Evaluation: Final Spin and Speed-Up

Finally, a finalspin evaluation! WooWho!

Not every game needs a high-value FS and a come-from-behind victory so the +1000 does not need to be changed. I would prefer other changes that would even out things like removing the Prize Puzzle round or just making the R4+ values higher. The Speed-Up can be dull but sometimes time control is needed for a game that goes long. Editing can get around that, now, so maybe it's not as needed anymore. The worst Speed-Ups to me are ones where the puzzle goes unsolved for a long time due to obscure consonants or vowel-heavy words. No one calls vowels there because they won't even let you keep your turn longer. Maybe a Free Play-like system could be used where you can call 1 consonant and buy 1 vowel per turn. If a round that did not start as a Speed-Up is incomplete but not just starting, and there is no time for other rounds, the game should end with it. But there should be more Final Spins than not because the chance at $6,000 and the occasional quick-solve somehow make it worth it.

As for Pat giving the Final Spin and using the red arrow, I don't know why the contestant in control can't do it and use their own arrow, aside from the semi-iconic "I'll give the Wheel a Final Spin..."

Because then they can't say to Pat "don't go anywhere near the $5,000 because we can't afford it". It does expose the variety lacking in wheel amounts when every Speed Up is worth $1,500.

I have no better solution to a round running long besides heading into a Speed Up. Someday when all the wedges are electronic we can have a completely different layout for the Final Spin.

For the love of God, don't encourage him!

I think they use the red arrow because it's closer to Pat.

Thanks to the rule change for Season 39 where the contestant in control now provides the Final Spin instead of Pat, I now feel that the likelihood of a $5,000 Final Spin hit are even lower, especially if its a female and/or older contestant in the blue position since it would requite 27 spaces to reach. That said, it could allow for a player in control whose far behind to attempt to aim for it better based upon their natural spin strength, or for a player far ahead to try to avoid it as a means of locking up the game, although its still too soon to say how this strategy may work out. 

That said, $1,000+ the dollar amount (minimum of $500) is still enough of a boost to usually make a difference in the final outcome of the game. Because of this added value, it makes most games ending with a Speed-Up a necessity so it lets both the players and viewers know that this is indeed it. Indeed, it wasn't too long after the $1,000 was added to the Final Spin that the practice of holding the Speed-Up was made permanent. Sure, we don't get to spin the Wheel, but at least we still get to see the Bonus Wheel over in Bonus Land shortly afterwards. The Speed-Up provides a moment between a player's turn to study not just what would the next good letter to be called, but to perhaps solve the puzzle, where upon their next turn, call the letter where the most multiples appear in the puzzle. Buying a vowel isn't usually a good strategy unless if you have a lead that you want to protect by your opponents and also know that the particular vowel is in the puzzle, or want to have a better shot at the opportunity of solving the puzzle. The reduction from five to three seconds doesn't make to drastic of a difference since it doesn't include the time it takes Vanna to touch the letter and walk back into place. Even if its a runaway game, unlike Jeopardy!, a trailing player can still earn a decent amount of cash for them to walk away with, so a nice $6000 payout is still not too shabby if it doesn't result in a win, especially given that many non-PP puzzles still are solved for less than that. The "Speed-Up Round" remains an essential part of the Wheel experience, similar to the Showcase Showdown, Triple value question, and Final Jeopardy! The only thing I really miss are the edited Final Spins where the Wheel ends on a penalty space. This has been edited since 1996 on-air and is perhaps part of the reason why Free Play was retired, but that's what live tapings and classic episodes are for. 

Sorry for that remark, please ignore that quote. My utmost apologies, and I didn't mean to offend anyone. Still, I feel that its too early to determine the actual likelihood of a $5K hit since it isn't known how often the fourth round will begin with a speedup. One last thing that I should add is the editing out of the null cycles; I find that a good thing since it allows a fair amount of time for the Wheel segment since they can easily just edit those out just like in the main portion of the game, and it gives the ambition that the contestants are pretty smart no matter what happens in the studio, although its pretty easy to pick it out when the camera turns to Pat. I actually preferred the Speedup without music, since the deafening silence adds a special element of tension that's only broken up by the time's up buzzer. But I can still tolerate the background music, even if it can be a bit repetitive. Most importantly, don't be afraid to solve if you have an idea, with the possible exception of being if you're a letter or two away from winning the game on your turn and think your opponents won't have a chance by the time your turn returns, unless if you have at least $5000 already for the round, where I'd still solve even if I wouldn't win the game.

Now that we've had a couple of seasons with it under our belts:

The host no longer does the Final Spin. What do we think of the change to the active player performing the Final Spin?