"Wheel of Fortune" (1975) TV series 1975-????

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Creator:

Merv Griffin
(more)

Seasons:

2 | unknown

Release Date:

6 January 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Game-Show

Plot:

Pat Sajak hosts this game show, where contestants guess letters in mystery words and phrases. They win...

Plot Keywords:

Game Show | Money | Non Fiction

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 15 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Oct. 14	7:30 PM	ABC
Wed. Oct. 15	7:30 PM	ABC

Cast

Pat Sajak	...	Himself - Host / ... (19 episodes, 1983-2007)
Vanna White	...	Herself - Hostess / ... (19 episodes, 1983-2007)

(more)

Series Directed by
Dick Carson		(unknown episodes)
Mark Corwin		(unknown episodes)
Jeff Goldstein		(unknown episodes)
Marty Pasetta		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Merv Griffin		(unknown episodes)
Josh Weintraub		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Joni Day	....	segment producer (14 episodes, 1997-2002)
David S. Williger	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 1975-1981)
Josh Weintraub	....	producer (unknown episodes, 2008)
Randy Berke	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Harry Friedman	....	executive producer / producer (unknown episodes)
Merv Griffin	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Karen Griffith	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Bob Murphy	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
John Rhinehart	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Stephanie J. Rondeau	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Wally Weltman	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Michael Andreas		(6 episodes, 2006)

Series Cinematography by
Doug Carson		(unknown episodes)
Randy Gomez		(unknown episodes)
Raymond Gonzales		(unknown episodes)
David Irete		(unknown episodes)
Raimo Kaartinen		(unknown episodes)
James Moody		(unknown episodes)
Ray Reynolds		(unknown episodes)
Jeff Schuster		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Peter G. Parise		(21 episodes, 1998-2007)
Jaime Fowler		(unknown episodes)
Terry M. Pickford		(unknown episodes)
Jayme Wing		(unknown episodes)
Rocco Zappia Jr.		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Dick Stiles		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Renee Hoss-Johnson		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Heather DeCristo		(unknown episodes)
Ed Flesh		(unknown episodes)
Heather-Lynne Rasnick		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Alan Mills		(unknown episodes)
Kathi Nishimoto		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Cynthia P. Romo	....	hair department head / personal makeup artist: Vanna White, Pat Sajak (24 episodes, 1997-2006)
Missy Sandora	....	day check airbrush makeup artist (unknown episodes, 2006)
Jennifer Darpinian	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Kimber Eastwood	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Nina Kent	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Cherie Whitaker-Rossi	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Michael Pearson	....	production manager (unknown episodes, 1977)
Ellen Lent	....	production supervisor: San Francisco (unknown episodes, 2003)
Randy Berke	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey W. Stemple	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Greg Gootsan	....	props (1 episode, 2007)
Douglas W. Randall	....	prop assistant (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Kenneth J. Creber	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Chad B. Daring	....	props (unknown episodes)
Jerry Dunphy Jr.	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Shaun Michael Page	....	art department production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jeff Schwartz	....	props (unknown episodes)
Kimberly Wannop	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Bruce Burns	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Cole Coonce	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Bill Daly	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Barbara Hagan	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Conner Moore	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Maggie Murphy	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Valerie Stulman	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Jack Tossman	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Mitch Trueg	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Shirley Stapleton Pundt	....	electronic graphics (1 episode, 1989)
Michele Lee Hampton	....	electronic graphics (unknown episodes)
Mark Maurer	....	electronics (unknown episodes)
Bill Monk	....	head electronics (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jenna Abrahamson-Minardi	....	lighting technician (4 episodes, 2000-2001)
Eric Felland	....	rigging electrician (2 episodes, 2007)
Nick Woolfolk	....	lighting designer (unknown episodes, 1994)
James Barrett	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Benjamin Centoducati	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Doug Lantz	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Michael Piekutowski	....	best boy electric / rigging electrician (unknown episodes)
Dean Reber	....	video tape operator (unknown episodes)
Joe Romanowski	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Bob Ryley	....	video tape operator (unknown episodes)
Jeff Schuster	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Angus Sinex	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Charlie Gertner	....	post-production engineer (23 episodes, 2005-2007)
Bob Veatch	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Steve Kaplan	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes, 2001)
Merv Griffin	....	composer: theme "Changing Keys" 1983-1994 (unknown episodes)
Alan Thicke	....	composer: theme "Big Wheels" 1975-1983 (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (1 episode, 2007)
Melanie Robinson	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Eric Canada	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 2007)
Scott L. Page	....	senior contestant coordinator (unknown episodes, 1975-1996)
Daniel P. Johnson	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 1994)
Scott Bergman	....	electronic graphic artist (unknown episodes, 1995-1996)
Maggie Speak	....	contestant coordinator (unknown episodes, 1997)
Lorraine Axeman	....	research coordinator (unknown episodes, 1999-2000)
Jeff Guidry	....	audience assistant: Seattle (unknown episodes, 2002)
Carrie Foster	....	production assistant: Las Vegas (unknown episodes, 2005)
Mira Bailey	....	key assistant location manager: San Francisco 2003 (unknown episodes)
Ted Baker	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Shelley Ballance	....	clearance director (unknown episodes)
Randy Berke	....	dga stage manager (unknown episodes)
Shannon Bobillo	....	contestant coordinator (unknown episodes)
Kevin Boles	....	assistant to producer / production staff (unknown episodes)
Jennie Born	....	marketing director (unknown episodes)
Shaune Bowens	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Scott Bresler	....	research coordinator (unknown episodes)
Nakeshia Carroll	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Deborah Carson	....	contestant coordinator / production staff (unknown episodes)
Robert M. Cisneros	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Renee Confair	....	location manager: Hawaii (unknown episodes)
Mark Corwin	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Joni Day	....	senior production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Lisa Dee	....	promotion director (unknown episodes)
Annette Dimatos-Schwartz	....	promotion manager (unknown episodes)
Ross Elliott	....	video (unknown episodes)
Dan Ellis	....	video wall technician (unknown episodes)
Robert Ennis Jr.	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Julie Eves	....	promotions / publicity coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gina Freeman	....	assistant to co-producers (unknown episodes)
Dana Gong	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Linda Levitz Goodman	....	clearance director (unknown episodes)
Lisa Henderson	....	video utility (unknown episodes)
Ryan Hopak	....	research coordinator (unknown episodes)
Kelli Hudspeth	....	assistant to co-producers (unknown episodes)
Sheryl Jacobs	....	senior research coordinator (unknown episodes)
Saisie M. Jang	....	assistant location manager: San Francisco 2003 (unknown episodes)
Erika Kolesar	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
Jackie Lamatis	....	contestant coordinator (unknown episodes)
John Lauderdale	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Shannon Lee	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Tino Marquez	....	video utility (unknown episodes)
Jerry Masterson	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Carl McCarthy	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Keith McPeters	....	video wall technician (unknown episodes)
Marietta Melton	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Anne M. Mendelson	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Al Miller Jr.	....	video utility (unknown episodes)
Al Miller Sr.	....	security officer (unknown episodes)
Ron Miranda	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Jack Mourning	....	security officer (unknown episodes)
Dan Murbarger	....	video wall technician (unknown episodes)
Dency Nelson	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Stacy Oki	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
Joan Preston	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Chris Robinson	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Suzy Rosenberg	....	promotion director (unknown episodes)
Heather Sharpe	....	publicity assistant (unknown episodes)
Robyn Smith	....	assistant to executive producer (unknown episodes)
Reva Solomon	....	prize coordinator / production staff (unknown episodes)
Fred Witten	....	associate director / stage manager (unknown episodes)
Paul Zigabarra	....	video (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Califon Productions
• Merv Griffin Entertainment (1975-1995)
• Columbia TriStar Television (1995-2002)
• Global Entertainment Productions
• Company Meidien KG
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975-1989) (1991)
• CBS Television (1989-1991)

Distributors

• CBS Broadcast International (1999-2004) (non-USA) (TV)
• CBS Paramount International Television (2004-) (non-USA) (TV)
• CBS Television Distribution (2007) (worldwide) (TV)
• CBS Television (1989-1991)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• King World Productions (1983-)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975-1989) (1991) (USA) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• Augustus  wardrobe: Chuck Woolery, Pat Sajak
• CBS Television City  taping location
• Columbia TriStar Interactive  main titles
• NBC Studios, Burbank  taping location
• Sony Pictures Studios  taping location

Also Known As:

Shoppers' Bazaar (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (1975-) | USA:60 min (1975-1976)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (1975-1983) | Stereo (1983-)

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Sony Pictures Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Califon Productions

Trivia:

From 1989-1997, the show had returning champions, allowing them to stay on the show for up to three days. During the 1997-1998 season, that was switched to the top three winners of the week playing a special show on Friday. By 2000, that was dropped and once again contestants played just for one show.

Quotes:

Host: [during final spin round when music is played] You know, in hell, they play this song for eternity.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Gate II: Trespassers (1990)

Soundtrack:

Changing Keys

Fun game show

First off, I must say that this is a fun game show. Also, since I am 24, I haven't seen every episode. However, since I have been watching for as long as I can remember, I do know the show very well. Every time I've watched it, I have a lot of fun playing along and watch. This makes me long to be a contestant. The things I like most about it are Pat Sajak, his occasional jokes, Vanna White, the puzzles, and the contestants. If anyone replaced Pat Sajak, I would be really sad. When it goes off the air, I hope some network brings it back so I can play along and watch again. If that happens, I will be really happy. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that I'll always remember this show in my memory forever. Now, in conclusion, I hope that you catch it one day before it goes off the air for good.