Post by pannoni1 on Jul 14, 2015 20:52:39 GMT -5
Given its long history, Wheel not just has small changes season by season, year by year, but what I've created is a poll that divides the show's history into six eras as follows:
The Chuck Woolery Era (1975-1981): Susan Stafford, three-lined puzzles, no bonus round, but by far the most emotional era of the show, even with regards to dollar amounts in the hundreds. Hardly known to casual fans however today who weren't around when this aired.
The NBC Sajak/Early Primetime Era (December 1981-June 1989): Wheel becomes an international sensation thanks to King World's syndicated version, Vanna White, a new theme song, an addition of the bonus round, and for years having ten shows a week showed how Wheel was clearly a phenomenon to watch.
The CBS/Nighttime Returning Champions Era (July 1989-June 1996): Although primetime wheel is just as popular and still a dominant force in the ratings and arguably more refined than ever with new categories, on location weeks and playing for all cash, daytime disappears due to CBS' budget issues and an unpopular host.
The Friday Finals/Theme Week/New Puzzleboard Era (September 1996-November 2001): The new puzzleboard and video gadgetry give the set a fresh look, and even more categories continues to add variety along with various theme weeks. At least the rise of the Internet allows new fan connectivity like never before and was when many rediscovered the classics via GSN reruns. However, shorly into this era, self-contained episodes reappear and all of a sudden makes record payouts seemingly a thing of the past. Let's leave Wheel 2000 out of the discussion for this, please.
The $100,000 Bonus Wheel Era (November 2001-June 2008): Knowing that no version of the show now offers returning champions, this increased bonus top prize is seen as an attempt to boost ratings based on the popular big money primetime shows at the time making Wheel now seem quaint in comparison, and with the rise of reality TV and lots of other entertainment alternatives along with the continued alienation of the purest, it was clear that this was a show trying to coast on its past success. However, there will always be new fans who first got interested during this era (for example lots of today's teens/college students).
The Million Dollar Wedge Era (September 2008-present): The current era we are in, and this site explains in good detail based upon the show in recent years and is starting to be seen like other long runners like TPIR for its dependability and "old school" charm for its gameplay as this is basically a continuation upon what was introduced in the previous eras.
Please vote/discuss your favorite era of Wheel, or go a bit further and rank them.
The Chuck Woolery Era (1975-1981): Susan Stafford, three-lined puzzles, no bonus round, but by far the most emotional era of the show, even with regards to dollar amounts in the hundreds. Hardly known to casual fans however today who weren't around when this aired.
The NBC Sajak/Early Primetime Era (December 1981-June 1989): Wheel becomes an international sensation thanks to King World's syndicated version, Vanna White, a new theme song, an addition of the bonus round, and for years having ten shows a week showed how Wheel was clearly a phenomenon to watch.
The CBS/Nighttime Returning Champions Era (July 1989-June 1996): Although primetime wheel is just as popular and still a dominant force in the ratings and arguably more refined than ever with new categories, on location weeks and playing for all cash, daytime disappears due to CBS' budget issues and an unpopular host.
The Friday Finals/Theme Week/New Puzzleboard Era (September 1996-November 2001): The new puzzleboard and video gadgetry give the set a fresh look, and even more categories continues to add variety along with various theme weeks. At least the rise of the Internet allows new fan connectivity like never before and was when many rediscovered the classics via GSN reruns. However, shorly into this era, self-contained episodes reappear and all of a sudden makes record payouts seemingly a thing of the past. Let's leave Wheel 2000 out of the discussion for this, please.
The $100,000 Bonus Wheel Era (November 2001-June 2008): Knowing that no version of the show now offers returning champions, this increased bonus top prize is seen as an attempt to boost ratings based on the popular big money primetime shows at the time making Wheel now seem quaint in comparison, and with the rise of reality TV and lots of other entertainment alternatives along with the continued alienation of the purest, it was clear that this was a show trying to coast on its past success. However, there will always be new fans who first got interested during this era (for example lots of today's teens/college students).
The Million Dollar Wedge Era (September 2008-present): The current era we are in, and this site explains in good detail based upon the show in recent years and is starting to be seen like other long runners like TPIR for its dependability and "old school" charm for its gameplay as this is basically a continuation upon what was introduced in the previous eras.
Please vote/discuss your favorite era of Wheel, or go a bit further and rank them.
