Episode Number/Count Info

The show's once-straightforward production code system has become a bit complicated due to the pandemic. The episodes' production numbers are no longer a direct reflection of the official nighttime episode count. I'm going to detail where the show is at right now so all you archivists and other recappers out there make sure you have it right.

I won't be using it after this point, but remember that all nighttime episode numbers are formatted "S-XXXX". Reruns, regardless of what day or time of year they air, are formatted "S-XXXXRR" with their original numbers. Unlike The Price is Right, which frequently reschedules episodes but retains their original episode codes, Wheel usually re-numbers their episodes in the rare (before now) case that they are given new air dates.

Here is where the discrepancies started:

• Dec. 23-27, 2019: Due to Pat's emergency surgery cancelling one set of tapings that couldn't be made up, reruns air. This week would have been shows 7096-7100 had they aired new episodes this week. No shows exist for 7096-7100. When new episodes resumed starting 12/30, they picked up from 7101 instead of re-numbering them 7096 onward. In the past, midseason reruns did not cause any gaps in the episode count, evident by the fact that every season's finale until this season is known to be X times 195 (with S37 beginning with 7021). Episode count discrepancy: +5.

• Mar. 30-Apr. 3, 2020: Originally Carnival Week of Fun!, shows 7166-7170. Week is shelved and replaced with reruns. Like before, the next week retains numbers 7171-7175. No shows exist for 7166-7170. Episode count discrepancy: +10.

• Apr. 13-17, 2020: Originally UK Getaway with numbers 7176-7180. Again, shelved, replaced with reruns, its numbers are skipped. No shows exist for 7176-7180. Episode count discrepancy: +15.

• May 1, 2020: The last new episode of Season 37 airs, not counting Carnival and UK Getaway. It is numbered 7190, as it had been from the beginning.

• Jun. 12, 2020: This would have been the Season 37 finale had production not been halted. The week off in December led to an extra week being added in June. The intended S37 finale on 6/12, part of Father's Day week, which was never produced, would have been numbered 7220. Instead, show S-7140RR from S37's Girlfriend Getaways week airs.

• May 4-Jul. 31, 2020: Reruns air for 13 consecutive weeks.

• Aug. 3-7, 2020: UK Getaway week finally airs. However, the shows are re-numbered 7221-7225. No shows exist for 7191-7220. This information was verified by a master control employee at a station that airs Wheel, where episode masters are sent to stations one weekday in advance, meaning show 7222 is in stations' possession on 8/3. Wheel is picking up the episode count from where it would have left off if the rest of Season 37 aired as originally scheduled. 7221 would have been the number for the Season 38 premiere, if that were the case.