Taping Report: 08/02-08/03/2013

Ok folks, I just got approval from Mario to post these:

First, to Wario: The "Valentine's Day" shows are not sponsored by Sandals. Just regular shows, regular prizes.

First thing first so I can get it out of the way before I forget: During the show set to air on February 14th, the Prize Puzzle and the Express wedge were in R2. Also, the letters of Express and the numbers are yellow, and three white streaks go diagonally upward from left to right under "Express," and light up accordingly. All three streaks under "Express" seem to light-streak across at the same time.

Next, the director:

I talked to three people: A guy at the Meet & Greet check-in desk who works for the show, near the doors of Hall A at Sands Expo Convention Center, the guy who seated us who also works for the show, and a PA who was standing next to John Lauderdale (John was talking to someone else and she was available), after the second and last taping for the day was complete.

According to the PA, Mark Corwin completed the July 11th and 12th tapings before he died. So there was nothing left hanging in Culver City before the production left for Las Vegas.

Kevin McCarthy from "Jeopardy!" is directing the Las Vegas shows. I guess Harry Friedman gave him a call and asked him to fill in.

There is no word on what's going to happen when they get back, who is chosen for the permanent position, any of that. I asked if either associate director Bob Cisneros or associate director L. David Irete would be elevated, and they said they didn't know. It's something they'll figure out when they get back. From the tenor of the answer, it sounds like it's going to take a little while. The guy at the Meet & Greet desk told me flat out that he was amazed I knew that, and I said I'm a fan of the show and keep up on this and also let him know about the obits for Mark Corwin all over the Internet. I read them all.

Next: On "Same Name," they're using an ampersand.

The Final Spin graphic is the same.

There was nothing from Jim Thornton during these tapings about the 6,000th show or possible future Wheel of Fortune road dates. Until tonight, I had no idea that Jim was the narrator of the "Monsters, Inc." commercial during the first movie, or that he was the later voice of Johnny Gomez on Celebrity Deathmatch, from 2006-2007. I preferred Celebrity Deathmatch when it aired from 1998 on. The later episodes aren't as good.

No Spin IDs were drawn during the tapings.

Neither of the monitors on the sides had the wheel all the time. It was just like when you watch the show on TV. Plus, where we were sitting, in the handicap-accessible section, owing to my Mom's disability, we couldn't see much, which is why we're only going to the first three shows tomorrow and then spending the rest of the day doing what else we want to do, including me going to Bauman Rare Books at the Palazzo to see the "Before They Were Movies" book exhibit.

Also, the Spin & Win wheel for the bonus round is different this year. It's darkish blue all around as it spins, almost as if someone forgot to turn on the juice. Then after one of the envelopes is chosen, that wedge lights up in a lighter blue.

And if the second show was a "Get me the hell out of here for the night!" rush show for Pat and Vanna and the crew (Neither Pat nor Vanna nor Jim spoke to the audience toward the end of the second show or after it was over), I can only imagine what the final Las Vegas taping in the early evening tomorrow will be like. Everyone on stage and operating the cameras was ready to be done for the night, except for the staff and crew photo that was taken after that taping was completed.