In today’s TV environment, quick cancellations run rampant and lasting successes are more difficult to build. When it comes to game shows, only a handful have lasted long enough to become institutions of the genre. Fifty years ago, a hangman-inspired game with a twist made its TV debut, and it’s been spinning into our homes ever since. Of course we’re talking about Wh__l of Fortun_. Here’s five things you should know about the world of Wheel.
1. If Hangman and Roulette Had a Baby
By 1975, Merv Griffin was already a household name. The popular talk show host had built a long and steady resume of work in radio, music, and film and on Broadway. Memories of playing hangman with his sister on family road trips gave Griffin the idea of a game show built around the premise of completing word puzzles. As he’d already built a solid production house based on his long-running talk show, he took the idea to his people at Merv Griffin Enterprises. The team thought that the show needed an extra draw beyond the hangman game, and Griffin’s notion was to add an element of chance, like a roulette wheel. Griffin and his team had meetings with a Caesars Palace exec about the construction of a wheel appropriate for the show.
Pat Sajak’s final Wheel of Fortune episode (Uploaded to YouTube by Wheel of Fortune)
2. A Daytime Debut
Wheel of Fortune launched on January 6, 1975, as part of NBC’s daytime lineup. The host for the first six years was game show fixture Chuck Woolery with Susan Stafford serving as “hostess” and letter-turner. In 1981, Pat Sajak, first known as a weatherman on L.A.’s KNBC, took over. The following year, Stafford left for other opportunities, and Griffin picked three potential replacements. After giving each one a few weeks in rotation, he settled on Vanna White as the new permanent hostess. The overall popularity of the daytime version of the show led to Griffin add an evening syndicated version in 1983, also featuring Sajak and White. Sajak stepped out of the daytime version and was followed by Rolf Benirschke and Bob Goen; the daytime edition was cancelled in 1991, but the evening syndicated show just kept spinning. In 2021, a new prime-time spin-off called Celebrity Wheel of Fortune was launched with Sajak and White.
3. Shopping Situations
The early version of Wheel of Fortune featured “shopping rounds” that allowed contestants to spend money they’d earned on items available in an in-studio showroom. Among the items that no one ever seemed to buy was a large ceramic Dalmatian. The shopping rounds were dropped from syndication in 1987 and daytime in 1989. One reason was to keep the actual gameplay moving, but another was to ease the tax burden that contestants had to bear for winning physical prizes.
4. Focus on Vanna
Vanna White became an extremely popular personality in the 1980s, even getting a “Vannamania” logo in magazines at the time. She’s been with both versions of the show since signing on in 1982; however, Stafford did tag in for one week in 1986 after White took time off following the death of her fiancée in an air accident. On one 1996 episode, White and Sajak switched places for a round because Sajak had laryngitis; it was the first time that White took the main mic while Sajak activated the letters. In 2019, Sajak missed three weeks after surgery, and White hosted with a succession of guest letter-turners, including Sajak’s daughter, Maggie.
5. The Big Change
Sajak announced his retirement from the regular show in 2023, and Ryan Seacrest took over in September of 2024. However, Sajak remained to host Celebrity Wheel into 2025, after which he’ll officially retire. White renewed her contract to work alongside Seacrest, but it’s unknown if she’ll continue past 2026.
During its tenure on TV, Wheel of Fortune has proven to be one of the most popular game shows in the world. Many international versions exist, and it continues to be one of the most highly-rated syndicated programs in the United States. The show shared the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show with Jeopardy! In 2011, which is appropriate, considering that Griffin also created that famed quiz show. Sajak himself won three Emmys for Outstanding Game Show Host. At 50 years in, Wheel of Fortune shows no signs of slowing down. Even when the world is crazy, it’s kind of comforting that some things will continue to spin on.
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Comments
Thanks for this in-depth look at an American institution going back to 1975, more popular than ever 50 years later. I’d never seen the earlier (daytime) version with Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford, but I’m sure they were excellent.
‘Wheel’ is a fun, relaxing show to watch during or after dinner, and appreciate the link here of Pat’s last show. I think Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White have good chemistry together, which is very important. Hopefully she’ll continue with the show beyond 2026, but that’ll be up to her. Let’s keep good thoughts though, she will indeed.