Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 8

Go back to Season 7, or forward to Season 9?

A timeline for Season 8 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 3, 1990 through June 14, 1991.

Season Changes

• The chevron contestant backdrops are replaced with the diamond backdrops first used on the Radio City Music Hall shows in November 1988. (The daytime show continues to use the chevrons through at least August 9, 1991, if not the end of its run.)
• The floor is changed to black, and (likely as a result) the projected Wheel of Fortune logo is retired. (Daytime, due to not using the black floor, retains the projected logo through at least August 9, 1991.)
• The Bonus Round envelopes are enlarged to their more familiar size.
• The scoreboards are widened to seven digits, and the dollar sign is no longer fixed to the far left. A similar six-digit style was used on the New York City and Disney World shows.
• The contestant displays are now connected to each other, with no spaces between them.
• The lights surrounding the Wheel become much brighter, and the bottom layer now flashes clockwise as the Wheel is spinning (much like the other layers); previously, they flashed counterclockwise.
• The Wheel is noticeably tighter and louder than in previous seasons.
• Book/Author debuts sometime this season.
• Following the last puzzle of the game, the cumulative total of an outgoing or returning champion is shown flashing in a similar manner to the post-Bonus Round totals.
• The contestant's Bonus Round letters are now red unless the category chyrons are also red, in which case the letters are blue.
• This is the only season between Seasons 7 and 33 not to have a road show.

September 1990

• According to one recollection, a contestant during this season wins four trips. Excluding shopping episodes, this would likely be the highest number of trips won by a single contestant.
• September 3 is Teen Week, a tradition which leads off the next several seasons. During this week:
  • The Friday Finals are used.
  • Except on Friday, the Round 4 Prize is a Starcraft camper.
• On September 5, a then-unknown Alicia Witt is a contestant. She later appears on a celebrity episode in November 1997, thus becoming the first of only two known people to compete as both a civilian and celebrity.
• According to several recollections, a contestant on either September 4 or 5 incorrectly solves the fully-revealed puzzle DOUBLE INDEMNITY by mispronouncing "indemnity".
• On September 7, the Round 2 Prize is a $3,000 Service Merchandise gift certificate.
• On September 10, during the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna mention the black floor. A shot of this occurs twice, and the $25,000 sign can be seen in both shots, although its lights are not flashing until the credits.
• On September 11:
  • Rounds 1, 4, and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • Rounds 2 and 3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • On the third spin of Round 3, contestant Gemini's flipper manages to completely bypass the middle portion of the blue $450 right as the Wheel stops.
  • The Round 4 Prize is a diamond and pearl pin valued at $11,500.
  • As the post-game chat and credits take place near the car that Don wins in the Bonus Round, the turntable is not active.
• As of September 11:
  • The Round 2 and 4 Prizes are still removed from the Wheel if they are not claimed in their respective rounds.
  • The Bonus Round envelope holder still looks the same as it did on September 4, 1989.
  • Contestants who land on Free Spin or Prize wedges still pick them up automatically and then call a letter for the value underneath.
• On September 17:
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on the Round 4 Prize twice. He removes it after the second attempt and throws it offstage before spinning again, with his third attempt landing on the blue $250 to the left of where the aforementioned Prize wedge had been.
  • Round 4 (a Before & After of WASHINGTON IRVING BERLIN) is the longest puzzle.
  • Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Person.
• On September 26:
  • The Round 4 Prize is an $11,700 pearl necklace.
  • Rounds 4 and 5 (NEWLYWEDS and PUPPY CHOW) are both shorter than ten letters. The former also has only one vowel.
  • Contestant Mindy Mitola retires with $146,014, having won all three of her Bonus Rounds. Her total would stand for solo players until the introduction of the Million Dollar Wedge.

October 1990

• On October 8:
  • Contestant Michelle carries a plush rabbit as a good luck charm.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Round 2 and 5 are Phrase, while Round 3 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
  • Bob Goen joins Pat and Vanna for the closing chat.
• On October 11:
  • Contestant Alana solves the bonus puzzle BLIMP before the timer can start.
  • Alana retires with $45,000.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 1, 3 and 4 (a Before & After of MUTT AND JEFF BRIDGES, IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS and LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS respectively) all being tied for the longest at only 18 letters.
• On October 12, no vowels are bought in Round 1.
• Clue debuts sometime this month. Until shortly into Season 10, a light saxophone "tah-dah" sting plays if a contestant correctly identifies what the Clue describes.
• Likely sometime this month, and definitely by November 12, the rules are changed so that a contestant who lands on a Prize wedge or the Free Spin now has to call a letter correctly before picking it up. Additionally, money is no longer awarded for the correct letter.

November 1990

• During the weeks of November 5 and 12, a unique segment titled "Cash 'n Splash Contest" is played at the end of the show. This is an audience game Pat, Vanna, and Charlie draw three people from the audience (who are then shown on-camera) to play an extra puzzle for $100 cash. The three of them play from center stage, with Nancy Jones turning the letters. Although the Speed-Up split-screen is used, control passes only when a wrong letter is called (or presumably if a wrong answer is given), and the ding and buzzer are used. After the puzzle is solved, the corresponding audience member is called onstage and given a hand-held microphone while Charlie awards him or her the $100.
• November 12 is a sweepstakes sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Lines and Pizza Hut, known as the the Cash and Splash Sweepstakes (also known as the Cruise and Cash Splash Sweepstakes in the mail-in portion). This is a fundraising event involving a 900-number and/or a mail-in, with proceeds going to Toys for Tots. During this sweepstakes:
  • Presumably to allocate for the rules and disclaimers, the game follows a three-round structure for the first known time since the retirement of shopping. The three-round structure includes the following differences:
    • The first commercial break occurs after Round 1 instead of Round 2.
    • The Wheel layouts and top dollar values normally used for Rounds 3 and 4 are moved up to Rounds 2 and 3, respectively.
    • The Round 4 Prize moves to Round 3.
  • Despite the Round 2 layout being skipped, $2,500 is still used and remains present from that round onward. It is placed on the pink $300 in Round 2 and on the pink $200 in Round 3. This is the first of only two known times that two add-on top dollar value wedges are on the Wheel simultaneously during gameplay.
  • For unknown reasons, $3,500 is placed on the tan $200 instead of the red $300.
  • The Round 4 Prize is placed on the blue $200.
  • 50 viewers each day win a $1,000 cash prize, and 200 winners receive a chance to leave on a seven-day Wheel of Fortune cruise (December 15-22) on which all passengers can audition for the week of February 4, 1991, with airfare provided by Delta Air Lines.
  • Before the first commercial break (or after the Bonus Round in some markets), a partially-filled puzzle is shown with category. Viewers then have 10 seconds to study the puzzle, after which they may either call the 900 number or mail their entries. This is edited out of reruns.
  • All callers receive a $4 gift certificate towards a Personal Pan Pizza with their choice of topping(s) and a pitcher of Pepsi.
  • According to the Hollywood Reporter, this sweepstakes generates 4.7 million calls, "the largest call-in response ever generated by a 900 number program".
• On November 13:
  • Contestant Roland's name tag in missing during Round 1.
  • Round 2 is the first known appearance of Artist/Song.
  • Contestant Victoria solves the Speed-Up puzzle with no money.
  • Rounds 3, 4, and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • Victoria sweeps the main game and wins artwork in the Bonus Round.
  • During the post-game chat, the Cash 'n Splash Contest is played again.
• By the above episode, a thick golden ring is added behind the letters on the Bonus Round envelope holder.

  

• As of the above episode, the Merv Griffin Enterprises and King World graphics still look and act the same as they did on January 30, though it is now revealed by a "page turn" effect.
• Sometime this month, David Schwacher retires with $71,534. He later appears on "Some of the Greats!" in February 1995.
• On one of his episodes, David solves the bonus puzzle LUGGAGE despite getting no help from his extra letters.

December 1990

• On December 7, the Bonus Round puzzle is JEOPARDY (Title).
• On December 11:
  • Rounds 2 and 3 are Things while Round 5 is Thing.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 2 and 4 (MEDICAL PROCEDURES and UNDERSTANDING WIFE respectively) being tied for the longest at only 17 letters.
• December 24 is Family Week. During this week:
  • The Friday Finals format is used, with Friday's winner earning the title of "Family of the Year" and a homemade trophy.
  • Except on Friday, the three-round game structure first used during the week of November 12 is used here. During Round 2, $2,500 is placed on the blue $200, $3,500 is placed on the purple $150, and the Prize is placed on the red $300. Unlike in November, $2,500 does not remain for Rounds 3+. As said wedge is placed next to the yellow $1,000, this marks the only known time where two four-digit wedges are placed next to each other.
  • The Round 4 Prize is not used except Friday.
• By December 24:

  

  

  

  • The copyright date is now shown during the credits, as opposed to being on the Enterprises logo. If there is no credit roll, it is shown as a chyron; but if there is a credit roll, it scrolls up.
  • The Enterprises logo returns to its original black background with "Merv Griffin Enterprises" animated; the byline, "A unit of Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Inc.", is orange. The Griffin also winks at the camera, as was the case from November 1983 to February 1984. (The daytime show retains the "page turn" effect with the previous graphic through at least August 9.)
  • The King World logo is changed to its more familiar full-screen "spotlights" animation, which begins at the point where the bars cross and the triangle forms the star.
• On December 24:
  • Contestants Nathan and Stanley win by $100.
  • The bonus puzzle HANDKERCHIEF takes up all but one space of the second row, obviously meaning that the camera is zoomed out further than usual.
• On December 25:
  • The Prize is a $10,688 trip to London.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 2-4 (GETTING A LATE START, TOOK IT THE WRONG WAY and CHRISTMAS CAROLING respectively) all tied for the longest at only 17 letters.
• On December 27, two sets of duplicate categories are used: Phrase in Rounds 1 and 4, and Thing(s) in Round 2 and the Bonus Round.
• From December 25-27, despite the three-round structure being used, five rounds are played.
• On December 28:
  • The Round 4 Prize is a $12,500 Home Entertainment Center.
  • Rounds 2 and 5 are Title.
  • Contestants Darrell and Debbie retire with $106,486 and said trophy.
• Reruns air during the week of December 31.
• Sometime around this point, two modifications are made to the puzzle board font: J is now the same height as the other letters instead of being significantly taller, and Q now has a straight tail instead of a curly one. The latter is likely to be a modified O.

January 1991

• Vanna is absent for the weeks of January 7 and 14 due to her honeymoon. Tricia Gist, then the girlfriend of Merv Griffin's son Tony, fills in for her. During these episodes:
  • Charlie introduces only Pat, who then introduces Tricia as the bridge of "Changing Keys" plays.
  • New Leaf provides Tricia's wardrobe.
• On January 7, voice actor Daran Norris is a contestant.
• On one of Tricia's episodes (Ken/Shelly/Patti, definitely a Wednesday or Thursday):
  • In Round 1, Free Spin covers the dollar sign instead of the 3 on the blue $300. This is corrected by Round 2.
  • The Round 2 Prize is accidentally placed on the pink $250.
  • The value of the Bonus Round prize (a motor home) is formed by the first two digits, comma, and dollar sign flying on-screen from the right, the last three digits from the left, and both moving in S shapes until they form the value.
• On January 23 (Bruce/Doug/Kim, known to have been rerun on July 19):
  • For the first known time since May 1990, Rounds 3 and 4 (complete with its Prize) are in the same segment.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing, while Round 5 is Things.
  • After Bruce hits Bankrupt in Round 4, Pat leans over to remove the Round 2 Prize wedge from his arrow himself, as opposed to asking him to hand it to him as usual.
  • Bruce appears to say the answer to the Speed-Up puzzle INNERMOST THOUGHTS on the buzzer. After conferring with the judge, Pat moves on to Doug who calls a letter and solves. Pat then notes that Bruce's response will be checked during the commercial break; his answer is determined to have come after the buzzer, but it would not have mattered as Doug would have proceeded to the Bonus Round regardless.
• By this point, the practice of removing Prize wedges after their respective rounds is abandoned. As a result:
  • The Round 2 Prize is placed on the purple $150 for Round 3, then the red $300 for Rounds 4+.
  • The Round 4 Prize moves to the tan $200; however, if the Round 2 Prize is claimed before Round 4, the latter takes its position on the red $300.
• On January 28 (Bill/Cora/Amanda), Rounds 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing while Round 5 is Things.
• On January 29 (Bill/Esther/Joe):
  • Round 3 is Things, while Rounds 4, 5, and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • In Round 3, all three contestants consecutively hit Bankrupt.
  • During the Speed-Up, Esther bends down to spin the Wheel during her second turn but Pat stops her.
• On January 30 (Juzar/Joe/Tom):
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 5.
  • When throwing to commercial following Round 2, Pat throws the Prize wedge (which was won) onto the center of the Wheel.
  • After Juzar hits Bankrupt in Round 4, Pat leans over to remove the Prize wedge from his arrow himself, as opposed to asking him to hand it to him as usual.
  • Round 5 (TRUST ME) is shorter than ten letters.
• On January 31 (Debb/Joe/Corliss):
  • Rounds 1 and 4 are played entirely by the contestant who began them.
  • The Round 4 Prize is a $10,995 piano.

February 1991

• On February 1 (Debb/Conny/John), there are two sets of repeated categories: Phrase in Rounds 2 and 4, Thing in Round 5 and the Bonus Round.
• February 4 is a week consisting of players who auditioned on the Wheel of Fortune cruise in December.
• On February 8 (Bruce/Doug/Kim), Rounds 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing while Round 5 is Things.
• On February 27 (Craig/Rachel/Patricia):
  • Before Round 3, Pat asks Charlie to name the top dollar value for Round 3 and he accidentally begins to say $5,000 instead of $3,500, causing both of them to laugh.
  • Rounds 3 and 4 are in the same segment.
  • Patricia wins an entertainment package in the Bonus Round which includes a TV which displays the Wheel spins as Charlie describes it.
  • In the final segment, fog builds up on the set.

March 1991

• During the week of March 11, Tricia fills in again due to Vanna having a cold at the time of taping. This is Vanna's last absence from the show until October 2023.
• On March 11, Round 1, 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On March 14, Round 4 (A MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE) is the longest puzzle.
• On March 20:
  • The Round 2 prize is accidentally placed on the pink $250 in Round 2.
  • The Round 4 prize is a $11,792 trip to Ireland.
  • Two sets of duplicate categories are used: Phrase in Rounds 2, 4, 6, and the Bonus Round; Things in Round 3; and Thing in Round 5.
  • Six rounds are played.

April 1991

• On April 1, at the end of the show, Vanna appears to be pregnant. She then takes the cushion out of her dress and notes that it is an April Fool's joke.
• On April 3:
  • Rounds 1, 4, 5, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Six rounds are played.
• Reruns air during the week of April 8.
• On April 16:
  • The original Round 1 puzzle is thrown out and replaced, as mentioned by Charlie at the end of the show. The original puzzle's blanks can be seen in the opening pan.
  • Before the fee plugs, there is a contestant plug (phone number and address) for those wanting to audition for the Season 9 Teen Weeks.
  • Round 5 (IN THE DARK) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Two sets of duplicate categories are used: Thing in Rounds 1, 2, and the Bonus Round; Phrase in Round 4 and 5.
• As of April 16:
  • Prize wedges are now removed from the Wheel before the last round if it begins as a Speed-Up.
  • The Bonus Round chevron backdrops look the same as they did on September 4, 1989.
• On April 17, six rounds are played.

May 1991

• May 6 is Teen Week.
• On May 8:
  • The Round 1 Before & After puzzle M C HAMMER AND SICKLE is improperly spaced (should be "MC").
  • Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Thing, while Round 4 is Things.
• May 13 is College Week. Unlike Season 6, this format uses one player for each school represented.
• On May 14:
  • Only one turntable (which has a Jeep) moves during the opening and credits. The stationary turntable has a Saab.
  • There is a rare instance of contestants losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the vowels missing from the Round 2 puzzle HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY, contestant Andrea gives a wrong answer, while contestant Vince begins the same wrong answer, only to be buzzed out.
  • Vince begins to solve the Round 3 puzzle BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY, but stops before the last word, after which the camera cuts to a close-up of him saying "difficulty". This and Pat's comments afterward clearly indicate that there was an error of some sort.
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • Rounds 1, 2 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• By May 14, the Bonus Round chevron backdrops add lights which flash during the opening, bonus prize descriptions, and credits.
• On May 16:
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • Rounds 1 and 5 are Person, while Round 3 is People.
• On May 17, two sets of duplicate categories are used: Rounds 1 and 6 are Phrase, while Rounds 2 and 5 are Thing.
• On May 16 and 17, six rounds are played.
• On May 30:
  • Rounds 3 and 4 are played in the same segment.
  • The Wheel does not spin automatically during the closing credits.
• On May 31:
  • Contestant Dennis proposes to his wife during the contestant interviews.
  • The Wheel does not spin automatically during the closing credits, although can it be seen moving just slightly before the camera pans over to Pat and Vanna talking to the winning contestant.

June 1991

• Around this point, the show holds a home viewer contest in which winners receive a trip to Disneyland.
• On June 10, Rounds 1, 3 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On June 11:
  • Six rounds are played.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1, 3 and 5 are Phrase, while Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
  • Contestant Patti retires with $77,137.