Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 25

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A timeline for Season 25 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 10, 2007 through June 6, 2008.

Season Changes

• The opening is a photomosaic of flashback clips, which zoom out to form a yellow "25" logo, with a blue background and several multicolored squares for confetti. This is also seen as the Pat & Vanna talk backdrop (although the "25" is blue), as well as both sides of the Bonus Round envelopes. The opening logo contains a silver two-row logo under the "25", the only time that the logo has a hole in the R.
• This is the first season to be distributed by CBS Television Distribution.

• The Prize Puzzle graphic is now a globe with the words PRIZE PUZZLE written in yellow, with a blue background.
• The Jackpot and Mystery wipes are now the respective wedges flipping and dropping down into place on the Wheel. Both wipes have said wedges dropping onto the orange $800. The Jackpot wipe remains unchanged through Season 29, and the Mystery wipe remains through Season 31, despite changes to the Wheel template and Mystery Wedge design in the interim.
• The Wheel is altered again:
  • The second Bankrupt moves to the yellow $300.
  • To honor the show's 25th season, two special wedges are added:
    • The 25 Wedge is placed on $550 in Round 2 (except for the first week of taping, where it is in Rounds 1-3). This is similar to the Prize wedge, albeit with a prize that is themed to the number 25 in some way (such as 25 $100 gift certificates or 25 months of Filet Mignon steaks). If claimed, Pat announces the prize and the contestant flips over the wedge to reveal a graphic related to the prize.
    • The Big Money Wedge replaces the yellow $400 between the purple $600 and the blue $300 in Round 3. It is an electronic wedge with a display which randomly alternates among $5,000, $7,500, $25,000, Bankrupt, and Lose a Turn. If hit for any of its dollar amounts, said amount is claimed as a cash prize and the wedge functions as a $1,000 space for the rest of the round.
  • The second Bankrupt is now always removed after Round 3.
  • Hitting the green $300 with Free Spin now offers both it and $300 per letter. To reflect this change, the token is moved upward to obscure the dollar sign instead of the 3. Also, the disc remains on the Wheel through Round 3.
• The minimum value for Wheel and Prize Puzzle prizes increases to $5,000.
• The Jackpot sponsor's logo is no longer shown on the Jackpot display.
• The Round 3 "drop down" graphic's rectangles gain an "embossed" effect, and their tops become less rounded.
• Two visual elements are added to honor the show's 25th season:
  • Some episodes open with a pre-recorded greeting from a celebrity, congratulating the show on its 25th Anniversary. Other shows feature a flashback clip or a greeting from a celebrity leading into one of the commercial breaks; in the case of the latter, the preceding puzzle is often themed toward the celebrity in question.
  • Some episodes feature a cold open with "$5K", an African-American man dressed as the $5,000 wedge who complains to Pat that he is to be "landed on" during every Final Spin. Pat clarifies to him (calling him by his other name of "Money") that that's not how it works, despite him trying his best to do so. Vanna comes in and says "He's right, you know", to which Pat sighs "I know, I know; it's just so much pressure!"
• Many of the music cues change:
  • A new rock-based theme composed by John Hoke debuts for use in the opening, with the 2006 "Happy Wheels" remaining as the closing theme.
  • Even though it had changed only in February, the Speed-Up music changes again.
  • The Bonus Round solve and “bonus” category solve cues are changed; as a result, the last of Steve Kaplan's music cues is retired.
  • Except for the Bonus Round win music and Speed-Up music cues, all music cues used starting this season are kept in use until December 30, 2016.
• Charlie no longer does the spiel for the Bonus Round prizes.
• The puzzle board monitors are replaced with flat-screens.
• For this season only, the Bonus Round envelopes are silver and feature the Season 25 logo on their outsides.
• Only two locales are now used on road shows.
• A fifth week of sixth-show taping is added for each season. Four of the five in this season make up the Thanks a Million Sweepstakes in February, and do not use any theme names beyond that.
• Very strangely, Merv's death is never mentioned on the show.
• To honor the show's 25th anniversary, the official Wheel website contains a mini-site that reflects on the show's history, while the Wheel Watchers Club site has a special Flashback Moments archive, in which there are video clips, and members may answer a multiple-choice question about the clip, with a correct answer earning them 10 Sony Rewards Points. The latter site is still active until the show's website is redesigned on February 24, 2014.
• Throughout this season, Pat sometimes throws to Charlie by saying, "Hey, Charlie, I got a message for you…".
• From this season to the end of Season 39, the $100,000 envelope uses the two-row logo on the top flap.
• There is a series of promos featuring people dressed as various letters: I, E, and C trying to get through a doorway (referencing the expression "I before E except after C"); the aforementioned "$5K" and G saying "What up, G" and "what up, Money" to each other; J complimenting Vanna and then lighting up after she touches him; N responding to screaming fans and a security guard after she steps out of the back of a limo; Y asking a stagehand if he will be in the next puzzle; Y trying to decide between using a bathroom signed "vowels" or one signed "consonants"; and Z complaining about how infrequently he is used compared to R before he gets a call that he will be in the puzzle RAZZMATAZZ.

September 2007

• September 10 is Let's Party, taped July 26. During this week:
  • The set has a "starry sky" background.
  • The larger Free Spin from Season 24 returns.
• On September 10:
  • The contestant score displays are upgraded to enlarged plasma screens.

    

    • The scoreboards show the 25th Anniversary logo in the opening.
    • For this week of taping only, they display the score in very tall numbers. The contestant's name is in very small letters over the score, and the control is indicated by the name blinking.
    • The Bankrupt and Lose a Turn graphics now appear and disappear in varying ways.
    • If Lose a Turn is hit, those words are now on two lines of the scoreboard instead of one.
    • If a cash prize is claimed from the Big Money Wedge, two green bars labeled "BIG" and "MONEY" appear on the sides of the scoreboard.
    • The WHEEL, OF, and FORTUNE graphics on the scoreboards (now only seen during the final segment) are enlarged and changed to the actual font of the show's logo.
  • The Wheel is now preset at the start of the show. For this week only, it is preset so that the yellow flipper is on the 25 Wedge in Rounds 1 and 2 and the Big Money Wedge in Round 3.
  • The Free Spin is still placed over the 3 instead of the dollar sign on the green $300 in Rounds 1 and 2; this is corrected in Round 3.
  • A spin from another episode's Round 4 is edited into Round 3. The contestant lands on the red $800, but the post-production clip shows the orange $800. This dubbed-in spin is more obvious as both Mystery Wedges, the Free Spin, and the second Bankrupt are missing from it.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are In the Kitchen, the only duplication of that category until February 2018.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• On September 12:
  • What Are You Doing? debuts in Round 3.
  • The first overhead shot of Round 3 appears to be a reshoot, as the Wild Card is absent despite being present for the rest of the round.
• On September 13, the Gift Tag and second Bankrupt are not removed for Round 4. This does not affect the outcome; the round goes to Speed-Up after only one spin, and neither is landed on.
• September 17 is Casino Night. During this week, the video wall behind the contestants is replaced with the slot machine background from the February 2005 Vegas shows.
• On September 17:
  • The contestant names are removed from the scoreboards, while the scores themselves are moved upward and changed to the Univers font, which remains until Season 40. This change was done most likely because the style used on the 10th was often blocked by the Wheel pegs, and the names were too hard to read. In the space below the score, two blinking arrows pointing at each other are added. They appear whenever the respective player has control or rings in on a Toss-Up. The scoreboards still show the 25th Anniversary Logo in the opening, "Lose a Turn" continues to display on two lines, and the varied wipes for Lose a Turn and Bankrupt are kept.
  • The "Big Money" logo is now placed over the scoreboards at the beginning of Round 3.
  • The 25 Wedge is now only available in Round 2. As a result, the yellow flipper is now preset to $2,500 in Round 1.
  • Cash values won on the Big Money wedge can now be used to buy vowels. Also, the scoreboard no longer shows "Big Money" on the sides of the contestant's score if the contestant has an amount from it.
  • Free Spin permanently returns to its smaller size.
  • The flashback clip is Pat and the contestants being confused by the Clue puzzle SILENT BUTLER'S TARGETS in 1993.
• On September 18, singer Julie Roberts wishes the show a happy 25th anniversary during the intro.
• On September 19:
  • Neither a celebrity intro nor a flashback clip is done.
  • Contestant Becki loses $33,450 in cash and a $6,296 Caribbean trip by adding an "-ES" to the puzzle GLEAMING WHITE SAND BEACH. This is the highest confirmed amount to have been lost to a wrong answer.
• On September 20, the hosts of The View give 25th anniversary greetings before the intro.
• September 24 is Weekend Getaways. During this week, Vanna promotes the week’s theme at the top of the show.
• On September 25, there is an $8,250 Jackpot win.
• On September 26:
  • Round 2 is Movie Title, and the $3,000 Toss-Up is Title.
  • What Are You Doing? is used in the Speed-Up for the first time.
  • In the Kitchen makes its final appearance in the Bonus Round until September 2017.
• On September 27:
  • Contestant Ruth picks up all of the available cardboard in Round 1 except the Gift Tag (the $10,000 Wedge, the Prize, the Free Spin, and the Wild Card). She wins the round with $30,250 including a Prize Puzzle trip. She uses the Free Spin in Round 3 only to flip the Bankrupt Mystery Wedge on her next turn, forfeiting her Wild Card.
  • A "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 3 (a Bankrupt that takes away nothing, an incorrect B, and another Bankrupt that takes away nothing).
• On September 28:
  • Two contestants in a row give the same wrong answer of FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS when attempting to solve the Round 2 puzzle FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
  • There is an $8,200 Jackpot win.

October 2007

• Wheel episodes aired beyond this point through January 2021 feature a new CBS Television Distribution closing logo to complement that of Sony Pictures Television.

  

• October 1 is Spa Sanctuary.
• On October 1, there is an unusual instance in the Mystery Round. A contestant hits a Mystery Wedge, calls a letter that reveals the puzzle entirely, then flips the Mystery Wedge to find a Bankrupt on the other side. As a result, the completely filled-in puzzle gets passed on to the next contestant, who solves it.
• On October 2, six rounds are played.
• On October 3, Wynonna Judd makes an appearance after the Round 3 puzzle WYNONNA NAOMI & ASHLEY JUDD.
• On October 4:
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the person who began them.
  • The second-place contestant has $22,100.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• On October 5, Round 5 (TWIST TIES) is shorter than ten letters and has only three unique consonants.
• October 8 is Made in the USA. During this week, the large-sized Free Spin returns, suggesting this week was taped before the week of September 17.
• On October 8, there is a $100,000 loss.
• On October 9, there is a $7,750 Jackpot win.
• On October 12:
  • The Season 24 opening theme is accidentally used in the intro.
  • After finding $10,000 on the reverse of a Mystery Wedge, contestant Erica hits the other one on her next spin. Pat prompts her to use the Wild Card on it, which she does.
  • The first, third, and fourth spins of Round 3 appear to be added in post-production, as evidenced by sudden disappearances and reappearances of the Free Spin and Prize wedge.
• All ten Bonus Rounds are lost on the weeks of October 1 and 8.
• October 15 is College Road Trip. During this week:
  • A double-width $2,500 cash space is used for the first of only four weeks this season; it extends counterclockwise over the purple $600 and has its numbers arranged horizontally. For all four weeks of use, it has a sponsor whose logo appears on the wedge; this week's sponsor is Sony Card.
  • The contestants introduce themselves from the audience railing.
• On October 15, a special People category honoring that magazine debuts in Round 1. The category strip uses the magazine's logo. To avoid confusion, People is not used in this timespan, although Person is still used.
• On October 16:
  • A cycle of three lost turns is edited out of Round 1 despite not being "null", as it included an incorrect vowel (E) from contestant Doug, evidenced by his score instantly changing from $2,500 to $2,250. The cycle was likely cut due to the first three rounds running overtime.
  • All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 1, though only the third one (by Doug) is actually aired due to the first two being part of the aforementioned cycle that was edited out.
• On October 18, contestant Amber wins no cash, as she solves Round 3 with only the Gift Tag, and no other puzzles.
• During the week of October 22 (Let's Eat!), the double-width $2,500 is used, with Dawn dish soap as the sponsor.
• On October 23, Round 3 is the only appearance of What Are We Making? The puzzle is HERSHEY BAR GRAHAM CRACKER GOOEY ROASTED MARSHMALLOW, which the contestant correctly identifies as the ingredients to S'mores. This is the second "official" category to be used only once. At 46 letters, it is also tied for the longest puzzle ever used on the show in terms of letters, but not in terms of total spaces used.
• On October 25:
  • Rounds 1-4 are played entirely by the contestants who began them, although Free Spin is used in Round 4.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• October 29 is VIP Week. During this week, the Prize wedge has a black "VIP" text element inside a gold star on a red background.
• On October 29:
  • The Big Money Wedge is re-colored royal blue, with a lighter blue readout and five vertical rows of red dots on its bottom half.

    

    The second Big Money Wedge.

  • The bonus puzzle RUGBY is the first five-letter bonus puzzle since September 26, 2006.
  • Amy solves the above puzzle despite getting no help from her extra letters.
• On October 30:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up is Song Title and Round 1 is TV Title.
  • After the Round 1 puzzle THE SINGING BEE, Joey Fatone does a bumper from the set of The Singing Bee.

November 2007

• The weeks of November 5-19 are taped at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. During these weeks, a new road show theme debuts.
• November 5 is Best Friends Week. During this week:
  • The double-width $2,500 space is used. This, along with the Prize and Mystery Round, are all sponsored by Febreze.
  • The Prize is an $8,000 Macy's shopping spree.
• November 12 is People Celebrity Week. This is the only Celebrity Week since Season 15 not to pick from just one "type" of celebrity (soap stars, athletes, musicians, etc.), and the last time celebrities play the game at all, until Celebrity Wheel of Fortune reinstates both in January 2021. It is also the last set of celebrity/civilian matches until March 2023. The celebrities are Neil Patrick Harris, Diane Neal, and Robert Gossett on Monday; Paula Deen, Steve Schirripa, and Sherri Shepherd on Tuesday; Sandra Lee, Montel Williams, and Kristan Cunningham on Wednesday; Jeff Probst, Paige Hemmis, and Alison Sweeney on Thursday; and Gina Tognoni, Jacob Young, and Robin Strasser on Friday. During this week:
  • Charlie introduces each celebrity as he or she walks onstage.
  • The double-width $2,500 is used for the last time, sponsored by Maxwell House.
• On November 13, a contestant uses the Wild Card on the Big Money wedge while it is showing $7,500, but calls a wrong letter.
• November 19 is Heroes Week, which consists of contestants who have "done good" to New York City. As a result, this set of New York episodes is the only time that a road show has no "normal" matches. During this week:
  • The title card features graphics of doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, soldiers, teachers, and athletes.
  • The Mystery copy is "Tonight's Mystery prize features life, liberty, and the pursuit of cash -- $10,000!" accompanied by a graphic of an American flag flying with the 25th Anniversary logo in the lower right hand corner.
• On November 21, after Round 2, Pat and his daughter Maggie do a bumper from a boat overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge.
• On November 23:
  • There is a $11,500 Jackpot win.
  • Round 3 is the last appearance of the People magazine category.
  • Nobody solves the $3,000 Toss-Up, ROBIN REDBREAST. The cameras cut to Pat after the time's-up buzzer, and unusually, back to a full shot of the puzzle board with the answer still on it.
  • The second-place contestant has $21,250.
• From around this point until the end of the season, the flashback clips are always seen Mondays and Wednesdays, and the celebrity messages always Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• November 26 is Holiday Movie Magic.
• On November 26, the "regular" People category returns in Round 1.
• On November 28, the Prize is an electronics package consisting of an HDTV, stereo system, DVD player, and Blu-Ray player, plus DVD and Blu-Ray copies of the Sony Pictures Animation film Surf's Up.
• On November 30, Fictional Family debuts in Round 2.

December 2007

• The week of December 3 is Wheel Across America, just like the week of December 3, 2001 was.
• On December 4, there is a $7,200 Jackpot win.
• On December 5, the flashback clip is Pat standing in a way that horns appear to becoming out of his head on a 1998 Houston episode.
• On December 6, Rounds 1-3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
• On December 7, the bonus puzzle HIGH-AND-MIGHTY is only the fourth known bonus puzzle to have more than one punctuation mark.
• December 10 is Choose Your Own Vacation.
• On December 10, the bonus puzzle WIVES is the second five-letter bonus puzzle of the season.
• On December 14, contestant Sam solves the Speed-Up puzzle COUNTRY ROADS TAKE ME HOME with only the N and T's showing.
• December 17 is Great Outdoors.
• On December 17, contestant Dave solves the bonus puzzle OH MY GOSH before the timer can start.
• During the weeks of December 17 and 24, the set uses decorations which were previously seen on the Denver episodes in 2006.
• On December 18, Round 5 (NAIL SALON) is shorter than ten letters and has only three unique consonants.
• On December 19, six rounds are played.
• On December 21, there is a $100,000 win.
• The holiday-themed week of December 24 is Happy Holidays for the first time since Season 22.
• The week of December 24 starts the tradition of playing a rock version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" during the credits of Christmas Week, which continues through Season 30.
• On December 24:
  • Rhyme Time makes its eighth of nine appearances in the Bonus Round.
  • The final segment is a reunion of the three contestants who appeared on Pat's first show (December 28, 1981), with clips shown from that episode.
• On December 26:
  • The puzzle board refuses to activate for several seconds during the $1,000 Toss-Up.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
• On December 27:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up and Round 3 are What Are You Doing? This is the only duplication of that category that does not involve the Bonus Round. Even more unusually, neither puzzle appears to be a replacement.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• On December 28, the Prize is a $5,000 Michael C. Fina gift certificate.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of December 24.
• December 31 is Broadway Week.
• On December 31, Clementine mispronounces the Prize Puzzle TUNING A UKULELE by putting long E's in the word "ukulele", but her answer is accepted.

January 2008

• On January 2, Pat and Vanna show off a ceramic Dalmatian.
• January 7 is B & B Week.
• On January 7, six rounds are played.
• On January 9, What Are You Doing? appears in the Bonus Round for the first time.
• January 14 is Desert Passage.
• On January 14, contestant Jill loses $26,950 to Bankrupt in Round 3.
• On January 15, Round 5 (THUMBTACK) is shorter than ten letters.
• On January 16:
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Round 6 (HURRY-SCURRY) has only one vowel.
• On January 17, What Are You Doing? appears in the Bonus Round for the second time; it does not reappear there until December 2010.
• On January 18, Round 3 and the Bonus Round are Food & Drink.
• January 21 is Winter Hideaways.
• On January 21, there is a $6,100 Jackpot win.
• On January 22, a contestant says both "boxing" and "fan" at various points during the Bonus Round, but never says the right answer of BOXING FAN.
• January 28 is Teen Best Friends Week.
• On January 30:
  • The Round 1 Slogan puzzle EAT FRESH (Subway) is shorter than 10 letters, and the last appearance of a "bonus" category in Round 1.
  • A cycle of three lost turns is edited out of Round 1 despite not being "null", as it included an incorrect or repeated vowel from the yellow team, evidenced by their score instantly changing from $500 to $250.
  • After the above puzzle is completely filled in, contestant Kelsey says "Subway" (the company to whom the slogan belongs) before her teammate Nicole gives the correct answer to the puzzle. There appears to be an edit before their answer is ruled correct, and they receive the $3,000 bonus for identifying the product. This goes against precedent that puzzles have to be solved exactly as they appear on the board. While this ruling ultimately does not affect the outcome, it does result in Slogan being retired (as its only subsequent appearance is on an episode which was taped earlier), and it likely also leads to a decrease in the appearance of the "$3,000 bonus" categories.
• On January 31, the bonus puzzle HAPPY & GRUMPY is a rare instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.

February 2008

• On February 1:
  • In Round 3, Pat does not prompt the blue team to use their Wild Card on $3,500 despite having picked it up only one turn prior. The card is never used and the team loses by $9,200.
  • The bonus puzzle ICING is the last five-letter bonus puzzle until November 28, 2011.
• The weeks of February 4-25 are the Thanks a Million! Sweepstakes. During these weeks:
  • All episodes are sixth episodes.
  • After the first commercial break (or the second if Round 1 is a Prize Puzzle) and Bonus Round, a SPIN ID is drawn, and the owner of that SPIN ID wins $25,000 (i.e., 40 drawings of $25,000 each for a total of $1,000,000). During these SPIN ID draws, Charlie says, "Here's tonight's [first/second] $25,000 winner in our Thanks a Million! Sweepstakes, brought to you by Sony Card. If this is your SPIN ID number, [number], you're a winner! Log on to wheeloffortune.com now. You have 24 hours to claim your $25,000!" After the first draw, he also says, "Stay tuned, we're giving away another $25,000 later in the show." After the second, he says "Tune in every weeknight for a chance to win your share of $1,000,000!" The SPIN ID zooms into place, one letter at a time, against a graphic of a Sony Card on a black starry background.
  • The center-stage video wall displays the Season 25 logo during the opening and closing.
• On February 4, as it is the sixth episode from the season premiere week, the original scoreboards and Big Money Wedge are used, and the 25 Wedge is present in Round 1.
• On February 8:
  • There is a $6,700 Jackpot win.
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the teams who began them.
  • Contestant Margie only spins twice the entire game, but still wins $5,000 in Round 4.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of February 4.
• On February 11:
  • As it is the sixth episode from College Road Trip, three college students play. Unlike the rest of said week, the double-width $2,500 wedge is not used.
  • Despite the original Big Money Wedge being used at the time of taping, some overhead shots in Round 3 are re-created to show the second design.
  • Round 3 (ATTENDING A FIESTA) is categorized as Event, instead of What Are You Doing?, due to the $1,000 Toss-Up being What Are You Doing?
  • When contestant Jessica lands on the Mystery Wedge between $900 and $300, an overhead shot of the other Mystery Wedge (obviously filmed in post-production, as the second Bankrupt is missing in this shot) is shown instead. Just before she flips it over, the overhead shot goes back to showing the correct wedge. This is likely due to the above-mentioned re-creations of overhead shots to obscure the original Big Money Wedge.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • The players' totals are still displayed during the Final Spin at the start of Round 6. The scoreboards are cleared before the Wheel stops.
• On February 13:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up is BUYING A VOWEL.
  • Contestant Jasmine solves Round 1 with only the $10,000 Wedge.
  • After Round 3's Prize Puzzle HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE, Pat accidentally tells Jasmine that she is going to Sydney, Australia instead of Vienna, Austria, but corrects himself after Charlie reads the copy. After this, Jasmine's scoreboard shows $13,550 instead of $18,550 due to the value of the trip not being added.
  • Before the $3,000 Toss-Up, Pat corrects Jasmine's score then points out that the scoreboard on the Used Letter Board displays her Prize Puzzle trip as Jamaica. This results in the Used Letter Board being shown onscreen for the second known time.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• On February 18:
  • The Round 3 puzzle I LIKE IT I LOVE IT I WANT SOME MORE OF IT is categorized as Rhyme Time instead of Song Lyrics.
  • The bonus puzzle PHONE JACK is categorized as Thing. On its last appearance on May 22, 2001, it was categorized as Around the House.
• On February 19:
  • Round 2 is the last aired (and next-to-last taped) appearance of Slogan.
  • During Round 2, Pat becomes amused by one of the camera operators eating. As a response to this, he eats a piece of cake throughout Round 3 and occasionally addresses the contestants with his mouth full.
• On February 20, contestant Stephanie wins despite losing $32,429 to Bankrupt in Round 3.
• On February 25, Round 2 is the last instance until June 2012 of Author/Title being used instead of Title/Author.
• On February 26, Michael Vartan wishes the show a happy 25th Anniversary before the intro.
• On February 27:
  • As it is the sixth episode of Teen Best Friends week, three teams of teenagers play.
  • Round 2 is only the third known instance of Star & Role using a descriptive phrase, and the first of only two instances of it being used for a voice acting role (EDDIE MURPHY AS THE VOICE OF SHREK'S PAL DONKEY).
• On February 28:
  • Contestant Hannah is brought back due to an incorrect answer being accepted from one of her opponents on her original episode (October 5, 2004). This is the last known instance until November 2018 of a contestant being brought back.
  • Round 2 is LEADING LADY OF DAYTIME TELEVISION, which is used as a segue to Robin Strasser doing a bumper after that round is solved.

March 2008

• March 3 is Ticket to Ride.
• On March 3:
  • The Round 3 puzzle NEIL DIAMOND'S SWEET CAROLINE is the last use of Artist/Song instead of Song/Artist.
  • The bonus puzzle BUYING POWER is categorized as Thing. The last time this answer was used (April 13, 2004), it was categorized as Phrase.
• On March 4, the $1,000 Toss-Up is Movie Title, and Round 4 is Song Title.
• On March 6, Lesly appears in the final segment to promote a line of Wheel-themed jewelry that she designed.
• On March 7, a contestant exceeds $100,000 without hitting that amount: after winning a Winnebago in the Bonus Round, they leave with $102,864.
• March 10 is Cruise Week.
• On March 11:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • Six rounds are played; Round 6 is SOLITAIRE, is shorter than 10 letters.
  • There is a $100,000 loss by a contestant who says the answer just after the buzzer.
• On March 14, six rounds are played.
• The week of March 17 is QVC Shopping Spree Week. During this week, the Prize is $5,000 towards the purchase of QVC merchandise.
• On March 19, contestant Scott fills in the entire Round 1 puzzle COUNTRY & WESTERN BALLADS by himself.
• On March 20, there is an $8,800 Jackpot win.
• All ten Bonus Rounds are lost on the weeks of March 10 and 17. The latter week is particularly notable, as any Bonus Round win that week would have offered $10,000 in QVC merchandise on the contestant's birthday.
• March 24 is Hawaii's Big Island.
• On March 24, there is a $100,000 win.
• On March 25, contestant Steve wins despite failing to claim $22,550 in the Round 2.
• The week of March 31 is Wheel Around the World. Respectively, brief clips of the versions of France, Turkey, the Philippines, Spain, and Italy are shown.
• On March 31, there is a $100,000 loss.
• Only three Bonus Rounds are won in the entire month of March, tying with May 2003 for the month with the fewest known wins. This record stands until May 2019.

April 2008

• On April 1, as an April Fools' Day gag during the closing chat, Pat fools Vanna into thinking he is actually bald by wearing a real wig over a bald wig. The prank is removed when the episode is rerun in July, although clips of it later appear in various retrospectives.
• On April 2, there are two sets of duplicate categories: the $1,000 Toss-Up and Round 3 are Fun & Games, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase. This may suggest that one of the former two was thrown out and replaced.
• April 7 is the first Going Green Week. This is a recycling-based theme which occurs around this time every season until Season 28.
• By April 9, contestants can no longer use the Wild Card on any of the Big Money Wedge's cash amounts except for the regular $1,000.
• Between April 7 and 10, the contestant in the blue position is the top winner for four days in a row.
• On April 11, Round 5 (LOYAL FANS) is shorter than ten letters.
• April 14 is the first Pet Lovers Week. During these weeks, contestants show pictures of their pets during the interviews.
• On April 14:
  • There is a cold open where Vanna and her children promote the theme from Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
  • The post-Round 2 flashback clip is Pat saying "Can we get a witness?" after contestant Cloretta solves the puzzle CINEMATOGRAPHY on a 2002 episode.
  • After the Round 2 puzzle FUNNY LADY TINA FEY, a clip is shown of Tina Fey wishing the show a happy 25th anniversary.
  • After Round 3, a picture is shown of Snoopy and Woodstock.
  • Rounds 3 and 4 are played entirely by the contestants who started them.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
• On April 15:
  • Allison Sweeney wishes the show a happy 25th anniversary during the intro.
  • After Round 2, a picture is shown of Garfield and Odie.
• On April 16:
  • The Prize is $5,000 credit to Petco.
  • The post-Round 1 flashback clip (Pat and Vanna discussing the bonus puzzle NIGHTGOWN) is erroneously dated to 2003 instead of 1999.
• On April 17:
  • There is a cold open in which Big Bird wishes the show a happy 25th anniversary.
  • The post-Round 1 and post-Round 2 bumpers are results from the 2008 National Pet Owners Survey (conducted by the American Pet Products Association), stating how many dogs and cats, respectively, are owned in the United States.
  • Round 3 is the last appearance of Next Line Please.
  • The bonus puzzle TAX & GRATUITY is a rare instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.
• On April 18:
  • The post-Round 1 bumper is a picture of Snoopy and Charlie Brown.
  • In the closing segment, Pat takes off his suit jacket and puts on a jacket with the logo of every NHL team.
• In the six weeks of episodes between March 10 and April 18, only four Bonus Rounds are won.
• April 21 is Mexico Week.
• On April 21, Jacqueline wins by $50.
• On April 22:
  • During the opening, judge Maria Lopez wishes the show a happy 25th Anniversary in Spanish.
  • After contestant Audra wiggles her ears, Pat asks for a close-up shot of himself to demonstrate that he can do the same. There then appears to be an edit before the $2,000 Toss-Up begins.
• On April 23:
  • Round 3 is the last appearance of Who Is It?
  • Contestant Trashawna loses $35,000 (the $10,000 Mystery Wedge and $25,000 from the Big Money Wedge) to Bankrupt, which may be a record.
• On April 24, contestant Kim tries to turn in her Free Spin while the Final Spin bells sound. Pat declines, noting that the bells sounded first.
• On April 25:
  • Round 1 (DR. SEUSS' HORTON HEARS A WHO!) is inexplicably categorized as Movie Title instead of Author/Title.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Round 6 (SISTER ACT) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Contestant Mary Katherine solves the above puzzle with only the S's showing.
• The weeks of April 28-May 12 are taped at Navy Pier in Chicago. During all three weeks:
  • The on-screen bug says "Chicago" with a portion of the Wheel forming the first C.
  • For the first time since 1997, "Maximum Drive" is used as the opening theme during a road show.
• During the week of April 28 (College Week):
  • For the only time since 1999, the audience does the opening chant.
  • The Northwestern University marching band plays music going into and out of commercial breaks.
• On April 28:
  • Contestant Erika solves Round 1 with only the $10,000 Wedge.
  • Erika says "mytholo-" in the Bonus Round, stops, then appears to say the answer MYTHOLOGY on the buzzer. After an obvious edit, Pat says that the buzzer beat her. Unusually, a long shot of the set (from over Pat's shoulder) is used as the answer is revealed.
• On April 29, the second-place contestant has $20,350, won entirely in Round 4.

May 2008

• On May 1, Round 1 is a Before & After of HAMSTER WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
• On May 2:
  • There is a $7,500 Jackpot win.
  • Fictional Character appears in the Bonus Round for the last time until September 20, 2017.
• May 5 is Family Style.
• Between May 6 and 13, the car is hit six times in a row in the Bonus Round.
• On May 5, Vanna reads part of the Prize copy to promote National Train Day, which occurs on the 10th.
• On May 6:
  • Round 4 is the last appearance of Classic TV until April 2, 2010.
  • The bonus puzzle OPINIONS & ADVICE is a rare instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.
• On May 8:
  • Pat tells the red team in Round 1 that T has already been called despite the only prior aired calls being N and M, indicating that a "null" cycle including a T was edited out.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 2 (EXPERIMENTAL THEATER) being the longest at only 19 letters.
  • A team exceeds $100,000 without hitting that amount; after winning a pair of Buick Enclaves in the Bonus Round, they leave with $100,304.
• On May 9:
  • The Round 3 puzzle CHICAGO'S OWN JOHN & JOAN CUSACK is the second of only three known instances of Family adding a descriptive term.
  • Once again, a team exceeds $100,000 (specifically, $116,358) by winning a pair of Buick Enclaves in the Bonus Round.
• May 12 is Get in the Game, taped March 9, themed to Chicago sports teams.
• On May 13:
  • Contestant Kevin gives incorrect answers to Rounds 2, 3, and 4.
  • Contestant Megan finishes with only $8,750.
• On May 15, contestant Sam sweeps the game and wins $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
• At some point on one of the Chicago tapings, an Eli's cheesecake is brought out. Unlike its Season 19 predecessor, the layout is the same as the show's layout with two double-sized "25" Wedges on opposite sides and two red Eli's wedges.

  

• May 19 is The Caribbean.
• On May 19:
  • Round 4 (SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER) is the longest puzzle. It is not known why shorter puzzles were used in Rounds 1-3, as the game did not run overly long and a fifth round was played.
  • Contestant Mandi wins no cash, as she solves Round 3 with only the Gift Tag, and no other puzzles.
• On May 25, in the closing segment, Pat mentions his wig prank from April Fool's Day and then shows a montage of the makeup department fitting him with the wig.
• May 26 is Dads & Grads Week.
• On May 29, Round 4 (DICTIONARY & ENCYCLOPEDIA) is the longest puzzle.

June 2008

• June 2 is Destination Relaxation.
• On June 6:
  • The Prize copy includes a trailer for Kung Fu Panda.
  • Six rounds are played.

Post-Season

• During the week of August 25, the reruns of College Week omit the Monday episode due to it containing a Before & After puzzle of BERNIE MAC AND CHEESE following Bernie Mac's death on August 9. This is the second of only two known instances before Season 28 of a rerun being skipped over during the Summer.