Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 41

Go back to Season 40, or forward to Season 42?

A timeline for Season 41 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 11, 2023 through June 7, 2024.

Season changes[]

Alex Van Wagner takes over as director.
Some changes are made to the Bonus Wheel:
- The minimum cash prize in the Bonus Round remains at $40,000, ending the trend that started in Season 32 of the lowest amount being the season number multiplied by $1,000.
- $75,000 is permanently added, having previously been used during Big Money Week in 2012 and on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
- As is the case on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, all envelopes now use the traditional logo.
There are no longer any COVID-19 protocols in the studio. As a result, studio audiences are back to full capacity, and they are shown on camera for the first time since Season 37, but mostly from the back only. However, the widened contestant area is retained.
The Gift Tag is retired, with a single exception for this season.
Sixth episode weeks now have each episode themed after their original taping. However, these weeks are titled "Wheel of Fortune" in documentation and TV listings, and much of the $1,000 Toss-Ups are not themed at all.
Most Prize Puzzle answers are no longer directly related to the prize. However, Prize Puzzles from previous years are occasionally recycled verbatim in Rounds 1 or 2, even if they do not fit the theme of the week.
Some of the 2017-21 cues are heard when going to commercial.
SPIN IDs are no longer announced. Instead, a QR code is shown that links to the show's website, and e-mails are sent to Wheel Watchers Club members. The winning SPIN IDs are displayed on the website after the user verifies their own ID.
During the Bonus Round, the fades present since Season 1 are replaced with cuts.
Friday episodes now feature a giveaway segment called "Fan Fridays", hosted by Maggie. After the winning contestant chooses their Bonus Round category, footage of Maggie is shown on location or demonstrating a prize, during which a QR code appears on screen along with a word related to the prize that viewers must enter online for a chance to win.
This is the first season since Season 32 not to have a College Week.
Contestants' totals now appear on the puzzle board after the Bonus Round; this practice began on Season 3 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
The previous Sony Pictures Television logo returns and is also inserted into weekend repeats of Season 40.

September 2023[]

September 11 is European Vacation, taped August 9.
On September 11:
- The audience is shown on camera for the first time since Season 37.
- There appears to be a null cycle edited out in Round 3, as indicated by Pat stating "We are using a standard English alphabet" (a common quip of his when several wrong letters have been called) early in the round.
- The "only vowels remain" beeps do not sound in the Speed-Up.
On all Mondays through December, Wheel is moved to later time slots on West Coast ABC affiliates due to Monday Night Football becoming a weekly network event for the first time since 2005. In some markets, the majority of these episodes do not air in their entirety depending on the length of the games.
On September 11 and 18, Monday Night Football is preceded by pregame coverage at 7:30 PM Eastern on ABC, pre-empting Wheel in several significant markets (and causing Wheel to get replaced with Jeopardy! in at least two other markets where Wheel normally airs at 7:00). Neither of these pre-emptions affect any contestants, as nobody on these two episodes lives in a market where Wheel airs on an ABC affiliate. The pregame coverage also happens on several other Mondays (but not all of them) and some Saturdays during the remainder of NFL season.
On September 12, during the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna are on location in the Azores of Portugal.
On September 13:
- All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 1 and 2. This is the only known time this has happened twice in the same show.
- Contestant Steve solves the second Triple Toss-Up FULL-TIME STUDENT with only the first E showing.
- The Round 4 Speed-Up puzzle I WOULD IF I COULD has none of the five main consonants.
On September 14:
- The Round 3 puzzle COFFEE-TABLE BOOK is improperly hyphenated.
- During the post-game chat, Wheel Winners who have won European trips like Switzerland, France, Italy, and Spain are shown.
On September 15, contestant Alan solves the second Triple Toss-Up FRENCH BULLDOG with only the G showing.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of September 11, part of a seven-day losing streak.
September 18 is Weekend Getaways, taped July 20.
On September 19, contestant Jason fills in the entire Round 3 puzzle NEW PAIR OF NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES all by himself on the Express.
On September 20:
- Pat walks up to contestant Steven after he mistakenly looks at the wrong arrow in Round 2.
- Contestant Anna solves the second Triple Toss-Up WISH I WAS THERE with only the second E showing.
For unknown reasons, the September 20 and 22 episodes are swapped after taping. The website's gallery of Vanna's dresses still has Wednesday and Friday's dresses on their originally-scheduled days.
On September 21:
- There is a $100,000 loss by a contestant who picked up the Million-Dollar Wedge in Round 3 but did not solve the puzzle.
- During her interview, contestant Beryl recalls meeting Vanna at an airport and noticing her carrying a pound cake, which she would not share. During the post-game chat, Beryl is brought on stage and Vanna presents her a piece of pound cake, which Pat immediately eats.
September 25 is Rail Tour, taped August 8.
On September 25:
- Wheel is pre-empted on all ABC affiliates due to Monday Night Football starting at 7:00 PM Eastern instead of the usual 8:00. This affects contestant Teresa, who watches on WABC-TV. Said station airs her Hometown Howdy along with a notice that the episode would air in "late night" without specifying a time slot.
- Despite her name tag, Teresa goes by "Terry" throughout the show.
On September 27, contestant Mario finishes second with $21,000, while contestant Devin finishes third with $20,200, and there is only a $1,399 gap between first and third place. This is a new record for highest third-place total.
On September 28:
- The Wheel is not preset at the start of the show.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.

October 2023[]

October 2 is Teacher's Week, taped July 27. During this week:
- Due to Vanna testing positive for COVID-19, Bridgette Donald-Blue (named 2023 Teacher of the Year by the California Teachers Association) fills in for her. This is the first time since 1991 that Vanna has missed an episode.
- Jim introduces just Pat, who then introduces Bridgette.
- One of the set decorations is a chalkboard which includes musical notation for the first few bars of "Changing Keys". However, it is the 1984-1989 version with the opening glissando. This was likely done due to that version being the only one with officially published sheet music.
- The opening chant is done by children. This is the first time since the 2011 Teen Best Friends week that the normal opening chant is not used (not counting several Halloween episodes where it was lowered in pitch). According to one eyewitness, the original chant was used in-studio, but replaced with the children's one in post-production.
- The words "Teacher's Week" appear in the style of the puzzle board underneath the logo.
- Due to Vanna's absence, no sixth episode is taped.
- Unusually, all three contestants join Pat and Bridgette during the closing chat and credits.
On October 2:
- Pat walks out by himself and mentions Vanna's absence before introducing Bridgette, who is already at the puzzle board. Her name appears on-screen next to an apple with the traditional logo.
- Bridgette wears a suit.
- The first Triple Toss-Up SCHOOL AUDITORIUM is the third appearance of said puzzle in the year 2023, having previously been used twice in Season 40 on March 24 and April 13. This is the first time that a puzzle has been used three times in the same calendar year. Coincidentally, the April 13 episode is this week's weekend repeat on October 7.
On October 3, during the closing chat, Pat does a retrospective on September 2022 contestant Ashlee Martin.
On October 6, the remaining letters of the Round 2 puzzle are not revealed when the puzzle is solved.
October 9 is Wheel Across America, taped July 21. During this week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday a second Prize of $7,500 courtesy of Laura Geller beauty products is added on the green $500 between $550 and the pink $600.
On October 10, the Round 1 puzzle MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PART ONE does not have the word IMPOSSIBLE left-justified on the second row.
On October 11:
- Contestant Nate accidentally picks up the $2,500 wedge exposing the blank wedge on the Wheel.
- During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna show off some of the new cosmetics.
On October 12, contestant Carylee solves the third Triple Toss-Up FUNNY BONE with only the Y showing.
On October 13:
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle GAG BIRTHDAY GIFTS.
- Despite Round 1 being started by the blue contestant (Anthony), control for the start of Round 4 is erroneously given to the red contestant (Jack), akin to the rule when the $2,000 Toss-Up goes unsolved. This affects the outcome, as Round 4 begins with the Final Spin, where Jack spins $5,000 and wins the round with $48,000.
- Jack finishes with $71,700 despite losing the Bonus Round.
October 16 is B&B week, taped August 10.
On October 16:
- The Round 2 puzzle HI BARBIE! HI BARBIE! HI BARBIE! HI BARBIE! is the longest known puzzle with only three unique consonants. It is also the first puzzle to have four exclamation points.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On October 17:
- Contestant Nadine adds an S to the last word in the Round 1 Crossword Puzzle FLY FINGERS BEAN NUT (in the category Butter____), but is still accepted. The closed captioning also displays "nuts". This does not affect the outcome.
- Contestant Kayla solves the Speed-Up puzzle PEPPERMINT TEA with only the T's showing.
On October 20, SAME NAME is the $2,000 Toss-Up, and the Round 1 puzzle category is Same Name. This previously happened on May 13, 2009.
October 23 is Halloween Week, taped September 26. This is the first time in the show's history that a Halloween-themed week does not occur on the week containing Halloween itself. However, the sixth episode of this week does air on Halloween. During this week:
- The title card has a spider web behind the logo.
- During the chant, lightning strikes as the footage turns black and white and a spider crawls across the logo. The footage reverts to color as Pat and Vanna make their entrance.
- One of the set decorations is Sheldon the ceramic Dalmatian, dressed as a hot dog with mustard, relish, and onions.
- For the first time since 2016, scary sound effects replace the Bonus Round envelope chime.
On October 24:
- Contestant Eric solves the second Triple Toss-up puzzle MILK CHOCOLATE with only the E showing.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On October 26:
- At least five East Coast affiliates (WTEN in Albany, New York; WKYT in Lexington, Kentucky; WAFF in Huntsville, Alabama; KSNW in Wichita, Kansas; and WMBD in Peoria, Illinois) accidentally air the October 25 episode again. The latter airs the correct episode overnight.
- Contestant Rhachel recites a poem congratulating Pat on his retirement. A clip of this is posted on the show's social media and included in media articles before the episode airs.
- The closed captioning misspells contestant Alexus's name as "Alexis" throughout the episode.
October 30 is the first sixth episode week.
On October 30:
- There is a rare instance of a team losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up.
- The Speed-Up puzzle A FOR EFFORT! has only three unique consonants.
On October 31:
- Round 2 is a Crossword Round with only three words.
- During the closing and credits, Pat, Vanna, Maggie, and Jim hand out candy to various staff members' children, including Bellamie Blackstone's daughter. Maggie wears a Wheel-shaped blanket modified as a skirt.
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of Pat telling some skeleton props at a dining table that they provide slow service and noting that four of them have hearts from 2014.

November 2023[]

On November 3:
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle DODO BIRD. Although contestant Angela does say the correct answer, the last letter comes up first.
- Despite this episode taping one episode after the October 13 episode, the rule regarding which player starts Round 4 when the third Triple Toss-Up goes unsolved is followed correctly.
- Contestant Michael solves the Speed-Up puzzle with no money.
- Contestant Kathleen finishes second with $20,732.
November 6 is America's Game Salutes Our Veterans, taped September 7. TV listings and early documentation refer to this week as Veterans Week. During this week, the $1,000 Toss-Ups have an American theme rather than a military theme.
On November 7, the Prize Puzzle trip is worth only $6,698, despite the $7,000 minimum established in Season 37. This is the first trip since June 5, 2019 to be worth less than $7,000.
On November 8:
- Wheel is pre-empted in several markets:
  - ABC's O&O stations and 7:30 airings on ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar Media Group by a CMA Awards preshow.
  - West Coast NBC affiliates by the third Republican Presidential Debate.
- All three contestants are from Texas, a fact Pat points out during the second interview. None of their home markets are affected by the above pre-emptions.
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of contestant Brenda's $34,000 win from November 8, 2016.
- Contestant Deric solves the third Triple Toss-Up CHEESE BOARD with only the D showing.
Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV airs the November 8-10 episodes on a one-day delay due to the aforementioned pre-emption on November 8.
On November 10, there is a $100,000 loss.
November 13 is Home for the Holidays Family Week, taped September 27.
On November 15:
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of contestant Frank's interview from March 4, 1998.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
On November 17:
- The Prize Puzzle trip is worth $18,714, the highest value for one.
- There is a $100,000 win. However, the confetti does not fire. This appears to have been a malfunction; during the closing segment, Pat jokingly writes a letter of complaint to the "Johnson Confetti Machine Company".
November 20 is Shopping Spree, taped September 8. During this week:
- A rug with a Wheel layout resembling the one used in Season 26, albeit with a few differences, is cut into halves and placed on each end of the car offered in the Bonus Round.
- The Prize is a shopping spree.
On November 20, for the third time this season, 7:30 PM Eastern airings are pre-empted on ABC affiliates by Monday Night Football pregame.
On November 22, when Vanna activates the second Triple Toss-Up MIAMI BEACH, the second M lights up first instead of the H.
On November 23:
- Due to NFL on CBS, Dothan, Alabama affiliate WTVY airs this episode in an unusually early time slot of 2:30 PM Central.
- Round 4 (CALICO CAT) is shorter than ten letters and has only three unique consonants.
On November 24:
- Wheel is pre-empted in the majority of the United States due to college football and basketball games on all "Big Four" networks:
  - The only affiliates that air this episode in its entirety and at its regular time are independent stations, CBS affiliates in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, and NBC affiliate WJFW-TV in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, which pre-empts the first hour of said network's game. This is likely the least-seen first-run episode since September 11, 2001, outside of episodes scheduled for Election Day during presidential elections.
  - As college football on CBS is scheduled until 7:30 PM Eastern, most 7:30 airings of Wheel on CBS affiliates remain scheduled in that time slot. These airings are joined in progress during Round 2 or 3 due to overrun caused by postgame discussion. Some 7:30 airings are pre-empted with local newscasts following the game.
  - In the Pacific Time Zone, all NBC affiliates air Wheel in its entirety in later time slots following college football, which ends on time on that network. Most West Coast ABC affiliates also schedule Wheel in later time slots, but some end up joining the show in progress or not airing it at all due to ABC's final game running about 33 minutes over its time slot.
  - A small number of affiliates air this episode in early time slots; Tupelo, Mississippi affiliate WTVA airs this episode fourteen hours early at 4:30 AM Central.
- The closed captioning misspells contestants Terrence and Aimee's first names as "Terrance" and "Amy".
- Due to the pre-emptions, the Fan Fridays segment remains intact, but no word is displayed on screen. Online, Wheel and Maggie's social media advise viewers to enter any word at all for this week's giveaway.
November 27 is Great Outdoors, taped October 26.
On November 29:
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of the three $100,000 wins from February 2022.
- Contestant Tyler spins only twice landing on Bankrupt both times. He does solve the $2,000 Toss-Up and the second of the Triple Toss-Ups.
On November 30, the "only vowels remain" beeps do not sound in the Speed-Up.

December 2023[]

On December 1:
- Contestant Reggie solves the second Triple Toss-Up RED PEPPERS with only the S showing.
- The Fan Fridays segment, including the code word, is recycled from September 22. Although the code word (OYSTERS) remains intact, Wheel announces that any input will be accepted due to DirecTV pulling all stations owned by Tegna Inc. (many of which carry Wheel of Fortune) in a dispute starting November 30. This is also the case for subsequent giveaways until the dispute is resolved on January 13.
The weeks of December 4 and 11 are the Disney Secret Santa Holiday Giveaway, taped October 12 and 13. As with the Mystery $10,000 giveaways, the SPIN ID drawings are replaced with a QR code shown on screen. Unlike previous years, this is only shown once after the Bonus Round; all three winning IDs are displayed online, in order of contestant position.
On December 4:
- Wheel does not air on some West Coast ABC affiliates due to Monday Night Football going into overtime. This includes KATU in Portland, Oregon, where contestant Jennifer is based.
- Nobody solves the $1,000 Toss-Up HOLIDAY YULE LOG. Audience laughter is dubbed in after the last letter comes up.
- The closed captioning writes all three contestants' last names as "[indistinct]".
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On December 5, contestant Dore finishes second with $21,167.
On December 6, contestant Nick solves the Speed-Up puzzle PERSONALIZED STATIONERY with only the R's and S's showing.
On December 7:
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
- Contestant Michael solves the second Triple Toss-Up REWINDING with only the G showing.
- Contestant Marina solves the third Triple Toss-Up PAUSING with only the G showing. This is only the second known time that two puzzles on the same episode are solved with only one letter showing.
- Jim joins Pat and Vanna for the post-game chat.
On December 8, during the post-game chat, Disney Ambassador Mark Everett King Jr. presents Pat, Vanna, and Maggie a one-of-a-kind drawing of Goofy spinning the Wheel, made by Alex Maher.
On December 11, for the fourth time this season, 7:30 PM Eastern airings are pre-empted on ABC affiliates by Monday Night Football pregame. This affects contestant Chaun, who watches on WLS-TV in Chicago.
On December 12:
- Contestant Rob solves the second Triple Toss-Up GINGERBREAD HOUSE with only the D showing.
- During the post-game chat, Executive Pastry Chef Greg McClue of the Disney Cruise Line makes a lot of cute treats, including popcorn, Rice Krispie brownies, popsicles, and a Mickey ornament with treats inside. Pat apologizes, then smashes the ornament open with a little mallet.
On December 13, the Round 1 puzzle THE YUKON IN CANADA is a rare instance of On the Map including a descriptive term.
On December 14, contestant Andrew solves the second Triple Toss-Up BEDROOM with only the M showing.
On December 15, Disney Ultimate Toy Drive for Toys for Tots is plugged during the post-game chat.
December 18 is Winter Wonderland, taped October 27.
On December 18:
- The first two Triple Toss-Up puzzles (SALAD BOWL and MIXING BOWL) are categorized as Thing instead of In the Kitchen.
- Contestant Briana solves the Speed-Up puzzle KNITTED MITTENS with only the T's showing.
On December 19, after contestant Kevin introduces his family before the Bonus Round, Pat asks photographer Carol to take a photo of him with his family for a Christmas card because “they were here.”
On December 20:
- Contestant Sean solves the second Toss-Up MEDIUM ROAST COFFEE with only the T showing.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
December 25 is the second sixth episode week.
On December 25:
- Wheel is pre-empted on all ABC affiliates due to NBA and Monday Night Football, the latter replacing the usual third game of the network's traditional Christmas Day NBA tripleheader.
- Contestant David solves the second Triple Toss-Up TAKING A BATH with only the G showing.
- David finishes second with $26,000.
On December 26, the $75,000 prize is won for the first time on the syndicated show.
On December 27, Wheel is pre-empted on most FOX affiliates due to the DirecTV Holiday Bowl.
On December 28:
- During Round 3, Pat does not prompt contestant Michael to use his Wild Card on $3,500 despite earning it only two turns prior. This affects the outcome, as he later solves the puzzle, loses the card to Bankrupt in Round 4, then finishes in second place.
- During Round 4, contestant Ellie loses her grip on the Wheel as she spins. She quickly grabs and spins the Wheel again while it is in motion. She ends up landing on $5,000, calls two D's, solves, and wins the game as a result.
On December 29:
- It is the "sixth" episode of Happy New Year. As this airs before the full week, this episode is taped first instead of sixth.
- This episode, along with the week of January 1, introduces a new set consisting of large chandeliers, hanging strings of lights, the plexiglass Wheel cutouts used on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and last seen on the syndicated show in 2010, and the crystal pillars used during Wheel of Fortune XL episodes in Season 40.
- In Round 1, Carla picks up the Wild Card before calling a letter. Pat instructs her to put it back, after which she calls an incorrect letter. When the card ends up being hit by contestant Tiffiney on the next turn, Pat walks over and readjusts the card before she calls her letter, which is in the puzzle.
During the week of December 25, for only the second time, no Crossword Rounds are done.

January 2024[]

January 1 is Happy New Year, taped November 16.
On January 1:
- Starting this day, Wheel returns to its normal time slot on West Coast ABC affiliates on Mondays, except on January 15.
- During contestant Jason's interview, Pat accidentally looks at the wrong card.
- The third Triple Toss-Up is reshot due to contestant Rachel's buzzer not working after both of her opponents give wrong answers.
- Five wrong answers are given in the Speed-Up, none of which fit with the number of spaces or used letters.
On January 2:
- There is a noticeable edit during the Bonus Round, where Vanna is initially standing at the far end of the board as she gestures. When it cuts to the board shot as the blanks appear, she is standing in front of the second column from the left.
- There is a $100,000 win.
On January 3:
- On this day and all other Wednesdays in January, Wheel is moved to later time slots on West Coast ABC affiliates due to NBA games. In some markets, these episodes do not air in their entirety depending on the length of the games.
- Shauna incorrectly solves the fully-revealed Round 1 puzzle CONGENIAL COMPANY & CLEVER CONVERSATION by mispronouncing the first word as "con-genal".
On January 5, during the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna celebrate Maggie's birthday with a cupcake from Vanna and a $5 bill from Pat.
January 8 is Collette Show You The World, taped November 30.
On January 9:
- The bonus puzzle BROWSING THE AISLES has at least one of R, S, T, L, N, and E and RSTLNE also reveals more than half of the answer.
- During the post-game chat, photos of contestant Tricia's trip to Croatia from January 18, 2023 are shown.
Both the original airing and June 26 rerun of the January 10 episode are pre-empted on West Coast ABC affiliates by NBA and Round 1 of the NBA Draft, respectively.
On January 11:
- Contestant Resti finishes second with $22,998.
- For the first time since April 17, 2009, an ampersand appears in the Bonus Round (BAGELS & DOUGHNUTS).
During the week of January 8, all five contestants land on the car in the Bonus Round, part of a seven-day streak beginning on the 4th.
January 15 is Passport to Fun, taped November 17.
On January 15:
- Wheel is pre-empted in several markets:
  - East Coast CBS affiliates by a postponed NFL playoff game postponed from Sunday the 14th due to weather.
  - 7:30 PM Eastern airings on ABC affiliates by Monday Night Football pregame (for the final time this season), in addition to the West Coast affiliates by the game itself
  - Most FOX affiliates by PBA Bowling (East Coast) or the Primetime Emmy Awards (West Coast).
  - Des Moines, Iowa affiliate WHO by coverage of the Iowa Caucuses.
  - Some stations owned by Nexstar Media Group by a special on Martin Luther King Jr.'s granddaughter. Other stations air this special the prior weekend or on Tuesday the 16th.
- Contestant Andrew solves the second Triple Toss-Up TRAIN STATION with only the first N showing.
On January 16:
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up SLOUCHING.
- Contestant Angela solves the Round 5 Speed-Up A WRINKLE IN TIME with only the R and T showing.
On January 17, contestant Marie's spin landing on the pink $500 in Round 4 is not shown on camera.
On January 18, contestant Tonya solves the third Triple-Up DANCE PARTNER with only the second R showing.
On January 19, the Prize Puzzle ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY is incorrectly categorized as Rhyme Time.
January 22 is Sand and Sea, taped December 1.
On January 22, neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
On January 23:
- Contestant Marliyn's name tag comes loose during Round 1. She hands it to Pat and he fixes it before the start of Round 2.
- Before the first commerical break, there is a Wheel Winners Segment of Scott Kolbrenner who won $145,000 on March 18, 2021 and donated all his cash winnings to Pacific Clinics and the L.A. Regional Food Bank.
- The third Triple Toss-Up puzzle (READING GLASSES) is categorized as Around the House instead of What Are You Wearing?
On January 24, before the first commerical break, there is a Wheel Winners Segment of Roger & Toni Bushong winning a brand new Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 in the Bonus Round. It is revealed that their final vehicle color was white instead of the red one on the set.
On January 26, Wheel is pre-empted on CBS affiliates in the Eastern and Central Time Zones, as well as most of those in the Mountain Time Zone, by the PGA Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, which runs long. Mankato, Minnesota affiliate KEYC airs this episode in an usually early time slot of 3:30 PM Central.
January 29 is Wheel Around the World, taped December 11.
On January 29, contestant Nicole solves the third Triple Toss-Up A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH with only the second N showing.
On January 30:
- Contestant Megan mumbles several words when attempting to solve the bonus puzzle PINK ORCHID but never gives the actual answer. This causes controversy among viewers, as some misinterpreted her as having given the answer. Megan is later interviewed on Good Morning America, where she confirms that she did not say PINK at any point.
- The E in "Fortune" is missing from the top flap of the Bonus Round envelope.
On January 31:
- The show opens with a shot of the United Kingdom's then-new version of the show: host Graham Norton walks out on the set of the United Kingdom version and mentions Wheel Around the World Week then throws to Pat and Vanna, who are shown standing at center stage on the American version's set.
- The $2,000 Toss-Up OUT-OF-OFFICE NOTIFICATION is a tie for the longest Toss-Up in terms of overall spaces, using 25 of the 52 spaces on the board (23 letters and 2 hyphens).
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of Pat and Vanna in Portugual from 2018.
- Contestant Keslie finishes third with $16,500.

February 2024[]

On February 1, there is a $100,000 loss.
On February 2, contestant Joel finishes second with $21,640.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of January 29, part of a six-day losing streak.
February 5 is NFL Superfan Tournament, taped December 15. During this week:
- This is the first NFL-themed week since January 2006.
- For the first time since Season 19, contestants play by themselves instead of being paired with an NFL player.
- Jim introduces Pat and Vanna by using various football terms.
- The Friday Finals format is used, with Friday's winner receiving a trip to Super Bowl LVIII.
- Each episode this week begins with a visual of the tournament bracket and the day's contestants introducing themselves in boxes of their respective podium color.
- It is not known whether non-winning contestants are eligible for the Friday Finals (as was the case prior to the revival of Friday Finals in Season 40). The opening implies that only winning contestants are eligible, but a comment made by Pat during Tuesday's closing ("Three people would have to top $65,000 in the next two shows.") implies this is not the case.
On February 5, Maggie joins Pat and Vanna during the post-game chat.
On February 6, before the first commercial break, there is a Wheel Winners segment on Tricia who won a trip to Croatia in January 2023.
On February 7, contestant Deanna solves the first Triple Toss-Up WIDE RECEIVER with only the second R showing.
On February 8:
- Round 2 is a Crossword Round with only three words.
- Contestant Kiera solves the second Triple Toss-Up SECOND-ROUND DRAFT PICK with only the second D showing.
- Due to an ABC News Special Report, 7:30 PM Eastern airings on ABC affiliates are cut off during the Bonus Round, and 6:00 PM Mountain airings are joined in progress halfway through. Some airings, including WABC-TV, are cut off just after all gameplay is complete, while others are interrupted while the contestant's letters are being revealed or during the timer.
On February 9:
- The tournament finalists are positioned in chronological order of their first appearances. This appears to be intentional.
- Jill Prince, representing the Buffalo Bills, wins the tournament with $136,386, having won both of her Bonus Rounds.
February 12 is Sweethearts Week, taped January 12.
On February 13:
- For only the second time, a same-sex couple competes on Sweethearts Week.
- The Prize is a trip to New York City sponsored by the movie Madame Web which is placed on the pink $650.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On February 14, for only the third time, a same-sex couple competes on Sweethearts Week.
On February 15, contestants Cassie and Jeremy solve the second Triple Toss-Up BACK SEAT with only the T showing.
On February 16:
- Contestants Danna and Jay solve the second Triple Toss-Up YELLOW DAISY with only the W showing.
- Danna's name tag comes loose during the Speed-Up Round. Jay fixes it at the end of the round.
- Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
February 19 is the third sixth episode week.
On February 19, Wheel is pre-empted on FOX affiliates due to the Daytona 500, postponed from Sunday the 18th due to rain.
On February 20:
- Contestants Alleigh and Scott solve the second Triple Toss-Up LIGHT SLEEPER with only the R showing.
- The disclaimer is not done during the closing chat.
On February 21:
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is the contestant in 1988 who guesses STYROFOAM HAT on the puzzle STYROFOAM CUP. Unlike most previous airings of this clip, the 1980s puzzle-solve cue is retained.
- Contestant Clay finishes second with $22,120.
On February 23:
- It is the sixth episode for National Geographic Expeditions. As a result, the two cruise wedges are on the Wheel.
- Contestant Heather finishes second with $20,200.
- During the post-game chat, National Geographic explorer and conservation scientist Lauren Eckert makes an appearance from San Juan Islands, Washington.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of February 19, part of a nine-day losing streak beginning on the 15th.
February 26 is National Geographic Expeditions, taped January 11. During this week, contestants have a chance to win a cruise in the Bonus Round. There are two cruise wedges on the Wheel both on the purple $500s during Rounds 1-3, and calling a consonant earns a contestant $1,000 per consonant.
On February 27:
- The Triple Toss-Ups (MORNING TALK SHOW, DAYTIME TALK SHOW, and LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOW {Show Biz}) are rare instances of the category also being part of the answers.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On February 28, contestant Ivan solves the second Triple Toss-Up THE WRONG WAY with only the G showing.
On February 29:
- Contestant Vincent solves the second Triple Toss-Up ROCK CLIMBING with only the G showing.
- Vincent finishes second with $22,804.

March 2024[]

March 4 is Fabulous Food, taped January 25.
On March 4, various vintage clips of Pat and Vanna eating various types of food are shown during the post-game chat.
On March 5:
- Wheel is pre-empted by Super Tuesday coverage in most Pacific Time Zone markets. CBS and NBC affiliates air the show three hours later than usual (at 10:00 or 10:30 PM). ABC's owned-and-operated stations air the show overnight, while other ABC affiliates air the show at its regular time.
- Contestant Joey hops on the Express with just one consonant left (the C in COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES).
- During the post-game chat, vintage clips of Pat and Vanna stuffing their faces with cream puffs and pies are shown.
On March 6, the Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of Pat and Vanna eating hot dogs from Johnny Pastrami’s on October 19, 2022.
On March 7, contestant Sonta solves the second Triple Toss-Up MAIN HALLWAY with only the Y showing.
On March 8, a clip from 2016 of Vanna promoting the closed captioning plug while Pat is eating butter is shown during the post-game chat.
From March 5-8, four contestants in a row take the Wild Card to the Bonus Round, and the first two of these contestants also take the Million-Dollar Wedge.
March 11 is Leave Winter Behind, taped January 24.
On March 11, contestant David returns due to a scoring issue last season on June 6, 2023.
On March 12, contestant Dylan finishes second with $25,390.
On March 13:
- The Round 2 Crossword Puzzle BED BALD BOBBLE EGG (Heads) has none of the the five most common consonants.
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of Pat and Vanna in Hawaii from 2014.
- Round 4 (THE CONTINENT OF AUSTRALIA) is a rare instance of On the Map using a descriptive term.
- Round 4 goes to Speed-Up with only one consonant remaining (the S in the above puzzle).
On March 14, before the second commercial break, there is a Wheel Winners Segment of Jesse Worstell who won a Ford Explorer XLT in the Bonus Round on October 7, 2022.
On March 15:
- Wheel is pre-empted on East Coast FOX affiliates due to the Big East men's basketball tournament. Green Bay, Wisconsin affiliate WLUK-TV airs this episode in an unusually early time slot of 4:00 PM Central.
- The Prize is a trip to New York City sponsored by the movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
March 18 is Marvel Superheroes Week, taped January 31. During this week, superheroes join the winning contestant's supporters for the Bonus Round.
On March 18:
- Spider-Man drops down and gives Pat his cue cards before the contestant interviews.
- Contestant Kelly's grand total is accidentally shown after she solves the first Triple Toss-Up.
- Captain America and the Black Panther join Pat and Vanna for the post-game chat.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
On March 19:
- During the $1,000 Toss-Up, Vanna stands at the left of the puzzle board while Spider-Man touches the first letter.
- Captain America and the Black Panther are seen at the puzzle board before the second commercial break.
- Contestant Danielle finishes second with $21,600.
On March 20:
- Captain America and the Black Panther walk with Pat and Vanna during the opening. They later join Pat and Vanna for the post-game chat.
- There is a $100,000 win.
On March 21:
- Spider-Man walks with Pat and Vanna during the opening.
- During the post-game chat, Lego master model builder Pete Donner shows off his Avengers tower built entirely out of Lego blocks.
On March 21, 22, 28, and 29, Tampa, Florida CBS affiliate WTSP airs Wheel in an unusually early time slot of 9:00 AM Eastern (in place of local program Great Day Live) due to its normal time slot being pre-empted by NCAA March Madness. A small number of other CBS affiliates also air the show early at 10:00 AM Eastern on the 21st and 22nd in place of CBS game show Let's Make a Deal, which does not air on these days.
On March 22:
- The Prize is a collector’s edition solid bronze Infinity gauntlet.
- Spider-Man brings up the category strip for Round 2.
- Contestant Jesse solves the Speed-Up puzzle WE'RE IN THE ENDGAME NOW with only the N's showing.
March 25 is National Parks, taped February 1.
On March 25, contestant Tom solves the Speed-Up puzzle GLACIER BAY ALASKA with only the S showing.
On March 27, there is a $100,000 win. Coincidentally, both this winner and the one from exactly one week prior are from the Minneapolis area, as noted by WCCO-TV.
On March 28, contestant Yolanda forgets to pick up the Wild Card in Round 2. This is corrected before the start of Round 3.
On March 29, the Round 3 puzzle SPRING SUMMER AUTUMN WINTER is inexplicably categorized as Things instead of the more logical Events.

April 2024[]

April 1 is Great American Cities, taped February 22.
On April 1:
- As an April Fools' Day prank, Jared Leto appears in place of Pat during the intro, and is introduced by Jim. Leto also introduces the $1,000 Toss-Up, but Pat's voice is heard prompting the contestant for an answer. Following the Toss-Up, Pat remains in place, and the prank is never acknowledged. The prank remains intact in reruns.
- Due to the above, this episode is taped using the Winter Wonderland set on October 27, as Jared Leto was present in the studio to film a skit promoting Thirty Seconds to Mars' upcoming world tour.
- Contestant Alicia solves the $2,000 Toss-Up without ringing in.
On April 2:
- Pat gives contestant Willie his necktie at the end of the main game.
- During the post-game chat, clips of various road shows from the past are shown.
On April 3, the Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of Pat attaching a $1 to the left of contestant Diane's scoreboard on October 23, 1989. This segment is omitted from Canadian broadcasts for unknown reasons.
April 8 is HSN Make Shopping Fun, taped February 23. During this week:
- The Prize is a $10,000 shopping spree from HSN.
- The Gift Tag is brought back for one last week.
On April 8:
- Before the second commercial break, clips from the old shopping era of the show are shown.
- Contestant Andre's second spin in Round 3 is not shown on camera.
- All three contestants hit penalty spaces consecutively in Round 3 (Lose a Turn and two Bankrupts).
On April 9:
- Contestant Louise is brought back due to a judging error on her first episode (October 6, 2017).
- During the post-game chat, a quick behind-the-scenes look at HSN is shown.
On April 10:
- Before the second commercial break, clips from the old shopping era of the show are shown.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
On April 11:
- Contestant Kaeley solves the second Triple Toss-Up ROMAINE LETTUCE with only the first E showing.
- Kaeley also solves the Speed-Up puzzle FROM START TO FINISH with only the S's and T's showing.
- The $1,000 Toss-Up and Prize Puzzle are What Are You Doing?
On April 12:
- Jim appears on-camera during the interviews.
- Contestant Devyn solves the Speed-Up puzzle PRESIDENTIAL SUITE with only the N and L showing.
- Chef and former Celebrity Wheel of Fortune contestant Curtis Stone joins Pat and Vanna for the post-game chat.
All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of April 8, part of a six-day losing streak.
April 15 is the fourth sixth episode week.
On April 16:
- Contestant Mary Catherine's name tag just says "Mary" as her full name is too large to fit on it.
- The Round 2 Same Name puzzle COMEDY & GOLF CLUB has none of the five most common consonants.
- Contestant J.R. solves the second Triple Toss-Up SECOND RUNNER-UP with only the P showing.
On April 17:
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of Pat's bald wig prank from April 1, 2008. This segment is omitted from Canadian broadcasts for unknown reasons.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
On April 19, contestant Scott solves the second Triple Toss-Tp NEW YORK STATE with only the K showing.
April 22 is Destination Relaxation, sponsored by Holland America Line cruises, taped March 7.
During the April 22 and April 29 tapings, over 20 former contestants are in the audience, some dating as far back as 1980.
On April 22, after Round 2, there is a Wheel Winners segment on December 2020 contestant Rena.
On April 23:
- The camera cuts away too soon during the $1,000 Toss-Up, showing a brief shot of Vanna getting in place at the puzzle board before the wipe appears.
- Vanna is shown on-camera during the contestant interviews, due to contestant Laura saying that she met Pat and Vanna shooting promos while on her honeymoon.
- Contestant Mikeya's microphone shorts out when the R's are revealed in Round 2. As a result, there is about a five-minute pause in recording before her microphone is fixed and the reveal of the R's is re-shot. During the pause, stage manager Jimmy McGuire tells Pat "the R's have been populated" when explaining the situation, and Pat references this comment by saying "let's get the O's populated there" later in the round.
- After Round 2, there is a bumper where a partially-revealed puzzle themed to travel is shown (similar to the Puzzler), with Jim saying via voiceover, "Can you solve this special Holland America Line puzzle?"
On April 24:
- Jim appears on-camera before the Prize copy.
- After contestant Alex wins the Prize in Round 2, Pat begins to throw to Jim before realizing he has already read the copy, at which point Jim is shown on-camera a second time. A clip of this uploaded to Facebook edits out Pat's mistake and Jim's subsequent comment by splicing in the Prize copy afterward.
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is Pat and Vanna sitting in a hot tub in 1991; as usual, it is incorrectly dated to "the 1980s".
Both the original and July 18 rerun airings of the April 25 episode are pre-empted on West Coast ABC affiliates by Round 1 of the NFL Draft and the 2024 Republican National Convention, respectively.
On April 26:
- Contestant Kate wins despite losing $29,750 to Bankrupt in Round 1.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
- During the post-game chat, Pat shows the correct pronunciation of Antigua on his cue card.
April 29 is Margaritaville Resorts, taped March 8. During this week:
- The bumpers feature snippets from Jimmy Buffett's album Equal Strain on All Parts.
- Taping is delayed for over an hour due to the scoreboards glitching out, and a further delay occurs between the Wednesday and Thursday episodes due to a stagehand becoming injured.
On April 30:
- Vanna is shown getting in place at the puzzle board before the wipe for the $1,000 Toss-Up appears; unlike on the 23rd, this shot appears to be intentional.
- The Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of contestant Pam guessing Pat Sajak on the Who Is It? puzzle TV HOST WHO GAVE BRAND-NEW CARS TO ENTIRE AUDIENCE on December 7, 2004.
- During the closing chat, Pat and Vanna drink margaritas made with the Margaritaville Portable Frozen Margarita Maker. The segment is re-shot due to Pat getting salt on his lips and tripping over his words on the first take.

May 2024[]

On May 1:
- Contestant Greg's daughter appears next to the puzzle board during the contestant interviews.
- Pat cleans contestant Kimberlei's eyes with his necktie after the Prize Puzzle description.
- Nobody solves the first Triple Toss-Up, ELECTRIC BILL.
On May 2, neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
On May 3, Jim appears on camera after the Prize Puzzle description.
May 6 is Grand Getaways, taped March 21.
On May 6, none of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On May 7:
- Both contestants on the red team are named David/Dave.
- There is a rare instance of a team losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up: after David and Dave give a wrong answer, contestants Taylor and Linda buy an I and solve.
On May 9:
- A backslash accidentally appears at the end of contestants Kennedi and Clarence's "pop-up" score display in Round 3.
- Contestants Kayla and Joslin solve the third Triple Toss-Up AIR GUITAR with only the second R showing.
May 13 is the fifth sixth episode week. During this week, during the post-game chat except Tuesday and Friday, a vintage montage of Pat’s One-Liners are shown.
On May 13:
- Vanna is shown getting in place at the puzzle board before the wipe for the $1,000 Toss-Up appears.
- After Round 1, there is a repeat of the Winner's Circle segment on March 18, 2021 contestant Scott.
- Contestant Stephen solves the second Triple-Toss Up TEASPOON with only the N showing.
On May 14:
- The original $1,000 Toss-Up A PERFECT FIT is thrown out due to Pat accidentally accepting a wrong answer.
- During the post-game chat, bloopers from the past of Pat and Vanna on the road are shown.
On May 15, both contestants on the yellow team are named Paul.
On May 16, after Round 2, there is a repeat of the Winner's Circle segment on October 7, 2022 contestant Jesse.
On May 17:
- It is the sixth episode of the yet-to-air Fan Favorites. "Normal" contestants are used for this episode, and for the only time this season, there is no theme.
- The Round 3 puzzle IN MY HUMBLE OPINION uses all four lines on the puzzle board, even though it could fit on only three.
- Sheldon the ceramic dalmatian is present by the video wall.
May 20 is Big Money, taped April 4. During this week:
- Several more prior contestants are in the audience, all of whom were personally invited by the show. This taping was not open to the general public.
- The pop-up scores only appear in Round 4.
- The $5,000 wedge is moved to Round 3, and Round 4 introduces a special gold $8,000 wedge as top value, in honor of the 8,000th episode. This results in the first time since the introduction of the play-for-cash format in October 1987 that $5,000 is available in Round 3, apart from some three-round structured games during the 1990s and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
- A Jackpot mechanic, similar to the prior Jackpot Wedge, is used. The Jackpot starts at $8,000, with the value of each spin from Rounds 1-3 added to it. Hitting the Wild Card, Mystery Wedge, or Express Wedge adds its face value. The Jackpot is awarded to the winning contestant if they win the Bonus Round, in addition to whatever is in the envelope. Home viewers can also enter the bonus puzzle online for a chance to win that day's Jackpot.
- Two Double Jackpot wedges are placed on both of the purple $500's for the first three rounds. The wedges are worth $1,000 per letter and also add that amount to the Jackpot when hit. If a player takes a Double Jackpot wedge to the Bonus Round and wins it, the Jackpot is doubled. If the Bonus Round is lost, it is not doubled for the home viewer sweepstakes.
- Due to the presence of the Double Jackpot wedges, there is no Prize Wedge for this week.
On May 20:
- Contestant Charles name tag during Round 3. It is retrieve before the start of the Triple Toss-Ups.
- Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
- During the post-game chat, Vanna gives Pat a sequin to remember him before he leaves the show.
On May 21:
- After Round 1, there is a Winner's Circle segment on February 13, 2023 contestants Roger and Toni.
- Contestant Brittany solves the Speed-Up puzzle THE KENTUCKY DERBY with only the T's and R showing.
- During the post-game chat, clips of excited contestants and big money winners are shown.
On May 22:
- The blank spaces on the puzzle board are already present when the $1,000 Toss-Up appears.
- Contestant Ventia takes over Pat and interviews contestant Paul instead of him during the interviews.
- Pat does not prompt contestant Jessica to use his Wild Card on $5,000 in Round 3. This does not affect the outcome as she does not solve the puzzle in the round anyway.
- The audience boos the bonus puzzle QUIBBLING after contestant Paul fails to solve it.
- During the closing chat, Pat shows off a scrapbook given to him by several former contestants.
On May 23:
- Contestant Tavaris guesses RIGHT IN THE BUTT! on the $1,000 Toss-Up THIS IS THE BEST!, a moment which goes viral. According to some of the former contestants present at the taping, the first contestant interview has to be reshot due to much of the audience still laughing over Tavaris' answer throughout it.
- After Round 1, there is a Wheel Winners segment on February 27, 2023 contestant Alex.
- During the post-game chat, various random clips from the pasy 41 years are shown.
On May 24:
- Episode S-8000 airs. This is acknowledged as the 8,000th nighttime episode; however, due to discrepancies in the show's episode count since Season 37 and possibly Season 13, this is actually believed to be the 7,956th episode. The actual 8,000th episode will air early in the next season, which would be S-8044.
- All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 1.
- Contestant Lillian solves the second Triple Toss-Up SPRING WATER with only the G showing.
- The $8,000 wedge is hit for the only time this week, but a wrong letter is called on it.
- Contestant Michael wins the Double Jackpot and exceeds $100,000 without hitting that amount in the Bonus Round, which he solves for an Infiniti QX50 and a total of $111,160.
- During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna cut up a cake on stage to commemorate 8,000 episodes.
- During the credits, Pat, Vanna, and Michael drink champagne. Unusually, the closing theme music is not timed to end with the credits.
During the week of May 20, all five contestants land on the car in the Bonus Round, part of a seven-day streak beginning on the 16th.
The May 25 weekend repeat of the November 7, 2022 episode unusually adds two Wheel Winners segments, neither of which were present in the original airing.
May 27 is Fan Favorites, taped March 22.
On May 27, nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up CAN'T LOOK AWAY. After contestant Rufus incorrectly answers DON'T LOOK AWAY, his opponents, Vanna, and the audience applaud while Pat shouts that he is incorrect. His opponents put their buzzers away before looking at the board and realizing the situation, at which point they both rush to pick the buzzers back up and ring in, but are too late.
On May 28:
- Upon flipping the Bankrupt Mystery Wedge, contestant Brian throws it across the set, hitting one of the pillars.
- Contestant Carla solves the second Triple Toss-Up SAUNA with only the second A showing.
- Contestant Brian's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt and is not edited out. Pat comments, "Normally, we would edit out a Bankrupt, 'cause who wants to see someone land a Bankrupt, but we all enjoy seeing you do it."
On May 29, there is a $100,000 loss.
On May 30, the Wheel of Fortune Memories clip is of contestants Liz and KC's interview from November 14, 2023. This clip was likely chosen due to the fact that they were initially invited to appear on this week, but were ultimately unable to return. While it was initially believed that they turned it down for medical reasons, later conversations with the two revealed that they mutually declined after it was determined that the show could not fairly accommodate both of them.
On May 31:
- Teams of two play.
- Contestants George Sr. and Mansour solve the second Triple Toss-Up MOTHER OF THE BRIDE with only the F showing.

June 2024[]

June 1 is the first weekend repeat of an episode with a $10,000 Mystery Wedge win (October 24, 2022) since January 16, 2021 (March 11, 2020). However, the former episode did not originally have a SPIN ID drawing, as it was a Wheel of Fortune XL episode.
June 3 is Thanks for the Memories, taped April 5. During this week:
- The set is decorated with several chandeliers and light fixtures, similar to the set used for Happy New Year, along with the plexiglass Wheel cutouts used on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
- While Monday-Wednesday have a general audience, the taping session for Thursday-Friday is closed to the public.
- There is a retro clip during the opening;
  - Monday: Pat and Vanna pretending to be a stereotypical married couple (October 17, 1997)
  - Tuesday: Pat reciting various catch phrases from the show before his mirror (September 25, 1997)
  - Wednesday: Pat's bald wig prank (April 1, 2008)
  - Thursday: Pat and Vanna pieing each other (September 20, 1991, but erroneously dated to the 1980s)
  - Friday: The opening of Pat's first episode (December 28, 1981)
On June 3, Maggie interviews Pat during the closing segment. The full interview is uploaded to the official YouTube channel in four parts from Monday to Thursday.
On June 5, several audience members can be seen giving Pat a standing ovation during the credits, due to this being Pat's last syndicated episode taped with a general audience.
On June 6:
- Contestant Hannah exceeds $100,000 without hitting that amount. After winning $75,000 in the Bonus Round, she leaves with $111,090. The confetti is also launched despite it being won. According to Pat, this was not planned.
- Immediately after the Bonus Round, a video of Vanna giving her farewell to Pat is played, with the last few seconds briefly seen on the puzzle board before the post-game chat. This video is also uploaded to the YouTube channel and shown on several news programs both before and after the episode airs.
- Pat, Vanna, and the winning contestant are not shown during the credits, and there is no audience applause. Instead, the camera stays on the center stage video board which shows the "Thanks for the Memories" title card.
On June 7:
- Pat hosts the syndicated version for the final time.
- Appropriately, the $1,000 Toss-Up is CHICAGO ILLINOIS, Pat's hometown.
- Jim appears on-camera before the Mystery Round copy, thanking Pat.
- To save time for Pat's farewell message, the game is cut short, with a three-round structure similar to Celebrity Wheel of Fortune:
  - The Mystery Wedges move to Round 1, though still with $2,500 as the top dollar value. This results in the first time in the Mystery Round's existence that it is played in Round 1.
  - The Prize Puzzle moves to Round 2, and Express is not used at all. This marks the first time since January 9, 2012 that the Prize Puzzle is played in Round 2. As the Prize Wedge is claimed in Round 1, it is not known if it would have remained for Round 2 with this format.
  - The Triple Toss-Up is played before Round 3, and $5,000 moves to that round.
  - The Final Spin occurs during Round 3.
  - A commercial break occurs between the Bonus Round and closing for the first time since Season 22.
- After the $2,000 Toss-Up, Pat spins the Wheel (the only time he has done so since Season 38) as a consolation for removing a round, with the contestants receiving $1,000 plus whatever he lands on. His spin lands on the Mystery Wedge, to which he quips "You know what? It's not my money" and decides that they will each receive $5,000.
- As a result of the round omission, the "pop-up" score displays appear at the start of Round 2.
- The Fan Fridays segment is done before the Triple Toss-Up. The prize is a collection of Wheel merchandise, memorabilia, and props, some of which are autographed by Pat. The code word is PAT.
- The entire final segment consists of Pat standing solo at center stage and giving a farewell speech. Part of the farewell speech is released to the media before the episode's airing. During the speech, images of contestants, staff, and Pat's family appear on the video wall. Following the conclusion of his speech, Vanna walks out and hugs him. Unlike other closing segments, no split-screen is present, nor is there any bumper between the sign-off and credits. Instead, the sponsor credits appear at the bottom of the screen immediately before the rest of the credits. The winning contestant does not appear onstage, with the credits focusing solely on Pat and Vanna.
- In honor of Pat's final syndicated show, the ABC network airs a repeat of the May 10, 2023 episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (featuring Vanna competing against Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings, with Maggie revealing the letters) in place of the usual Friday night program Shark Tank. According to Variety, this is the most-watched non-sports broadcast on a summer Friday in four years, and is ABC's most-watched summer Friday broadcast in seven years.
- Shreveport, Louisiana NBC affiliate KTAL-TV erroneously pre-empts the episode with a rebroadcast of NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (which they also do intentionally on the following Friday, June 14, due to the US Open). Waterloo, Iowa NBC affiliate KWWL accidentally cuts to a black screen in the middle of Pat's farewell speech. Neither station acknowledges or rectifies their error; both stations are known to have aired the weekend repeat the following day without issue.
From June 5-7, Sheldon the ceramic dalmatian is present by the video wall.

Post-Season[]

On the June 14 repeat of the January 26 episode, the Fan Fridays segment is changed to a different one, though the closed captioning still displays the lines from the original airing's segment. All other summer reruns retain their original Fan Fridays segments.
On June 29, for the first time since September 2013, a new SPIN ID drawing is dubbed into a weekend repeat (October 27, 2022). As with Season 41 episodes, a QR code is displayed, though the winning SPIN ID is never publicly displayed on the show's website. This is also the only weekend repeat of an episode with a $10,000 Mystery Wedge win where the drawing is not edited out.
On July 26 (repeat of December 1, 2023), several 7:00 PM Eastern airings on NBC affiliates are replaced with that day's Jeopardy! episode (its season finale) due to the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies starting at 7:30.
The July 30 repeat of the May 28 episode adds a Wheel Winners segment on March 21, 2023 contestant Fred Fletcher-Jackson.
On July 31, the Pluto TV channels for Wheel of Fortune (and Jeopardy!) are shut down due to a failure to renew contracts. Their On Demand selections are removed the following day.
The week of August 19 is repeats of Season 40's Teacher's Week (September 26-30, 2022). This is likely due to the show not wanting to rerun Season 41's Teacher's Week due to Vanna's absence. This is the third known time that summer reruns feature at least one episode from a previous season, and the second time that it features at least one full week. The September 26, 29, and 30 episodes had previously rerun earlier this season on the weekend feed.
On the August 23 repeat of the September 30, 2022 episode, the Fan Fridays segment from the February 9, 2024 episode is inserted after the main game.
The August 24 weekend repeat is originally scheduled as the October 19, 2022 episode, but is changed to the March 21, 2023 episode (featuring Fred Fletcher-Jackson sweeping the game). This appears to be due to the show prioritizing reruns of episodes with contestants who appeared on Fan Favorites weeks, as four weekend repeats between July 27 and August 31 all feature such contestants.
On the August 27 repeat of the April 30 episode, an extended version of the Wheel Winners segment on Fred Fletcher-Jackson (first aired on July 30, and whose first episode reran the prior weekend) is aired after Pat and Vanna's signoff. This version of the segment reveals that Fred proposed to his girlfriend by having her play the Pressman board game with a homemade puzzle card reading "MARRY ME MEGAN".

Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 41

Contents

Season changes[]

September 2023[]

October 2023[]

November 2023[]

December 2023[]

January 2024[]

February 2024[]

March 2024[]

April 2024[]

May 2024[]

June 2024[]

Post-Season[]

Fan Feed