jjman920
Made It and Played It Executive Producer 
Token
Posts: 256
Airdate: 10/08/19
Winnings: $8,000
SPIN ID: JM9274667
|
Post by jjman920 on Feb 10, 2020 15:51:51 GMT -5
So, on a recent trip to Los Angeles to see Wheel back in January during a stopdown between shows, Jim made mention of something interesting.
He said that at couple of years ago, one of the winners (the last one, so far) had come back to attend the show as audience member and that Jim had brought up the idea then with her that the three million dollar winners should come back for a face-off. Apparently, the idea gained a few legs because they reached out to the other two with Jim mentioning that "one of them didn't want to do it." No other information was mentioned, such as if it would've been a primetime affair like the recent GOAT tourney for Jeopardy or just special episodes in syndication (my guess would be the latter at the time). Nor what type of prize would be on offer (if there was any change to such).
That's a shame. All three had to solve some tough puzzles to win the million, so it would be interesting and fun to see the three go up against each other for million dollar winner supremacy.
It's also a shame this idea wasn't extended to other incredible solvers of the past decade to participate in. Emil would be a big draw and some of our other members here who have appeared, and impressed, on the show going up against him would make for a fun matchup.
|
|
MarioGS
Made It and Played It VIP 
PhD in Wheeloffortunology
Posts: 14,931 
Airdate: 03/25/2016
Winnings: $76,086
SPIN ID: RS1363545
Member is Online
|
Post by MarioGS on Feb 10, 2020 16:12:59 GMT -5
Whether it was Michelle or Autumn that refused to come back, I respect their decision, but I really can't imagine why they would turn an opportunity like that down. I wonder if the result would have been the same had this happened around the same time as the much-hyped J!GOAT. It probably wouldn't have been enough for Wheel to top the ratings, though. Not even Vanna hosting was enough for Wheel to surpass J!
What's the most surprising about all this is that this actually would have happened under Harry's approval. This would have been the first time under his entire tenure that contestants return for reasons besides a gameplay error, being a day-to-day champion, or Friday Finals. It would have been almost like a comeback of Some of the Greats. Regardless, this kind of event really should have been discussed as soon as the third win happened, but it's nice to know that it was at least considered and that Harry wasn't the reason why it didn't happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by gameshowfandanny on Feb 10, 2020 17:05:08 GMT -5
Emil would be a big draw and some of our other members here who have appeared, and impressed, on the show going up against him would make for a fun matchup. I think MarioGS (Robert)/Emil/Caitlin Burke would be a good matchup. That tournament could be called the "One Letter Solvers Tournament". |
|
WarioSajak
VIP 
Co-Owner of Karen's Pool Tables
Daniel, lover of classic "Wheel".
Posts: 1,894
SPIN ID: DB2986720
|
Post by WarioSajak on Feb 10, 2020 17:43:06 GMT -5
I could see Autumn being the holdout, for two possible reasons:
1) If she wasn't notified that her episode was moved up a day before it aired, which would've ruined any plans she had for the day it was originally scheduled to air.
2) The fact that her episode was moved up a day for no real reason other than having a THIRTY 30 THIRTY contrivance, with the website's show timeline then asking if her win on that day was "Coincidence or fate?" when in reality it was neither.
|
|
MarioGS
Made It and Played It VIP
PhD in Wheeloffortunology
Posts: 14,931
Airdate: 03/25/2016
Winnings: $76,086
SPIN ID: RS1363545
Member is Online
|
Post by MarioGS on Feb 10, 2020 17:55:39 GMT -5
1) If she wasn't notified that her episode was moved up a day before it aired, which would've ruined any plans she had for the day it was originally scheduled to air. Contestants are always notified when their episodes are rescheduled after taping. 2) The fact that her episode was moved up a day for no real reason other than having a THIRTY 30 THIRTY contrivance, with the website's show timeline then asking if her win on that day was "Coincidence or fate?" when in reality it was neither. It could have also been moved because Thursday, the day it was moved to, is the best day of the week for ratings. A lot of big primetime shows and events happen on Thursdays, and most of the random local specials that pre-empt Wheel happen on Thursdays, too. Friday evenings, which was when Autumn's win was originally taped for, typically have the least viewers of all the weekdays, hence the term "Friday night death slot", and why ABC's classic "TGIF" block is no more. They also moved Sarah Manchester's win from Thursday to Wednesday to avoid being pre-empted on CBS stations, which were carrying Thursday Night Football that year starting in Wheel's common 7:30/6:30 Central slot. Either way, I really doubt Autumn would care about such a small thing. Changing the air date or tying it into an anniversary gimmick doesn't change the fact that Wheel made her a millionaire. |
|
|
|
Post by thepatman18 on Feb 10, 2020 18:30:21 GMT -5
I should agree with Danny on the Robert/Emil/Catlin match.
|
|
CDixie
Made It and Played It 
My 21st season as a Wheel fan!!
Posts: 81
Airdate: 03/17/2020, 05/08/2023
Winnings: $130,545
SPIN ID: CD2989328
|
Post by CDixie on Feb 10, 2020 19:03:13 GMT -5
That would be interesting if Wheel had a ToC. After all, Wheel has a competitive side like J! does.
|
|
RoonilWazlib
Made It and Played It
Posts: 70
Airdate: 12/06/19
Winnings: $65,567
|
Post by RoonilWazlib on Feb 11, 2020 10:58:16 GMT -5
I don't think it would be impossible to do a proper Wheel champions' tournament/GOAT tournament, but the issue is that luck has a much greater hand in the average game of WoF than it does with J! so you're either picking up everyone memorable from the last few years and accepting that luck will screw some of them or playing many trials and limiting the scope of the thing to just three players, similar to the Jeopardy! GOAT event. If the margin of skill between players isn't vast it only takes one inopportune Bankrupt to change the outcome of a game. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing--it's part of what makes the show appealing to watch and fantasize yourself into--but it means that a satisfying narrative where the best player takes the crown is that much tougher to engineer.
Now, would I tune in if you told me Robert, Emil, Jessie (is it too early to call her one of the greats?), or any of the millionaires were returning? Of course.
|
|
