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Post by celetheref on Nov 17, 2017 3:30:32 GMT -5
An episode from September 1992 notable points: -The "warm-up lap" rule is in effect: everyone gets one spin at the start of the round. - 13:49 contestant picks a letter that's already out: time for Mike's punishment! - 15:47 contestant missolves, but the phrase makes sense: he's still given credit. rules were more relaxed back then. - 25:29 after this very long round, the hostess says "it's over!" - 25:50 Mike: "What are we giving to our former champion?" Judge: "Nothing, the free spin as a souvenir" (he has previously won 5.4 million and a car btw)
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Post by celetheref on May 30, 2019 8:42:18 GMT -5
three consecutive episodes from November 1998
Interesting moment at 21:00 the middle player calls the F but the judge mishears and lights up the S instead. The player is given credit for the F and the judge leaves the S on the board "for free".
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Post by celetheref on Sept 30, 2019 12:29:40 GMT -5
Daytime episode from 1997, very colorful set. And there's Megaword as the home viewer contest!
at 22:03 the contestant lost the turn because she attempted to buy a second vowel in the same turn.
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germanname1990
I am the King of Live Play. Wheel with it!
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Post by germanname1990 on Jan 26, 2020 1:48:16 GMT -5
Here's most of an episode from the 1987 Odeon version. Note there's only one layout used throughout the game in this episode (it's not the one with 3,000,000 liras as the top value, just the one with 1,000,000 as top value), but at least we now have much more information about this era.
There are only three sound effects I know of, one being the chime when the puzzle is introduced, another being when the puzzle is solved (which is basically the last leg of the main theme), and the third is when time is running out. This sound effect not only sounds like a security alarm, but it's just as loud as one. So for those who are protective of their hearing, you'll want to have the volume turned down by the time the video hits the 29:03 mark.
The video ends shortly after the Final Spin (the value is determined the same way as the Australian, New Zealand, and Nintendo 64 versions), but thanks to another source I have, I can tell you the Bonus Round uses the five-and-a-vowel rule.
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germanname1990
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Post by germanname1990 on Jul 21, 2021 0:45:38 GMT -5
Here's an episode from March 5, 1989. This has a top-lira structure of 1,000,000 in Round 1, 1,300,000 in Round 2, and 2,000,000 in Round 3. Note that there are three lira values that are in this episode that would be retired soon after, each of them being exclusive to only one round: 200,000 liras in Round 1; 1,300,000, the top value in Round 2; and 1,200,000 in Round 3.
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Post by celetheref on Jul 24, 2021 20:42:06 GMT -5
Good catch, that's the very first Mike Bongiorno episode!
Early episodes had some peculiar scoring: contestants who didn't solve the puzzle still won whatever was in their bank. Solving the puzzle awarded an extra 2 million lire.
At 18:00 there's an unaired part where Mike suggests that vowels should cost 500k lire in the first round instead of a million. Then, he berates the board operators because they accidentally revealed some of the letters in the next puzzle. It was the first day for everyone.
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germanname1990
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Post by germanname1990 on Jul 25, 2021 2:03:59 GMT -5
I had a feeling it was the premiere. Got confirmation now. Makes sense since I noticed Mike making a lot of explanations. I do agree with Mike when it came to the cost of vowels. Making the cost of vowels the same as Round 1's top value of 1,000,000 liras never made a lot of sense to me. Just imagine on our version vowels being $2500 as opposed to only $250 (although it may be time for a price increase to $500 since the minimum value is also $500). Now one of the things I noticed was that this version was among the few from this time (if not among the first) to not have the shopping element, although I know Odeon's version had it. Nevertheless, I noticed there seemed to be some miniature games played between rounds. Do you by any chance, celetheref, know how they worked and what their purpose was? I noticed they were played by someone other than the three contestants and appeared to have no effect on gameplay. On a sidenote, I don't know if Brazil's Roletrando ever had the shopping element since I never saw any evidence that they ever had such an element. If they never did, that would very likely mean they were the first version in the franchise to regularly abandon the shopping element.
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Post by celetheref on Jul 25, 2021 18:10:13 GMT -5
Nevertheless, I noticed there seemed to be some miniature games played between rounds. Do you by any chance, celetheref , know how they worked and what their purpose was? I noticed they were played by someone other than the three contestants and appeared to have no effect on gameplay. Most entertainment programs feature one or more telepromozioni, promotional segments where sponsors advertise their goods. In Italy there's a limit to how much advertisement a network can air, and those segments would be technically part of the show and would not count towards their quota.
During gameshows they usually took the form of miniature games. Players usually were phone-ins or randomly selected audience members.
Rarely the sponsor game used the same contestants from the main game.
Sometimes they were simple luck-based games, other times they were more elaborate, complete with a bonus round and a progressive jackpot.
I remember one of those games was bringing bouillon cubes from a car trunk to a scale, and another was about doing math while running on a treadmill
The rules have changed since, and now telepromozioni cannot use elements from the main program, so no mini games anymore
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Post by celetheref on Aug 22, 2021 10:33:35 GMT -5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpMCwl__MFU1995 episode, 2nd of the 95/96 season. This season introduces many new features like removable wedges. Mike's new assistant is Antonella Elia. Mike states "We'll get along just fine". They won't. points of interest: -The first contestant is named Vanna -The extra wedges worked a little differently during early episodes: the contestant had to solve the puzzle to win the Surprise (this requirement was removed at some point) and the Big Money wedge was not removed after being won. -After round 1 Antonella discusses with Mike and Vanna if Michael Jackson is a pedophile Outtake: Antonella says "I'm still convinced that he's a pedophile" -Round 2: the judge gives Vanna the solve despite mistaking a vowel. Back then it was allowed to mistake the final vowel in a word, if it still made sense. The judge then explained that from then on he'll only accept exact solves. Outtake2: Apparently there's a problem with the trilon-turning mechanism as there's a man turning back the trilons manually. We also see the Big Money and Surprise wedges being put on the wheel. Conversation: Mike: (to male contestant) "Now you'll be the next to play. You'll be the first to spin" Judge: "Now they must be accurate, just now they... they turn them so fast that before intervening..." (probably the board was revealed before the judge had a chance to say anything) Mike: "Listen, you have to correct my numbers, I don't get this. From 4 we go to 5..." Judge: "Yes, from 4 to 5... I corrected them on the next" (No idea what it means. Perhaphs they swapped a puzzle at the last moment) Mike: "Are we putting the Surprise prize again? We have alrady given it" Judge: "Surprise prize... this is third round... it's in" Mike: "What is it this time? Is it there?" Studio assistant: "It's a cellphone, I think" Mike: "is it there?" Judge: "Which has no card inside, like yours"
Outtake 3 Conversation: Contestant: "I spin" Mike: "Moment, hold it. They have to change..." Judge: "At the tote board they had a doubt, which I think is sensible: when they get the 3 million, do we only give 3 million, we don't multiply..." Mike: "No, of course" Judge: "Otherwise we'd reach such sums..." Mike: "No, that's a special prize" Judge: "That's a prize we assign... it's not like if it were 2 million" Mike: "It's a special prize. A super prize"
Mike: "Mario?" (to Mario Bianchi, the director) Mario: "Tell me, Mike" Mike: "Start immediately with the Red Sea clip, because I have to read this, and it would look bad if..." Mario: "All right, I'll send it as it starts"
Antonella: "I pressed a button and now it won't turn off" ?: "Who was it?" Antonella: "Don't touch it, Ambra! Drop the cellphone. What are you protecting? I can't use it anymore. Damn. Wanna turn it off?" Mike: "Where did you put it?" Antonella: "OK, turn it off. Don't protect it, OK?" Mike: "I can't see the cellphone. Is it there? OK"
Mario: "We are ready, Mike!" Antonella: "How hot" Studio Assistant: "The trilon, turn the trilon" (one was left half-turned)
Outtake 4 We see that they are peeling away the regular layout from the wheel to reveal the last round values underneath! We can hear Antonella saying "...at some point they'll say "go" and I... instead they didn't say go, and I stood like this" Later, Mike says "There's a space there that doesn't belong. Hey, remove it. Is it stuck? OK we're ready, let's go guys!" And then the Final Spin Megaword Note that Mike spins 800k but tries to award only 700k
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germanname1990
I am the King of Live Play. Wheel with it!
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Post by germanname1990 on Aug 22, 2021 23:02:46 GMT -5
Yikes...
Okay, did this air live? Because I'm now under the impression that it did.
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Post by celetheref on Aug 23, 2021 4:07:15 GMT -5
Off-the-air parts were cut before broadcast, but I'm pretty sure that the Michael Jackson part did air as taped. Mike's policy was to air even mistakes and incidents, unless they took too much time.
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Post by celetheref on Aug 26, 2021 16:14:57 GMT -5
Another interesting outtake, this time is from the first episode of season 2
Mike's third son Leonardo was born a few days before this taping Before the taping starts, Mike has some instructions for the audience
Quiet, quiet
OK. Thanks, you are very kind for this applause, I hope it's addressed not to me but to little Leonardo.
I don't know how many of you already attended Wheel of Fortune, I think some of you already attended, you came the last year, or never?
Then you know how this game works?
Well, it takes much enthusiasm, you have to cheer for the contestants as they guess letters, as they win their prizes; of course you can incite them by calling their names, "go", "here", "there"... you can even whistle, do a bit of everything because this is a show that needs a lot of movement and, I'd say, a lot of enthusiasm. Logically you must not exaggerate too much; the applause, when you notice that the contestant is already moving to spin the wheel, then you must end it, but I think that our studio assitant will tell you when it's the moment to diminish the applause, because otherwise we couldn't hear each other while we are talking and you are applauding.
Well, now we are doing a proper test applause for Mario Bianchi because I think he wants to hear how it comes out. Just a little moment.
Well, for now we'll tape, hopefully, if everything goes right, four episodes. We'll tape a couple now and then I believe there's a switch, because not all of you do four episodes, I think you do 2 and 2 if I'm not wrong. Then possibly we'll do the other two after lunch break, I immagine, unless you stay with us until the end; in this case we'll stay together until 11.
Anyway, I think it will be fun... now let's do this test applause and let's see how it comes. Ready, go!
Mario, how's that?
MARIO: Yes, if you do a few more whistles it doesn't hurt
Ok, all right
MARIO: If you cheer for the contestants, with their names...
All right, enthusiasm of course. Every once in a while you'll be in the frame, so make a nice smile when you are in the frame, alright? Mario, where are the contestants? Did you summon the contestants?
MARIO: Yes, a moment
Then... you know where to position yourselves... alright, I'm here. Where's Paola, is she there? Is the model there? The two contestants that are playing for that are there....
[Mike is now talking to Paola Barale, the new letter turner. Mike here is talking about the sponsor's mini-game that involves two contestants from the audience playing a game of chance for a new car]
Alright Paola, do you know what we have thought? In the case of a tie we won't do the cards but we'll give the prize to whoever has the most pairs. I mean, if they stand three-three and then one has two pears... got it? And the other doesn't have them, then that one wins. Let's try this, let's hope it works, if it doesn't work we'll do another round, right?
ASSISTANT: OK Mike, when you want...
Yes. This is to be thrown away... paper.
[Next, the returning champion asks Mike if they can congratulate to him during the show. Mike refuses because he probably broke the news on his other shows, Concentration and Jeopardy!, and he doesn't want to bore the audience. unbeknownst to him, the first puzzle of the day will reference little Leonardo]
RC: Mr. Mike? Yes RC: I wanted to congratulate you for the birth of Leonardo, in association with the other two contestants, so...[?] I don't know if it's the case, no, no... let's not talk about it because we've already said before. Maybe I'll tell about it when...[?]. I mean, we already went on the air for more than one week with other things...[?]
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germanname1990
I am the King of Live Play. Wheel with it!
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SPIN ID: WG1096336
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Post by germanname1990 on Jul 27, 2022 4:20:26 GMT -5
A huge collection of episodes has recently surfaced via a 2003 VHS tape that is the second of three tapes that's part of a series titled "Ruota Story." From what I'm getting, the uploader has yet to find the first tape, and he didn't know about the third until someone brought it up in a comment. I hope he finds the first because that may contain an episode from the Odeon version. In the meantime, I subscribed to him and turned on notifications. When he shows it, I will let you all know.
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Post by celetheref on Jul 28, 2022 4:15:41 GMT -5
"Ruota Story" is a fancy title Mediaset gave to their Summer reruns of Wheel, they don't contain Odeon episodes Regardless, it's interesting to see how the format changed: the 1994 one was a classic-rules episode (with the warm-up lap), in 1996 the show tried all the gimmicks (a bonus question after every puzzle), the two 1998 episodes are the tournament of champions final, played over two days probably because Mike watched Jeopardy! and liked the idea.
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Post by celetheref on Jul 28, 2022 5:54:30 GMT -5
For the curious, I've tried to translate the puzzles
1994 episode R1 "Mike's ancestor" CERTAINLY IT WAS HIM WHO INVENTED THE WHEEL R2 "a channel/canal" TELEVISION, ESOPHAGEAL AND ARTIFICAL WATERCOURSE R3 "a pipe" THE BOWL IS MADE FROM EXOTIC PUMPKINS unsolved R4 "a dumb turkey" CHASED BY THE COOK HIDES IN THE OVEN R5 "TV jargon" GOING TO BLACK MEANS THERE'S A COMMERCIAL BREAK BONUS "a stick" OF POOL, OF CIGARETTES AND SINGER'S (in Italian the same word is for a pool cue, a cigarettes carton and singing a wrong note) 1996 episode R1 "zoology" MULE'S PARENTS bonus answer "a female horse and a male donkey"
R2 "fill in the blank" WILL / DISCIPLINE / CROWN bonus answer "iron" R3 "what's this" SQUARES, KNIGHTS, WHITE AND BLACK, PAWNS bonus answer "chess" R4 "Elia" BIBLICAL PROPHET AND PEPPY BLONDE (the letter turner) gold letter bonus name 5 comics characters that begin with P R5 "lightning round" MACROSCOPIC explain the word's meaning for a bonus BONUS "Religions" SHINTOISM 1998 Game 1 R1 "straight" IN TENNIS IT'S THE OPPOSITE OF REVERSE (in Italian, forehand/backhand strokes are straight/reverse) R2 "opera greeting" WE'LL PART WHEN THE FLOWERS BLOOM AGAIN (from Puccini's La Bohème) R3 "Kim Basinger said:" MAKING LOVE NAKED IS FOR THE SAVAGE R4 "criticized slogan" LET'S REDESIGN MILAN (some didn't like the spelling of "ridisegniamo") R5 "confusion" (it's a pun) RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTY FOR FISHES ("mar/asma" = "sea/asthma") R6 "Sean Connery" WINDED UP IN A NUDIST GOLF COURSE R7 "impatient armchair" (it's a pun) UNLINED, SHE'S BURSTING (In Italian an excited person "can't stay in the skin" and "skin" is also "leather") R8 "novel sentence" SHE SIGHED AND BURST INTO TEARS R9 "Cambodia" PHNOM PENH IS ITS CAPITAL BONUS "humidity" THE HYGROMETER MEASURES IT 1998 game 2 R1 "threat" MARK YOUR BONES, I'M SHUFFLING THEM R2 "myopia" FOR MR MAGOO IT IS HARBRINGER OF A THOUSAND TROUBLES R3 "when driving" NEVER HOLD THE WHEEL BY THE SPOKES R4 "the piano" SUPPLANTED THE HARPSICHORD R5 "buttoned" (it's a pun) CAME TO LIGHT WITH AN EXPLOSION ("a-botto-nato" "by-boom-born") R6 "new USA fad" ANTI-FORGETFULNESS MIND FITNESS R7 "five minus one" THE SPICES AFTER GERI'S DEFECTION R8 "credit cards" WE GET WOUND-UP IF THEY DEMAGNETIZE R9 "at the sea" WIDE SIGHT FROM THE CLIFF BONUS "the bachelor" HOUSED IN THE PIED-A-TERRE
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