Hey guys,

People have been spinning the Wheel of Fortune for 37 years

The Daytime Version has aired for 16 years from January 1975 - September of 1991

It was also one of the longest running Game Shows on NBC Daytime even with a brief run on CBS Daytime

But when Creator Merv Griffin decided to add a syndicated version in the Fall of 1983, it would soon become the #1 Show on syndication and it has also competed with other syndicated shows like Entertainment Tonight, Extra, among others and the show will begin its 30th Season on syndication This Fall

Wheel has also returned to Daytime Television on CBS Saturday Mornings with the spin-off Wheel 2000-The Kids Version of Wheel and it only lasted 1 Season on CBS and was shown on GSN

Since Wheel stopped airing Daytime Episodes in the Fall of '91, the show continues its reign on syndication and the show would also travel across the country not only in L.A., but also in New York City, Washington, D.C., Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Ohio, Detroit and even Hawaii

and so, I would like to know:

What makes the Nighttime Wheel So Popular over the Daytime Wheel?

Is it the $5000 Space on the Wheel? Is it Bigger Cash and Bigger Prizes? Pat & Vanna? The Traveling? What is it?

and also, anyone still a fan of the Daytime Wheel?

I like both the Daytime and the Nighttime Versions of Wheel

Please share your thoughts on all of this

I think the reason why the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune is so popular is that a lot more people are watching around 7-7:30 ET than when the daytime version aired because a lot of people are at work or school. It has always been a simple game that everyone can play along at home.

Also, with a larger prize budget, more expensive prizes are given away and Pat and Vanna have had outstanding chemistry over the 32 years they have hosted the show.

Wheel of Fortune is still one of the best game shows currently on TV and it shows no signs of going stale. The wheel could be spinning for many more years.

Because the daytime edition never got higher than $65,271, the most the daytime edition gave away in one day. 'Nuff said.

BTW, their 30th season should really be their 39th season (this includes 17 years of the daytime edition, and seasons 1-8 of the syndicated edition were done during years 9-17 of the daytime edition; production on the syndicated edition began sometime during spring or summer of 1983).

maybe its just a simple concept of the game Hangman with a bigger budget!


also does anybody agrees with me that their should be a "Decades" version of Wheel of Fortune made by THQ & Pipeworks for all home and handheld consoles?


i know that this may never happen but it was just to commemorate the past set from the 70's, 80's, 90's, & 00's or just the 80's, 90's, & 00's for the show.

but I hope that THQ & Pipeworks will do a PC version of WOF in the future.

R.I.P: Jack Clark, Merv Griffin & Charlie O'Donnell, even though you guys won't be celebrating Wheel's 30th anniversary with us right here on earth for this season in 2012, we know that you'll be watching us from heaven!

we love you, we thank you and we miss you all.

Because the daytime edition never got higher than $65,271, the most the daytime edition gave away in one day. 'Nuff said.

BTW, their 30th season should really be their 39th season (this includes 17 years of the daytime edition, and seasons 1-8 of the syndicated edition were done during years 9-17 of the daytime edition; production on the syndicated edition began sometime during spring or summer of 1983).

Unfortunately, however, the Chuck Woolery seasons aren't really well regarded by the show itself, largely due to the fact that Woolery left on bad terms with Merv Griffin. If you're wondering what went on, Woolery demanded a salary which Griffin considered to be too exorbitant. NBC president and CEO Fred Silverman actually offered to make up the difference, but Griffin objected, feeling that it would be subverting his authority.

1st off, yes I agree, Chuck Woolery left Wheel on Bad Terms

When Vanna White took a week off in 1986, Merv Griffin and NBC asked Susan Stafford (The show's original hostess) to fill in for Vanna during Teen Week

and it was sort of a 1 week reunion for Pat and Susan and I guess you can say that when Susan left Wheel in 1982, she left on Good Terms while Chuck left on Bad Terms which was probably the reason why Merv Griffin and NBC asked Susan to comeback to Wheel for a Special 1 week Appearance and didn't asked Chuck to comeback to Wheel for any Special Appearance or when Pat left Daytime Wheel, they didn't ask Chuck, they asked Rolf Benirschke (which, IMO after seeing an episode on YT was a big mistake on their part) and Bob Goen (which I thought was a good choice) even when they moved to CBS and returned to NBC

and also, I think that another reason why the Syndicated Version is so popular over the Daytime Version is that the Daytime Version was competing with The NEW Price is Right on CBS Daytime and even back in the 80's when NBC and CBS were giving each other STRONG Competition

I would say more people are at home to watch the night time shows. That's one theory without getting too deep into it.

I would say more people are at home to watch the night time shows. That's one theory without getting too deep into it.


Yeah. you said it buddy!

Hey guys,

People have been spinning the Wheel of Fortune for 37 years

The Daytime Version has aired for 16 years from January 1975 - September of 1991

It was also one of the longest running Game Shows on NBC Daytime even with a brief run on CBS Daytime

But when Creator Merv Griffin decided to add a syndicated version in the Fall of 1983, it would soon become the #1 Show on syndication and it has also competed with other syndicated shows like Entertainment Tonight, Extra, among others and the show will begin its 30th Season on syndication This Fall

Wheel has also returned to Daytime Television on CBS Saturday Mornings with the spin-off Wheel 2000-The Kids Version of Wheel and it only lasted 1 Season on CBS and was shown on GSN

Since Wheel stopped airing Daytime Episodes in the Fall of '91, the show continues its reign on syndication and the show would also travel across the country not only in L.A., but also in New York City, Washington, D.C., Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Ohio, Detroit and even Hawaii

and so, I would like to know:

What makes the Nighttime Wheel So Popular over the Daytime Wheel?

Is it the $5000 Space on the Wheel? Is it Bigger Cash and Bigger Prizes? Pat & Vanna? The Traveling? What is it?

and also, anyone still a fan of the Daytime Wheel?

I like both the Daytime and the Nighttime Versions of Wheel

Please share your thoughts on all of this
FINALLY, someone gets it right and says it's been on 37 years and not 30 like they're saying. To be fair though, Pat Sajack & Vanna White have been on for 30 years so that must be what they mean.

Does anyone else here remember who the original host and "letter turner" were?

FINALLY, someone gets it right and says it's been on 37 years and not 30 like they're saying. To be fair though, Pat Sajack & Vanna White have been on for 30 years so that must be what they mean.

Does anyone else here remember who the original host and "letter turner" were?

Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford were the original Host and Hostess

Chuck went on to do SCRABBLE, Love Connection, Home & Family, The Dating Game from 1997-1999, GREED and LINGO

Susan on the other hand is now known as Dr. Susan Stafford

Chuck left in 1981 and Susan left in 1982

The nighttime version's been more successful than the daytime version is not just because of the far bigger budget but b/c #1, more people are able to catch at night as opposed to during the day when most people are a school and work. #2 the syndie version is more marketable than its daytime in a sense.

Pat Sajack

not to be rude to you treky, but Pat's last name is spelled S-A-J-A-K not S-A-J-A-C-K!