wins a historical document signed by George Washington in the Bonus Round.
  • The bonus puzzle is FLORIDA, seemingly a deliberate tie-in to the upcoming tapings in Orlando and Miami, which Pat and Vanna promote at the end of the show.
  • Contestant Marcan retires with $113,865, having won all three Bonus Rounds.
  • Pat hints to the fact that all three shows were taped on the same day by pointing out that Marcan's wife, Michelle, was "wearing [her] lucky dress for the three nights you're here".
• December 20 is Family Week, taped at Walt Disney World with the same rules as the December 1992 tournament, thus becoming the first set of road show episodes not to air contiguously. On all of the Walt Disney episodes:
  • Some footage includes Pat and Vanna doing some activities while at Walt Disney World; these would also be included in the 1994 shows later in the season.
  • Mannheim Steamroller's rendition of "Deck the Halls" plays during the intro in place of "Changing Keys".
  • Charlie's intro is "Join us for Family Week, as we celebrate the holidays at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! 'Tis the season for sparkling lights, merriment and good cheer, Christmas caroling, fireworks, parades, and memorable moments! And now, your host and hostess: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!" Falling snowflakes are used as a "wiping" graphic.
  • As Charlie mentions each element in his intro, a scene from Walt Disney World is seen: a zoom-out to a huge Christmas tree with miniature multicolored lights; Lesly (in her first known appearance), Pat, and Vanna dancing with some reindeer in front of the Magic Kingdom (and the Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella castle); Mickey, Minnie, and Donald waving in front of a festively decorated Christmas cottage/house; a fireworks show at Pleasure Island as Pat and Lesly are leaving; a parade with large toy soldiers, giant alphabet blocks, dancing Christmas trees, and gingerbread men cookies; and Goofy having a good time with some kids.
  • The puzzle board has a wreath at the top and a tall toy soldier on each side.
  • Unlike most other road shows at this point, the 1992 "Changing Keys" is played as the bumper and closing theme.
  • The chyrons are red and green.
  • The closing credits feature the 1992 logo scrolling up first before the actual credits start scrolling, all done over footage of various Christmas events at Walt Disney World that Pat, Vanna, and Lesly take part in. The credits themselves are in a white font similar to Helvetica; the positions are in a thin font, while the names are in a bold font.
  • Charlie's closing disclaimer is appended with "Production facilities provided by Disney/MGM Studios", which is accompanied with the Disney-MGM Studios logo.
• On December 24:
  • "Nightwalk" plays while Charlie describes the Round 2 Prize.
  • Both Prize values are in Helvetica, the Round 4 one using a taller variant than usual.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Thing, while Rounds 2 and 3 are Phrase.
  • Strangely, Round 2 is the only round in which any vowels are bought.
  • The Bonus Round cars, which are won, are topped with golden bows. The cars are a Chevrolet Lumina coupe and Cavalier convertible worth $40,190.
  • After the credits end, Pat and Vanna are in front of a large Christmas tree with presents underneath, as they wish everyone a Merry Christmas: Pat saying "Merry Christmas…" and Vanna completing it with "…from Wheel of Fortune!"
• Reruns air during the week of December 27.

January 1994

• Many events and puzzle answers in episodes from this point through the rest of the season are known solely through recaps on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows.
• The week of January 3 is Wheel into 1994.
• On January 14, the Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200.
• On January 17, Raymond Taylor retires with $81,665. He later appears on "Some of the Greats!" in February 1995. Taylor becomes notorious for his eccentric behavior, which is compiled into a YouTube video (albeit only spanning his first two shows); he eventually ends up receiving a ban from the show's studios after repeatedly trespassing.
• On January 24:
  • Rounds 4, 5, and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • Contestant Lisa retires with $90,326.
• On January 25:
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Person in Rounds 1 and 3, Phrase in Round 4 and the Bonus Round.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt three times. His fourth attempt is $1,500.
  • Contestant Robert wins a historic document signed by Abraham Lincoln in the Bonus Round.
• On January 28:
  • Contestant Phil retires with $81,357.
  • In the closing segment, a commercial is shown for the show's newsletter, Off Camera.

February 1994

• On February 1, two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Where Are We? and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
• On February 2:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Clue and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • Rounds 1, 3, 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• The weeks of February 7 and 14 are the Movie Star Gold Letter Sweepstakes. During these two weeks:
  • Each game has one puzzle with gold letters that, when unscrambled, spell the last name of a movie star. Home viewers may send their answers, with at least six correct, to Movie Star Sweepstakes, PO Box 4713, Blair, NE 68009 before February 18. After each round is solved, the lights on the puzzle board turn off except for the gold letters, at which point Pat reads off said letters. He also states the rules and address before and after each round.
  • The grand prize is a Cadillac Seville valued at over $42,000. Other prizes include 100 trips for two to Universal Studios Hollywood, 200 Hammerman gold and emerald pendants, and 500 Daniel Mink watches. Charlie promotes these prizes before the round in question.
  • Likely because of the sweepstakes, there is no Round 4 Prize during these weeks.
• On February 7:
  • Rounds 1, 3, and 4 are Phrase.
  • Contestant Jeannette fills in the bonus puzzle CABARET completely.
• On February 9, Round 4 (THE CENTER OF ATTENTION) is the longest puzzle.
• On February 10:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $10,000 annuity.
  • There are two sets of repeated catgeories: Rounds 1 and 3 are Phrase, while Round 5 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On February 16:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • Contestant Peter's scoreboard does not switch off when he hits Bankrupt in Round 2.
  • Round 3 is Person, while Round 5 is People.
  • The consolation prize is a Daewoo TV which displays the show's opening as Charlie describes it.
• On February 18:
  • The Round 2 Prize is an $11,635 trip to Australia.
  • Round 1 is Person, while the Bonus Round is People.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 3 and 4 (DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY and AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC respectively) tied for the longest at only 18 letters.
• The weeks of February 21 and 28 are taped at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.
• On February 22:
  • Round 2 is the first known "three question marks" Fill In the Blank puzzle with four question marks.
  • Contestant Scott fails to claim $28,000 in Round 3.
• On February 23, Alison Gordy retires with $77,109, despite not making it to the Bonus Round on her third appearance. She later appears on "Some of the Greats!" in February 1995.

March 1994

• Between March 2 and 4, three episodes in a row have two "bonuses":
• On March 2:
  • Round 1 is Clue and Round 4 is a Red-Letter Puzzle. This is also the first known instance of a Red-Letter Puzzle being used in the Speed-Up.
  • Round 4 (LET ME GO ON RECORD AS SAYING) is the longest puzzle.
• On March 3, Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 4 is the second known instance of a Red-Letter Puzzle being used in the Speed-Up.
• On March 4, Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 3 is Clue.
• On March 3 and 4, two contestants in a row win the main game with $11,500.
• On March 11 (taped February 10):
  • Round 1 (SLUG IT OUT) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Round 3 Clue puzzle NICKNAME FOR A LONDON POLICEMAN is a rare instance of a "bonus" puzzle having more than one right answer (bobby or peeler).
  • The Round 4 Prize is a shopping spree at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota and A&S Plaza (now Manhattan Mall) in Manhattan, valued at $8,100.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Robin Slate leaves with a two-day total of $43,749. She later appears on "Some of the Greats!" in February 1995.
  • There is a very rare instance of a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it. The puzzle, AVOCADO (Thing), is not solved.
  • The time's-up buzzer in the Bonus Round "stutters", creating a short third buzz before the usual sound.
• Sometime during the week of March 14, during the post-game chat. Pat holds a microphone towards Vanna's stomach and says "Mommy, can I buy a vowel?" This clip has been shown during the 3000th and 4000th episode.
• On March 14, neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On March 15, the Gold Letter Sweepstakes winners are announced.
• On March 18:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is a Red-Letter Puzzle and Round 3 is Clue.
  • Rounds 1, 2, and 5 are Phrase.
• On March 25, Round 4 is the forth of only four known instances of The Thirties.
• Reruns air during the week of March 28.

April 1994

• April 4 is Teen Week.
• On April 7:
  • Nobody correctly identifies the missing word in Round 1's Fill In the Blank puzzle ? SESAME ? HOUSE ? FORUM (Open).
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 2 and 3 are Phrase, and Round 5 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• The weeks of April 11 and 18 are taped at Walt Disney World.
  • The intro of the Disney World shows is similar to the fourth intro of the Season 8 shows, with the alteration of the last few lines to include "Fun, fantasy, and fireworks! With lots of cash and fabulous prizes just waiting to be won!" The 1992 logo (or in some cases, a bolder variant of the 1989 logo without the Wheel replacing the "O" in OF) then flies up and settles at the center of the screen before a star-shaped wipe to the studio.
  • The closing variation of the 1989 theme is used during the intro.
  • The ending credits feature Pat and Vanna doing some activities while at Walt Disney World (examples include Vanna posing for the camera, Vanna buying popcorn, and Pat driving a motorboat), in addition to the usual Walt Disney World footage.
  • As was the case in December (and will be the case in May), Charlie's closing disclaimer is appended with "Production facilities provided by Disney/MGM Studios", which is accompanied with the Disney-MGM Studios logo.
  • From this point through February 1995, road shows revert to using Helvetica chyrons, albeit somewhat less bold than the 1985-93 chyrons.
• On April 11:
  • Round 5 (FREE TIME) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Rounds 3, 5 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On April 12:
  • The Round 4 puzzle TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD is categorized as Slang instead of Title.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On April 13, contestant Eric retires undefeated.
• On April 14:
  • Nobody gives a correct response to the question asked by the Clue puzzle CHEESE IN A GREEK SALAD (feta).
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • Contestant Theresa solves the bonus puzzle SKIS despite getting no help from her extra letters.
• On April 15, Round 4 (I CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION) is the longest puzzle.
• On April 18:
  • There is a cold open where Pat announces the theme from Splash Mountain.
  • After Steve correctly identifies what is described by the Round 1 Clue puzzle DANSON KOPPEL OR TURNER, said correct response ("named Ted") appears on the chyron with the word "Ted" in much larger text than the word "named".
  • Before Round 2, an offstage female voice can be heard saying what sounds like "you might wanna let them know". This voice probably belongs to Nancy Jones, but it is unknown what she was attempting to say.
  • The right letter ding accidentally sounds after the usual chime when the Round 2 puzzle is revealed.
  • Contestant Steve forgets to pick up the Round 2 Prize. Pat then picks it up and hands it to him after the next spin.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
  • All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 4.
  • Steve solves the bonus puzzle KEYHOLE despite getting no help from his extra letters.
• On April 19:
  • Round 4 (WHY DON'T WE DO THIS MORE OFTEN) is the longest puzzle.
  • An $11,091 boat is won in the Bonus Round. This is the least expensive known Bonus Round prize to be offered after the retirement of shopping.
• On April 20, two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Where Are We?
• On April 21:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is Clue and Round 4 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • Round 4 is the third known instance of a Red-Letter Puzzle in a Speed-Up.
  • Contestant Gloria fails to solve the bonus puzzle NIFTY with only the F missing.
• On April 22:
  • For the first known time, the chyrons are yellow with a black outline.
  • The contestant "window" in the Bonus Round does not appear until about two seconds after the timer starts.
• On April 25, the Round 1 puzzle FIRE AND BRIMSTONE SERMON is solved by a contestant who happens to be a minister.
• On April 26:
  • The bonus puzzle TONIGHT is inexplicably categorized as Thing instead of Event.
  • Rounds 4, 5 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On April 28, contestant Lynda retires with $81,832.
• On April 29, Round 4 (ACADEMY AWARD WINNER HOLLY HUNTER) is the longest puzzle.

May 1994

• The weeks of May 2 and 16 are taped at Walt Disney World.
• May 2 is Music Stars Week, which has singers competing for charity under the Friday Finals, with a trophy for the week's top winner. The intro starts out with the chant as the show's logo forms, and the chant finishes just as the logo fills with light and star-wipes to the studio. The opening variation of the 1989 theme is used for the only time since its final use at the end of Season 9.
  • The logo for the week features a yellow two-row logo above the words "MUSIC STARS WEEK", with "WEEK" in a small pink rectangle below "STARS"; and features small thumbnails of the 10 participants in a box shape around the words. Charlie's intro for this week is "It's time to rock around the Wheel with these superstars of the musical world! In alphabetical order: James Brown, Lee Greenwood, Marilyn Horne, Gladys Knight, Tone Lōc, Little Richard, David Sanborn, Tanya Tucker, Tammy Wynette, and 'Weird Al' Yankovic! Now your host and hostess: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • In order of appearance, the guests are: Greenwood, Tone Lōc, and Sanborn on Monday; Yankovic, Wynette, and Knight on Tuesday; Sanborn again with Little Richard and Tucker on Wednesday; and Knight again with Brown and Horne on Thursday. The Friday Finals consist of Greenwood, James Brown and Little Richard playing as a team, and Yankovic. Given that Sanborn and Knight play twice, it is likely that two other singers were originally planned but had to cancel at the last second. Al reveals in a 2014 interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers that James had extreme difficulty understanding the game's rules during rehearsals, suggesting why he may have been paired with another celebrity on the Friday Finals.
  • The name tags are star-shaped.
  • The commercial bumpers are clips from a music video or other performance by one of that day's singers.
  • As Pat and Vanna introduce each star, a clip plays of one of their most famous songs.
  • May 3 uses the conventional four-round structure, while all other games this week use the $1,000/$3,500/$5,000 three-round structure.
  • The Bonus Round chyron is green.
  • As is the case in December and April, Charlie's closing disclaimer is appended with "Production facilities provided by Disney/MGM Studios", which is accompanied with the Disney-MGM Studios logo.
• On May 2:
  • Round 1 is Person, while Round 2 is People.
  • There is a rare instance of a "bonus" category (specifically, Where Are We?) being used in a Speed-Up.
  • Round 3 (a Where Are We? of JIG COFFEE BLARNEY STONE {Ireland}) is the longest puzzle.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On May 3:
  • Al promotes his album Alapalooza after Round 1, and part of the music video for "Bedrock Anthem" is shown on a video screen at center stage.
  • Al has only $2,800 before the Bonus Round.
  • After Al wins the Bonus Round, he jumps on Pat and gives him a bear hug. This is replayed in slow motion during the interviews on the 6th.
• On May 4, all of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 1 and 2 (JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO and a Clue puzzle of STRIP OR ROYAL FLUSH {Poker}) both tied for the longest at only 17 letters.
• On May 6:
  • After solving the Round 1 puzzle, Al says "I'd like to buy the TV set for $500!", to which Pat replies "No, no. That's the old show, the old show. The ceramic duck is gone!"
  • Although a repeated T is called in Round 3, it is not acknowledged as such.
  • Round 3 (BLUES SINGER BILLIE HOLIDAY) is the longest puzzle.
  • None of the puzzles have T in them.
  • Marilyn reappears to help Lee in the Bonus Round.
  • Lee and Marilyn fail to solve the bonus puzzle HUMOR, after which Pat inadvertently gives away the answer by saying that Marilyn showed "a little operatic humor" by guessing "bummer" after the buzzer. He then brings in Al, Little Richard, and James to help them end the week on a win. He asks them to provide more letters, but Al just says the answer. Pat starts to throw to commercial, but is told by an offstage voice (presumably Nancy Jones) that the $25,000 will be split among the five stars' charities.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• During the week of May 9, the Bonus Round prizes comprise four trips, three with vehicles included: a Texas trip with a Corvette, a Mexico trip with a van, a Canadian trip with a motorhome, and an Amazon cruise, plus the $25,000. Four are won.
• On May 9:
  • None of the three contestants can identify the person described by the Clue puzzle GERALD FORD'S VICE PRESIDENT (Nelson Rockefeller).
  • Round 4 (SHIP AHOY) is shorter than ten letters.
• On May 10, contestant Bruce wins a 3-day total of $113,780 despite not making it to the Bonus Round on his third appearance.
• On May 11:
  • Round 3, PITCHED A NO-HITTER, is categorized as Event instead of Phrase.
  • There are two duplicate categories: Rounds 2 and 6 are Person, while Round 5 is Thing and the Bonus Round is Things.
  • Round 5 (ELBOWROOM) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Round 6 is CHARLIE O'DONNELL, and Charlie appears on-camera after it is solved.
• On May 12:
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are Clue, the third known instance of a "bonus" category being repeated.
  • There is a rare instance of a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it. The puzzle, YO-YO, is solved. As this puzzle was previously used on November 18, 1992, this is the first of only two known such puzzles to be used twice.
  • Contestant Rick retires with $107,336.
• On May 13:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is Fill In the Blank and Round 4 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • A Red-Letter Puzzle is used in the Speed-Up for the fourth known time.
• May 16 is College Tournament Week. During this week:
  • Three colleges are represented by four contestants each, for a total of twelve contestants on Monday-Thursday, and the top three winners compete in the Friday Finals for a chance to play the Bonus Round for a $50,000 annuity.
  • As a result of the above, only four prizes are available in the Bonus Round; the annuity is placed in the first E of the W-H-E-E-L holder on Monday-Thursday.
  • The contestants help model the Prizes.
  • The Round 4 Prize is not used.
• On May 16:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a document signed by Charles Darwin.
  • Against normal practice, the buzzer sounds on a repeated letter in Round 2.
• On May 17:
  • Nobody gives a correct response to the question asked by the Clue puzzle SOONERS' STATE (Oklahoma).
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
• On May 16 and 17, for the first of only two known times, two consecutive shows have a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
• On May 18:
  • Rounds 1 and 4 are Before & After.
  • The Round 2 puzzle MTV'S BEAVIS & BUTT-HEAD is the first of only two known puzzles on the trilon board to have an ampersand, apostrophe, and hyphen.
  • None of the three contestants can identify the person described by the Clue puzzle PRESIDENT ELECTED TO FOUR TERMS (Franklin D. Roosevelt).
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On May 19, there are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 4 are Phrase, while Round 3 is Person and the Bonus Round is People.
• On May 20:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Where Are We? and Round 3 is Clue.
  • Round 1 is also the first known instance of Where Are We? using four clues instead of three.
• On May 23, Round 5 (IN A DITHER) is shorter than ten letters.
• On May 24:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks, and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • Contestant Eileen retires with $123,223. She sweeps the game and wins $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
  • The bonus puzzle TODAY is inexplicably categorized as Thing instead of Event.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 3 and 4 are Phrase, while Round 5 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On May 25:
  • All three Prize wedges are won by all three players. Interestingly, all the prizes are trips; notably, the Round 4 one is a $10,150 trip to Poland.
  • Round 5 (SPARKLERS) is shorter than ten letters.
• On May 26, neither Thing nor Phrase is used.

June 1994

• On June 1:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a Magnavox TV which displays Pat and Vanna chatting at the end of an episode as Charlie describes it.
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the tan $200 in Round 4.
  • Round 4 (KANGAROO'S POUCH) is inexplicably categorized as Place instead of Thing.
  • Vanna sits in a chair and talks about her pregnancy during the post-game chat.
• On June 3:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 3 is Where Are We?
  • Two contestants in a row give wrong answers to the Round 3 Where Are We? puzzle COACHELLA VALLEY GOLF COURSES SONNY BONO (Palm Springs).
  • The bonus puzzle BALL & CHAIN is the first known instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.
• On June 6:
  • Contestant Kelly solves the Round 4 puzzle DR QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN with only the N's revealed.
  • Round 3 and the Bonus Round are Thing, while Round 5 is Things.
• On June 7:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
  • Kelly retires with $141,198.
• On June 8:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks, and Round 3 is Clue.
  • Nobody correctly identifies the missing word in the Fill In the Blank puzzle ? STATION ? WAGON ? WOMAN ? DOG (Police).
  • Rounds 1, 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On June 9:
  • Round 1 is a Same Name with three "names".
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On June 10, the Round 4 puzzle CALL NINE ONE ONE has only three unique consonants.
• Between June 9 and 13, Thing is not used for three consecutive episodes.
• On June 15:
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • Contestant Jay sweeps the game and wins a trip to Boston and a boat in the Bonus Round.
• On June 17:
  • In Round 4, Contestant Glen accidentally asks to buy an A despite having only $200, and Vanna begins walking to one of the A's in the puzzle before she is stopped by Pat. Glen ends up losing his turn.
  • Rounds 4, 5 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • Pat announces that it is the end of the season, and that there will be encore presentations during the Summer.
  • The Merv Griffin Enterprises logo and spiel are used for the final time, including repeats; however, weekend repeats of the show use the Columbia TriStar Television logo and spiel adopted the following season.
• All five Bonus Rounds are won on the week of June 13.