A popular daytime hit-turned-syndicated smash, and it continues to captivate audiences today, and I'm glad it still does.
CHUCK WOOLERY/SUSAN STAFFORD - The show began with hosts that were their own personalities.
1. From June 7, 1976; Gerry vs. Linda vs. Lee; the "Kill the Vampire" episode (GSNC, SW21.2)2
2. From 1978; Scott Hostetler vs. Glenda vs. Gail (OC, TAPE9.8)
3. From March 27, 31979; Gwen vs. Bryan vs. Anita (OC, SW8.1)
4. From December 31, 1979; Lou vs. Allan vs. Jackie; "Auld Lang Syne" plays at the end (OC, RR1.11)
5. From March 20, 1980; Charline vs. Becky vs. Les (OC, RR4G.2)
6. From June 20, 1980; Ken Thomas (former MGPM $11K winner) vs. Linda vs. Charlotte (OC, CD2.2)
7. From November 1980; Tom Kennedy plays for an audience member; TK vs. Monty vs. Minnie; jumpy video (OC, PB3.2)
8. From December 1980; Laura vs. Joyce vs. Barbara; ending cut off (OC, SW8.2)
9. From December 24, 1980; Vicki vs. Bud vs. Linda (OC, SW8.3)
10. From 1981; Virginia vs. Jan vs. Lori (OC, SW8.4)
PAT SAJAK/SUSAN STAFFORD - Along came Pat, who would eventually make a name for himself.
11. From December 28, 1981; First day of Teen Week and Pat's first show; Jim vs. Keith vs. Stacie; mediocre video (OC, SW5.2)
12. From August 1982; Beverly vs. Dorian vs. Bill; bonus win (OC, SW2.6)
13. From June 20, 1986 (my 3rd birthday!); the last day of Teen Week; Peter vs. Aurora vs. Wendy; Susan fills in for Vanna (OB, SW5.3)
PAT SAJAK/VANNA WHITE - They were unknowns when they replaced Chuck and Susan, but soon warmed up to their roles and became household names, especially Vanna.
DAYTIME
14. From 1982; Philadelphia Week; Vanna’s first show; Robin vs. Louis vs. Linda (GSNC, SW21.3)
15. From fall 1983; Tina vs. Janet vs. Tim Butler (future $100K Pyramid finalist) (OB, GG2.5)
16. From April 27, 1987; Pete vs. Carolyn vs. Elaine; bonus win (OC, JF14.2)
17. From January 6, 1989; Pat's last daytime episode; Betsy vs. Consuelo vs. Gigi; Merv Griffin appears at the end (OC, part of opening missing, mediocre video; SW11.3)
SYNDICATED
18. From early 1984; Lloyd vs. Linda vs. Debbie; Pat litters from a motor home in the opening (OC, SW11.1)
19. From early 1984; Thelma vs. Sam vs. Lisa; there are curtain problems in the opening; bonus win (OC, SW11.2)
20. From early 1984; Kersteen vs. Cinders vs. Jack (GSN, RS1.2)
21. From 1984; Bill vs. Brilla vs. Teddy; bonus win (GSN, JF12.2)
22. From 1984; Dave vs. Joan vs. Kathy (GSN, RS1.3)
23. From 1984; E.R. vs. Casey vs. Stacey (GSN, JF12.1)
24. From early 1985; Pam vs. Carmen vs. Michael; part of opening missing and frequent video problems (GSN, VM1.9)
25. From early 1985; Dave vs. Melanie vs. Vicky (GSN, GSN1.4)
26. From 1985; Steve vs. Christina vs. Debra; Steve puts money on account twice! Also, continuous bad luck with the wheel and a bonus win (GSN, JH1.7)
27. From 1985; Gina vs. Cindy vs. Mike (GSN, RS1.4)
28. From late 1985; Carol vs. Susan vs. Beverly (from Warrensville Heights); car win (GSN; opening missing)
29. From 1985; Mary vs. Dan vs. Marianne; video often fluctuates between color and B&W, and picture jumps early on; car win (GSN, DB1.11)
30. From 1985; Lori vs. Peggy (from Avon Lake) vs. David; car win (GSN, RS3.3)
31. From October 5, 1987; Big Bonanza of Cash begins; John vs. Nancy vs. Peter (GSNC, SW21.4)
32. From 1987; Big Bonanza of Cash: Sheila vs. Greg vs. Dick; Pat refers to round 4 as "Final Jeopardy", and later drops trou at the end! (RPT, SW2.4)
33. From March 1988; Barbara vs. Laura vs. Marc; fuzzy video (OC, JF14.3)
34. From 1988; Shel vs. Lynne vs. Lisa (GSN, RS3.2)
35. From November 14, 1988; "Wheel Takes Manhattan", from Radio City Music Hall in New York City; Meg vs. Dave vs. Matt; $25,000 win; Don Pardo is announcer, and Dick Cavett appears; this was Wheel's first road show... but it certainly wouldn't be its last. (GSN, CJC3.2)
36. From November 18, 1988; the Friday show of week 1 at Radio City; Alan vs. Karl vs. Nikki; $64,000+ Porsche win (GSN, RS3.1)
37. From December 23, 1988; Jan vs. Don vs. Eric; $25,000 win (GSN, RS3.4)
38. From June 13, 1989; Theresa vs. Pat vs. Roland; $25,000 win (OC; 1st round missing, SCH.3)
39. From September 5, 1995; Day 2 of Teen Week; Krista vs. Cameron vs. Melissa (RPT, RR4J.3)
40. From November 21, 1996; College Week from San Francisco; Thayer (Emory) vs. Julie (Stanford) vs. Bambi (Ohlone College); Pat and Vanna switch places for the bonus round due to Pat's laryngitis; $25,000 win (OC, VM4.2)
* From January 16, 1997: Susie vs. Kevin vs. Brian (OB; severe WX blip during 2nd round, JS.7)
* From February 21, 1997: Phoenix episode; Jerry & Debby vs. Shanna & Thomas vs. Wendy & Joe; final use of the old puzzle board (GSN)
* From April 1, 1997; Pat and Vanna play the game; ALEX TREBEK hosts and Pat's wife, Lesly, operates the puzzle board! (OB, DCL1.12)
* From July 9, 1997: Terry vs. Ray vs. Megan; Ray volunteers to help Pat before bonus round! (OB, BASF3.6)
* From September 1, 1997: Season Premiere: American Working Families Week from Ohio State Fair; Art & Jack vs. Juliette & Juliette vs. Kari & Vicki (OB, BASF4.1)
* From September 5, 1997; last day of Working Families Week from Ohio State Fair; Robert & Deneen vs. Chris & Kevin vs. Steve & Rebecca; a Hummer is offered in the bonus round (OC, CD6.2)
* From October 6, 1997: Paulette vs. Rich vs. Felicia (OC, OCT97.6)
* From November 1997: Last day of College Week from Denver; Roel (Regis) vs. Carla (CO State) vs. Bridget (New Mexico) (OB; courtesy Chuck Donegan, CD1.8)
* From February 4, 1998: From Las Vegas; Jennifer & Joanne vs. Paul & Karen vs. Kristle & Dianne (OC)
* From February 18, 1998; Sandie vs. Jason vs. Paul (OB)
* From September 7, 1998: Season Premiere: Working Families from Pittsburgh; Rod & Judy vs. Sarv & Manjit vs. Tony & Janet; $25,000 win (OC; courtesy Chuck Donegan, CD1.9)
* From November 20, 1998: 3000th Episode Special from Las Vegas; no contestants or gameplay, as Pat and Vanna reminisce about the previous 3000 shows, with lots of highlights; includes an appearance by Merv Griffin and a clip of the 1974 pilot (OB, bad commercial edits, end credits cut off; courtesy Vernon Metcalf, VM1.6)
* From September 4, 2000: Season Premiere; Karen vs. Joe vs. Cecelia; TOSS-UP PUZZLES DEBUT; an Audi is won (OC)
* From January 22, 2002: Erin vs. Andre vs. Gary; $100,000 is lost in bonus (OC)
* From May 21, 2002: From Chicago; Cynthia vs. Jeff vs. Stephen; before round 3, the puzzle is revealed in reverse! (OC)
* From September 2, 2002; 20th Season Premiere; Patrick vs. Kelly vs. Roger (OC)
* From November 2002; from Seattle; Brook vs. Shawn vs. Jeremy (OC)
* From February 2003; from Nashville; La Tonyau vs. Eric vs. Donna (OC)
* From May 2003; from San Diego; Olivia vs. Jody vs. Brian (OC)
* From September 8, 2003; season premiere; Larry vs. Desiree vs. Jessica (OC)
* From November 2003; Wheel of Fortune's 4000th Episode Special from Radio City in New York (RPT)
* From November 20, 2003; Best Friends Week from Radio City; Sal & Tom vs. April & La Toya vs. Jo & Mary Ann (OC)
From May 2004: Numerous episodes from San Francisco (all OC)
* From May 3: Mom & Me: Kat & Maxine vs. Brittany & Rene vs. Skipp & Roberta; Willie Mays makes special appearance
* Another Mom & Me: Tina & Hariette vs. Marc & Kathleen vs. Lisa & Ann
* Another Mom & Me: Kelly & Kathy vs. John & Linda vs. Arthur & Deborah; $25,000 win
* From May 7: Mom & Me: Dave & Harriet vs. Tessie & Sheila vs. Lisa & Denise
* From May 10: Ric vs. Eva vs. Steve
* Bill vs. Azadeh vs. Michael
* Jenny vs. Scooby vs. Sharon; car win
* From May 14: Lauren vs. Sharon vs. Robert
* From May 17: College Week; Andrea (San Jose State) vs. Leah (Cal Berkeley) vs. Ryan (Stanford); car win
* College Week; Chun-Yin (SJSU) vs. Kathryn (San Francisco) vs. Tracy (Stanford); car win
* Another College Week; Jackie Sue (SJSU) vs. Virginia (UCSF) vs. Adam (Cal-Berkeley); $25,000 win
* From May 21: College Week; Navdeep (UC-Davis) vs. Jennifer (San Francisco) vs. Weston (San Francisco State)
* From May 2005: The first episode of "Mom & Me Week" from Kansas City: Jay/Jacque vs. Jessica/Linda vs. Laila/Larita (OC, KPSTD.6)
* From May 2005: A Kansas City episode: Colleen vs. Tara vs. Bob (OB)
* From May 2005: The last episode of "Big XII Week" from Kansas City: Michael (Oklahoma State) vs. Lauren (Kansas State) vs. David (Colorado) (OB; $40,000 WIN)
* From May 2005: D'Nez vs. Tyler vs. Tricia (OB; $25,000 win)
* From September 12, 2005; 23rd Season Premiere; Gloria vs. Julie vs. Marcus (OC)
* From Sept. 11, 2006: 24th Season Premiere
* From November 22, 2006; David vs. Laura vs. Jada (OC, MOSU12.2)
* From February 5, 2007; a Charleston, South Carolina episode, Marc vs. Demetrius vs. Deb; lights dim after a puzzle is solved! (OC, WEWS school closings ticker on bottom throughout)
* From September 10, 2007; 25th Season Premiere; Corky vs. Amanda vs. Jill; heartbreaking bonus loss! (OC, RR3.3)
ROLF BENIRSCHKE/VANNA WHITE - Rolf didn't do real well with the Wheel, and that's probably why the show left NBC in the first place.
* From January 1989; Rolf's first episode; Karen vs. Cheryl vs. Consuelo; car win (OC, mediocre video and counter on top, last few seconds missing, SW11.4)
BOB GOEN/VANNA WHITE - When the series moved to CBS, they got a better host, but the tradeoff was the cheaper payouts.
* CBS Premiere from July 17, 1989; Fay vs. Rick vs. Lou; Pat Sajak appears; parts of opening and closing cut off (OB, TMS5.10)
