Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 36

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A timeline for Season 36 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 10, 2018 through June 7, 2019.

Season Changes

• The studio intro from Season 34 is used with one modification: two of the buildings now have graphics of Pat and Vanna waving at the viewer, which are sometimes altered for the theme of the week.
• When a contestant calls a letter, the letter appears in a light gray circle on the bottom left corner of the screen. A red slash appears through it if it is not in the puzzle or has been called already. Because of this, the logo and "America's Game" bugs are no longer used.

September 2018

• September 10 is Teacher's Week, taped July 26. During this week, the opening graphic has pictures of Pat and Vanna in grade school added to two of the buildings.
• On September 11, Classic TV is used for the first time since January 9, 2013.
• On September 13:
  • The Prize is a $10,200 trip to Spain.
  • For the first known time, Headline is used in Round 4.
• On September 14, six rounds are played.
• September 17 is Gone Fishin', taped August 9. During this week, the Season 28 Outdoor Adventure Week intro is used, which features the Pat and Vanna Wii avatars fishing.
• On September 17, Dr. Oz makes a cameo in the closing segment. Footage is shown of him, Pat, and Vanna demonstrating CPR techniques on dummies in front of the puzzle board.
• On September 18:
  • Although the $3,000 Toss-Up is People, the category strip for Person is put up instead. Also, Pat's announcement of the category appears to have been corrected in post-production.
  • Places makes only its third known appearance in the Bonus Round.
• On September 19, the first sentence of the Mystery Round announcement is changed to "Did one of our Wheel Watchers just win $10,000?", while the onscreen text at this point now reads "Did you just win $10,000?"
• On September 21:
  • The Round 1 puzzle THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING has two spaces between TIME and FOR.
  • Contestant Alexa, who does not solve her bonus puzzle, misses the $1,000,000 by only one envelope.
• September 24 is California Coast, taped August 23. During this week, the Bonus Round is sponsored by the Netflix original series The Good Cop, a trailer of which is shown before the Bonus Round on Monday and Thursday.
• On September 25, two males play.
• On September 26, six rounds are played.
• On September 27, the bonus puzzle ORGANIC KALE AND SPINACH ties the third-longest known bonus puzzle to be used on the show, and the longest under three-and-a-vowel rules, at 21 letters.
• On September 28, Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
• All ten Bonus Rounds are lost on the weeks of September 17 and 24, part of an eleven loss streak. This is also part of a four-week span beginning on September 17 where only two Bonus Rounds are won.

October 2018

• October 1 is Shopping Spree, taped July 27, During this week:
  • The opening graphic has videos of Pat and Vanna carrying shopping bags on two of the buildings.
  • For only the second time, four Crossword Rounds are done in one week.
• On October 2:
  • The Prize is $6,000 credit to ebates.com.
  • The Retro Bonus Round is not done.
• On October 3, no puzzles are done that fit the theme of the week.
• October 8 is Spa Getaway, taped August 24. During this week, the Season 28 Wii avatar intro from World Class Spas Week intro is used.
• On October 8, the Prize Puzzle offers a $10,990 trip to Barbados.
• On October 9:
  • The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
  • The third-place contestant has $11,014.
• On October 10:
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • The Prize Puzzle offers a $10,976 trip to Jamaica.
  • Pat references a cut "null" cycle at the start of Round 4 by saying "There is, however, an S" despite no previous wrong letters airing.
• October 15 is Great Outdoors Week, taped August 10. During this week, the opening animation is the Pat and Vanna avatars rowing a canoe, followed by a zoom onto the traditional logo on one of the canoe paddles. Unusually for an episode with a Wii avatar opening, Jim does the "From the Sony Pictures Studios, it's America's Game!" announcement over the animation.
• On October 15:
  • Contestant Jeffrey lands on Express on the first spin of Round 3 and fills in the entire puzzle BOUTIQUES & RESTAURANTS by himself.
  • A "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
• On October 16, a "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 1 (Lose A Turn, an incorrect V, and another Lose A Turn).
• On October 17:
  • The Round 4 puzzle SLY AS A FOX is an extremely rare instance of a puzzle shorter than 10 letters.
  • Contestant Maureen leaves with only the Prize Puzzle package, and no other cash or prizes.
  • The winning contestant has only $8,600 before the Bonus Round.
• On October 19:
  • Pat references a cut "null" cycle in Round 4 by saying "Nate, back to you" on his first aired turn.
  • Round 4 is a non-sequitur answer of KANGAROO AND CARIBOU.
  • In the final segment, Pat and Vanna show three clips: the previous day's winning contestant James being jumped on by his wife Esther after winning the Bonus Round, a similar reaction from the winning contestant Renee on October 8, 1998, and then that same episode's closing chat, in which Pat says "16 years on the show, and you've never jumped on me like that" and Vanna replies "Well, you've never given me a car."
• October 22 is Veterans Week, taped September 26. During this week, every episode except October 25 has two males.
• On October 22, after the Bonus Round, Jim announces that all of the week's contestants will receive a package of products that have been promoted on Shark Tank.
• On October 23:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up ROCKET SCIENTIST is not themed.
  • The Prize is a $10,064 trip to Fiji.
  • The bonus puzzle (COUGARS IN THE WILD) is a rare instance of one under three-and-a-vowel rules to have at least one each of R, S, T, L, N, and E.
• On October 24:
  • Contestant Nikki fills in the entire Round 3 puzzle IT'S ALL I EVER WANTED by herself.
  • Nikki's score is accidentally shown as $20,103 after she solves Round 3. It is corrected to $19,903 before the $3,000 Toss-Up.
  • A "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 4 (an incorrect B, a Lose A Turn, and a Bankrupt that does not take anything away).
  • The second-place contestant has $19,100.
• On October 26:
  • The daily affiliate ad includes a clip of the "A GROUP OF PILL-PUSHERS" incident from 1999.
  • Contestant Carolyn fills in the entire Round 3 puzzle LISTENING TO A SALSA BAND by herself.
• The week of October 29 is Home Sweet Home Week, taped September 13. During this week:
  • The show holds a contest in which home viewers may enter for a chance to win a house at Latitude Margaritaville in Hilton Head (Hardeeville), South Carolina or Daytona Beach, Florida. This is promoted during the week of October 22 through a clip which shows contestants named Rachel, Kyle, and Peggy playing, and Rachel solving the puzzle WHEEL IS GIVING AWAY A HOUSE NEXT WEEK! The promo is changed slightly during the week of the contest to replace the word NEXT with THIS. The "contestants" in this ad appear to be actors, and they are all wearing nametags in the 1997-2013 style.
  • There is a cold open in which Pat and Vanna stand in front of the puzzle board, which shows a phrase relevant to the sweepstakes. Pat says, "It's a first for Wheel and our biggest giveway ever!", followed by Vanna saying, "You could win a home sweet home in paradise, located in Latitude Margarativaille." After a beat, Vanna says "Pat, what are you doing?" (on Monday-Wednesday) or "What happened?" (on Thursday and Friday) and Pat replies with a joke related to the lyrics of "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett:
    • Monday: The board reads ONE LUCKY VIEWER COULD WIN A HOUSE! and Pat's response is "Searching for my lost shaker of salt."
    • Tuesday: The board reads WE'RE GIVING ONE LUCKY VIEWER A NEW HOUSE! and Pat's response is "Strumming my six-string" while pulling out a toy ukulele.
    • Wednesday: The board reads WE'RE GIVING AWAY A HOUSE! and Pat's response is "Nibbling on sponge cake" while pulling out a piece of cake.
    • Thursday: The board reads YOUR NEW HOME IN PARADISE AWAITS! and Pat's response is "I stepped on a pop top" while grabbing his leg.
    • Friday: The board reads A NEW HOUSE COULD BE YOURS! and Pat's response is "I blew out my flip-flop" while holding a broken flip-flop.
  • All of the Prizes and Prize Puzzles are trips to Margaritaville Resorts.
  • Except on Tuesday, Jim promotes Latitude Margaritaville after Round 2.
• On October 31, there are two sets of duplicate categories: Rounds 1 and 3 are Phrase, while the $2,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are What Are You Doing?

November 2018

• On November 2:
  • The ding does not sound when the W is revealed in Round 2.
  • The closing segment is done entirely in silence, with Pat and Vanna "communicating" through thought bubbles while relaxing in chairs, with the only sounds being the laugh track.
• The week of November 5 is America’s Game. Unusually, only two Crossword Rounds are done this week.
• On November 5:
  • As it is the sixth episode of Teacher's Week, three teachers play.
  • The Prize is $6,000 cash courtesy of Care.com.
  • A "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
• On November 6, two males play.
• On November 7, Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
• On November 8, no puzzles are done that fit America's Game or the theme of the corresponding taping week (Shopping Spree).
• On November 9, there is a $100,000 loss by contestant Jonathan who says the answer just after the buzzer.
• November 12 is Great American Cities: Washington, D.C., taped September 27. During this week, the retro Bonus Rounds are not done; instead, Pat and Vanna do a bumper after Round 2.
• On November 12:
  • The Prize Puzzle includes a trailer the fourth season of the Starz TV series Outlander.
  • A "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
• On November 13:
  • Two males play.
  • The Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of Brown's Car Stores.
• On November 14:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHWRITER sets a new record for the longest puzzle to be used as a Toss-Up.
  • The Gift Tag is a $1,000 debit card courtesy of TLC Laser Eye Centers.
• On November 15:
  • Two males play.
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up, Round 4, and Bonus Round are Phrase, and no puzzles are done that fit the theme of the week. This would suggest that the original $1,000 Toss-Up was thrown out and replaced.
  • The Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of Long Fence and Home.
• On November 16, there is a $100,000 win.
• November 19 is Happy Thanksgiving! During this week, the Gift Tag is a $500 gift certificate to Bates Turkey Farm and $500 cash.
• On November 19, the Prize copy includes a trailer for the 30th anniversary DVD and Blu-Ray release of Scrooged, a copy of which is included in the prize package.
• On November 20:
  • Eleven turns are lost in Round 2.
  • Contestant Gina is credited with winning the $3,000 Toss-Up despite mispronouncing the answer PROVINCETOWN. This error is not discovered until before the Bonus Round, at which point Pat explains that since the ruling did not affect the outcome and she did not win, she will keep the $3,000 and her opponents will also be awarded the same amount.
• On November 21:
  • Contestant Whitney solves the bonus puzzle MADAGASCAR just barely after the buzzer. Pat explains that her answer will be checked during the break.
  • After the Bonus Round is lost, the puzzle is revealed like one that is solved: the entire answer fills in at once and the board's border flashes.
• November 26 is European Vacation, sponsored by Collette. As is usual for most Collette weeks, most of the Prizes and/or Prize Puzzle trips are over $10,000.
• On November 26:
  • Pat and Vanna read parts of the Prize copy.
  • Six rounds are played.
• On November 27:
  • Two males play.
  • Jim is shown on-camera after Round 1.
  • There is a ½ Car win.
  • For the first known time, Events is used in the Bonus Round.
• On November 30, contestant Immani is brought back due to a buzzer malfunction on her original episode, which aired on December 23, 2016. This is the first known instance since 2004 of a contestant being brought back to an error.

December 2018

• December 3 is Winter Break.
• On December 3:
  • Six consecutive turns are lost in Round 3 (an incorrect A, Lose A Turn, two Bankrupts, another Lose A Turn, and a third Bankrupt).
  • Six consecutive wrong letters are called in the Speed-Up, but only the latter three are edited out.
  • Events makes only its second known appearance in the Bonus Round.
• On December 4, the Prize Puzzle copy includes a trailer for the DVD and Blu-Ray release of Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Given the value of the Prize, it is likely that a copy of the movie is included as well.
• On December 5:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • In the closing chat, Pat and Vanna discuss the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise line, and Vanna reveals CARNIVAL MARDI GRAS on the puzzle board while the "puzzle solved" cue plays.
• On December 6:
  • The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature, and the most recent puzzle to be used in this feature (BLACK TIGHTS from November 26, 2010). It is also accidentally identified as being from 2001.
  • Pat and Vanna read part of the Prize Puzzle copy; unusually, Pat also reads the value of the trip.
• December 10 and 17 are the Secret Santa Sweepstakes. Unlike last year, the Prizes and Gift Tag are not cash.
• On December 10:
  • The Prize is a $12,900 French cruise.
  • In Round 2, Bev is credited with $1,500 when she solves the puzzle. Before Round 3, Pat points out that a vowel was not deducted from her score, and corrects her total to $1,250.
• On December 11:
  • Two males play.
  • The Prize is $6,000 cash and a 4K copy of It's a Wonderful Life.
• On December 13, there is a $100,000 loss.
• On December 18, the Prize Puzzle copy includes a trailer for Holmes & Watson.
• On December 20:
  • Both Rounds 1 and 2 are completely filled in before being solved.
  • There is a ½ Car win.
• On December 21:
  • The Prize Puzzle offers an $11,398 French cruise.
  • The original Round 4, which begins as a Speed-Up, is thrown out due to an audience member shouting out the answer.
• December 24 is Home for the Holidays. During this week:
• The opening graphic has Pat and Vanna playing with Santa hats.
  • There is a bumper after Round 1 in which staff members give holiday greetings:
    • Monday: producers, accompanied by "Up on the Housetop"
    • Tuesday: production staff, accompanied by "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"
    • Wednesday: marketing, promotions, and publicity departments, accompanied by "Up on the Housetop"
    • Thursday: art department, accompanied by "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"
    • Friday: stage crew, accompanied by "Up on the Housetop"
  • There is another bumper before Round 3 in which staff members give holiday greetings:
    • Monday: production staff, accompanied by "Deck the Halls"
    • Tuesday: licensing department, accompanied by "Jingle Bells"
    • Wednesday: contestant department, accompanied by "O Christmas Tree"
    • Thursday: post-production, accompanied by "Deck the Halls"
    • Friday: Control room, Robert Ennis, and Jim, accompanied by "Jingle Bells"
  • The Mystery Round bumper music has sleigh bells added.
• On December 24:
  • Two males play.
  • In the final segment, the closing chat from December 21, 2010 is shown.
• On December 25:
  • The original $1,000 Toss-Up FRIENDLY VISIT is thrown out due to a buzzer malfunction. As a result, the replacement $1,000 Toss-Up GOODNESS GRACIOUS is not themed, and both it and Round 4 are Phrase.
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up is Thing, but the category strip for Show Biz is put up instead.
  • Pat and Vanna read the Prize Puzzle copy.
  • Round 4 is an unusually short answer of TIME IS MONEY, which is all the more unusual as a fifth round is played.
• On December 26:
  • The Prize is $6,000 cash and a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack of Goosebumps 2, a trailer of which is shown.
  • During the closing chat, Pat and Vanna show a clip from the December 10, 2015 episode of Vanna getting a prop present stuck to her dress.
• December 31 is America's Game.

January 2019

• On January 1, as the sixth episode of Veterans Week, two males play.
• On January 2, Round 4 is an unusually short answer of TAKE A BREAK, which is all the more unusual as a fifth round is played.
• On January 3:
  • The daily promo shows a clip from one of the Hawaii episodes in February 2001.
  • Two males play.
  • The Retro Bonus Round is one not previously used on this feature.
  • The Gift Tag is $1,000 cash courtesy of Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
  • Six rounds are played.
• On January 4:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up is revealed before the wipe appears. As a result, three letters are already on the board by the time it is seen.
  • Pat and Vanna read most of the Prize Puzzle copy.
• January 7 is Weekend Getaways. During this week, the opening uses the Wii animation from Season 28's Get Out of Town and Road Trip weeks, featuring the Pat and Vanna avatars riding in a convertible in the desert.
• On January 8, Pat, Vanna, and Jim do a segment on the previous season's Collette sweepstakes during the closing chat.
• On January 9:
  • Contestant Heidi is identified by her nickname Heidi Ho on her nametag and the drop-down score displays.
  • Round 3 is only the fifth known appearance of Landmarks.
  • Round 4 and 5 are unusually short answers of TEENY-WEENY and FASHION SHOW respectively. It is not known why this was done. The former is also a very rare instance of a puzzle with only one vowel.
  • Six rounds are played.
• On January 11
  • The bonus puzzle (FLIPPING THROUGH PAGES) is a rare instance of one under three-and-a-vowel rules to have at least one each of R, S, T, L, N, and E.
  • There is a $1,000,000 loss by a contestant who solves just after the buzzer.
• January 14 is Sunny Portugal, sponsored by Collette. During this week:
  • There is a cold open in which Pat and Vanna promote the theme.
  • Home viewers may enter each day's bonus puzzle on the show's website for a chance to win a trip to Portugal.
  • All of the Wheel Prizes are trips to Portugal, with Pat and Vanna reading part of the copy. As is usual for Collette-sponsored episodes, the Prizes are all over $10,000.
• On January 15:
  • The winning contestant has only $8,250 before the Bonus Round.
  • In the final segment, Pat and Vanna interview chef José Avillez at his restaurant Barrio de Avillez.
• On January 16, for the fifth time, there is a $1,000,000 loss.
• On January 18, the bonus puzzle is BUYING VOWELS.
• January 21 is Bed & Breakfast.
• On January 21 and 23, the Gift Tag is a $500 Pajamagram gift card and $500 cash.
• On January 23:
  • Throughout the episode, Pat refers to contestant Shirley by her nickname "Possum". Against normal practice, the closed captioning also refers to her as such, instead of going by the name tag.
  • The Prize Puzzle (TAKE ME TO THE PLACE I LOVE) is inexplicably categorized as Phrase instead of Song Lyrics.
• On January 24, there is a ½ Car win.
• On January 25:
  • Two males play.
  • The Prize Puzzle I'M TICKLED PINK is a tie for the shortest answer to be used as a Prize Puzzle, and a rare instance of the puzzle not being themed to the prize.
  • Round 4 is a very short answer of GLOSSY PHOTO, which is all the more unusual as a fifth round is played. This is also a very rare instance of a puzzle with only one vowel.
  • The bonus puzzle WATCHING A WORKOUT VIDEO ties the third-longest known bonus puzzle to be used on the show, and the longest under three-and-a-vowel rules, at 21 letters.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• January 28 is Leave Winter Behind.
• On January 30, contestant Dale calls an incorrect letter on the Express. Despite this resulting in a Bankrupt, Pat never takes his Wild Card.
• On January 31, after the Bonus Round is lost, the puzzle is revealed like one that is solved: the entire answer fills in at once and the board's border flashes.

February 2019

• February 4 is Hawaii Vacation. During this week:
  • There is a cold open in which Pat and Vanna promote the theme.
  • The opening features Hawaiian footage over a unique piece of Hawaiian-sounding music.
  • During the open, Pat and Vanna are escorted onstage: by Mickey and Minnie on Monday, a couple in Hawaiian clothing on Tuesday and Thursday, Stitch on Wednesday, and Mickey, Minnie, and Stitch on Friday.
  • During the openings, except on Wednesday and Friday, Stitch can be briefly seen behind the contestants.
  • The Prize is a trip to Aulani Resort, for which Pat and Vanna read part of the copy on-location. Unusually for a team week, it is valued only at $6,191.
  • Married couples compete.
  • Vanna reads part of the Prize Puzzle copy.
  • Disney characters are in the audience.
• On February 4:
  • Most of the blue team's interview appears to have been edited out.
  • After Round 2, Stitch and Vanna stand in front of the puzzle board, which reads STITCH LOVES VANNA!
  • The third-place team has $10,700.
• On February 5:
  • Mickey and Minnie stand in front of the Wheel during the intro.
  • After Round 2, Stitch can be seen operating one of the cameras.
  • After the blue team calls the last consonant on the Speed-Up puzzle TIMELESS TALES, they incorrectly guess TIMELESS TALKS and there is no announcement that only vowels remain until play passes to the red team, who call the E's and solve. This affects the outcome, as the blue team had enough money to go to the Bonus Round had they solved correctly.
• On February 6:
  • The same Hawaiian couple from Tuesday stands in front of the audience during the intro.
  • The third-place team has $10,100, and the winning team wins with only the Prize Puzzle package.
• On February 7:
  • Mickey and Minnie stand in front of the Wheel during the intro.
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up BEACH HOUSE uses only one line.
  • When Pat asks the winning team who they have in the audience, Stitch, Mickey, and Minnie are seen in the audience shot.
• On February 8:
  • The Hawaiian couple is seen at the audience railing during the intro.
  • Pat wears one of Mickey's gloves during the $1,000 Toss-Up.
• February 11 is Sweethearts Week. During this week:
  • Married couples compete.
  • The Prize is a Collette trip, for which Pat and Vanna read part of the copy.
• On February 12, a "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
• On February 13, for only the third known time, six rounds are played during a team episode.
• On February 14, the Gift Tag is a $500 Pajamagram and $500 cash.
• On February 15:
  • Jim is shown on-camera after the interviews.
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the teams that began them.
  • For only the second known time, a contestant or team finishes without ever getting the chance to call a letter: contestants Megan and CJ spin only once in Round 3 and hit Lose A Turn, and the Speed-Up is solved before they get a chance to call a letter. However, they also solve the $1,000 Toss-Up.
• February 18 is Great American Cities: Nashville. During this week:
  • Except on Thursday, there is a cold open in which Pat and Vanna promote the theme.
  • A country music-sounding piece of music replaces the usual opening theme.
  • For the first time since Great American Cities was introduced in Season 33, all shows use the one man/two women setup.
• On February 18:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? is inexplicably categorized as Phrase instead of Song Lyrics.
  • Round 4 is an unusually short answer of FIDDLE PLAYER.
  • The third-place contestant has $11,000.
  • Carlton Anderson does a closing bumper after the credits.
• On February 19, Rachel Wammack does a bumper after Round 1.
• On February 20:
  • Carlton Anderson does a bumper after Round 1.
  • In the closing segment, Pat and Vanna interview Rachel Wammack and Sony Music Nashville CEO Randy Goodman.
• On February 21, Clint Black does a cold open promoting the theme, and another bumper after Round 1.
• February 25 is Girlfriend Getaways.
• On February 26:
  • For only the second known time, a deaf contestant competes: contestant Lori's teammate, Lorraine, doubles as her interpreter.
  • Round 2 is the first instance of a Crossword Round being repeated verbatim, as the words WINDY WARM COLD UNPREDICTABLE were previously used in exactly the same configuration on May 24, 2017 (albeit with a different category).
• On February 27, The second-place team has $20,500.

March 2019

• March 4 is Wheel Across America. A new animated opening with the Wii avatars is used. It begins with the animation used in Get Out of Town/Road Trip in season 28, albeit with postcards of cities added in, followed by brief shots of the Pat and Vanna avatars in San Francisco, Hawaii, and New Orleans. The animation ends with a shot of the two in Times Square with the logo appearing on One Times Square's monitor; this is also used on the center-stage monitor.