Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 35

Go back to Season 34, or forward to Season 36?

A timeline for Season 35 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 11, 2017 through June 8, 2018.

Season Changes[]

$5K Every Day is retired. Instead, if the $10,000 Mystery Wedge is claimed and won, a Wheel Watchers Club member also wins $10,000, except during the Secret Santa Sweepstakes.
The Bonus Round is altered to have the winning contestant pick one of three categories after the Speed-Up, similar to the main game of Wheel 2000. When the contestant chooses a category, each one is shown on a category strip in blue, green, or purple, and the two categories not chosen have their strips slide vertically into the one that is chosen. While not seen by the home audience, the three category choices are also displayed on the puzzle board with each preceded by an asterisk. As a result of this rule change, far more Bonus Rounds are in categories already used in the main game, and the variety of categories used begins to increase (although most episodes still have Thing or Phrase offered).
The opening graphic features a representation of the old (1981-97) trilon board, with the trilons turning to show a historic clip before turning over to show the green Wheel of Fortune logo (adapted from the current board). The green logos blink to gray, then to blue, then back to the green logos as the number 35 appears. As the puzzle board fades away, the wheel, with different-sized wedges resembling flower petals, appears and slowly turns. The "35th Anniversary Wheel of Fortune" logo later appears in parts in front of the wheel, corresponding with the audience chant.
The Toss-Up wipes revert to their Seasons 27-32 design.
Two minor changes are made to the music package:
- The theme used before the "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" chant is remixed to include guitar riffs.
- The remixed Toss-Up bed first used during the second Disney Grand Adventures week in Season 34 is made permanent.
The generic Bonus Round contestant circle wipe is the blank wheel wedges with a "35" in the center, which then either flashes or turns over to reveal the contestant.
$40,000 is retired as a Bonus Wheel cash amount, although this amount would return in Season 40 to reinstate the minimum cash amount according to the season's number.
The ½ Car tags once again offer a Nissan Versa, except where noted.
The 80's once again becomes an active category. In addition, existing categories have "80's" appended to them throughout the season.
Starting this season, individual wrong-letter calls on Free Play are occasionally edited out even if they are not part of a "null" cycle.
This season ties Season 31 for the highest number of team episodes (33: six weeks plus three sixth episodes).
Same Name permanently reverts to using an ampersand.

September 2017[]

September 11 is Teacher's Week, taped July 27. During this week, after Round 1, the bumper features a quotation related to teaching or education, accompanied by a blue-tinted picture of the person who provided the quote (except on Friday, where a Chinese proverb is used instead).
On September 11:
- The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,392 trip to Jamaica.
- During the Final Spin, Pat accidentally looks at the yellow arrow instead of the red arrow, but is quickly corrected by the staff.
On September 12:
- Contestant Laura wins a trip to Cuba. According to comments made after the show, she is the first game show contestant ever to win a trip to that country.
- Pat references a cut "null" cycle by telling contestant Afiba that P has already been called, despite the original call being part of the cycle.
On September 13:
- The Prize is a $10,200 trip to Spain.
- Round 2 (The 80's) is the first appearance of a "decade" category since Season 32.
On September 14:
- What Are You Wearing? debuts in Round 2.
- While a "null" cycle is cut from the Speed-Up, there is another cut to Pat when contestant Kyle calls C, despite the puzzle having C in it.
On September 15:
- Six rounds are played.
- Interestingly, it appears that two consecutive "null" cycles occur in the Speed-Up, but only one of the two is edited out, as there is a jump cut to Pat after three consecutive wrong letters are called.
- RSTLNE reveals more than half of the bonus puzzle (ANCIENT AZTECS).
- For only the seventh known time, a contestant (Bill) calls Z in the Bonus Round.
During the week of September 11, for what may be the first time, no four-line puzzles (not counting Crossword Rounds) are used for the entire week.
September 18 is Bed & Breakfast, taped August 25.
On September 20:
- Character is used in the Bonus Round for the first time since May 2008 (when it was still known as Fictional Character).
- In the final segment, Pat reads a letter from a fan named Ellen Anderson.
On September 21:
- For the first time, the $10,000 Mystery Round bonus is awarded to a home viewer. If this happens, Jim says, "Did you just win $10,000? If this is your SPIN ID number, [number], congratulations, you've won $10,000 cash!" The first sentence also appears on-screen on a purple and yellow background, ending in a question mark matching the one on the Mystery wedges. The question mark then rolls to the left side of the screen to reveal the $10,000 side of the wedge as Jim says the second sentence, and the text "Go to wheeloffortune.com if this is your SPIN ID" then appears on the same background.
- For the first time this season, a category has "80's" added to it (80's Song Lyrics in Round 2).
- The above round's answer NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP NEVER GONNA LET YOU DOWN goes viral due to it being lyrics from Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up", the song associated with the Internet meme of Rickrolling.
- The Retro Bonus Round appears for only the first time this season, and it is one not previously used on this feature.
- Pat and Vanna read the Prize Puzzle copy, except for the value.
- What Are You Wearing? appears in the Bonus Round for the first time.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
September 25 is Fall Foliage, taped August 11.
On September 25, for no particular reason, every overhead shot in Round 1 appears to have been recreated. This can be discerned by constant disappearances and changes in the Prize, Gift Tag, Wild Card, and/or Million-Dollar Wedge.
On September 28, contestant Mike solves the bonus puzzle PIZZA PARLOR on the buzzer. Although the win music plays and the answer is revealed, Pat says they will have to stop and make sure he got the answer in time. Instead of the closing chat, the show ends after Pat and Vanna announce that he has been declared a winner. As a result, Pat announces the amount instead of Jim.
On September 29:
- There is a ½ Car win.
- In the Kitchen makes its first appearance in the Bonus Round since September 26, 2007.
September 30 is the first weekend repeat of an episode with a Bonus Round win (January 18, 2017) since June 24 (November 13, 2015), fourteen weekends prior. This is the longest known losing streak on the weekend feed.

October 2017[]

October 2 is Weekend Escapes, taped July 28.
On October 2, Wheel is pre-empted in several markets due to expanded evening news coverage of the Las Vegas shooting. The episode is re-broadcast on April 13, 2019.
On October 3, six rounds are played.
On October 6:
- Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
- Contestant Britt gets buzzed out before buying an I, but against precedent, her call is accepted and she later solves the puzzle. As a result, both of her opponents are brought back on later episodes: Doug on June 1, 2021 and Louise on April 9, 2024.
October 9 is Salute to Texas, taped August 10. During this week:
- Each episode opens with a pre-recorded clip in which Pat and Vanna state that the episodes were taped prior to Hurricane Harvey, followed by a flashback clip from a previous Texas road show:
  - Monday: Pat instructing Vanna to stand on a map of Texas (May 2001)
  - Tuesday: Pat standing in a way that cattle horns appear to becoming out of his head (May 1998)
  - Wednesday: Contestant Tom hugging Vanna and break-dancing after winning the Bonus Round (May 2001)
  - Thursday: A closing chat in which Vanna talks about cattle (November 2006)
  - Friday: Contestant Kamden cheering after solving a Toss-Up (November 2006)
- The Prize is $10,000 cash.
- After Round 2, Pat, Vanna, and Jim promote next week's Show You the World Sweepstakes.
- The Texas Lottery's Wheel scratch-off game is promoted; Texas-based affiliates air different versions of these episodes that feature additional Texas Lottery promos, as well as an additional opening clip.
On October 9:
- The shot of the contestants during the opening is a reshoot, as the yellow arrow is on the yellow $600 in that shot, but the Wheel can be seen properly positioned during the interviews.
- One contestant (Brenna) wins all three Toss-Ups, and another (Sanders) wins all other rounds.
On October 10, the Prize Puzzle offers a $10,064 trip to Fiji.
On October 11:
- Contestant Evan picks up a ½ Car tag in Round 3 after the other tag has been lost to Bankrupt. As a result, Pat has her immediately hand it to him.
- The Bonus Round puzzle has a redundant A in it (A HOUSEHOLD WORD).
On October 12, the Prize is not removed for Round 3. This ends up affecting the outcome, as the Prize is won in that round and the contestant wins by less than its value.
On October 13, Rounds 1 and 4 are played entirely by the contestant who began them.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of October 9, part of an eight-loss streak starting on the 5th.
October 16 is Collette Show You the World, taped September 15. During this week:
- The Collette logo is on the floor at center stage.
- Home viewers may submit each day's bonus puzzle on the show's website for a chance to win a Collette vacation.
- Many of the Prizes and/or Prize Puzzle trips are over $10,000.
- On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Pat and/or Vanna does a restrospective on a contestant who won a Collette vacation on a previous episode.
On October 16, after Round 2, there is a bumper consisting of travel tips given by a Collette representative.
On October 18:
- The Round 2 puzzle MY HEART GOING BOOM BOOM BOOM uses a hanging indent, so that the last three words are aligned directly underneath each other.
- Contestant Crystal wins the Mystery Round with only the $10,000 prize.
- Around the House makes its first appearance in the Bonus Round since January 2012.
On October 20, Rounds 1 and 3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
October 23 is Girlfriend Getaways, taped September 14.
On October 24:
- The Prize includes a director's cut DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack of the movie Dreamgirls, a trailer of which is also shown.
- The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
On October 25, neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
On October 27:
- Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
- A "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 1 (a wrong B, a Bankrupt that takes nothing away, and a wrong D).
- As the Prize Puzzle offers a trip to Puerto Rico, the copy is accompanied by a caption reading "Tonight's episode was taped prior to the recent hurricanes" and a graphic of the Puerto Rican flag.
October 30 is Halloween, taped August 24. During this week:
- The Season 28 Halloween Week intro is used.
- Jim introduces Pat and Vanna in a Dracula accent.
- The opening is shot in grainy black-and-white until Vanna walks to the puzzle board.
- At a random point during Round 1, a witch can be seen flying behind the puzzle board, complete with cackle.
On October 30:
- Rounds 2 and 3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
- Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
- Contestant Suzanne finishes second with $21,892.
On October 31:
- Round 1 begins with four consecutive Bankrupts, although the latter three are all edited out.
- What Are You Wearing? is used as a Prize Puzzle for the first time.
- Jim is shown on-camera after reading the Prize Puzzle copy.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or a Crossword Round are used.

November 2017[]

On November 1, Rounds 3 and 4 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
On November 2:
- In Round 2, contestant Sharon solves the Crossword puzzle ARTHUR TUT STEPHEN KONG (in the category It's Good to Be King) and pronounces STEPHEN as "Stephan" instead of "Steven". This is accepted, and before Round 3, Pat explains that the puzzle could refer to either Stephen King, or to any of various kings named Stephen who pronounced it in the former fashion.
- Rounds 2, 3, and 4 are completely filled in before being solved.
- Fun & Games appears in the Bonus Round for the first time since May 20, 2014.
- The closing chat is reshot due to Pat accidentally saying "it has been a great week, I’m sad to see it end" during the first chat despite it being a Thursday episode.
On November 3:
- There is a pan across the set after Round 3 which appears to have been added in post-production, as the puzzle board is blank.
- In the final segment, Vanna surprises Pat by offering him a fig pie.
November 6 is Veterans Week, taped September 13.
On November 6:
- Six rounds are played.
- The winning contestant, who wins the Bonus Round, misses the $1,000,000 by only one envelope.
On November 7, there is a $100,000 loss.
On November 10:
- For no particular reason, Pat does not do most of the Final Spin explanation.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
November 13 is Disney Week, taped at Epcot Studios in Orlando on October 10. During this week:
- Grandparents and grandchildren play.
- There is a cold open:
  - Monday: Sarge and the Green Army Men from Toy Story prepare the set.
  - Tuesday: Vanna is eating an apple, and Pat asks if he can have one. Vanna says that she does not have one but "that woman behind me" does, after which Queen Grimhilde from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs offers Pat an apple.
  - Wednesday: Snow White says that "someday I'll find my prince", and then passes up Pat while making the same remark again.
  - Thursday: Vanna talks with a Disney representative named Lisa while walking through Disney's Holiday Services Warehouse and wonders where Pat is, followed by a cut to Pat tied up in a wreath, with Chip and Dale laughing.
  - Friday: Various shots of Pat selling balloons.
- Disney characters escort Pat and Vanna onstage: Mickey and Minnie on Monday and Friday, Donald Duck and Goofy on Tuesday, Mickey and Goofy on Wednesday, Minnie and Donald on Thursday.
- Despite the theme, no Disney-themed puzzles are used. However, several Christmas-themed puzzles are used despite the week airing before Thanksgiving. Also, the set decorations include Christmas presents.
- Pat and Vanna promote an attraction or event at Walt Disney World in the closing segment.
On all of the Walt Disney World episodes this season:
- There are noticeable issues with audio and video quality, which may have been caused by using different cameras and/or microphones combined with unusually warm weather.
- According to eyewitnesses, tapings had to stop for the Disney fireworks show every night, and some tapings were not finished until after midnight. Also, at least one contestant is confirmed to have nearly passed out from the heat.
- The title card features the traditional logo inside a Mickey Mouse head, followed by "35th Anniversary at Walt Disney World" wiping into place in white text on a blue background. The same "35th Anniversary" logo, with a traditional logo on either side, also appears on the scoreboards during the intro. Tinker Bell then appears as a wipe, followed by several pictures of Pat and Vanna at Walt Disney World. She then appears again as the wipe to Pat and Vanna's entry. Jim's intro is "And now, from Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, here are the stars of America's Game: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
- The Prize is a Disney cruise, valued at $9,353, a rare instance of a Prize less than $10,000 on a team episode. Also, Vanna reads part of the copy.
- The Prize Puzzle offers a choice of one of fourteen Disney Vacation Club resorts, valued at $8,000. Vanna reads part of the copy.
- The category strip uses several varying animations during main-game rounds involving Mickey and Minnie, Chip and Dale, Donald Duck and Goofy, or just Goofy, some of which involve the category strip moving. These are also not used during Crossword Rounds. A Mickey Mouse head with the traditional logo on it appears on the left side for the rest of the round.
On November 13:
- Most of contestant Bonnie's interview appears to have been edited out, as she only says part of a sentence before there is a jump cut to the teams grabbing their Toss-Up buzzers.
- All three teams call two letters on their first turns in the Speed-Up, although the second letter is muted each time. There is then a jump cut to Pat before the fourth turn, likely indicating there was a pause in recording to remind the contestants of the Speed-Up rules.
On November 15:
- There is a $1,000,000 loss.
- Pat and Vanna do the closing chat with Brandon Peters, the 2017-18 Walt Disney World Resort ambassador.
On November 16, Ellen DiGovanni, who designs gingerbread houses for Walt Disney World Resort, prepares a gingerbread house for Pat and Vanna during the closing chat.
On November 17:
- As contestant Logan is wheelchair-bound, his grandmother spins for him. This is only the third known instance of a "designated spinner" during a team week.
- The bonus puzzle PROVIDING USEFUL ADVICE is longer than all but one main game puzzle.
- Pat and Vanna do the closing segment with several international representatives of Walt Disney World.
November 20 is America's Game. Despite this, every episode has a Thanksgiving-themed puzzle. Also, only two Crossword Rounds are done this week.
On November 20:
- The Prize is a shopping spree at The Company Store.
- The Round 1 puzzle IT'S JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY is inexplicably categorized as The 80's instead of 80's Song Lyrics.
- The Round 5 puzzle DOCTOR WATSON uses only one line.
- Same Name, Before & After, and Same Letter are not used despite no Crosswords being played.
On November 21, as it is the sixth episode of Salute to Texas, a Texas clip is shown during the intro, and the Prize is $10,000 cash. However, no Texas-themed puzzles are used.
On November 22, against normal practice, the "only vowels remain" beeps are used in the Speed-Up. This is very likely due to the red contestant remaining silent after calling the last consonant. After this, the yellow contestant calls an O but remains silent, and the blue contestant solves without calling a letter.
On November 24:
- Jim is shown on-camera after reading the Prize Puzzle copy.
- For the first time, a category with an "80's" prefix is used in the Speed-Up.
November 27 is Great Outdoors, taped September 13. During this week:
- The Toss-Up music and dings stop working, so the Toss-Ups are done in silence in-studio with the sounds added in post-production. Also, Pat has to look at the offscreen scoreboard to determine who has rung in. The music is fixed during the Thursday episode.
- The ½ Car is a Ford Fiesta.
On November 28, the Round 5 puzzle LASAGNA PAN has only one vowel.
On November 29:
- In Round 1, contestant Chrystal tries to solve immediately after spinning, but Pat advises her to call a consonant first.
- The original Round 2 (ROCK CLIMBING AND RAPPELLING) is thrown out due to Pat and the board operators mishearing a call of T as P. This results in two duplicate categories, as the replacement Round 2 and Round 5 are Phrase, while the $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Living Thing.
On November 30:
- The Prize copy includes a trailer for Just Getting Started.
- A "null" cycle is not edited from the beginning of the Speed-Up.
Before & After and Same Name appear to go on hiatus around this point, as the former does not appear between November 22 and December 28, and the latter does not appear between November 29 and January 19.

December 2017[]

All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of November 27, part of a seven-loss streak through to December 5th.
On December 1, contestant Tony's bonus puzzle ON THE HIGHWAY is categorized as Phrase instead of Place. Tony appeals to the show over this categorization and is brought back in April 2020. This is the only known instance to date of a contestant who made it to the Bonus Round being brought back.
December 4-15 is the Secret Santa Sweepstakes, taped November 9 and 10. Unlike previous seasons, both weeks feature only solo players. During this week:
- During the first Secret Santa Sweepstakes week, the Gift Tag and Prize are $1,000 and $10,000 cash respectively, courtesy of the Wheel of Fortune Free Play app. The former is shaped like a smartphone.
- During the contestant interviews, the text "Have your SPIN ID ready. You could win whatever a contestant wins!" appears in silver next to a red "Secret Santa" bug.
On December 4:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up GOOD TIDINGS uses only one line.
- Pat says "That buzzer sound a little sick?" during the Speed-Up, referencing the fact that the buzzer sounded distorted in-studio. Although the sound is fixed in post-production, his comment is left in.
- Round 4 is a factually incorrect answer of GIZMO THE GREMLIN (Gizmo from the movie Gremlins is a mogwai, not a gremlin).
On December 5:
- Contestant Jeanette's name tag falls off during Round 2. It is retrieved during Round 3.
- For the only time, both Same Name and a Crossword Round are used in the same game.
- For the seventh and final time, a Crossword Round is used as the Prize Puzzle.
- There is an edit before contestant Nathan solves the Prize Puzzle. This is due to contestant Haley giving an incorrect answer and then arguing with Pat about it. This incident is very likely the reason no further Crossword Rounds are used as Prize Puzzles.
- RSTLNE reveals more than half of the Bonus Round answer (BASKETS AND HAMPERS).
On December 6:
- Before the closing segment is recorded, several Sony staff members and crew from KABC appear onstage to celebrate the show's 35th Anniversary. KABC also shoots footage of a 35th anniversary video, which includes clips from the episode and a shot of the puzzle board reading WHEEL OF FORTUNE 35.
- Pat, Vanna, and Jim appear in the closing segment and eat a cake shaped like the two-row logo.
On December 7:
- The Round 4 puzzle COFFEE TOFFEE has only three unique consonants.
- Twelve wrong letters are called in the Speed-Up, including a streak of eight from which six are edited out, and a second "null" cycle which is not edited out.
- In the final segment, Pat and Vanna show a clip from the previous day's Speed-Up, in which Vanna touches a letter with both hands at the same time.
On December 8:
- Winning contestant Bobby is the founder of this Wiki.
- Contestant Lynnette mentions that her mother was on the show in the 1980s.
- The $1,000 Toss-Up RED BRICK CHIMNEY is categorized as Around the House. The last time this answer was used (exactly three years prior), it was categorized as Thing.
- The Round 2 puzzle IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is incorrectly categorized as Title instead of Movie Title.
- Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
During the week of December 4, for the first time, four Crossword Rounds are done in one week.
On December 12, after Round 2, Jim wishes everyone a happy Hanukkah.
On December 13, contestant Jeremie sweeps the game and wins $35,000 in the Bonus Round.
On December 14:
- The Prize is a $10,408 tour of Alaska.
- Bankrupt is hit five times in a row in Round 1.
December 18 is Home for the Holidays, taped September 25. During this week:
- Members of the staff give holiday wishes to the viewers after Round 1 and before Round 3:
  - Monday: producers and production department
  - Tuesday: production staff and licensing/clearance department
  - Wednesday: marketing/promotions/publicity and contestant department
  - Thursday: art department and post-production department
  - Friday: stage crew (done in front of the puzzle board, which reads HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2017) and Bob Ennis, Jim Thornton, and "all the subordinate clauses"
- On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of Melissa's Produce.
On December 18:
- The Prize is $6,000 cash, and its copy includes a trailer for The Star.
- Vanna reads the Prize Puzzle copy.
- Rounds 1 and 4 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
On December 19, the Prize Puzzle copy includes a trailer for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
On December 20, Contestant Michelle finishes second with $20,150.
On December 21:
- For unknown reasons, Wheel is pre-empted on owned-and-operated CBS affiliates by an infomercial for Operation Smile. The episode is re-broadcast on December 15, 2018.
- There is a ½ Car win.
- There is a $1,000,000 loss. The contestant would have set a new record of $1,032,100 had she solved.
On December 22, the Prize is a $6,000 shopping spree for The Company Store.
December 25 is Hawaii, taped December 1. This week is re-broadcast during summer reruns the week of August 13, 2018, resulting in the first known instance of the Christmas Day episode being included in reruns.
On December 26, contestant Joe wins by $50, and finishes with only $7,550 before the Bonus Round.
On December 27:
- Multiple East Coast affiliates accidentally air the December 26 show again.
- Pat and Vanna read the Prize Puzzle copy.
- In the closing segment, Pat and Vanna show a clip of the "Who said anything about a horse?!" incident from November 10, 2014.
On December 28:
- Wheel is once again pre-empted on owned-and-operated CBS affiliates by an infomercial for Operation Smile.
- The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
- Against normal practice, the "only vowels remain" beeps sound in the Speed-Up.
On December 29, Wheel is pre-empted on several East Coast CBS affiliates due to overrun from a college football game.
2017 is the second calendar year in the show's history with no $100,000 wins.

January 2018[]

January 1 is America's Game.
On January 1, there is a $100,000 loss.
On January 2:
- In an unusual move, one of the words in the Round 2 Crossword (whose category is ____ Check) is BLANK.
- Round 4 (OUT OF SIGHT!) uses only one line.
On January 4, as it is the sixth episode from the Swiss Holiday week of January 22:
- There is a cold open showing Pat and Vanna making cheese, and shots of Pat and Vanna in Switzerland appear during the intro.
- The Prize is a tour of Switzerland, Austria, and Bavaria, for which Pat and Vanna read part of the copy.
On January 5, there is a $100,000 loss.
January 8 is Disney Sea & Shore Week, taped November 30. During this week:
- There is a cold open:
  - Monday and Friday: Vanna says "At sea and on shore..." and Pat continues, "America's Game is celebrating Disney vacations, starting now."
  - Tuesday: Pat says "Exciting adventures are on the horizon." and Pat continues, "It's Disney Sea and Shore Week!"
  - Wednesday: Pat says "It's Disney Sea and Shore, and it starts right now."
  - Thursday: Vanna says "Welcome aboard, it's Disney Sea and Shore week!"
- Married couples compete.
- The Prizes and Prize Puzzles are all Disney cruises and properties. Unusually for a team week, all except for Thursday's Prize Puzzle are under $10,000.
On January 8, the original $1,000 Toss-Up is thrown out due to an incorrect answer being accepted. According to a Facebook post, this was not discovered until after the team who gave the wrong answer was interviewed, resulting in the entire show being reshot to that point and the replacement puzzle NAVIGATION SYSTEM not being themed.
January 15 is Wheel Around the World, taped December 14. During this week:
- There is a cold open:
  - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: Pat says, "Welcome to Wheel Around the World!" from a riverside, a snowy landscape, and a castle.
  - Tuesday: Vanna says, "We're at the Tower Bridge in London. It's Wheel Around the World!"
  - Friday: Pat says, "It's Wheel Around the World!" and Vanna says, "Pat and I are touring Switzerland!"
- The hosts of an international version present the Prize: Germany on Monday, Greece on Tuesday, Spain on Wednesday, Brazil on Thursday, Romania on Friday.
- After Round 1, the hosts of an international version do a bumper: Greece on Monday, Germany on Tuesday, Romania on Wednesday, Poland on Thursday, Spain on Friday.
- After Round 2, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Pat does a special on an international version: Romania on Monday, Poland on Wednesday, Spain on Friday.
- In the closing segment, an international version is shown: Romania on Monday, Spain on Tuesday, Greece on Wednesday, Poland on Thursday, Brazil on Friday.
On January 16:
- The Prize Puzzle copy includes a trailer for Peter Rabbit.
- This is the only episode of the week that has never appeared on streaming or Game Show Network.
On January 17:
- Rounds 1-3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
- Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
January 19 is one of four episodes that is not available on Pluto TV despite previously being available on Netflix. However, unlike the other three, this episode does air on Game Show Network.
2018 starts with 14 consecutive Bonus Round losses. This is also part of a four-week span beginning in 2018 where only two Bonus Rounds are won, which in turn results in January 2018 possibly having the fewest Bonus Round wins of any month in the show's history until 2019.
January 22 is Swiss Holiday, taped December 15. During this week:
- The Prize is a trip to Switzerland, Austria, and Bavaria, for which Pat and Vanna read part of the copy.
- Pat and Vanna do a cold open in front of a Swiss landmark, and similar bumpers after Round 2 and before Round 3.
On January 22, the Prize Puzzle offers a $10,798 trip to Italy.
On January 23, the Prize Puzzle offers a $12,398 tour of South Africa.
On January 24, Contestant Steve only spins twice in the entire game, landing on Bankrupt both times.
January 29 is Wheel Across America, taped January 12. During this week, the Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
On January 31:
- Round 3's Prize Puzzle is WHERE ARE YOU SENDING ME PAT?
- Six rounds are played.

February 2018[]

On February 1:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up COWBOYS & COWGIRLS is not themed to America's Game.
- A "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 2 (an incorrect response, an incorrect B, and a repeated B).
- The audience inexplicably applauds an incorrect response in Round 2.
On February 2:
- Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
- Round 1 (CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO) is improperly hyphenated.
February 5 is Great American Cities, taped January 11. During this week:
- A different city is used every day: Boston on Monday, Chicago on Tuesday, Seattle on Wednesday, San Diego on Thursday, and Philadelphia on Friday.
- The Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of insuremytrip.com.
On February 6:
- None of the puzzles have a T in them until the $3,000 Toss-Up.
- When contestant Kourtney hits Lose a Turn in Round 3, the Bankrupt slide whistle accidentally sounds.
On February 8, for the second time this season, the winning contestant, who wins the Bonus Round, misses the $1,000,000 by only one envelope.
February 12 is Wheel from Walt Disney World Week, taped at Epcot Studios in Orlando on October 11. During this week:
- The set is now decorated with Disney characters.
- Married couples compete.
- There is a cold open:
  - Monday: Mickey tries to spin the Wheel but Minnie stops and asks him why he wants to spin.
  - Tuesday: Donald shows Daisy the puzzle board, which reads WELCOME HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST STAR DONALD DUCK but changes to DAISY: WILL YOU BE MINE? LOVE DONALD.
  - Wednesday: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy promote Valentine's Day.
  - Thursday: Pat and Vanna introduce Star Wars Launch Bay but are escorted away by two Stormtroopers.
  - Friday: Pat joins the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe and plays a single note on the triangle.
- Disney characters escort Pat and Vanna onstage: Mickey and Minnie on Monday and Wednesday, Donald and Daisy on Tuesday, Donald and Goofy on Thursday and Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and Daisy on Friday.
- The Prize is a trip to Aulani, for which Vanna reads part of the copy. Unusually for a team week, it is valued at only $6,310.
On February 15, the Round 3 puzzle MY BIGGEST BRIGHTEST SMILE is the only What Are You Wearing? puzzle to date that is not an article of clothing or accessory.
On February 16, Contestants Bobby and Linda solve the Speed-Up puzzle WILL YOU MARRY ME? with only the R's showing.
Between January 29 and February 19, 17 Bonus Rounds in a row are played for $35,000.
February 19 is Delicious Destinations, taped January 25. During this week, the Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of Melissa's.
On February 19, the Round 4 puzzle WHERE'S THE BEEF? has only one vowel. It is also the last appearance of TV Quote (albeit categorized as 80's TV Quote on this episode) until the third episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in January 2021.
On February 20:
- The $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are In the Kitchen, only the second duplication of that category.
- Due to being pre-empted on most NBC affiliates by the Winter Olympics, Santa Barbara affiliate KSBY delays this episode to air on Monday, February 26. This is done to accommodate contestant Barbara, who is local to the viewing area.
On February 23, the Prize puzzle offers a $10,200 trip to Maui.
February 26 is Winter Hideaway, taped January 26.
On February 26:
- The buzzer does not sound on an incorrect S in Round 2.
- The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,990 trip to Barbados.
- The bonus puzzle GO WILD uses only one line. it also only the third bonus puzzle since November 3, 2009 that is shorter than seven letters.
On February 27, Round 3 is a factually incorrect answer of EXPLORING THE GARDEN ISLAND; the last word should be ISLE, in reference to Kauai's nickname of "The Garden Isle".
On February 28:
- The Prize includes a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack release of Daddy's Home 2, whose trailer is also shown as part of the copy.
- All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 2.

March 2018[]

On March 1:
- The Prize is a $10,408 tour of Alaska.
- Against normal practice, the buzzer sounds on a repeated A in both Rounds 1 and 2. The latter appears to be an edit, as it appears that the judges were unsure whether contestant Chelsea called an A or E.
- In Round 2, the Bankrupt slide whistle accidentally sounds when Chelsea hits a ½ Car tag. Although the sound is fixed in post-production, some audience laughter can be heard.
- The Round 4 puzzle CLAWS AND PAWS has only one vowel.
On March 2, contestant Erin solves the bonus puzzle VIRAL VIDEO on the buzzer. There is an obvious edit before her answer is accepted, and the site's weekly video shows a portion that was edited out (specifically, Pat saying that "it was so close and we're going to check the clock"). This clip itself seems to be sloppily edited due to the "ER" in "Winter Hideaways" on the scoreboards appearing twice.
March 5 is Leave Winter Behind, taped February 9. During this week:
- All of the Prize Puzzle trips are over $10,000.
- The Gift Tag is a $1,000 Visa gift card courtesy of Hunter Fan.
- A new wipe is introduced for the Mystery Round: the spinning Wheel is shown with the yellow arrow landing on the one between $700 and $650, and a purple question mark flies out of the wedge to fill the screen briefly.
On March 5, contestant Liz finishes in third place with only the $10,000 Mystery Prize.
On March 6, for the first time, a contestant (Margaret) finishes with only the Prize Puzzle package, and no other cash or prizes.
On March 7, a "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
On March 8:
- The Prize is a $10,064 trip to Fiji.
- The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
March 12 is America's Game.
On March 12:
- As it is the sixth episode of Disney Sea & Shore Week, married couples compete, and the Prize and Prize Puzzle trips are to Disney properties.
- Round 2 is the last appearance of 80's Song Lyrics until November 24, 2021.
The March 13 episode's air date is incorrectly listed as March 12 on Pluto TV.
On March 14:
- Round 2 is the first Crossword Round to have a hyphenated word in it.
- Six rounds are played.
On March 16:
- The sixth show of Great American Cities salutes Denver.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of March 12, part of a seven-loss streak through to the 20th.
March 19 is Beaches Resorts Family Week, taped February 8. During this week:
- A piece of Caribbean-sounding music plays in place of the usual opening music.
- Despite the name, all the teams are married couples.
- All of the Wheel Prizes and Prize Puzzle prizes are trips to Beaches or Sandals resorts, with Pat and/or Vanna reading the copy on-location. Also, the trips are valued much lower than usual for team weeks.
On March 19, the $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are What Are You Wearing?, the only duplication of that category (not counting Triple Toss-Ups).
On March 21:
- Contestant Peter is referred to by his nickname, Lyrical. While he is given nametags with both names, he wears the one reading "Lyrical".
- The bonus puzzle CHEWY JERKY is a rare instance of E being the only vowel in a bonus puzzle.
- There is a $100,000 win, the first since December 1, 2016 and the only one of the season.
On the March 24 rerun of the October 11, 2016 episode, against normal practice, the current season's Bonus Round win fanfare is not used. Instead, the envelope reveal music plays as soon as the solution is revealed.
March 26 is California Coast, taped February 22. During this week:
- The Bonus Round is sponsored by Jackpot Magic Slots.
- On Pluto TV, the episodes' air dates are incorrectly listed as March 13-17, which fell on a Tuesday through Saturday.
On March 26:
- There is a $100,000 loss.
- In the closing segment, Pat and Vanna honor the 45th anniversary of The Young and the Restless, with Christian LeBlanc, Tracey Bregman, Bryton James, and Camryn Grimes present onstage.
On March 27:
- Contestant Donna mentions that her son Terrence was on the show in 2002.
- There is a ½ Car win.
- Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
- The Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of insuremytrip.com
- The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,200 trip to Maui.
On March 28, contestant Aggie's last name and hometown are never mentioned.
On March 30, contestant Harvey uses the Wild Card on $600 in Round 4.

April 2018[]

April 2 is College Week Spring Break, taped February 23.
On April 2 and 3, six rounds are played. This is the second known instance of this happening on consecutive episodes.
On April 4, for the only time since January 31, 2008, a bonus puzzle in the category of Character (BRUCE WAYNE) is the character's name, rather than a type of character. This is also the last time that Character is used in the Bonus Round.
On April 6:
- The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,990 trip to Barbados.
- Round 4 (FINALS WEEK) uses only one line.
- Six rounds are played. This is also only the second known time that three games have gone to at least six rounds in one week (the week of March 18, 2002 had two episodes with six rounds and one with seven).
April 9 is America's Game. During this week, only two Crossword Rounds are done.
On April 9:
- As it is the sixth episode of Big Money Week, the Gift Tag and Prize are $1,000 and $10,000 cash, respectively, courtesy of the Jackpot Magic Slots app.
- Rounds 1 and 3 are completely filled in before being solved.
- Contestant Jonny incorrectly solves the fully-revealed Round 3 puzzle FLAMENCO DANCE LESSONS after calling the last letter on Express by mispronouncing the first word as "flamingo". After contestant Ashley solves on the next turn, Pat notes that his answer will be checked during commercial. After returning from commercial, Pat points out that the ruling was correct, but also corrects Ashley's score as she was accidentally given an extra $1,000 in the process. This is also the first instance of a contestant going Bankrupt on Express by giving a wrong answer, and the first instance since April 2014 of a fully-revealed puzzle being incorrectly solved.
On April 10:
- As it is the sixth episode of Beaches Resorts Family Week, there is a cold open, consisting of a series of outtakes with Pat and Vanna being served at a restaurant on a Beaches resort.
- Bankrupt is hit six times in Round 2, including three in a row, a tie for the most known Bankrupts in one round.
On April 12:
- It is the sixth episode of College Spring Break Week, which Pat mentions before the interviews.
- The $1,000 Toss-Up BANANA SPLIT is themed to neither America's Game nor the taping session. However, an America's Game-themed puzzle is used in Round 1.
- The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
April 16 is Big Money, taped March 8, sponsored by Jackpot Magic Slots. During this week:
- After the Bonus Round, a SPIN ID is drawn, and a home viewer wins the same amount as the day's winner.
- Before the chant, there is a cold open in which Pat and Vanna promote the giveaway.
- The Gift Tag and Prize are $1,000 and $10,000 cash, respectively, courtesy of Jackpot Magic Slots.
On April 17, Round 4 and the Bonus Round are pre-empted in many East Coast markets due to a special report on the death of Barbara Bush.
On April 18:
- Contestant Jennifer is wheelchair-bound, so she has her husband Shawn spin for her. Although she is able to spin the Bonus Wheel herself, her husband is still present at the Bonus Round to push the chair.
- The bonus puzzle JAM-PACKED HOUSE is the first presence of any punctuation in the Bonus Round since October 1, 2015.
On April 19:
- A "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 3 (Lose a Turn, a Bankrupt from a contestant with no money or cardboard, and an incorrect H).
- There is a ½ Car win.
On April 20:
- The $50,000 prize is won in the Bonus Round for the last time until January 17, 2020.
- The winner's final total of $75,550 is inadvertently spoiled via the Official Rules of the Big Money Giveaway on the show's website.
- In the final segment, Pat and Vanna show pictures of Iggy Pop, Tony Romo, Lesly Sajak, Judy Friedman, and Queen Elizabeth, to acknowledge the fact that all five have birthdays on April 21.
April 23 is Best Friends, taped March 9. During this week, the closing segment is a retrospective done by Vanna on a team who won on a previous Best Friends Week.
On April 24:
- The Prize is $12,000 cash (itself the highest-known cash prize), plus two copies of the 40th anniversary HD re-release of Grease, accompanied by a trailer for the movie After it is done, Pat announces that everyone in the audience will receive a copy as well, and the audience is seen applauding.
- The Round 1 puzzle (THROUGH THICK & THIN) is the first Same Letter puzzle to be repeated since the category's introduction, as it previously appeared on March 1, 2011.
- Round 2 is the first appearance of Proper Names since February 10, 2015.
- The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
On April 25, contestants Miles and Ryan finish second with $22,400.
On April 26:
- Nobody solves the $1,000 Toss-Up I LOVE YOU MAN!
- A "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
On April 27:
- The Prize is $7,500 credit to insuremytrip.com.
- The shot of the Bonus Wheel is done at an angle instead of an overhead shot.
April 30 is the third and final Wheel from Walt Disney World Week, taped at Epcot Studios in Orlando on October 12, and the last road venue to date. During this week:
- There is a cold open.
  - Monday: Pat and Donald Duck are finished getting ready in Pat's dressing room.
  - Tuesday: Pat serves as a tour guide on a boat.
  - Wednesday: Pat and Vanna go on a merry-go-round, and Pat pretends to be afraid of riding it.
  - Thursday: Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker ask Pat and Vanna to help them test their machine.
  - Friday: Donald fails to spin the Wheel three times, with Goofy spinning successfully after him each time; after Donald walks off-set in frustration, Chip and Dale are revealed to be restraining the Wheel with a rope to prevent Donald from spinning it.
- Disney characters escort Pat and Vanna onstage: Mickey and Minnie on Monday and Thursday, Mickey and Goofy on Tuesday, Donald and Goofy on Wednesday, and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy on Friday.
- On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Prize is a $10,932 Danube River cruise.
On April 30, all three contestants are left-handed, which Pat points out before the $3,000 Toss-Up.

May 2018[]

Strangely, the May 1 episode is rerun twice on the 2018-19 weekend feed – on November 17, 2018 and August 24, 2019. This is the third known time where an episode has two weekend repeats.
On May 2, in the closing segment, Pat and Vanna eat Disney-themed treats with Walt Disney World chef Misha Mills.
On May 4:
- Contestant Matt uses his Wild Card on $600 in Round 2.
- Mickey Mouse and his friends appear in the post-game chat.
May 7 is Spa Getaway, taped March 22. During this week, the Wii intro from Season 28's World Class Spas Week is used.
On May 8, the Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
On May 11, contestant Tammy solves the Speed-Up puzzle LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS with only the T's revealed.
During the week of May 7, every episode except May 8 has a Bonus Round whose category is repeated from the main game.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of May 7, part of an eight-loss streak starting on the 4th.
May 14 is Shopping Spree, taped March 23. During this week, the ½ Car is a Ford Fiesta.
On May 14, the Prize Puzzle offers a $10,200 trip to Maui.
On May 15:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN is not themed to the week.
- Round 2 is the last occurrence to date of Same Name spelling out AND.
On May 16:
- Round 1 is the only Crossword Round this season to have only three words.
- The shot of the Bonus Wheel is done at an angle instead of an overhead shot.
On May 17, the Retro Bonus Round is not done.
On May 18, the Prize Puzzle offers a $10,188 trip to Samoa.
May 21 is Get Out of Town, taped April 5. During this week, the Wii intro from the same theme in Season 28 is used, featuring the Pat and Vanna avatars entering a sports car in the desert.
On May 21:
- The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,100 trip to Samoa.
- In the final segment, Pat and Vanna show outtakes from bumpers shot in Switzerland.
On May 22:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up SEIZING THE MOMENT is not themed.
- Contestant Natalie uses her Wild Card on $800 in Round 2.
- Once again, an angled shot is used of the Bonus Wheel.
- The bonus puzzle ORDERING APPETIZERS is a rare instance of RSTLNE revealing more than half of the bonus puzzle.
On May 23, contestant James hits $3,500 four times in a row in Round 2.
On May 24, there is a $100,000 loss.
On May 25, winning contestant Carolyn picks her Bonus Round category before Pat asks her which one she wants to pick. As a result, their strips do not appear until after she has picked it, and Pat has to ask the offstage crew what the other two categories were.
May 28 is America's Game. During this week, the Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtsey of Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
On May 28:
- It is the sixth episode of Best Friends, so two-person teams play.
- Both contestants on the yellow team are named Chris.
- Nobody solves the $3,000 Toss-Up WKRP IN CINCINNATI.
- A "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
On May 29, the Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
On May 30:
- Bankrupt is hit six times in Round 1, tying the record for most known Bankrupts in one round.
- The audience accidentally applauds after a wrong answer in the Bonus Round.
- In the final segment, Vanna does a retrospective on $1,000,000 winner Autumn Erhard, who then appears with her and Pat.
On May 31, contestant Dennise solves the bonus puzzle MOVING BOXES on the buzzer. Although the puzzle reveals as if it were a loss, the audience applauds anyway. In the final segment, Pat opens the bonus envelope and reveals that she has been ruled a winner.

June 2018[]

On June 1:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN is themed to its position in the game, instead of to America's Game. In addition, no American-themed puzzles are used at all.
- There is a ½ Car win.
- Contestant Jeremy finishes second with $20,800.
June 4 is Tennis Week, taped April 6. During this week:
- The two-row logo is modified to have a tennis ball replace the O in "OF", while the Wheel-shaped O is instead used in the word "FORTUNE".
- All contestants are tennis players.
- A tennis player does a cold open: Roger Federer on Monday, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tuesday, Coco Vandeweghe on Wednesday, Alexander Zverev on Thursday, and Jack Sock on Friday.
- A tennis player also introduces the Prize, which is also a trip to a tennis event:
  - Monday: Jim Courier introduces a trip to the French Open
  - Tuesday: Billie Jean King introduces a trip to the US Open
  - Wednesday: Kevin Anderson introduces a trip to the Nitto ATP Finals
  - Thursday: Simona Halep introduces a trip to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals
  - Friday: Stevie Johnson introduces a trip to the BNP Paribas Open
- A tennis player does a bumper after the credits: Ryan Harrison on Monday and Thursday, Alexander Zverev on Tuesday, and Billie Jean King on Wednesday.
- There is a home sweepstakes, in which viewers may submit each day's bonus puzzle on the show's website for a chance to win a trip to Omni Rancho las Palmas.
On June 4:
- The Prize is on the red $800 due to the wedge being red-orange.
- Round 2 is the first appearance of Family since November 2013, and its first maingame appearance since November 2011.
- John Isner does a bumper before Round 3.
- In the final segment, Pat and Vanna do a retrospective on the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
On June 5:
- The Prize mentioned above is worth $11,650.
- After Round 2, Jim does a presentation on the Grand Slam of Tennis.
- Simona Halep does a bumper after the Speed-Up.
- In the final segment, Pat and Vanna interview Bob and Mike Bryan.
On June 6:
- Lindsay Davenport does a bumper after Round 2.
- Roger Federer does a bumper before Round 3.
- The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,990 trip to Barbados.
- Character(s) is offered as a Bonus Round category for the last time.
- There is a $100,000 loss, tying Season 28 for the most grand prize losses in one season, with 11.
- In the final segment, Pat and Vanna interview Stevie Johnson.
On June 7:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up LUCK OF THE DRAW is not themed.
- The Prize mentioned above is worth $10,100.
- After Round 2, Jim does the same presentation that he did on Tuesday.
- Eugenie Bouchard does a bumper after the Speed-Up.
- As the credits run long enough for an audience shot to be used, Jim can briefly be seen near the back of the audience.
On June 8:
- Caroline Wozniacki does a bumper after Round 2.
- John Isner does a bumper before Round 3.
- Pat and Vanna do the closing segment from Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of June 4, part of a six-loss streak starting on the 1st.

Post-Season[]

On the June 9 rerun of the May 29, 2017 episode, the closed captioning is in all-caps for the only time since Season 33.

Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 35

Contents

Season Changes[]

September 2017[]

October 2017[]

November 2017[]

December 2017[]

January 2018[]

February 2018[]

March 2018[]

April 2018[]

May 2018[]

June 2018[]

Post-Season[]

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