Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 18

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A timeline for Season 18 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 4, 2000 through June 1, 2001.

Season Changes

• The opening starts with a shot of the applauding audience, then shows flashback clips within the outline of the Wheel, which then rotates to show a golden vertical version of the two-row logo on its side. After the chant, the Wheel graphic flips up and zooms into the center. The template used is the same one from the previous season. The audience shot debuts on October 23rd.
• Charlie’s intro is changed to "And now, here are the stars of our show, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
• The Wheel's lights flash as Pat and Vanna are introduced. This lasts until the end of Season 20.
• Toss-Ups are introduced, bringing with them a number of changes:
  • The Preview Puzzle and Puzzler are retired.
  • For this season only, there are two Toss-Up puzzles, each valued at $1,000: one at the start of the show, and one before Round 4. The contestant who solves the first one also starts Round 1, with the next two clockwise respectively starting Rounds 2 and 3, while the contestant who solves the second one also starts Round 4.
  • Because of the above, the "Just before the show we drew numbers to see who would start the game" spiel is also eliminated. Instead, Pat now explains the Toss-Ups and gives the category.
  • The sets are now fitted with color-coded buzzers similar to those used on Jeopardy! Giving a wrong answer or no answer at all locks a player out for the rest of the round.
  • A light music bed plays as the letters reveal, and the right-letter ding sounds upon ringing in.
  • If a Toss-Up is not solved, the "time's up" buzzer from the Bonus Round sounds. If the first one is not solved, the red contestant starts Round 1, and if the second one is not solved, the red contestant starts Round 4.
  • The first wipe for them is a golden coin that has the traditional logo along with "Toss-Up" written in light yellow Arial, which flips from the bottom to the top of the screen.
  • For this season only, Toss-Ups are not split-screened, and many use three rows even if the answer could fit on two.
• The Wheel is altered once more:
  • $1,000 is retired. $2,500 becomes the top dollar for Round 1, $3,500 for Rounds 2 and 3, and $5,000 thereafter. Also, Pat no longer mentions any of the top dollar values.
  • The Jackpot wedge and second Bankrupt move to Round 2, and the $10,000 Wedge back to Round 3. Unlike Seasons 12-13, the $10,000 Wedge is removed after Round 3.
• During the interviews, the camera is now much closer to the blue contestant's left side than in previous seasons.
• The closed captioning plug is moved to the end of Round 3, replacing the bumper that was introduced in April.
• The "Some contestants may receive..." plug is now moved to the end of the main game.
• With only one exception this season, all games now end in a Speed-Up.
  • Possibly in relation (with a few exceptions early in the season), the presentation is altered if Round 4 begins as a Speed-Up. Previously, Pat would do the Final Spin before the puzzle was revealed, and no sound effects would be used. From this point onward, if Round 4 begins as a Speed-Up, the puzzle is now revealed normally with the chimes, and the Final Spin bells sound immediately afterward.
• For this season only, the wipe for the Jackpot round sponsor is the Jackpot logo rotating across the screen, from left to right.
• During this season and the next, several shots of the board when Round 2 and/or 3 is solved are taken from behind the contestants' backs.
• The Bonus Round timer beeps in use since Season 7 have background music added to them.
• Both the totals of Bonus Round prizes and end-game totals are now golden numbers. These are typically in the Geometric 415 font, although some episodes use Brush Script instead.
• Harry Friedman became the sole executive producer.
• Karen Griffith and Steve Schwartz became producers.
• "Changing Keys" is replaced by a new theme called "Happy Wheels", composed by Steve Kaplan. The bonus round puzzle solve cue is rearranged, adding a few licks of the show's new theme after the fanfare.
• The video wall behind the contestants is changed to a single rear-projection screen.
• The category strips are changed again. The "rolling Wheel" effect is replaced with a slightly smaller Wheel of Fortune logo which rolls from right to left as the category "pops" out of it, with the category now in white Arial on an embossed blue oval. The unique category wipes for Show Biz, Headline, Around the House, and Classic TV are retired.
  • The main game category strips change at the start of each season through Season 24, and the Bonus Round category strip also changes at the start of each season through Season 21.
• Between now and Season 20, many puzzles in the grammatical singular begin including a redundant "A" or "AN" at the beginning, particularly in the Bonus Round and Toss-Ups.
• For this season only, the contestant's Bonus Round letter choices fade in.
• The sponsor list, eligibility disclaimer, credits, and copyright notice are switched to Albertus MT, which remains through Season 23.
• Until Season 21, the Bonus Round is sponsored by Coach USA on road shows. Charlie states this before the Bonus Round over footage of Vanna revealing COACH USA on the puzzle board; the shot then zooms through the monitor containing the A to show one of the company's buses.
• If a contestant who wins the Bonus Round has friends or family in the audience, they are shown at stage left before they come onstage. This lasts until Season 20.
• Between now and the end of Season 20, a number of episodes go to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining. This would suggest the editors were still getting used to the presence of Toss-Ups.

September 2000

• September 4 is Fast Cars. During this week:
  • The Bonus Round prizes comprise four cars and the $25,000.
  • The Prize values have a graphic of a racecar next to them.
  • A new cue is used for both solving main-game puzzles and giving right answers on "bonus" categories. Toss-Ups use a different cue heard only during this week.
• On September 4:
  • The first ever Toss-Up is played; the puzzle is SPECIAL GUEST STAR (Show Biz).
  • Pat gives contestant Karen help after Round 2's Clue puzzle IT'S THE FAMOUS CARTOON CALL OF THE ROAD RUNNER. After she says "I don't know", Pat elaborates by saying "What does the Road Runner say?" and she provides the correct answer of "Beep-Beep" (or "Meep-Meep"). This does not affect the outcome.
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the contestant who began them.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle.
• On September 5:
  • There is a $10,900 Jackpot win.
  • The second-place contestant has $22,550.
• On September 6:
  • The Round 2 puzzle WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A KLONDIKE BAR? is a rare instance of Slogan not using its bonus question due to the product name being part of the answer.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a basket with fruit and vegetables from her garden.
• On September 7, contestant Brian is not credited with $1,000 after he solves the second Toss-Up, and this amount is instead added to his total in Round 4.
• September 11 is Endless Summer. During this week:
  • The studio has a blue floor.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,500 trip from Yahoo! Travel.
  • The Round 3 Prize value graphics have a smiling sun next to them.
• On September 11, the 1997 main-game "puzzle solve" cue returns. The cue heard in the main game during the previous week is now used when Toss-Ups are solved.
• On September 13:
  • Two of the contestants have identical-sounding names (Chris/Kriss). As a result, Pat refers to them by their last initials during the second Toss-Up.
  • After the Round 2 puzzle I COULD'VE BEEN A CONTENDER (Quotation), contestant Roby is asked what actor spoke the line. He does not give the correct response of Marlon Brando. It is not known why the puzzle was not categorized as Who Said It? The puzzle is also misspelled, as the second word should be "coulda".
  • Kriss's name tag falls off during Round 4. Pat retrieves it after she solves the puzzle.
  • Round 1 and the Bonus Round are On the Map.
  • Before the closing chat, there is a clip of Roby standing in front of the car he won and saying, "A dream come true. I just won 74 grand including a Saab on Wheel of Fortune!"
  • Pat and Vanna talk to Charlie during the closing chat.
• On September 14:
  • One of the contestants goes by her nickname, Beaver Brown.
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 4.
  • Round 4 (THAT'S A WRAP) has only one vowel.
  • Round 5 (GARDENER) is shorter than ten letters.
• On September 15:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Round 4 is WINNING A DREAM VACATION.
• September 18 is African Safari. During this week:
  • The Round 2 Prize totals have relevant images next to the dollar sign while the Round 3 prizes have a picture of the sun.
  • The video wall shows the Season 17 logo, suggesting this was the first taped week of the season.
• On September 18:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Banana Republic.
  • When Round 2 is solved, the shot of the board is at an angle.
  • A "null" cycle is edited out of Round 3, as referenced by Pat saying "Jon, try again" despite it being his first turn.
  • Round 5 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the R in PEDIATRICIAN).
• On September 19:
  • Charlie's intro is "And now here are the stars of the show, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • The category strip does not appear on the second shot of the board in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to FAO Schwarz.
  • Rounds 1-3 have ampersands while the first Toss-Up has the word AND.
  • Contestant Max's score is accidentally shown as $8,100 after he solves Round 2. It is corrected to $6,500 before Round 3.
  • Vanna accidentally walks up to the puzzle when a wrong letter is called in Round 3.
  • The Bonus Round Prize won is free airfare for a year, valued at $15,000.
• On September 20:
  • Contestant Lee forgets to pick up the Free Spin in Round 1; after he loses his turn, Pat pretends to have him hand it in. Although it is never actually removed from the Wheel, it is not hit again.
  • The Jackpot graphics change fonts after the first letter is called, likely suggesting a "null" cycle.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Panasonic TV which displays the opening from a February 1999 episode in Hawaii as Charlie describes it.
  • Round 4 (DIRT DEVIL) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Pat forgets to remove contestant Corinne's Gift Tag after Round 4.
  • During the closing segment, Pat and Vanna discuss the buzzers for the Toss-Ups from the contestant area. Vanna repeatedly rings in with the red one, and the "ding" sounds every time. Pat asks Harry Friedman what they are called on Jeopardy!, and Harry can be heard answering "buzzers".
• On September 21:
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Meade telescope. The footage of Vanna modeling this is recycled from the May 1998 Houston episodes.
  • Round 4 (DUBBLE BUBBLE GUM) has none of the five main consonants.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • During the final score recap, contestant Jason's score is accidentally shown as $13,800. It is then corrected to $14,800.
  • In reference to the aforementioned Round 4 puzzle, Pat and Vanna chew some Dubble Bubble gum during the post-game chat.
• On September 22:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless shirt and pants.
  • Actor Leonard Stone is a contestant.
  • The Round 1 (BEAT THE HEAT) has only three unique consonants.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to TravelSmith.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
  • Six rounds are played.
• September 25 is European Vacation. Starting this week, most Prize values now have relevant graphics next to them.
• On September 25:
  • Round 3 (JOHN RITTER AS JACK TRIPPER) is categorized as Classic TV instead of Star & Role.
  • The music does not play during the second Toss-Up.
  • Round 4 (TEX-MEX) is shorter than ten letters, has only three unique consonants, and has only one vowel.
  • Before the Bonus Round is played, Pat announces that due to a scheduling error, he and Vanna have to leave right after the Bonus Round and his children Patrick and Maggie have to do the closing segment. Both of them say that they were taught "don't be funnier than Daddy is", while Maggie says that Vanna taught her how to wave goodbye. A clip of this seen in Seasons 25 and 30.
  • The version of "Happy Wheels" used at the end of the Bonus Round plays during the closing credits.
• On September 26:
  • Harry appears on-camera during the contestant interviews.
  • Round 2 is a rare instance of Slogan not using its bonus question due to the product name being part of the answer (YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH ALLSTATE).
• On September 27:
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
• On September 28:
  • Pat forgets to mention the category for the first Toss-Up (Phrase).
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 5.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 David Orgell gift certificate. Photos of Pat and Vanna as shown as Charlie describes the prize.
  • There is a very rare appearance of Landmark in the Bonus Round.
• On September 29:
  • Contestant Brian gives the number while solving Round 2's Fill In the Number puzzle BO DEREK ROCKETED TO STARDOM IN THE MOVIE ## (10) and is credited with both a correct response and the bonus for the correct number.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a Wheel of Fortune tote bag with two zucchinis from her garden.

October 2000

• October 2 is Ships Ahoy Week.
• On October 2:
  • Round 1 (BRIDE-TO-BE) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The original version of "Happy Wheels" plays during the closing credits, and no credit is given for Harry Friedman. This would suggest that the episode was taped early in the season with the intention of fixing the credits in post-production.
  • Staples is once again credited as "the official office superstore of Wheel of Fortune" during the credits.
• On October 3:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,000 RAVE Sports gift certificate.
  • Pat forgets to ask contestant P.J. if she would like to use her Free Spin in Round 2 until contestant Rich points this out.
  • Pat forgets to remove contestant Tracey's Gift Tag after she hits Bankrupt in Round 2.
  • Before Round 3, there is a clip of Brad Garrett greeting the viewers and then pointing out that his name was the Round 1 puzzle. As he says this, a clip of the puzzle then appears onscreen.
  • Round 4 (THIGH-HIGHS) has only one vowel.
  • Rich calls his vowel (A) third in the Bonus Round. Against precedent, it is displayed last on the chyron.
• On October 4:
  • The second Bankrupt and Jackpot wedge are accidentally placed on the yellow $300 and red $600 respectively in Round 2. While contestant Elizabeth lands on the orange-yellow $300 (meaning she would have hit Bankrupt under normal circumstances) and contestant Holly lands on the second Bankrupt in Round 2, this does not affect the outcome as Elizabeth calls a wrong letter and Holly does not solve.
  • Round 2 is the first known instance since 1990 of Family spelling out AND (JON VOIGHT AND ANGELINA JOLIE).
  • Round 5 (CROSSWALK) is shorter than ten letters.
• On October 5:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 gift certificate for ibeauty.com.
  • Contestant Michelle spins only once in the entire game, landing on Bankrupt in Round 2.
  • Before the final segment, Vanna models the consolation prize (a Bushnell telescope) while holding Giovanna.
• On October 6:
  • The value of the Round 2 Prize is in a very thin variant of Helvetica.
  • Round 2's Who Is It? puzzle EIGHTIES SONNY CROCKETT & NINETIES NASH BRIDGES (Don Johnson) is improperly punctuated (both "eighties" and "nineties" should have apostrophes after them).
  • Contestant Dennis solves the bonus puzzle HIT THE JACKPOT before the timer can start.
• October 9 is Big Money Week.
• On October 9:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The first Toss-Up HEART-WARMING STORY is improperly hyphenated.
  • Contestant Jackie loses her name tag in Round 2. It is retrieved in Round 3.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Zenith TV which displays Vanna at a Las Vegas casino as Charlie describes it.
  • The animation of the Round 3 Prize copy is changed: the footage of the copy now compresses into a "wedge" shape which has the rest of the Wheel form around it, and the Prize wedge itself now slides into place from the lower right.
  • Despite having been an active category since Season 14, Show Biz appears in the Bonus Round for the first time.
• On October 10:
  • Round 1 (LAKE TAHOE) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Round 2 Prize is limited edition Las Vegas silver coins.
  • Round 4 (RAZZLE-DAZZLE) has four Z's in it.
• On October 11:
  • Pat does not explain the Toss-Up puzzles.
  • After Round 2, a sign language interpreter is shown in the audience.
  • Round 4 (CUCKOO CLOCK) has only three unique consonants and none of the five main ones.
  • Round 5 (PASSWORD, in the category Classic TV) is shorter than ten letters.
  • In relation to the above, a clip of Pat on Super Password is shown as a bumper after the Speed-Up.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Around the House, the first duplication of that category.
• On October 12:
  • Three overhead shots in Round 2 are edited in from other episodes, as evidenced by Free Spin and the Prize disappearing.
  • The Round 2 puzzle THE BEST PART OF WAKIN' UP IS FOLGERS IN YOUR CUP is a rare instance of Slogan not using its bonus due to the product name being in the answer.
• On October 13:
  • There is a $12,150 Jackpot win. In a rather rare occurrence, it comes with only vowels remaining.
  • The Round 2 puzzle AND PUT IT IN THE OVEN FOR BABY AND ME (Quotation) is followed by a trivia question asking what was put in the oven. Contestant Domnica does not provide the correct answer of cake.
  • Contestants Frank and Domnica incorrectly solve the Round 3 puzzle STRAIT OF MAGELLAN by adding "the" to the beginning.
  • There is also a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the A's, I and O missing from the above Round 3 puzzle, Domnica gives the above wrong answer. There appears to be an edit before Pat rules her incorrect.
  • Round 4 (GAME SHOW HOSTESS) is a rare instance of the category also containing part of the answer (Show Biz).
• October 16 is Shopping Spree. During this week:
  • The Jackpot animation shows the wedge on the orange-yellow $300.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 shopping spree: IKEA on Monday, Blockbuster on Tuesday, American Eagle Outfitters on Wednesday, ebags.com on Thursday, and Bed Bath & Beyond on Friday.
• On October 16:
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Around the House.
  • Due to Pat and Vanna unable to think of anything to talk about during the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a sheet of paper with some random facts.
• On October 17:
  • Contestant Lori is the first known contestant on crutches.
  • Round 4 (IT'S A SMALL WORLD) is categorized as Phrase instead of Title.
  • Round 3 and the Bonus Round are On the Map.
• On October 18:
  • The first Toss-Up (WEARING LOVE BEADS) is the first use of a "decade" category (The 60's) in that round and that category's first appearance since Retro Week in 1999.
  • Round 2 is the first appearance of Who Said It? since March 18, 1999.
  • Pat forgets to remove contestant Jana's Prize after she hits Bankrupt in Round 2.
  • In Round 2, the M in the Who Said It? puzzle BUT GRANDMOTHER WHAT BIG TEETH YOU HAVE (Little Red Riding Hood) refuses to light up for several seconds.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in another sheet of paper with more random facts.
• October 19:
  • The yellow contestant's name is Donald Trump.
  • The Jackpot graphics change fonts after the first letter is called, likely suggesting a "null" cycle.
  • All the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 (MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING) being the longest at only 19 letters.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in another sheet of paper with more random facts.
• On October 20:
  • Round 5 (TOWNHOUSE) is shorter than ten letters.
  • There are two duplicate categories: the first Toss-Up and Round 5 are Place, while the second Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Around the House.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of October 16, part of an eleven-day losing streak beginning on the 11th.
• October 23 is Inns of New England. During this week:
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Toyota 4Runner, before Round 3.
  • One of the Bonus Round prizes is a boat which was used in the 2000 Charlie's Angels film.
  • These episodes may have been taped out of order, as there are several timing issues which suggest that the editors and director may have been getting used to the introduction of Toss-Ups. On both October 23 and 27, Round 4 goes to Speed-Up after only one spin; on October 24 and 26, Round 4 begins as a Speed-Up with neither the category nor the puzzle being revealed until after the spin (as was the case prior to Season 18).
• On October 23:
  • There is now a shot of the applauding audience before the intro.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Panasonic TV which displays the opening from a February 1999 episode in Hawaii as Charlie describes it.
  • In Round 3, Pat forgets to remove Valorie's Prize from her arrow after she hits Bankrupt. He corrects this later in the round.
  • The Round 3 puzzle TIM MCGRAW AND FAITH HILL is the first known instance since 1990 of Husband & Wife spelling out AND instead of using an ampersand.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • The credits abruptly change to a different font about halfway through. This would suggest that they were edited to include Harry Friedman.
• On October 24:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to High Sierra.
  • Round 2 is a Where Are We? with three clues.
  • After contestant Sue solves Round 3 for $300, Pat forgets to round her score up to $500. He corrects this after she solves the second Toss-Up.
  • Pat accidentally says that the category of Round 4 is Phrase (which was the category of the second Toss-Up) before an offstage voice can be heard correcting him.
• On October 25:
  • The category strip does not appear in the Speed-Up.
  • During the closing chat, Pat and Vanna talk to a boy in the audience named Nicholas, who tells them that he is about to have a Wheel of Fortune-themed birthday party.
• On October 26:
  • Slogan appears in Round 4 for the only time. The puzzle itself BEFORE YOU DRESS CARESS is also a rare instance of Slogan not using its bonus due to the product name being in the answer.
  • Contestant Smitty calls T three times in the Speed-Up.
  • The bonus puzzle RABBI is categorized as Person. The last known time this answer was used (November 17, 1994), it was categorized as Occupation.
  • The Bonus Round window disappears as contestant Patrick solves the above bonus puzzle before the timer can start.
  • Patrick's post-game total is not shown on-screen.
• On October 27:
  • The Round 3 Prize is a "Halloween bash" courtesy of Tootsie Roll Industries; although the copy does not clarify what this entails, it can be presumed to be cash and candy from the company, given the similar Prizes offered from the previous two seasons.
  • The first E on the W-H-E-E-L envelope holder is burnt out.
  • The bonus puzzle OH MY GOSH uses only one line.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna gives Pat a piece of sandpaper to help sand the bottom of her high heels.
• October 30 is Halloween Week. During this week:
  • Pat and Vanna enter from a metal gate at stage left.
  • The Prize values are in a very thin variant of Helvetica.
  • Pat and Vanna promote the upcoming Hershey's Pot of Gold sweepstakes before Round 3.
  • The Bonus Round envelopes have Halloween graphics on the inside of the top flap.
• On October 30, after the Round 2 puzzle THE DEBUT OF DAYTIME DRAMA THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (The 70's), Peter Bergman, Doug Davidson, and Melody Thomas Scott make a guest appearance to honor the 7,000th episode of The Young and the Restless.
• On October 31, as the Round 2 Prize is a trip to Washington D.C., Pat plugs the upcoming tapings in that city.

November 2000

• On November 1:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Soloflex gift certificate.
  • The closed captioning sponsor is Hasbro Interactive. As Vanna announces this, their Wheel of Fortune 2nd Edition PC games are shown sitting in the center of the Round 4 template.
  • Rounds 4 and 5 (DEEP FRYER and STUNTMAN) are both shorter than ten letters. The former also has only one vowel.
• On November 2, celebrities play the game for charity while in Halloween costumes as part of an "unmask the stars" contest held on the show's website. This is the last all-celebrity game until Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in Season 38. Home viewers may submit one guess per day on the show's website as to who they think the celebrities are, with a limit of one entry per day until November 10. The contest's grand prize is a $3,500 trip to Cancún, with other prizes including ten portable televisions; the winner is drawn on November 17.
  • The celebrities are Richard Simmons, Tara Lipinski, and Alex Trebek. They are respectively disguised as William Shakespeare, a genie, and a gnome named Osment, and referred to as such by Pat.
  • Due to the game being played by celebrities, the Prizes and Gift Tags are not used. Also, the Bonus Round is played for $25,000, meaning that the W-H-E-E-L envelopes are not used either.
  • Against normal practice, the buzzer sounds on a repeated S in Round 1.

    

  • After Round 3, a gag tombstone reading "Shopping for prizes" is seen, next to a ceramic Dalmatian sporting its $154 price tag.
  • The second Toss-Up is not played.
  • Possibly due to the above, the Speed-Up at the start of Round 4 is revealed in the "old" style. As a result, this is the last episode in which the Speed-Up bells are not heard.
  • The bonus puzzle is IN DISGUISE, which Tara solves. Possibly due to it being the only prize, Charlie does not announce the $25,000 win.
  • In the final segment, Charlie reveals each celebrity's identity while both their disguised and normal appearances are shown via split-screen. All three appear with Pat and Vanna, as does Alex's son, Matt (also in a gnome costume).
• On November 3:
  • Kristan Cummingham is a contestant; she would later appear in Season 25 on People Celebrity Week, thus becoming only the second known person to play as both a civilian and a celebrity.
  • The bonus puzzle BIGFOOT is inexplicably categorized as Thing instead of Fictional Character.
  • Contestant Lenny sweeps the game but loses $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
• The week of November 6 is taped at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. During this week, there is a cold open in which Pat pretends to give a campaign speech.
  • On all of the Washington D.C. episodes this season:
    • The video wall has a frame designed to look like the Capitol building.
    • The second Bankrupt and Jackpot wedge are placed one wedge clockwise from their normal locations, putting them on the green $500 (where Jackpot should be) and orange $800, respectively.
    • The $25,000 prize in the Bonus Round is offered in Sacagawea dollars.
• During the week of November 6, presumably due to taping order, two graphic changes are made that would become permanent later in the season: the Prize values no longer have graphics next to them, and the Round 3 Prize goes back to "flipping" onto the Wheel.
• On November 6 (taped October 14):
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,000 credit to laptopmania.com.
  • The $10,000 Wedge is mistakenly placed on the Wheel for Round 2, where the second Bankrupt should be, and it is won. Pat comments on the error at the start of Round 3, and the wedge is used in that round as well. This does not affect the outcome, as contestant Camille who won the wedge would have won regardless.
  • The closed captioning sponsor is Hasbro Interactive. As Vanna announces this, their Wheel of Fortune 2nd Edition PC games are shown sitting in the center of the Round 4 template.
  • Background music is added to the Speed-Up round. This cue is composed of ticking percussion, bass guitar, and synthesizers.
  • The audience inexplicably applauds a wrong answer in the Bonus Round.
• On November 7:
  • Round 1 (ART MUSEUM) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Round 3 Prize is an autographed and framed letter from Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  • In Round 3, contestant Raymond accidentally asks to buy a W, and then a zero, before calling an O. According to someone who was in the audience for this episode, there is a half-hour pause in recording after the O's are revealed, after which this turn is re-shot. Pat then tells Raymond he may buy another vowel or spin again but has to call W if he spins again. He does call W, which is in the puzzle, but later hits Lose a Turn.
  • The bonus puzzle WHICH IS WHICH? is the first of only four puzzles with a question mark in the Bonus Round.
  • The Speed-Up cue accidentally plays during the Bonus Round countdown instead of the timer beeps.
• On November 8, Charlie introduces Pat and Vanna as "Our winning ticket" at the beginning of the show.
• On November 9:
  • Pat forgets to remove Judy's prize after she lands on Bankrupt in Round 3.
  • Rhyme Time makes its second of nine appearances in the Bonus Round. The answer, HODGEPODGE, is a very rare instance of it being used for a one-word answer.
• On November 10:
  • Charlie introduces Pat and Vanna as "Your winning ticket for 2000" at the beginning of the show.
  • The Round 1 puzzle JAMES AND DOLLEY MADISON is both the second known instance since 1990 of Husband & Wife spelling out AND, and a very rare instance of it being used for a couple who is not alive at the time of taping.
  • Vanna helps model the Round 2 Prize, an Epson digital camera, by saying "Smile, everybody!" and pointing said camera at a crowd.
  • Contestant George spins only once in the entire game, calling a wrong letter on $600 in Round 2.
  • There is an $8,250 Jackpot win.
  • Contestant Will wins both Prizes and the Gift Tag in Round 3.
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are played entirely by the teams who began them.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • Although Will loses the Bonus Round, Pat has his wife and two sons come onstage anyway.
  • Will later attempts to sue the show for $2,000,000 in damages, as he claims that Pat bear-hugging him (which was edited out of the broadcast) resulted in him suffering back injuries. The matter is later settled out of court.
  • Pat and Vanna do not sign off.
• The week of November 13 is the Hershey's Pot of Gold Sweepstakes. The grand prize is five years of vacations for a family of four in Hawaii, plus a Lexus RX 300 and $25,000 cash (promoted with a $25,000 envelope with the Hershey's Pot of Gold logo on the top half). Ten first-prize winners get to sit in the audience during the Hawaii episodes in February. Other prizes include $500 Sony Card shopping sprees and Hershey's chocolate gift packages. Home viewers may submit an entry form from the November 12 newspaper and include at least three of the bonus puzzles from that week.
• During the week of November 13:
  • Pat and Vanna promote the theme before the intro.
  • The "Hershey's Pot of Gold Sweepstakes" logo is projected into the center of the Wheel.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a shopping spree: express.com (the defunct online DVD retailer, not the clothing store) on Monday, Banana Republic on Tuesday, MyPoints (which includes a home office) on Wednesday, ibeauty.com on Thursday, and Blockbuster Video on Friday.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a trip to Hawaii; as Charlie describes this, clips are shown of the 1996 and 1999 road shows taped there.
  • In a very rare occurrence, one of the Bonus Round prizes is food: specifically, a year's supply of Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolates plus $25,000 in Sacagawea dollars.
  • The $25,000 envelope has the Hersey's Pot of Gold logo on the upper flap.
• On November 13:
  • The first Toss-Up COFFEE-TABLE BOOK is improperly hyphenated.
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • The animated frame around the Round 3 Prize copy becomes transparent and now just says "Wheel of Fortune".
  • The Speed-Up bells ring before the Round 4 puzzle is shown.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are People.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna eat some of the Hersey's Pot of Gold chocolates.
• On November 14:
  • There is a $10,100 Jackpot win.
  • The Round 3 puzzle is FIVE-TIME UNDEFEATED CHAMPION.
  • All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 3.
  • The buzzer sounds on a wrong answer to the second Toss-Up.
• On November 15, contestant Donna finishes second with $27,300.
• On November 16:
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat, Vanna, and contestant Calvin give boxes of Hersey's Pot of Gold chocolates to the people in the audience.
• On November 17:
  • The 80's appears as a Toss Up (the first) for the first time (JUST SAY NO).
  • During the closing chat, Pat jokes that he has a twin in the audience, after which the camera cuts to him waving from the railing. This has been seen in many retrospectives.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of November 13, part of an eleven-day losing streak beginning on the 8th.
• November 20 is Home for the Holidays. During this week:
  • The Jackpot sponsor plug (Chock Full o' Nuts coffee) is pre-recorded.
  • The Prize values have a sprig of holly next to them.
  • On Monday, Thursday, and Friday, Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car (a Chrysler Town & Country) before Round 3.
  • One of the Bonus Round prizes is a Panasonic DVD player and a Runco TV, which displays the road show scene of the 3000th episode when Charlie describes it.
• On November 20:
  • For the first time this season, a "bonus" category (Slogan) appears in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Bed Bath & Beyond.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of Giovanna trying on some new dresses are shown. After this, she comes onstage wearing the same outfit as Vanna.
• On November 21:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to IKEA.
  • Pat resets the Wheel for contestant Carolina in Round 2 after it slips out of her hands.
  • The closed captioning sponsor is Tiger Electronics. As Vanna announces this, their Wheel of Fortune deluxe electronic games are shown sitting in the center of the Round 1 template.
  • Round 5 (LAVA LAMP) is shorter than ten letters, has only one vowel, and has none of the five main consonants.
  • Contestant Sylvia's arrow flashes during the final score recap.
  • The bonus puzzle WEB PAGE is misspelled (it should be one word).
• On November 22:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • Contestant Ted spins over the Final Spin bells. He is allowed to complete his turn, after which Pat does the Final Spin.
  • Round 5 (AMBROSIA) is shorter than ten letters.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
• On November 23:
  • Charlie appears on camera before the start of Round 3.
  • Contestant Bonnie solves the bonus puzzle GOBBLE IT UP before the timer can start.
• On November 24:
  • In an interesting coincidence, the Round 3 Prize is a piano and the second Toss-Up is PIANO PLAYER.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
• November 27 is Ultimate Adventures. During this week, the Bonus Round window is shaped like the sun.
• On November 27:
  • Contestant Mica wins Round 3 with only the $10,000 Prize and the Round 3 Prize, an $8,995 Thunderbird motorcycle.
  • All of the cardboard is removed from the Wheel by Round 4, as contestant Felicia picks up the Gift Tag and the Round 2 Prize.
  • Felicia asks to solve just as the Speed-Up bells sound, and is allowed to do so. After she solves, Pat initially says they are going to play another round before consulting the staff, who tell him to wrap up the game and recap the scores (likely because not enough time remained for even a shorter fifth round). As a result, this is the last game not to end in a Speed-Up.
  • Clips of contestant Felicia hugging Pat and running around the stage after winning her Bonus Round are both shown on the ceremonial 4,000th episode.
• On November 28:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to High Sierra.
  • Contestant Lynn tries to spin before the Round 4 puzzle is revealed.
  • Round 4 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the N's in CHELSEA CLINTON).
• On November 29:
  • Round 2 is a Where Are We? with three clues.
  • Pat asks contestant Mitchell if he wants to use his Free Spin just as the Speed-Up bells sound. Mitchell opts to use it and calls the first letter in the Speed-Up.
• On November 30:
  • The Round 2 Prize is an EBIKE electric bicycle.
  • The Round 3 puzzle BROTHERS ROB & CHAD LOWE is the first of only three known instances of Family using a descriptive term.
  • The second Bankrupt is accidentally placed on the Wheel despite Round 4 starting as a Speed-Up.
  • Eight consecutive wrong letters are called in the Speed-Up.
  • Contestant Charlie wins despite not claiming $11,400 and the Round 3 Prize in that round.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.

December 2000

• On December 1:
  • Vanna wears a hat; she removes it after Round 3, but puts it back on for the closing chat.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a pair of EagleRider motorcycles.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Contestant Shannon solves the bonus puzzle HAITI before the timer can start.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
  • Round 1 and the Bonus Round are On the Map.
• December 4 is Island Hopping. During this week:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $3,500 credit to Yahoo! Travel.
  • Due to this week being taped out of order, several minor changes are evident:
    • The shot of the applauding audience before the intro is not used.
    • The animated frame around the Round 3 Prize copy changes back to its original format.
    • The Season 17 Round 3 Prize animation is used.
    • The Speed-Up music is edited in.
    • The original version of "Happy Wheels" plays during the credits.
• On December 4:
  • Prize values no longer have relevant graphics next to them.
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 5.
  • Round 5 (GUARDRAIL) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The bonus puzzle WHAT'S COOKING? is the second of only four bonus puzzles with a question mark and the first of only three known to have more than one punctuation mark.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna demonstrate how the Used Letter Board works. This is its first known appearance on-camera.
• On December 5:
  • Vanna tries to put the board back in motion by touching another monitor in the first Toss-Up after a wrong answer is given, as opposed to it restarting automatically.
  • The Round 1 puzzle TV'S HIT SHOW SURVIVOR (Show Biz) is a rare instance of the category also being part of the answer.
  • Both Rounds 2 and 3 are completely filled in before being solved.
  • Contestant Nahid fills in the Round 3 puzzle KETCHIKAN ALASKA by herself.
  • The closed captioning sponsor is Hasbro Interactive. As Vanna announces this, their Wheel of Fortune 2nd Edition PC games are shown sitting in the center of the Round 4 template.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • The bonus puzzle JOB FAIR uses only one line.
• On December 6:
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • The camera zooms in too close during the Speed-Up.
  • During the credits, there is a clip of contestant Durga saying, "My dream just came true. I just won $25,000 on Wheel of Fortune!"
• On December 7:
  • Round 3 is a factually incorrect answer of MEL GIBSON AS THE PATRIOT (Mel Gibson's character in The Patriot is named Benjamin Martin).
  • Round 5 (CUE CARDS) is shorter than ten letters.
  • There is a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up. This is mainly due to Pat not acknowledging this.
  • Contestant Steven's arrow flashes during the final score recap.
  • Also, during the final score recap, Steven's score is accidentally shown as $1,450 instead of $1,650. While this is never corrected, it ends up not mattering as he does not win anyway.
• On December 8:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 1 puzzle MAKE-UP MIRROR is improperly hyphenated.
  • Contestant Jay forgets to pick up the Round 2 Prize. This is corrected after he buys a vowel.
  • Vanna puts the board back in motion by touching another monitor in the second Toss-Up after a wrong answer is given.
  • Round 5 (I HAD NO IDEA) has only three unique consonants.
• December 11 is Wheel Across America, the first time that this theme occurs in a month other than May. During this week:
  • The Jackpot animation shows the wedge on the orange-yellow $300.
  • The Bonus Round window is in the shape of a cloud of smoke.
  • One of the Bonus Round prizes is an Indian motorcycle.
• On December 11:
  • L. David Irete becomes the show's associate director.
  • Pat resets the Wheel for contestant Suzanne in Round 3 after it slips out of her hands.
• On December 12:
  • Pat almost forgets to reveal the correct answer to the Fill In the Blank puzzle ? TIME ? CONTROL ? OF LIFE (Quality) after contestant Jill does not provide the right answer.
  • Jill solves the bonus puzzle SCRUB BRUSH before the timer can start.
  • Jill wins a Route 66 tour, the graphic of which shows an Interstate highway shield instead of a U.S. highway one. Also, the copy mentions that the trip goes through Michigan, a state through which Route 66 never ran.
• On December 11 and 12, there is a very rare instance of Family being used on two consecutive episodes.
• On December 13:
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Denali electronic bicycle.
  • After the final score recap, Pat lets contestant Joe tell Charlie about the Bonus Round prizes and announce the next commercial break.
• On December 14, the Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Yahoo! shopping spree.
• On December 15:
  • The closed captioning sponsor is Hasbro Interactive. As Vanna announces this, their Wheel of Fortune 2nd Edition PC games are shown sitting in the center of the Round 4 template.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Contestant Harriet wins by $100.
  • Harriet finishes with only $4,900.
• December 18 is Orient Escape Week. During this week:
  • The Jackpot sponsor plug (Chock Full o' Nuts coffee) is pre-recorded.
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Mazda Miata, before Round 3.
• On December 18:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Kathy Ireland Home Collection shopping spree.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a plastic fork to demonstrate which way silverware should go in the dishwasher.
• On December 19:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Yahoo! shopping spree.
  • The second Toss-Up MY FAIR LADY uses only one line.
  • Round 5 (SNACK PACK) is shorter than ten letters and has only one vowel.
  • Contestant Steve solves the bonus puzzle PERFUME before the timer can start.
• On December 20:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,000 RAVE Sports gift certificate.
  • Round 5 (CUL-DE-SAC) is shorter than ten letters.
• On December 21:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Kawasaki all-terrain vehicle.
  • A "null" cycle is edited out of Round 4, as evidenced by Pat saying "Okay, Claude, try it again!"
• On December 22:
  • Round 1 (VATICAN CITY IN ROME) is categorized as Landmark instead of On the Map.
  • The High Rollers chimes accidentally sound after the Round 2 puzzle is solved despite the puzzle not having a bonus question.
  • The Round 3 Prize is an entertainment center with a television and TiVo. During the copy, the television shows clips from the Hawaii and New Orleans episodes in Seasons 15 and 16. Interestingly, the latter shows the reveal of Round 1 on February 18, 1999, resulting in a very rare instance of a previous design of category strip being seen after its retirement.
  • The closed captioning sponsor is Hasbro Interactive. As Vanna announces this, their Wheel of Fortune 2nd Edition PC games are shown sitting in the center of the Round 4 template.
  • Contestant Darell solves the Round 4 puzzle ROBERT REDFORD with only the R's and D's showing.
  • The bonus puzzle KEY WORD is misspelled (it should be one word).
• December 25 is Christmas Week. During this week:
  • The Season 17 Round 3 Prize animation permanently returns.
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Toyota MR2 Spyder, before Round 3.
  • One of the Bonus Prizes is a "Mystery Prize" which is mentioned as being worth over $42,000. This is the last time that this is done.
• On December 25:
  • Contestant Don's Free Spin disappears partway through Round 1, indicating that a "null" cycle may have been edited out.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle.
  • During the credits, each staff member appears on-screen at their credit. At the end, Charlie appears on-camera to wish viewers a happy holiday.
• On December 26:
  • In Round 1, contestant Fely calls P, which is in the puzzle, but the judges mishear her call as B and she loses her turn. As this error ends up affecting the outcome, Fely is brought back in April 2001.
  • After Round 1 is solved, the camera cuts to a shot of the entire set.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to IKEA.
  • The Round 2 Before & After puzzle is IT MAKES MY HEAD SPIN OR SOLVE.
  • Contestant Doug wins despite not claiming $18,200 in the Speed-Up.
  • Charlie's spiel for the Bonus Round prizes is moved from after the final round to immediately before the Bonus Round. As he does this, Vanna once again holds the electronic $25,000 envelope.
• On December 27:
  • For the second time this season, a "bonus" category (Slogan) appears in Round 1.
  • Round 3 (MR. AND MRS. SANTA CLAUS) is categorized as People instead of Proper Names or Fictional Characters.
  • The second Toss-Up CASH-AND-CARRY is improperly hyphenated.
• On December 28:
  • After Round 1 is solved, the camera cuts to a shot of the entire set.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 David Orgell gift certificate. Photos of Pat and Vanna as shown as Charlie describes the prize.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
• On December 29, Pat and Vanna reveal the mystery prize (an Audi TT) during the closing chat.

January 2001

• January 1 is Las Vegas Week. During this week:
  • Set pieces from the 1998 Las Vegas road shows are used.
  • Vanna wears hair extensions.
• On January 1:
  • Pat does not hear the Final Spin bells until contestant Lisa asks to spin.
  • While Charlie announces the $25,000 in the Bonus Round a clip of Vanna receiving poker chips at a casino is shown.
  • The first Toss-Up and the Bonus Round are On the Map.
• On January 2:
  • There is an $8,350 Jackpot win.
  • Contestant Debbie wins both Prizes and the Gift Tag.
  • During the closing chat, Vanna brings a pumpkin from her garden.
• On January 3:
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1, 3, or 4.
  • Round 1 (IS THAT YOUR FINAL ANSWER?) is categorized as Phrase instead of Quotation.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a collection of rare historical U.S. coins worth $2,500.
  • Round 2 is a Where Are We? with three clues.
  • There is a $7,600 Jackpot win.
  • Round 4 (FAMILY LAW) is shorter than ten letters and has none of the five main consonants.
  • The first Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Thing, while Round 2 and the second Toss-Up are Phrase.
• On January 4:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The second Toss-Up DOCTORS & NURSES is categorized as People instead of Occupations.
• On January 5:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Clava shopping spree.
  • Contestant Julie wins despite not claiming $14,450 in Round 3.
  • Julie finishes with only $4,750.
  • During the post-game chat, Julie's family is shown in the audience even though she loses the Bonus Round.
• All ten Bonus Rounds are lost on the weeks of December 25 and January 1, part of a seventeen-day losing streak beginning on the 20th. This is the third losing streak to reach ten days since October 16, and the longest losing streak known until May 2019.
• January 8 is French & Italian Riviera, During this week, one of the Bonus Round prizes is a Panasonic DVD player and a Runco TV, which displays the road show scene from the 3000th episode when Charlie describes it.
• On January 8:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Banana Republic shopping spree.
  • Matt forgets to pick up Free Spin in Round 2. Despite this, Pat comments on him having it after he solves, and he uses it in Round 3.
  • Contestant Marisa finishes with only $4,300.
• On January 9:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • Round 4 (HOW NOW BROWN COW) has only one vowel.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Pat almost forgets to open the bonus envelope after the round is lost.
• On January 10:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Yahoo! shopping spree.
  • There is an unclaimed Jackpot of $21,050.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat eats a sandwich.
• Between January 1 and 10, eight bonus puzzles in a row are one word.
• On January 11:
  • Vanna wears a shirt, pants, and jacket; Pat helps her remove the jacket after they walk out.
  • The Round 2 Prize is an EBIKE electric bicycle.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Rounds 5 and 6 (TWEEZERS and I'M THRISTY) are both shorter than ten letters and have only one vowel.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 6.
• On January 12, the Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to High Sierra.
• January 15 is Mexico Week.
• On January 15:
  • A cycle of three lost turns is edited out of Round 4 despite not being "null"; the first lost turn is an incorrect vowel from contestant Frantz, as his scoreboard displays $650 instead of $900 the next time he is shown on camera.
  • The contestant displays do not turn off until after the first turn of Round 5.
  • Ten wrong letters are called in Round 5, eight of which are consecutive.
  • Frantz finishes second with $20,250.
• On January 16, Round 2 is a Where Are We? with three clues.
• On January 17:
  • Round 1 (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE) is categorized as Classic TV instead of Title.
  • There is a $9,750 Jackpot win.
  • Contestant Eric loses $9,600 and the Rounds 2 and 3 Prize Wedges to Bankrupt in Round 4.
  • Eric's display does not turn off until after the first turn of Round 5.
• On January 19:
  • There is a $7,700 Jackpot win.
  • Round 5 (NEWSWEEK) is both shorter than ten letters and has only one vowel.
  • Coincidentally, the bonus puzzle is JACKPOT.
• January 22 is NFL Players Week, taped at DAR Constitution Hall. This is the first time since the Atlanta episodes in 1996 that a road show runs for more than two weeks, and the first time since then that episodes from the same venue do not air contiguously. During this week:
  • The NFL players are: Bryan Cox, Darrell Green and Kurt Warner on Monday; Tiki Barber, William Perry, and Ken Dilger on Tuesday; Daunte Culpepper, London Fletcher, and Lincoln Kennedy on Wednesday; Steve Beuerlein, Tony Dorsett and Brian Mitchell on Thursday; and Tony Siragusa, Jason Taylor and Stephen Davis on Friday.
  • Charlie announces each NFL player as they walk out, accompanied by footage of them playing.
  • The Players, Inc. logo appears behind Pat and on the floor at center stage.
  • As was the case before Season 14, celebrity episodes revert to having the interviews in the normal spot, instead of interviewing one team after each of the first three rounds. During the interviews, the players' names appear on a category strip with a graphic of a helmet.
  • Although the second Bankrupt and Jackpot wedge are in the same positions they were on the November episodes, a post-production shot shows them on top of the red $600 and orange-yellow $300 respectively when they are introduced.
  • The edges of the Jackpot wedge during the wipe are designed to look like a football.
  • The highest-scoring team wins a five-day trip to Tampa to attend an NFL players' party and Super Bowl XXXV. Also included are VIP passes, a selection of autographed merchandise, a custom leather jacket, and a Sony PlayStation with a copy of NFL GameDay 2001 and fifteen other sports games from 989 Sports. Charlie announces this before Round 3.
• On January 22:
  • The NFL players do not wear name tags in Rounds 1 and 2.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a trip to an NFL game with a visit from Matt Millen and Boomer Esiason, courtesy of CBS Radio and Westwood One.
  • Contestants Velda and Bryan of the red team only spin once in the entire game, calling a wrong letter on $450 in Round 3. However, they solve the second Toss-Up for $1,000, making them the first contestant or team since the introduction of Toss-Ups to spin once yet still win something.
• On January 23:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • When Round 1 is solved, the board is shown at an angle and the category strip is not present.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a party with an NFL player and 30 friends.
  • The second Toss-Up HALL OF FAMERS uses only one line.
• On January 24:
  • Again, Vanna wears a suit.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is an NFL Players credit card valued at $2,500.
  • Round 5 (DAFFY DUCK) is shorter than ten letters and has none of the five most common consonants.
  • Lincoln Kennedy and his teammate Tamra solve the above puzzle with only the D's showing.
• On January 25, no vowels are bought in Round 1.
• On January 26:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a chance to eat dinner with a local football player at his favorite restaurant, valued at $3,550.
  • Free Spin falls under the Wheel as Stephen Davis and his teammate Ira hit Bankrupt. It is never retrieved, so Pat imagines them handing to them before spinning again.
  • In the final segment, Pat and Vanna reveal the highest scoring team of the week (contestant Kate and Ken Dilger).
• January 29 is San Francisco Week. During this week:
  • One of the Prizes is a $3,500 Yahoo! Travel trip.
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Honda Prelude, before Round 3.
• On January 29:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • Round 1 begins with a "null" cycle that is edited out, referenced by Pat telling Susan "Well, there's that Free Spin again" despite her not being shown hitting it earlier.
  • Although a repeated C is called in Round 1, it is not acknowledged as such.
  • As the Round 3 Prize is a trip to Hawaii, Pat plugs the upcoming Hawaii episodes before the puzzle is revealed.
  • Pat forgets to have Susan draw one of the W-H-E-E-L envelopes until a voice reminds him from offstage.
  • The bonus puzzle HOT STUFF uses only one line.
• On January 30:
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • Contestant Paul tries to spin before the Round 4 puzzle is revealed causing Pat to reset the Wheel.
  • Rounds 2 and 4 are Before & After; this is the only time since 1996 that the category has been used more than once in the same episode, likely suggesting that one of the two rounds was a replacement.
  • During the post-game chat, footage of Vanna's helicopter tour on Hawaii's Big Island from 1996 is shown.
• On January 31:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Novica.
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • During the post-game chat, footage from the 1999 Hawaii episodes mainly with Pat is shown.

February 2001

• On February 1:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless shirt and pants.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Nike.
• On February 2, no vowels are bought in Round 1.
• February 5 is College Week, taped at DAR Constitution Hall. During this week:
  • The contestants introduce themselves from their podiums.
  • Unknown teenagers model the Prizes.
  • The University of Maryland Basketball Pep Band plays music during the opening and closing, and a member of said band announces Pat and Vanna instead of Charlie doing so.
  • The Round 3 Prize is $3,500 credit to Yahoo! Travel.
  • One of the Bonus Prizes is $25,000 in Sacagawea coins; the envelope reads GOLDEN DOLLARS on the upper flap.
• On February 5:
  • Contestant Camille only spins twice in the entire game.
  • The scoreboard lights glitch out at the beginning of the Speed-Up, but this is later corrected.
  • 10 wrong letters (including one vowel) are called in the Speed-Up.
  • Contestant James solves the bonus puzzle GOPHER despite getting no help from his extra letters, after which Pat pretends to frisk him. This was seen in several retrospectives, although the "frisking" was cut out of the episode as aired.
• On February 6:
  • The second Toss-Up SHE ACED IT uses only one line.
  • The above puzzle results in the first instance of nobody solving a Toss-Up. With very few exceptions, the "time's up" buzzer from the Bonus Round sounds if a Toss-Up is not solved.
  • Contestant John tries to spin before the Round 4 puzzle is revealed.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Event.
  • The bonus puzzle PULL A PRANK is categorized as Event instead of Phrase.
• On February 7:
  • After contestant Kristy solves the Round 1 puzzle SARAH JESSICA PARKER Pat mentions that she was in Sex and the City and then asks "Can we say 'city' on Wheel of Fortune?" This clip has been seen on the 4000th episode on November 10, 2003.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,000 Holabird Sports gift certificate.
  • Round 3 is the first appearance of The 90's since April 1999, therefore becoming its first appearance after that decade's end.
• On February 8:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $4,000 credit to laptopmania.com.
  • Round 2 is this season's only appearance of Title/Author.
• On February 9:
  • There a $12,650 Jackpot win.
  • Contestant David solves the bonus puzzle I'M SO HAPPY with only the I, M, and S revealed.
  • The 1999-2001 $25,000 graphic is used for the last time.
• The weeks of February 12 and 19 are taped outdoors, in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Hawaii. During these weeks:
  • The name tags have thinner letters than usual.
  • Pat wears Hawaiian-themed short-sleeved shirts.
  • The Toss-Up gold coin has Hawaiian flowers around it.
  • The final total graphics are in a balloon font with Hawaiian flowers.
  • There is a cold open:
    • February 12: Looking over a cityscape of Honolulu, Vanna says, "From spectacular Hawaii, it's Wheel of Fortune!"
    • February 13: Vanna says, "From Hawaii, it's Family Week on Wheel of Fortune!" from a boat.
    • February 14: Vanna tries to get a group of sea lions to do the title chant.
    • February 15: A time-lapse of Pat playing in the sand while various people chant "go", followed by a shot of the logo made out of sand; Pat then looks at the camera and says, "From Hawaii, it's Wheel of Fortune!"
    • February 16: Pat and Lesly lounging on the beach, trying to figure out the time zone differences between Hawaii and Culver City.
    • February 19: Vanna and her family are in a fishing boat; Vanna turns to the camera and says "From Hawaii, it's Wheel of Fortune!"
    • February 20: Vanna says "from the Big Island of Hawaii..." followed by a montage of various scenes around the island.
    • February 21: Pat and Vanna stand in front of Kīlauea; over footage of the island, Vanna says, "From Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii..."
    • February 22: Vanna says "from the Aloha State..." followed by a montage of various scenes around the island.
    • February 23: Pat and Lesly lounging on the beach, thinking about their friends in different parts of the country dealing with winter weather.
  • Except for February 12, clips are shown during the closing chat:
    • February 13: Vanna at M. Masumoto Grocery Store
    • February 14: Vanna at Sea Life Park Hawaii
    • February 15: Vanna, Niko, and Gigi touring Hawaii
    • February 16: Native Hawaiians blessing the set
    • February 19: Vanna taking a helicopter tour
    • Februray 20: A tour of the Kona coffee plantation
    • February 21: A tour of the Big Island
    • February 22: Various surfers around Hawaii
    • February 23: Highlights from various points
• February 12 is Family Week.
• On February 12:
  • In the opening segment, an unknown couple places leis on Pat and Vanna.
  • After interviewing contestants Arnold and Edward, Pat asks Edward "What was that noise you made earlier?" then Edward asks, "Noise?" and looks behind himself; the cameras cut to Pat, who says "Good night, everybody. Thank you for coming!" and pretends to walk off-set. This was seen in many retro clips.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a pair of Currie bicycles.
  • Contestants Dorothy and Alice forget to pick up the above Prize after calling a correct letter on it, and it remains on the Wheel for Round 3. This does not affect the outcome, as they are still credited with winning the bikes, and the wedge is not hit again in Round 3.
  • In the post-game chat, Angela Perez Baraquio appears as a special guest, and teaches Pat, Vanna, and all three contestants teams to hula dance.
• On February 13:
  • A "null" cycle is edited out of Round 1, as evidenced by Pat saying "Okay, guys, try it again!"
  • The Round 2 Prize is a pair of Sony camcorders modeled by Pat and Vanna.
• On February 14:
  • Contestants Reychelle and Miki'ala's score display does not light up after they solve the first Toss-Up.
  • Angela Perez Baraquio makes an apperance before Round 3.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a shopping spree at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
  • The Round 3 puzzle ELVIS ALOHA FROM HAWAII is improperly punctuated (should be "Elvis'" or "Elvis's").
  • There is a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up. This is mainly due to Pat not acknowledging this.
• On February 15:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $4,000 credit to RAVE Sports.
  • There is an $8,900 Jackpot win.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a $5,000 credit to hawaiianshirtsonline.com.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Contestants Debbi and Kevin's scoreboard stops working after the Speed-Up Round. As a result, their scoreboard is overlaid with a post-production graphic resembling the display.
• On February 16:
  • The Jackpot graphics use a skinnier font, suggesting that it may have been adjusted in post due to a "null" cycle.
  • Round 2 is a Where Are We? with three clues.
  • After solving the Where Are We? puzzle MEMBERSHIP PLEASE REWIND FIVE-DAY RENTAL, contestant Shannon of the yellow team identifies the place as Blockbuster; Pat decides to accept this for the intended answer of video store.
  • During the first commercial break, contestant Victoria of the blue team injures her left arm; she wears it in a sling for the rest of the episode.
• During the week of February 19, all contestants are Hawaiians.
• On February 19:
  • During the opening segment, Pat and Vanna pinpoint the Hawaiian Islands from the map at center stage.
  • Contestant Hau'oli's name tag falls off during Round 1. It is retrieved before the start of Round 2 but falls off again during the Speed-Up Round.
  • Vanna models both Prizes.
• On February 20, no vowels are bought in Round 4.
• On February 21:
  • During the opening segment, Pat has a coconut with a mail address on it.
  • Song Lyrics debuts in Round 1. Despite this, it is not used for the rest of the season.
  • The Gift Tag comes loose after Round 1, exposing the 9 on the red $900. This is corrected in Round 3.
  • There is a $9,900 Jackpot win.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a GEM golf cart.
• On February 22:
  • The Round 2 puzzle THERE ARE ## STRIPES AND ## STARS ON OLD GLORY (13, 50) is one of only two Fill In the Number puzzles to have two different numbers in it.
  • The category strip disappears briefly during Round 3.
  • The second Toss-Up and the Bonus Round are Around the House.
• On February 23:
  • After contestant Lourdes solves the Round 1 puzzle THE DREW CAREY SHOW, she hugs Pat excitedly and causes him to say "I just discovered the meaning of the aloha spirit". This was seen in several retrospectives.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Novica.
  • The Jackpot display changes fonts, suggesting that a "null" cycle was edited out. Strangely, it changes back to the regular font on the next-to-last turn.
  • For the only known time, a contestant (Kapualoke) calls the last consonant on the Jackpot wedge but still does not claim the Jackpot as she buys a vowel afterward. This seems to confuse the scoreboard operator, as her scoreboard briefly displays $16,150 until Pat points this out and it changes to $3,250.
  • Angela Perez Baraquio does a bumper after Round 2.
• February 26 is Winter Sports Week.
• On February 26:
  • Microsoft announces that it is pulling the WebTV interactive elements from Wheel and Jeopardy! due to a financial dispute with Sony. As a result, the "WebTV Interactive Program" bug is retired. It is also edited out of later weekend repeats of Season 17, as well as the 2001 summer and 2001-02 weekend repeats of Season 18 episodes that aired before this point.
  • A cycle of three lost turns is edited out of Round 1 despite not being "null"; the first lost turn is an incorrect vowel from contestant Sarah, as evidenced by her score being off by $250 for the rest of the round. Pat references the cycle by telling contestant Rishi "That's more like it" after his first aired spin lands on $300.
• On February 27:
  • Round 1 (MIKE MYERS) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are On the Map.
• Between February 12 and 27, the $25,000 envelope is not picked for 12 consecutive episodes.
• On February 28:
  • The Round 2 Prize is an Italjet motorized scooter.
  • Charlie announces the bonus prizes before the Bonus Round.
  • A new $25,000 graphic is used, with a different font; it remains until the end of the season.

March 2001

• On March 1:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Soloflex.
  • The shot of the Round 2 Prize is shown on the yellow $400.
  • The Round 4 Before & After puzzle QUIET AS A MOUSE PAD is misspelled ("mousepad" should be one word).
• On March 2:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Natural Wonders.
  • There is an $11,600 Jackpot win. In a rather rare occurrence, it comes with only vowels remaining.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a word search puzzle with words about Pat, sent in by a fan.
• March 5 is Cruise Week. During this week:
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Toyota 4Runner, before Round 3.
  • The Round 3 Prizes are cruises. The copy has a unique wipe: the words "Cruise Week" appear in white-outlined blue letters before zooming toward the camera as a graphic of a cruise ship pans from left to right and a ship's horn sounds. The Prize footage includes a graphic on the left side that features "Caribbean" written vertically on a green background with the show's logo spinning underneath.
• On March 5:
  • A transparent Wheel of Fortune bug is added in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, written in the same font as the two-row logo. It is seen during the intro, and whenever the contestant area or puzzle board is on-screen. It is also seen during summer reruns, any Season 17 episodes seen during Saturday reruns in 2001, and some earlier Season 18 episodes seen during Saturday reruns from 2001-2002.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to High Sierra.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Pat and Vanna do not sign off.
• On March 6:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Blockbuster.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Contestant Melissa solves the bonus puzzle FLOPPY EARS before the timer can start.
  • During the post-game chat, Melissa does a flip for Pat and Vanna.
• On March 7:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,000 gift certificate to Cellini Jewelers.
  • Contestant Patrice accidentally tries to spin the wheel in Round 3 when it's not her turn.
  • Pat accidentally reveals the category for the Bonus Round before Keith chooses an envelope.
• On March 8:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Classic TV. This is both the first of only three times that it is used twice, and the first of only five appearances in the Bonus Round.
  • Contestant Jason finishes with only $4,200. This is the lowest winning total since the introduction of Toss-Ups.
• On March 9:
  • Contestant Gerri forgets to pick up the Gift Tag in Round 1. She ends up landing on it again and calls two C's for another $1,800. This does not affect the outcome as the said amount is added to her total anyway.
  • The Round 2 is $3,000 credit to laptopmania.com.
  • Round 4 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the G in ED ASNER AS LOU GRANT).
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Gerri solves the bonus puzzle BIBLE before the timer can start.
• March 12 is Fast Cars Week, also the theme of the season premiere week.
• During the weeks of March 12 and 19, the description of the Bonus Round Prizes after the Speed-Up has the value of one of the cars appear on the video wall. They also appear on the wall if they are won.
• On March 12:
  • The first Toss-Up YOU'VE GOT MAIL is categorized as Phrase instead of Quotation or Title.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to express.com (the defunct online DVD vendor). The wedge features the Wheel of Fortune logo.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • The second Bankrupt and Prizes are removed as Round 6 starts as a Speed-Up.
  • Contestant Joanie solves the bonus puzzle PRIZE before the timer can start.
  • Pat and Vanna do not sign off.
• On March 13:
  • The Round 3 Before & After puzzle DON JOHNSON & JOHNSON has only one vowel.
  • During the post-game chat, a montage of Vanna driving fast cars is shown.
• On March 14:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to IKEA.
  • Living Thing debuts in Round 4.
• On March 15:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a Sony TV which displays the montage of Vanna driving fast cars from the March 13th episode as Charlie describes it.
  • The Round 2 Who Is It? puzzle FORMER U.S. SENATOR AND ELDEST SPACE-TRAVELER (John Glenn) is improperly hyphenated.
  • Contestant Keith solves the bonus puzzle IRISH PUB before the timer can start.
• On March 16:
  • The Round 2 Prize is an EBIKE.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Round 5 (BUS STOP) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • The second Bankrupt and Prizes are removed as Round 6 starts as a Speed-Up.
  • Round 2 is Things and the Bonus Round is Thing, while Round 5 and 6 are Place.
• March 19 is Caribbean Week. During this week:
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Honda Prelude, before Round 3.
  • The Round 3 prizes are trips to the Caribbean. The Prize footage includes a graphic on the left side that features "Caribbean" written vertically on a green background with the show's logo spinning underneath.
• On March 19:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • Both Toss-Ups are Phrase.
  • The 1997 puzzle-solve cue is accidentally used on the second Toss-Up.
  • The bonus puzzle (SHOWGIRL, in the category of Show Biz) is a rare instance of the category also being part of the answer.
• On March 20:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to bikeshop.com.
  • Six rounds are played.
• On March 21:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $3,100 Panasonic television and ShowStopper, the former of which displays the opening to a Hawaii episode from February 18, 1999 when Charlie describes it.
  • Both Rounds 1 and 2 are completely filled in before being solved.
  • The 1997 puzzle-solve cue is accidentally used on the second Toss-Up.
• On March 22:
  • The 1997 puzzle-solve cue is accidentally used on the first Toss-Up, with the usual cue returning for the second.
  • Contestant Blythe's last spin in Round 1 lands on the orange $800, but only $550 is added to her score. The credits mention that a portion of the show had to be re-produced, so is possible that she actually landed on the adjacent $550 and the spin was reshot after the round, as Pat never announces the dollar amount during that turn. Her arrow is sitting on the green $500 after she solves, suggesting that more than one reshoot may have been done. The incorrect scoring does not affect the outcome.
  • Round 4 (HOOTCHY-KOOTCHY) has only one vowel.
• On March 23:
  • Round 1 (HOOVER DAM) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Jackpot display changes fonts, suggesting a "null" cycle was edited out.
• March 26 is Spring Break Week. During this week:
  • One of the Prizes is a $3,500 Yahoo! Travel trip.
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Toyota MR2 Spyder, before Round 3.
• On March 26:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • Round 3 (MALAYSIA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA) is a rare instance of On the Map including a descriptive term.
  • Round 5 (ZOOKEEPER) is shorter than ten letters.
• On March 27:
  • Round 4 (DEREK JETER) has only one vowel.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
• On March 28:
  • During the taping session for this episode, footage is also shot for a scene in "Inner Tube", an episode of the sitcom The King of Queens which aired on February 26. Interestingly, this footage is shot in high definition, several years before Wheel of Fortune would itself make the switch; it also features the contestant video wall design that would later be used on Retro Week in April. This segment was likely taped after the actual Wheel of Fortune episode, as the Round 4 template is used (albeit without the second Bankrupt).
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to ticketsnow.com.
  • Round 3 (SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME) is categorized as Phrase instead of Title.
  • Living Thing(s) appears in the Bonus Round for the first time.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a sheet of paper with some random facts.
• On March 29:
  • There is a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with the E and I missing from the Round 4 Speed-Up puzzle GLUTEUS MAXIMUS, contestant Jarret gives a wrong answer, after which contestant Contessa calls the I and solves.
  • Five wrong answers are given throughout the main game: one in Round 1, two in Round 2, and two in the Speed-Up.
  • There is also rare instance of a contestant solving the Speed-Up puzzle with no money and a total of $42,000 is unclaimed.
• On March 30:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • During the contestant interviews, contestant Michelle brings in a photo of her dog.
  • The Round 2 Prize is an Italjet scooter.
  • Nobody solves the second Toss-Up THE SOCK DRAWER.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in another sheet of paper with more random facts.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of March 26, part of a six-day losing streak through to April 2nd.

April 2001

• April 2 is Travel USA. During this week, Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Mazda Miata, before Round 3.
• On April 2:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless shirt and pants.
  • There is a $9,200 Jackpot win.
  • The second Toss-Up is WHEEL OF FORTUNE; after it is solved, Pat jokes that "we have officially run out of puzzles, apparently."
  • The first Toss-Up and Round 4 are Thing, while Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On April 3:
  • As Pat and Vanna walk out, dry ice is used to create a "fog" effect on-set.
  • The first Toss-Up PLAYING TICK-TACK-TOE is misspelled (should be "tic-tac-toe").
  • For the third time this season, a "bonus" category (Slogan) appears in Round 1.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a GEM golf cart.
• On April 4:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • After the Round 2 puzzle SHALL I COMPARE THEE TO A SUMMER'S DAY? (Quotation) is solved, Pat asks a staffer named Cheryl (presumably Cheryl Jacobs, then the show's researcher) for the source of the quotation, and she can be heard saying that it comes from one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
  • Round 4 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the C in BRUCE & LAURA DERN).
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • During the post-game chat, Janne Porkka and Saija Palin, then the hosts of the Finnish version, join Pat and Vanna. Camera operator Raimo Kaartinen then makes an appearance when Pat points out that he is also Finnish.
• On April 5:
  • There is a $14,000 Jackpot win.
  • Title appears in the Bonus Round for the first time since November 1997.
• On April 4 and 5, the 1997 puzzle-solve cue accidentally sounds after the Toss-Ups are solved.
• On April 6:
  • Round 3 (THE ISLAND OF TAIWAN) is a rare instance of On the Map including a descriptive term.
  • The 1997 puzzle-solve cue accidentally sounds when the first Toss-Up is solved, but the normal cue returns for the second one.
  • Contestant Andrea solves the bonus puzzle ROBIN before the timer can start.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat acknowledges the total money of cash and prizes won during the week and Vanna brings in another sheet of paper with more random facts.
• April 9 is the second and final Retro Week. Besides the presence of Toss-Ups, differences from the one in 1999 include:
  • There is no chant during the opening, as was the case prior to the first nighttime tapings in July 1983.
  • The opening uses the then-current theme. Charlie's intro is "Look at this studio, full of fabulous prizes, exotic trips, and this brand-new Chrysler PT Cruiser, just waiting to be won tonight on Wheel of Fortune!" As he says the show's title, the shot cuts to an intro of an episode from the 1980s. The intro footage goes through Pat's introduction of Vanna (albeit with "Changing Keys" dubbed over by a new music cue), then "splits" down the middle and peels away to reveal Pat and Vanna at center stage discussing the theme before taking their spots.
  • The contestant video wall shows a set of unique backdrops, using the bases of the 1992-96 ones with the traditional logo on top. From Round 1 through the end of the game, the logos are replaced by illustrations of the 1992-96 design. Otherwise, the set is nearly identical to the previous season's Retro Week.
  • The "Shopping" wedges once again replace the Prizes; Pat announces what the contestants may shop for before Round 1.
  • The post-Round 2 bumper is a "Retro Rewind", showing a short montage of clips from the 1980s set to a cue that somewhat resembles "Nightwalk", the main music cue used during shopping rounds in the 1980s. Another clip is shown before Round 3, albeit without additional music or a caption. In both cases, the clip is shown inside a graphic of a console TV.
  • Unlike the first Retro Week, it is not known if footage of the $25,000 sign would have been spliced in as was done on the previous Retro Week, as that prize is not won this week.
• On April 9:
  • After the Round 1 puzzle PIERRE SOUTH DAKOTA is solved, Pat asks Cheryl if it is the state capital, and she can be heard saying yes.
  • Contestant Tim finishes with only $4,450.
• On April 10:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Round 4 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the D's in INSIDE EDITION).
  • During the post-game chat, a clip of Vanna's first permanent show from December 1982 is shown.
• On April 11:
  • The Round 1 puzzle HUDSON BAY is shorter than ten letters.
  • Round 5 is a factually incorrect answer of THE RUGRATS (the characters from Rugrats are not called "The Rugrats").
  • During the closing chat, in reference to the wrong answer given in the second Toss-Up (MID-SIZE CAR incorrectly guessed as MID-SIZE HAT), Pat and Vanna discuss an incident from 1988 where a contestant guessed STYROFOAM HAT on the Speed-Up puzzle STYROFOAM CUP.
• On April 12:
  • Contestant Tricia solves the bonus puzzle GIFT before the timer can start.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat bangs a gong that is part of the on-set decorations.
• On April 13:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Greg hits the purple $600 next to $3,500 twice in a row in Round 3, but on both spins, the same shot of that wedge from another episode's Round 1 is dubbed in, as evidenced by $2,500 being visible and the $10,000 Wedge disappearing.
  • Although a repeated S is called in Round 3, it is not acknowledged as such.
  • The last segment includes a montage of Vanna's outfits.
• April 16 is the second Big Money Week of the season. During this week:
  • For the last time, an annuity is offered in the Bonus Round.
  • One of the bonus prizes is $25,000 in Sacagawea $1 coins.
• On April 16:
  • Pat pours water into his glass just as Charlie starts to plug the Round 3 Prize.
  • Contestant Connie leaves out the S in the Round 3 Before & After puzzle FROZEN TV DINNER GUESTS, but is still credited with a correct response. This does not affect the outcome.
  • Contestant Nicole's post-game total is not shown onscreen.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna brings in a list of all the planets.
• On April 17:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Round 1 begins with a "null" cycle that is edited out, referenced by Pat assuming contestant Fred will still hold on to his Free Spin despite not asking him earlier.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $3,000 credit to The Franklin Mint.
  • The second Toss-Up is TOSS UP PUZZLE; after it is solved, Pat jokes that "It's the official sign that after all these years we're out of puzzles." This puzzle should also be hyphenated.
  • The bonus puzzle I'LL GO FIFTY-FIFTY is the second of only three known bonus puzzles to have more than one punctuation mark.
• On April 18:
  • Round 1 (DAN RATHER) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $3,000 credit to Greenleaf & Crosby.
  • Round 5 and the Bonus Round are Living Things. This is first time this category is used twice.
  • The bonus puzzle AMPHIBIANS is the only known instance of Living Things being used for a class of animals instead of an individual species or breed.
• On April 19:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to Blockbuster.
  • The Round 2 Before & After puzzle FIREPLACE LOG ON TO OUR WEB SITE is misspelled, as "Website" should be one word.
  • Against normal practice, the buzzer sounds on a repeated letter in Round 3 and Pat does not acknowledge it as such.
  • Contestant Andrew solves the bonus puzzle GLUE STICK before the timer can start.
• April 20:
  • Contestant Fely who competed on December 26, 2000 is brought back due to the aforementioned error on her first episode.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Jackpot display changes fonts, suggesting a "null" cycle was edited out.
• April 23 is San Diego Week. During this week:
  • There is a cold open of Vanna promoting the week from San Diego.
  • The Jackpot animation shows the wedge on the orange-yellow $300.
  • Before the closing chat, Charlie does a plug for the upcoming Soap City sweepstakes.
• On April 23:
  • The Round 2 is $3,000 credit to RAVE sports.
  • Thirteen wrong letters are called in the Speed-Up, eleven of which are consecutive.
  • Round 5 (WALRUS) is shorter than ten letters.
  • A "decade" category (The 60s) is used for the only time in the Bonus Round. This is also the point at which the apostrophes are removed from the category names.
  • Footage of contestant Jennifer celebrating her Bonus Round win is later shown on the ceremonial 4,000th episode.
• On April 24:
  • For the third time this season, a "bonus" category (Who Said It?) appears in Round 1.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a Mercury Water Mouse boat.
• On April 25:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The Wheel's outer frame is misaligned throughout Round 1. It is fixed before Round 2.
  • The Round 1 puzzle CHOOSY MOMS CHOOSE JIF is a rare instance of Slogan not using its bonus due to the product name being in the answer.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $3,000 credit to Macy's. It is placed on the pink $450; while it is claimed, it is not won.
  • There is rare instance of all three contestants losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up.
  • During the post-game chat, after Pat mentions that his now-defunct website is nominated for an award, Charlie can be heard cheering him.
• On April 26, the Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to TicketsNow.com.
• On April 27:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • The yellow contestant goes by his nickname Jukebox Jim, including on his name tag.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a $3,500 Yahoo! Travel trip to San Diego. This is also the last appearance of the animated border around the Prize copy.
  • Four turns are lost with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up Round.
  • The Round 4 Same Name puzzle FOUNTAIN & BULL PEN is misspelled ("bullpen" should only be one word).
  • During the post-game chat, Harry hands Pat a card with total amount of cash and prizes won in the week.
• April 30 is Soap City Week, with teams consisting of contestants and soap opera stars. The week is a tie-in to soapcity.com, then the website for all of the soap operas distributed by Sony Pictures. During this week:
  • The Soap City logo is added to the intro animation.
  • The stars enter from a staircase at stage left.
  • The stars' name tags have a silver star on the right side.
  • The stars are Lynn Herring, Peter Recell, and Kim Zimmer on Monday; Scott Reeves, Galen Gering, and Coltin Scott on Tuesday; Adrienne Frantz, Michelle Stafford, and Lauren Koslow on Wednesday; Joseph Mascolo, Sarah G. Buxton, and Rick Hearst on Thursday; and David Lago, Marisa Ramirez, and Jay Kenneth Johnson on Friday.
  • Clips of the stars on their respective shows are used as bumpers.
  • Except on Thursday, one of the Prizes is a tour of a soap opera set and a trip, announced by a cast member of the soap opera in question: The Young and the Restless on Monday, Days of Our Lives on Tuesday, General Hospital and Port Charles on Wednesday, and Guiding Light on Friday.
  • There is a sweepstakes where home viewers may enter a form online for a chance to tour a soap opera set, sponsored by eharlequin.com.
  • During the closing chat, all three stars appear onstage. Except on Friday, they throw to Charlie, who then introduces the next day's stars via footage of them modeling on the staircase.
• On April 30:
  • As contestant Laurie is a in wheelchair, her teammate Kim Zimmer spins for her. This is the first instance of a "designated spinner" overall, and one of only three known instances of one during a team week.
  • The soap stars do not wear name tags until the Jackpot Round.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 Bed Bath & Beyond gift certificate.

May 2001

• On May 1:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 3 Prize is placed on the yellow $400 between $300 and $550 instead of the one two wedges counterclockwise from Lose a Turn.
  • The second-place team has $20,300.
• On May 2:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Round 3 is a Before & After of FREE SPIN THE BOTTLE; coincidentally, the team that solves this puzzle uses the Free Spin.
  • Rounds 2 and 3 are are played entirely by the contestants who played them.
  • The Final Spin chimes sound after Michelle Stafford and her teammate Jenna call an R. They are allowed to finish their turn, and end up buying an E before the bells sound again and Pat does the Final Spin. Likely in relation to this, the ding does not sound when the E is revealed.
• On May 3:
  • The category strip disappears on the third shot of the board in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 IKEA gift certificate.
  • Sarah G. Buxton and her teammate David spin only once in the main game, calling a wrong letter on $300 in Round 3.
  • The Round 2 puzzle JOAN COLLINS AS ALEXIS CARRINGTON is categorized as The 80's instead of Star & Role, which is all the more unusual as Star & Role is used the very next day.
  • The second-place team has $25,996.
  • Kevin Spirtas makes a guest appearance during the closing chat.
• On May 4, the Round 2 Prize is a Panasonic television, which Kevin Spirtas models from the set of Days of Our Lives.
• The weeks of May 7 and 14 are taped at the Dallas Convention Center (now Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center). During these weeks:
  • The camera is zoomed out too far and is at an angle when a Round 1 puzzle is revealed (except on the 16th).
  • The 1997 Bonus Round cue is used whenever the bonus puzzle is solved, and the 2000 cue is used after Pat opens the bonus envelope (except on the 9th).
  • The Prize border is the Texas flag.
  • Vanna and Charlie announce the Bonus Round prizes.
  • Vanna does a cold open:
    • May 7 and 11: Vanna announces the theme from Texas Motor Speedway, saying "Get ready for Wheel of Fortune from the Texas Motor Speedway. Gentlemen, start your engines!" After this, she waves the green flag and footage is seen of Pat driving the Wheelmobile down the track, interspersed with clips of racecars.
    • May 8: Vanna says, "From the home of the Dallas Cowboys, it's Dallas-Fort Worth week on..." followed by three members of the team and their mascot doing the "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" chant.
    • May 9: Vanna stands at the pitcher's mound at the Ballpark in Arlington (now Choctaw Stadium) and says "From the Ballpark in Arlington, it's Dallas-Fort Worth Week on Wheel of Fortune!"
    • May 10: Vanna stands on the field at Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium) holding a Dallas Cowboys umbrella and says, "From the home of the Dallas Cowboys, it's Wheel of Fortune! Hey, where did everybody go?"
    • May 14 and 18: Vanna says "From the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Arboretum, Fort Worth, the Republic Center, and the Texas Motor Speedway, it's Best Friends Week on Wheel of Fortune from Dallas!" As she names off each of these, she is seen at the landmark which she is announcing.
    • May 15: Vanna says "It's Best Friends Week on Wheel of Fortune!" while sitting on the back of a Texas Longhorn.
    • May 16: Vanna says, "It's Best Friends Week on Wheel of Fortune!" from the entrance of the Ballpark in Arlington.
    • May 17: Vanna says, "From Dallas-Fort Worth, it's Best Friends Week on Wheel of Fortune!" from inside a Volkswagen New Beetle with the American Airlines logo, parked in front of the Wyndham Anatole hotel (now the Hilton Anatole).
• On May 7, Vanna and the Dallas Cowboys model the Round 3 Prize, a tailgating package with a line of Brinkman cookers and tickets for four to a Dallas Cowboys football game and $500 in team merchandise.
• On May 8:
  • The Round 1 puzzle PIE TIN MAN is shorter than ten letters and a tie for the shortest Before & After.
  • Mike Modano from the Dallas Stars makes a guest appearance after the Round 2 puzzle WINNING PRO HOCKEY'S STANLEY CUP.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a shopping spree at Dallas Galleria.
• On May 9:
  • For the first time during a road show, a contestant (Susan) is randomly drawn from the audience for an instant audition. This continues to happen on most road shows until Season 21.
  • The second Toss-Up NONSTICK FRYING PAN is misspelled ("non-stick" should be hyphenated).
  • Contestant Tom hugs Vanna and break-dances after winning the Bonus Round. This was seen on the 4000th episode.
• On May 10:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Round 2 is the last appearance of The 60's, barring a single use on April 6, 2011 which was done exclusively for a show that intentionally recycled puzzles from previous episodes. Unlike the last use of a "decade" category, the apostrophe is used again; the apostrophes would disappear from all of the "decade" categories before returning in Season 30.
  • Raghib Ismail of the Dallas Cowboys does a bumper after Round 2.
  • Winning contestant Willie leaves with only $4,700. This is last winning total under $5,000 before the introduction of the extra Toss-Up the following season.
• On May 11, no vowels are bought in Round 1.
• May 14 is Best Friends Week. During this week:
  • The shot of the Round 2 Prize is shown on the yellow $400.
  • The post-Round 3 bumper includes a spinning version of the traditional logo; underneath, a star leaves a sparkling wipe to reveal the words "Dallas Week", then rotates to form an outline of Texas.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a trip sponsored by American Airlines. After each prize description, the wipe is an American Airlines airplane flying across the screen, followed by a zoom-in through one of its windows.
  • One Bonus Round Prize is 1,000,000 Advantage Miles from American Airlines.
• On May 14:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a trip to a Dallas Cowboys away game with a one-night hotel stay, breakfast with the team, and a gift certificate for official team merchandise. Raghib Ismail of the team announces the prize value instead of Charlie.
  • The Round 2 puzzle PEBBLES FLINTSTONE & BAMM-BAMM RUBBLE (Fictional Characters) is followed by a trivia question asking for the name of the Flintstones' pet dinosaur. Contestants Aisha and Sheanetta provide the correct answer of Dino.
• On May 15:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Both contestants on the red team are named Tina.
  • Round 1 begins with a "null" cycle that is edited out, referenced when the Tinas hit the $2,500 space and Pat says "That's better than your last spin".
  • The Round 2 Prize is a thesportsauthority.com online shopping spree.
  • There is a $9,200 Jackpot win.
  • Mark Cuban and Michael Finley from the Dallas Mavericks make a guest appearance after the Round 2 puzzle A LAST-SECOND BASKET AT THE BUZZER. This puzzle itself has the A on the top row by itself.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a $10,000 trip to Puerto Rico.
  • After the Final Spin, the scoreboards briefly show the contestants' post-Round 3 totals before turning back off.
  • The first Toss-Up and Round 2 are Event, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On May 16:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $5,000 credit to FAO Schwarz.
  • The second Bankrupt comes loose in Round 2 revealing part of the orange-yellow $300, but is fixed on the next spin.
  • The Round 3 Prize is a $10,000 trip to U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
  • The second Toss-Up TALK SHOW HOST (Show Biz) is a rare instance of a category also containing part of the answer.
• From May 8-16, the 1997 puzzle-solve cue accidentally sounds after the Toss-Ups are solved.
• On May 17:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Contestants Carrie and Laura's score display does not light up after they solve the first Toss-Up.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $5,000 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus. Vanna does the opening line for the prize description.
  • Contestants Jenny and Keli solve the Speed-Up puzzle A HEART-TO-HEART TALK with only R's and T's showing.
  • Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Classic TV; this is both the second of three times it is used twice and the second of five times it is used in the Bonus Round.
• On May 18:
  • After Round 1, Pat slumps over the railing upon realizing that his pants zipper is open.
  • Pat mentions before the second Toss-Up that it is the 3,500th episode.
• May 21 is Wheel Goes to the Movies. During this week:
  • The Season 15 opening graphic is used as a Prize wipe, albeit with "Goes to the Movies" added under the show's logo.
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, a Mazda Miata, before Round 3.
  • The Prizes are themed to movies in some fashion. Where applicable, trailers of the films mentioned are also shown.
    • May 21: a trip to Durango, Colorado and a copy of Little Nicky on DVD; a VIP pass to see the premiere of Shrek at Universal Studios Hollywood
    • May 22: a VIP pass to see the premiere of The Animal; a Sony Entertainment package plus a copy of Close Encounters of the Third Kind on DVD
    • May 23: a VIP pass to see the premiere of Evolution; a trip to Universal Studios Island of Adventure
    • May 24: a collection of 12 films from TSG Pictures (The Shooting Gallery), including Croupier, and a trip to Las Vegas; a trip to the Miami Film Festival
    • May 25: a tour of the Warner Bros. lot and a VIP pass to the world premiere of Swordfish; $2,500 in Blockbuster gift cards
• On May 21:
  • After contestant Alia quickly solves the first Toss-Up A DAY AT THE BEACH, Pat walks up to the puzzle board and requests to have the puzzle put back up on the board.
  • The Round 1 puzzle YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID has none of the five main consonants.
  • Round 2 is the last appearance of Fill In the Blank.
  • A shot of the contestants' backs is shown as Pat does the Final Spin.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are People.
• On May 22:
  • Contestant Jeff forgets to pick up the Free Spin in Round 1. He picks it up before picking up the Gift Tag on his next spin.
  • Contestant Michael's name tag come loose at the start of Round 3. Pat fixes it as Jeff spins.
  • Contestant Sheena leaves off the first S in the second Toss-Up TWISTS AND TURNS, but is still credited with a correct response. This does not affect the outcome as she wins anyway.
  • When contestant Jeff attempts to solve the Speed-Up puzzle HELENA MONTANA, he initially gives an incorrect pronunciation, then starts to give the right pronunciation before the buzzer cuts him off. As this error likely ends up affecting the outcome, Jeff is brought back in December 2001.
  • Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Around the House.
  • Rob Schneider joins Pat and Vanna for the post-game chat.
• On May 23:
  • There is a cold open of Rob Schneider in the audience munching some popcorn and telling everyone to turn off their cell phones during the show, after which his own cell phone rings.
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • The first Toss-Up SHOPPING OVER THE INTERNET is the longest puzzle. At 23 letters, this is also the longest Toss-Up until Season 37.
• On May 24, Rob Schneider does a bumper after Round 3.
• On May 25:
  • There is a cold open where Rob Schneider lounges on the steps of the puzzle board (itself reading THE ANIMAL) and jokes about watching Wheel of Fortune with his pet ostrich.
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • The board is shown at an angle close to the steps when Round 3 is solved.
  • Round 4 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the K's in PIKES & WIDOW'S PEAK [Same Name]).
  • During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna show off two $25,000 electronic envelopes with flashing numerals.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of May 21, part of a seven-day losing streak beginning on the 18th.
• May 28 is Garage Sale (taped April 19). During this week:
  • The Jackpot animation shows the wedge on the orange-yellow $300.
  • Charlie plugs the Bonus Round car, an Infiniti G20, before Round 3.
  • At least one of the Prizes is represented by an object in the garage sale on set with its value on a price tag.
• On May 28:
  • The buzzer sounds on a wrong answer in Round 1.
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 2 or 5.
  • Round 5 (BAY WINDOW) is shorter than ten letters.
• On May 29:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • Round 3 is a Classic TV puzzle of ROBERT BLAKE AS BARETTA. Between the episode's taping and airing, Blake is arrested for the alleged murder of his wife (of which he would later be acquitted). After the round is solved, a clip is dubbed in of Pat explaining the situation.
• On May 30:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • The shot of contestant Michael hitting $3,500 in Round 2 is dubbed in from one of the Dallas episodes, as evidenced by the Jackpot sponsor logo being briefly seen (the Dallas episodes were sponsored by Eggland's Best Eggs, whereas this week was sponsored by Aquafresh toothpaste) and the shiny outer rim on the Wheel.
  • Michael tries to spin before the Round 4 puzzle is revealed.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna bring in a ceramic Dalmatian.
• On May 31:
  • After contestant Lou wins Round 1, Pat notices that he and Lou are wearing the same outfit, a moment which has been seen in several retrospectives.
  • After Pat recaps the scores, he is seen walking across the set and looking around as Vanna announces the Bonus Round prizes.
  • Contestant Shundrekia solves the bonus puzzle BAKERY before the timer can start.

June 2001

• On June 1:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $2,500 credit to ScubaPro.
  • The bonus puzzle is a redundant answer of BABY CRIB.