January 6, 1975 – present
Wheel of Fortune (often known simply as Wheel) is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin. The show has aired continuously since January 6, 1975. Contestants solve word puzzles, similar to those in hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a giant carnival wheel. The current version of the series, which airs in nightly syndication, premiered on September 19, 1983.
The original version of Wheel was a network daytime series that ran on NBC from January 6, 1975, to June 30, 1989, and subsequently aired on CBS from July 17, 1989, to January 11, 1991; it returned to NBC on January 14, 1991, and was cancelled that year, ending on September 20, 1991. The network daytime and syndicated nighttime versions aired concurrently from 1983 until the former's conclusion. The network version was originally hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford. Woolery left in 1981, and was replaced by Pat Sajak. Sajak left the network version in January 1989 to host his own late-night talk show, while remaining as host of the nighttime Wheel. Sajak was replaced in the daytime by Rolf Benirschke, who was in turn replaced by Bob Goen when the network show moved to CBS. Goen remained as host for the second NBC run. Stafford left in 1982 and was replaced by Vanna White, who remained on the network show for the rest of its run. The show has also had four announcers in its history: Charlie O'Donnell, Jack Clark, M. G. Kelly, and Jim Thornton. Sajak retired from the show on June 7, 2024; Ryan Seacrest replaced Sajak on September 9, 2024.
Wheel of Fortune ranks as the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States, with 8,000 episodes taped and aired as of June 7, 2024. TV Guide named it the "top-rated syndicated series" in a 2008 article, and in 2013, the magazine ranked it at No. 2 in its list of the 60 greatest game shows ever. The program has also come to gain a worldwide following with 60 international adaptations. The syndicated series' 41st season premiered on September 11, 2023. With the show's 36th season in 2018, Sajak became the longest-running host of any game show, surpassing Bob Barker, who hosted The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007. Two spin-off versions exist as well. The first was Wheel 2000, a version featuring child contestants which aired simultaneously on CBS and Game Show Network between 1997 and 1998. This version's hosts were David Sidoni and Tanika Ray, the latter in the role of a CGI hostess named "Cyber Lucy". The second, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, began airing on ABC on January 7, 2021, and features celebrities playing a modified version of the game with winnings donated to charity.
Storyline
Wheel of Fortune is an American long-running game show hosted by Ryan Seacrest since 2024 and Vanna White since 1983. Pat Sajak previously hosted from 1981-2024. Contestants play Hangman, but it's with a twist. First, each contestant spins a giant wheel that has money amounts and prizes on it. Then, they call out a letter. If the letter's in the puzzle, their turn keeps going. But if they hit the Lose a turn wedge, bankrupt wedge (which takes away all the prizes and money), or call a wrong letter or run out of time, they lose their turn and the next player goes. Players have the options of spinning the wheel, buying a vowel ($250 each), or solving the puzzle. At the end of the game, there is a bonus round where the top winner of the day tries to solve a puzzle for a chance at a bonus prize. He/she starts out with the letters R S T L N and E. Then, he/she needs to pick three new consonants and one new vowel. Afterwards, the contestant is given ten seconds to "talk it out", which means to solve the puzzle. If the contestant solves the puzzle in the bonus round, he/she wins the bonus prize inside an envelope.
TV Show Intro
Sound Effects Used
- Dial-up Modem Sounds (Heard once in the 5/21/2025 episode during the post-game chat about fax machines.)
- Hollywoodedge, Cats Fighting Loud Sc PE917007/Cats Two Angry YowlsD PE022601 (Heard once in "Halloween Week".)
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Trumpeting PE024801 (2nd trumpet; heard once in "Safari Adventure Week".)
- Hollywoodedge, Laugh Evil Very Lowpi PE131301 (Heard in "Halloween Week".)
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 7 Woman Three PE134101 (Heard in "Halloween Week".)
- Hollywoodedge, Spooky Reverberant CRT029403 (Heard only when the wheel stops on $1,000 at the mystery round in "Halloween Week".)
- Sony Ding (Can be heard before the Sony Pictures Entertainment logo was shown.)
- Sound Ideas, BIRD, BUZZARD - BIG BUZZARD, FUNNY SQUAWK, ANIMAL (Heard in "Halloween Week".)
- Sound Ideas, BIRD, OWL - CALLING, ANIMAL 02 (Heard from a Bonus Round in Outdoor Adventures week.)
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, HORN - PARTY HORN, TWO TOOTS 01 (1st toot; heard in the New Year's Eve 2014 episode.)
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, LAUGHTER - WITCH'S LAUGH, HUMAN 01 (Heard in "Halloween Week (October 30, 2008)".)
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, LAUGHTER - WITCH'S LAUGH, HUMAN 04 (Heard in "Halloween Week (October 30, 2008)".)
- Valentino Wolf Howls (Heard during "Halloween Week".)