Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

[Monorail Man]

(Mind the Rant!)

Okay, Harry Friedman. What's going on with Wheel of Fortune? There are way too many gimmicks. Let's take a look at what's been added over the last 7 years:

• Bonus Wheel
• Wild Card
• Gift Tags
• Mystery Round
• Toss-Up Rounds
• Prize Puzzle

Now, this year, you've added a few new things:

• '25' Wedge
• "Big Money!" round
• And now, the "Maxwell House" $2500 "Double Wedge":
• 

Isn't it getting excessive for a game that's just Hangman for cash? I understand all the changes, and really like some of them. However, enough is enough. Round 3 now can have up to 7 special wedges. That's nearly a third of the Wheel! Keep the new features coming, I love 'em. However, retire some of them. There's some serious Mo' Money going on here.

However, I love the fact that JEOPARDY! hasn't been touched. The double amounts were perfect a few years ago, and the Clue Crew seems like a natural extension to the answers. I like the yearly opening changes, and the great HD set.

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

Ok. I'm going to get flamed for this. But here goes...

The Wheel is rigged!

If you look very closely it looks like it speeds up or slows down suddenly as the wheel is coming to a stop.

Also, how does Pat Sajack manage to hit $5000 on so many of his Final Spins? And if he doesn't hit $5000 why is it that he never lands on Bankrupt? If he spins the wheel himself at least once per night, you would think that he would land on Bankrupt every now and then but HE NEVER DOES...

[aashee]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

Pat Sajack has been spinning that wheel for 20 years. My complaint is he doesn't hit the 5000 space enough! Showing my age, I remember Chuck Woolery hosting the show. He would almost always hit the 1500 space. Back in the late 70s, 1500 was the biggest amount.

I agree MM. Enough with the spaces. But with that $111 I have left, I'll buy the ceramic dalmation for $95.

Chad

ps: If he hits bankrupt they probably edit it out.

[tiggerfan]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

I still remember and miss when they spent their money on dorky tacky prizes

[PrincessY]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

I still remember and miss when they spent their money on dorky tacky prizes

That was the last time I seriously actually watched a full episode.

[aimster]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

But with that $111 I have left, I'll buy the ceramic dalmation for $95.

And put the remaining $16 on account.

[Monorail Man]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

If you look very closely it looks like it speeds up or slows down suddenly as the wheel is coming to a stop.

After attending a bunch of tapings of WoF, it's good to note that they time-compress most of the spins, and edit out very long spins. That's why you'll see it turn a quarter of a spin, then slow down and stop. In reality, it may have gone around a couple of times.

Pat landing on the $5k? He spins that wheel 5 times a day for about 200 days a year. Times that by 20, and you've got nearly 20,000 spins.

Random Fact: On the pilot episode, there was a "Buy a Vowel" space. That's right, you couldn't buy a vowel at anytime. Instead you had to land on that space. The idea was canned before it went to air. However, the 1976 board game still has the rule (since it was being developed the same time the show was).

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

Pat landing on the $5k? He spins that wheel 5 times a day for about 200 days a year. Times that by 20, and you've got nearly 20,000 spins.

Random Fact: On the pilot episode, there was a "Buy a Vowel" space. That's right, you couldn't buy a vowel at anytime. Instead you had to land on that space. The idea was canned before it went to air.

Well, he doesnt always land on the $5000. But he NEVER lands on bankrupt. Which I would think if he spins the whell 20,000 times he would land on that at least once.

But Aashee said this is probably edited out which I suppose is probably true. If not, I'm taking Pat with me to Vegas to play Roulette!

And that's an interesting little tidbit on the "buy a vowel" space...

[aashee]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

I also remember when the free spin could be won over and over. People could win like 5 free spaces. Talk about boring.

[flynnibus]

Re: Wheel of Fortune, What the Hell?!

Well, he doesnt always land on the $5000. But he NEVER lands on bankrupt. Which I would think if he spins the whell 20,000 times he would land on that at least once.

I believe the wheel is reset to the same location at the start of the round. So the rounds when Pat makes the only spin.. he's spinning from the same spot every time...