Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 12

The "spiky" puzzle board, used only for this season.

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A timeline for Season 12 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 5, 1994 through June 23, 1995.

Season Changes

• "Changing Keys" is rearranged yet again, with a big-band orchestration and several alterations to the melody. This new version is performed by Mort Lindsey's orchestra. There is also a softer mix which typically plays over the fee plugs, but this is largely retired by November.
• There is now a half-second pause between each word in the opening chant.
• Charlie's intro is changed to "From Hollywood, it's the Wheel of Fortune! America's most popular game show! And now, the world's! Here they are, soaring into your lives: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • The intro starts with the logo in gold letters over a graphic of the Wheel, which has undergone a few layout changes: the lone Bankrupt is replaced by a purple $300, and the pink $200 from Rounds 3-4+ and the $3,500 swap places. In addition, the "U"'s bottom is flat, and the "O" in "of" is a normal-looking O instead of Wheel-shaped, like the two-row logo. As the letters fly towards the screen, the Wheel graphic rotates towards its side to reveal a cartoon version of Pat and Vanna "riding" the middle of it, with various America-related graphics in the background, which are all from their previous road shows, except Walt Disney World. The words "SPIN THE WHEEL", written in white letters a semicircle, spin around at the end of the "riding" graphic and wipe to a shot of Vanna blowing a kiss while the words "America's Game" appear in cursive on gold squares next to an animated Statue of Liberty lowering and raising her torch; the square with the S flips to show another America graphic (Miami). Afterward, "Millions Won!" appears in orange at the bottom as the "riding" graphic returns, with a money figure ranging from $5,000,000 to $9,000,000 flying by, which Pat and Vanna swipe to reveal frames of international versions of the show in the background. The Wheel graphic then tilts again as Charlie says "soaring into your lives", and finally, it explodes into graphics of Pat and Vanna parachuting with their hands extended, along with a circular, white wipe to a shot of center stage.
• The puzzle board's border is changed to a "spiky" style, with spikes alternating an "in-out" pattern. Additionally, a two row strip of chase lights is added around the entire inside perimeter of the board, broken only by the "in" spikes.
• The rugs are no longer used.
• For this season and the next, Charlie does not describe the Round 4 Prize unless it is won. As a result, the overhead shot at the start of Round 4 alternates between zooming in on the Round 4 Prize wedge or $5,000.
• Columbia TriStar Television (owned by Sony) takes over production as part of Merv's "deal" he made in July that he would remain executive producer until 2000; thus Charlie's closing spiel is changed to "Wheel of Fortune is produced by..." (over copyright/title screen and drumroll) "...Columbia TriStar Television!" (accompanied by a slightly slower, rearranged version of the Columbia Pictures Television music), with the King World logo, music, and spiel playing out as usual.
• This is the last season in which the show's logo appears in the credits.
• The shot of the $25,000 sign during wins is changed from it being lowered to an extreme close-up panning the length of the sign.
• Beginning with this season, many shots of the board are done from behind the contestants' backs.
• This season is the first of only three following Season 6 which does not have a College Week.
• Promos for this season refer to Wheel as America's Game and feature Aretha Franklin.
• Several Wheel Prizes this season are under $2,000; any known instances are noted.
• On several episodes early in the season, "Nightwalk" is used as a prize cue.
• On at least two episodes sometime this season, the Round 4 Prizes are worth at least $10,000. One known prize is a trip to Greece, and the other is a necklace.
• Closing text appearing in lowercase is now printed in white, in the Palatino Italic font; uppercase text (such as names) remain in Gill Sans, but in a pale pink version. Credit rolls begin with the title logo in a multi-color, marble-like appearance; headers appear in Palatino Italic upon a parallelogram in the same color scheme as the logo.
• For no particular reason, three weeks of reruns are done this season instead of the then-usual two.
• When these episodes are rerun on Game Show Network, all of the closed captioning is redone in mixed-case, and with letter calls and puzzle answers to puzzles in quotation marks (as opposed to the show's then-standard of using all-capitals and not putting quotation marks around puzzle answers).

September 1994

• During this month:
  • The 1989 cue for solving a puzzle is still used.
  • Vanna wears a suit on most episodes.
  • Some contestants' name tags use a heavier font than usual.
• The week of September 5 is Teen Week.
• During the week of September 5, one of the Bonus Round prizes is a houseboat tour and a Volkswagen Golf; in an unusual move, the model of car is never mentioned on-air.
• On September 5:
  • Between the time promos for the season were filmed and the first taping, the first and last spikes of the puzzle board are removed, leaving noticeable gaps in both the frame and the inner ring of lights.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a set of backpacks and a camera, worth $826. This is the last Wheel prize under $1,000. The Prize footage uses a globe-shaped wipe similar to the then-current Jeopardy! intro.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 4 are Thing(s), while Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On September 6:
  • The Round 1 Clue puzzle YABBA-DABBA-DOO FAMILY (The Flintstones) has none of the five most common consonants and is also incorrectly hyphenated.
  • The Round 2 Prize is $1,000 credit to The Sharper Image.
  • Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Person, and Round 3 is People.
  • $3,500 is accidentally placed over $150, thus putting in play the red $300 it normally occupies. Neither wedge is hit.
  • Round 4 (IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK) is the longest puzzle.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 4 is a rare instance of a Red-Letter Puzzle being used in a Speed-Up.
• On September 7:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 2 is Clue.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • Contestant Paul sweeps the game but loses an annuity in the Bonus Round.
• On September 12:
  • The Round 1 Clue puzzle FORK SECTION is a rare instance of a "bonus" category with more than one correct response (tine or prong).
  • Contestant Shannon offers a guess of "to the left of your plate" to the above Clue puzzle, but is not accepted even though such an answer would have fit the solution to the "bonus" question.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a very rare instance of the show offering food (specifically, $1,000 credit to Lobster Gram).
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the pink $200 in Round 4.
• On September 13:
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are Before & After.
  • Charlie is shown on camera before Round 2.
  • Pat forgets to acknowledge that there are no vowels left in Round 3 until contestant Michael tries to call one.
  • The Round 2 and Round 4 Prizes switch positions in the latter round.
  • The slide whistle accidentally sounds in Round 4 as the Wheel just misses the Bankrupt.
• On September 14:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is a Red-Letter Puzzle. The former, SIT COME HEEL ROLL OVER & FETCH, is the last instance until 1997 of a "bonus" category having more than one correct response (dog tricks or commands) and of an alternate answer being accepted, as contestant Jim is given credit for saying "things you tell a dog".
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the peach $200 in Round 3.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 2 and 3 are Phrase, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • During the closing chat, Vanna brings her newborn son Nicholas (Niko) on stage.
• On September 15:
  • For the first known time outside a road show, the category chyrons are yellow with a black outline.
  • Round 3 is this season's only appearance of Artist/Song.
  • Contestant Lesley sets a new one-round record of $45,000 in the Speed-Up.
• On September 16:
  • In Round 1, nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Fill In the Blank puzzle HARRIET ? STOWE (Beecher). The puzzle also has its question mark by itself on the second row.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 4 is a rare instance of a Red-Letter Puzzle being used in a Speed-Up.
  • All of contestant Diane's spins land on $200 four times in a row in Round 2.
  • Round 4 is the second known use of Events.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
  • The softer version of "Changing Keys" plays for the entire fee plugs and credits roll, instead of changing to the normal version once the fee plugs end.
• On September 19:
  • The gaps created by removing the first and last spikes of the puzzle board are covered up by extending the frame's texture and filling in the inner ring of lights.
  • The footage of the Round 2 Prize (a sculpture of fish) has water rippling and bubbling effects added to it.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on Surprise.
  • Round 5 (MAVERICK) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Pat and Vanna do the closing chat from the contestant railing and show off footage of the Gold Letter Sweepstakes winners' ceremony at Universal Studios Hollywood.
• On September 20:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is the debut of Megaword and Round 3 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
    • Unlike other "bonus" categories, Megaword does not use the High Rollers chimes.
    • As Megaword is used in any round, it results in multiple instances of shorter puzzles in Rounds 2 or 3, as well as uses of a "bonus" category in the Speed-Up, both of which are otherwise very rare occurrences.
  • Ten turns are lost in Round 2 (nine wrong letters and a Bankrupt).
  • Round 4 is Person and the Bonus Round is People.
• On September 21:
  • Round 4 (VIOLIN & BOW) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Eleven wrong letters are called in Round 4; despite this, the game manages to end without a Speed-Up.
  • For only the third known time, Landmark is used in the Bonus Round.
  • Contestant Kevin sweeps the game and wins $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
• On September 22:
  • The Round 1 Fill In the Blank puzzle JACK BE ? JACK BE QUICK (Nimble) has none of the five most common consonants.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Kevin spins $5,000 three times in a row in Round 4. He ends up winning the game with $24,500, all claimed in this round.
  • The Round 5 Speed-Up puzzle BUSY AS A BEE has only three unique consonants.
  • No letters are revealed in the above round until the eighth turn.
• Between September 20-22, three contestants in a row call C D M A in the Bonus Round in that exact order.
• On September 23:
  • In Round 1, nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle CATERPILLAR CONSTRUCTION (cocoon); while never stated on-air, it is presumed that "chrysalis" would also have been accepted.
  • Contestant Chris offers a guess of "bulldozer" to the above Clue puzzle, but is not accepted even though such an answer would have fit the solution to the "bonus" question.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
  • Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Place.
  • Kevin retires with $101,388.
• During the week of September 26, in an unusual move, the model of Bonus Round car (a Volkswagen Passat) is never stated on-air.
• On September 26:
  • Surprise is accidentally placed on the tan $200 next to the top dollar in Round 1. This is corrected in Round 2.
  • Round 1 is this season's only appearance of Star & Role.
• On September 27:
• Vanna is wearing light blue, but the category chyrons are teal green.
  • The Round 1 Megaword puzzle HAPHAZARDLY has only one vowel.
  • Round 1 is also the first instance of a contestant failing to use a Megaword in a sentence.
  • In Round 4, the buzzer sounds on a correct letter.
• On September 28:
  • The chyrons are yellow with a purple outline.
  • The Surprise is a $1,090 Vuarnet men's watch. This is the least expensive known Surprise.
  • The Round 3 Fill In the Blank puzzle ? -A-DEE-DO-DAH ? UP ? CODE (Zip) has four hyphens and three question marks, a record for the most punctuation ever revealed on the trilon board.
  • Rounds 2-4 use all four rows; in addition, Round 4 (FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER) is the longest puzzle.
• On September 29, two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is Clue and Round 4 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
• On September 30:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Contestant Ben has only $3,400 before the Bonus Round.
  • "Buzzword" is used when Charlie describes the Bonus Round trip to London and Paris, a rare instance of that cue being used for something other than a car.

October 1994

• On October 3:
  • The cue for solving a puzzle is re-orchestrated to match the updated theme. It retains the same three-note progression as the original but in a faster tempo.
  • Ben is wearing a different name tag than on his first two episodes. This would indicate that returning champions were issued new name tags if their runs spanned more than one taping session.
  • A new cue is also introduced for giving the right answer to a "bonus" question.
  • The spikes on the puzzle board no longer blink.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 2 and 4 (a Before & After of SAVE YOUR SOUL FOOD and HALLOWEEN COSTUME respectively) tied for the longest at only 16 letters.
  • Ben retires with $75,052.
• On October 4, there is a rare instance of the show offering food: the Round 2 Prize is a trip to Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, plus a year's supply of Hershey's Bar None, Cookies 'n' Mint, and Hugs.
• On October 5:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • The Round 2 puzzle THE JUDGE & THE JURY has the ampersand by itself on the second line.
• On October 6:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Megaword and Round 2 is People (ADAM & EVE'S SONS) followed by a question asking for all three of them. Eric does not provide the correct answers of Cain, Abel, and Seth.
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 2.
  • Round 2 is Things and Round 4 and the Bonus Round is Thing.
  • During the closing chat, Pat asks Charlie to explain Megaword and he responds with "Huh?"
• On October 7:
  • The Round 1 puzzle BUSH HAMILTON BURNS & C SCOTT (George) is inexplicably categorized as Clue, rather than using question marks and Fill In the Blank.
  • After the above puzzle is solved, Pat asks Charlie to explain why the above puzzle was not categorized as Fill In the Blank, to which Charlie responds "You try to use it in a sentence", a joke obviously directed at the Megaword category.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on Lose a Turn. His second attempt lands on $5,000.
• On October 10, contestant Steve's letters fill in the bonus puzzle BASKET entirely.
• On October 11:
  • Round 1 is a Where Are We? with four clues.
  • Bankrupt is hit six times in Round 3 (the first three of which are consecutive), tying the record for most known Bankrupts in a single round.
  • During the post-game chat, Nancy Jones can be heard telling Pat that nearly $7,000,000 was won last season.
• On October 12, two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Clue and Round 4 is a Red-Letter Puzzle.
• On October 13:
  • Round 4 (FALL FOLIAGE) has only three unique consonants and none of the five most common ones.
  • For the second known time, RSTLNE reveals every consonant in a bonus puzzle (TIARA).
  • In a rather rare occurrence, a contestant references a previous episode's puzzle: after losing the Bonus Round, contestant Yasin says "phooey", which was the answer to the Bonus Round he did not solve the day before.
  • Rounds 2, 4, and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On October 14:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT (Place) followed by a question asking where it is located (California) and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • After contestant Donna fails to identify the correct answer to Round 2's bonus question, Pat has Charlie provide it instead.
• During the week of October 10, all five bonus puzzles are only one word.
• On October 17:
  • Contestant Ted is brought back due to an unknown error on his previous episode.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $4,192 trip to Minnesota with a shopping spree at Mall of America.
  • The Round 2 puzzle MAKE A WISH AND BLOW OUT THE CANDLES is categorized as Event instead of Phrase.
• On October 18:
  • The Round 2 puzzle WOODSTOCK NINETY-FOUR (Event) is followed by a question asking for the year in which the first Woodstock was held. The contestant provides the right answer of 1969.
  • Round 4 is the fourth of only four known instances of The Twenties.
  • Contestant Janice finishes with only $4,450.
• On October 19:
  • Contestant Susan fails to use the Round 2 Megaword FLAMBOYANTLY in a sentence.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
• On October 20:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
  • "Buzzword" is used when Charlie describes the Bonus Round prize (a trip to Istanbul), a rare instance of that cue being used for something other than a car.
• On October 24:
  • Vanna wears a multicolored tie-dye blouse and purple leggings.
  • Surprise is accidentally placed on the red $300 in Round 1.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • Round 3 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
  • Contestant Danny retires with $53,092. He sweeps the game, but loses $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
• On October 25:
  • The overhead camera accidentally focuses on the yellow arrow instead of the blue one during one of contestant Jacqueline's spins in Round 2.
  • Jacqueline finishes with only $4,000.
• On October 26:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Fill In the Blank and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Bankrupt is hit six times in Round 3 (the first three of which are consecutive), tying the record for most known Bankrupts in a single round.
  • Round 5 (VISIONARY) is shorter than ten letters.
  • For the first known time, more than one main game puzzle is only one word (in this case, Round 3 {a Megaword of CHRYSANTHEMUM} and the above Round 5 puzzle).
• On October 27:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is Fill In the Blank and Round 4 is a rare instance of a Red-Letter Puzzle being used in a Speed-Up.
  • After contestant Steven solves the Round 3 Fill In the Blank puzzle ? NATIONS ? WAY ? KINGDOM ? WE STAND (United), Pat accidentally rules it as a wrong answer, although Vanna starts walking to turn the remaining letters. The scoreboards also remain lit while the blue arrow continues to flash. Pat is later corrected from offstage, and the remaining blanks are lit while the other two scoreboards turn off.
• On October 26 and 27, for the second of only two known times, two consecutive shows have a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
• On October 28, contestant Stefan accidentally calls L and E in the Bonus Round, and each letter is briefly put on the chyron.
• The weeks of October 31 and November 21 are taped at the Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre at Fair Park in Dallas. During all of the Dallas episodes:
  • The closing variation of "Changing Keys" is used during the intro.
  • The traditional Wheel logo is altered in three different styles, all with horseshoes in place of the dots, a lasso rope in place of the Wheel, and flames within the letters themselves: the first with a Texas Ranger badge in place of the "o" and a cactus in place of the "f", the second with a normal "of" but with a longhorn in place of the "o", and the third with a normal "of" with a cowboy hat on it. These modified logos are also used in the credits.
  • After the audience chant is done over a panoramic shot of the set, Charlie's intro for this week is: "Traveling to the State Fair of Texas, it's America's favorite game! Yes, Wheel of Fortune is on location again, and comes to you from the spectacular Starplex theater in Dallas, Texas! And now, here are Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
• During the week of October 31, the Round 4 Prize is not used.
• On October 31:
  • Three new contestants start off the first week.
  • Round 1 is People and Round 3 is Person, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • Contestant Nedwin fails to solve the bonus puzzle AWARD with only the W missing.
  • Merv Griffin appears in the final segment, and jokes that he only seems to make cameos when the Bonus Round is lost.

November 1994

• On November 1, the Prize is on the blue $200 in Round 4.
• On November 2:
  • The Round 3 Clue puzzle CLASSICAL JAZZ ROCK RAP & COUNTRY (Music) has two blank spaces between JAZZ and ROCK.
  • The cameras cut to a shot of some audience members mouthing the answer when Dan solves Round 3.
  • As Dan calls L in the Speed-Up (which is not in the puzzle), the camera briefly switches from the usual split-screen to a closeup shot of him, then pans over to contestant Keri calling her letter before returning to the usual shot. It is very likely that these turns had to be re-shot due to a technical error.
  • The Bonus Round chyron does not disappear until the cameras cut to Pat.
• On November 3:
  • The Round 1 puzzle STOP EJECT PLAY REWIND & RECORD BUTTONS (Things) has two blank spaces between STOP and EJECT, and between PLAY and REWIND. Given that both this puzzle and the similar puzzle on the 2nd are lists of items, it is likely that the spacing was deliberate so as to make the divisions between the individual elements clearer.
  • Round 3 is a Where Are We? puzzle with four clues.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • For only the fourth known time, Landmark is used in the Bonus Round.
• On November 4:
  • Contestant Bree starts to offer her sentence for the Megaword JUXTAPOSITION just as the buzzer sounds. She is allowed to finish her sentence and is credited with the $500 bonus.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 3 is the last appearance of the "old-style" Fill In the Blank.
  • Rounds 1 and 5 are Person.
  • Bree accidentally calls N in the Bonus Round, and it is briefly placed on the chyron.
  • The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during the closing segment.

    

    Ooh, it's a toughie. -Pat

• The weeks of November 7 and 14 are the Red, White & Blue Sweepstakes. Similar to the Red Letter Sweepstakes of Season 10 and the Gold Letter Sweepstakes of Season 11, each episode has a puzzle where some letters are red on top and blue on the bottom, which spell out the last name of a U.S. President when unscrambled. As usual, Game Show Network reruns edit out most references to the contest. 200 winners of the contest receive a trip on the MS Windward (now the SuperStar Aquarius) and a chance to audition for the show.
• On November 7:
  • One-day champion Stefan from October 28 returns to play after a week-long absence.
  • Rounds 1, 3, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On November 8:
  • Round 1 (BAYWATCH) is shorter than ten letters and has only one vowel.
  • Rounds 3, 4, and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On November 9, in an unusual move, the Round 1 Clue puzzle WATER MOCCASIN SIDEWINDER & COBRA (Snake) has the word MOCCASIN indented by one space.
• On November 10:
  • The Round 4 puzzle MOVERS & SHAKERS has the ampersand by itself on the second line.
  • The winning contestant has only $2,450 before the Bonus Round.
  • The Bonus Prize won is a historic document signed by George Washington.
  • Rounds 1, 3, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On November 11:
  • Nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Round 1 Clue puzzle MOUNT RUSHMORE STATE (South Dakota).
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
• On November 14:
  • The "bonus" for Round 2's Fill In the Blank puzzle ? EYES ? IN THE GRASS ? CHARMER (Snake) is thrown out after an audience member shouts out the answer. This does not affect the outcome.
  • The above puzzle is also one of only two known times that two "bonus" category puzzles in the same season have had the same answer to their question.
  • After contestant Gary solves Round 3's puzzle GERMAN OCCUPATION OF PARIS, Pat says that he is forced to do weird things such as repeating the puzzle solution. This was seen in the 25th and 30th anniversary flashbacks.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On November 15:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • No letters are revealed in the Round 1 puzzle BIG BROUHAHA until the seventh turn.
  • Contestant Nick solves the bonus puzzle IDEA before the timer can start.
• On November 16, Round 4 (a Before & After of HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE COOKER) is the longest puzzle.
• On November 17, the Round 2 Prize is an AT&T computer, which is shown running the 1994 Windows video game adaptation as Charlie describes it
• On November 18:
  • Pat does not do his pre-Round 1 spiel. Additionally, he uses a party blower before announcing the category Megaword.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Megaword and Round 2 is a Where Are We? with four clues.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $10,190 piano.
  • Rounds 2 and 3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
• The week of November 21 has the same changes as the week of October 31. Charlie's intro for this week is: "Traveling to the dynamic city of Dallas, Texas, it's America's favorite game!" He then pauses as Vanna says a line about their venue, and then continues, "Yes, the Big Wheel has rolled into the Big D, Dallas/Fort Worth, and comes to you from the Starplex theater! And now, the stars of Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
• On November 21:
  • There are two returning champions: contestants Teresa from November 18, and Bree from the last Dallas episode (November 4).
  • Surprise is accidentally placed on the blue $500 in Rounds 1 and 2.
  • Rounds 2 and 4 are Things, while the Bonus Round is Thing.
  • Against normal practice at the time, Charlie reads copy for the Round 4 Prize.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the blue $200.
  • Teresa retires with $103,240.
• On November 22:
  • Round 2 is the first known appearance of The Nineties.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 2.
  • Rounds 1 and 5 are Before & After.
  • Contestant Denise spins $5,000 three times in a row in Round 4.
  • Denise's hands are visible in the shot of the board during the Bonus Round.
• On November 24:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 3 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • Denise retires with $99,026, a seemingly-rare instance of two consecutive undefeated champions.
• On November 25:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Clue and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • At the end of the show, a dance performance is given by Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico.

• On November 28:

  

  The original $10,000 wedge.

  • The applause machine is only used when the audience is clapping and when players spin the Wheel.
  • Round 1 is a Same Name puzzle with three "names".
  • The video for the Surprise shows Vanna walking with Fred Hayman.
  • The $10,000 Wedge debuts in Round 3. It is initially placed on the Bankrupt between $600 and $500. For the first few weeks only, its digits are narrower.
  • Pat's explanation of the $10,000 Wedge at the top of Round 3 appears to have been done in post-production, as the close-up shot of the wedge uses the normal $10,000 Wedge (with enlarged numbers and dollar sign), but the narrow-style wedge is used in gameplay.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200 in Round 4.
• On November 29:
  • Contestant Gordon fills in the entire Round 4 Before & After puzzle PORGY AND BESS TRUMAN by himself.
  • Rounds 3 and 4 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • Pat forgets to mention the category for the Bonus Round until he prompts Gordon for his three consonants and a vowel.
• On November 30:
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the peach $200 in Round 2.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200 in Round 4.
  • Round 4 (DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION) is the longest puzzle.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • Gordon sweeps the game and wins a diamond pin in the Bonus Round.

December 1994

The regular $10,000 wedge.

• On December 1:
  • Once again, Round 4 (a Before & After of SITTING PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON IT) is the longest puzzle.
  • Rounds 1, 2, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Gordon retires with $64,183.
• On December 2:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks and Round 4 is Megaword.
  • Contestant Tom says "and" before giving the last word of the Round 3 Fill In the Blank puzzle JAZZ ? BILLY ? GOLF ? COUNTRY ? (Club), but his answer is accepted.
  • There is a very rare instance of a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it. The puzzle, HAWAII (Place), is solved.
• On December 5:
  • Contestant Brian raps during the interviews, a moment which was seen on several retrospectives including the 3,000th episode.
  • The applause machine is not used during prize descriptions.
  • The value for the Round 2 Prize has an "embossed" effect.
  • The numbers are enlarged on the $10,000 Wedge.
  • Round 3 has the longest known word to be concealed in a Red-Letter puzzle (PASSION, within the puzzle DON'T LOSE ANY SLEEP OVER IT).
  • Contestant Tom begins to hand in his Free Spin right before the Final Spin bells sound, but he is stopped by Pat. Pat asks Nancy whether Tom should still hand it in and call the first Speed-Up letter (while blue contestant John's arrow is blinking), and she tells him yes.
  • Rounds 2, 3, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On December 6:
  • The Round 1 puzzle ALL THAT JAZZ has only one vowel. It also uses three rows, even though it could fit on only two.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Clue and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Rounds 2 and 5 are played entirely by the contestant who began them.
  • Round 4 (a Before & After of HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE STATE BUILDING) is the longest puzzle.
  • Round 5 (BANK VAULT) is shorter than ten letters.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On December 7, Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Thing, while Round 4 is Things.
• On December 8:
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are Before & After, while Round 4 is Thing and Round 5 is Things.
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the peach $200 in Rounds 3 and 4.
• On December 9:
  • Three "bonus" categories are played: the debut of Next Line Please in Round 1, Fill In the Blank in Round 3, and Megaword in Round 4.
  • Contestant Stephen fills in the entire Round 1 Next Line Please puzzle by himself. After he solves, no one correctly provides the next line to ARE THE STARS OUT TONIGHT ("I don't know if it's cloudy or bright").
  • Round 4 is the only instance of a Megaword sentence not being accepted ("The contestants did not know what the word PROLIFERATION meant").
• On December 12:
  • The Surprise is accidentally placed on the yellow $500 in between $200 and $700 in Round 1 and 2.
  • Round 1 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
  • Nobody correctly identifies the missing word in the Round 1 Fill In the Blank puzzle ? HAIR ? LIGHT ? CARPET ? CROSS (Red).
  • The Round 4 Prize is placed on $700.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 5.
• On December 14, Round 3 is the second known appearance of The Nineties, and the last use of that category until 1999.
• On December 15:
  • The value of the Surprise uses an "embossed" effect.
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • Round 2 is a Where Are We? with four clues.
  • The Round 4 Prize is accidentally placed on $700.
  • Round 4 (WIGGED OUT) is shorter than ten letters.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • After the bonus puzzle ZORRO (Fictional Character) is not solved, Pat sings the theme to the 1957 Zorro TV series while making a Z in the air with the bonus envelope. This has been seen on several retrospectives.
• On December 16:
  • In Round 2, contestant Lashawn incorrectly solves the fully-revealed Megaword puzzle PRISTINELY by mispronouncing it.
  • The lettering on the Round 2 Prize wedge is much shorter than usual.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 3 is Clue.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Nancy Jones appears on camera in the final segment.
• December 19 is Family Week, played identically to the ones in 1992 and 1993.
• On December 19:
  • Round 1 is this season's only appearance of Nickname, and its last until Season 15.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a pair of Yamaha motor scooters.
  • The bonus puzzle MARY & JOSEPH is the second known instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.
  • At the end of the episode, Pat and Vanna reveal a collage that they made for the top winner. It includes a replica of the $5,000 wedge, nametags reading Pat and Vanna, a $25,000 envelope, a Free Spin token, a red L, two logos, and a replica of a California license plate reading "WHEEL".
• On December 20:
  • Once again, the Round 4 Prize is accidentally placed on $700.
  • In the final segment, Vanna brings in Nicholas a second time.
• On December 21:
  • For the first known time, two contestants on one team have the same first name (Brendan).
  • The Round 2 puzzle PALETTE PAINT CANVAS EASEL & BRUSHES (Things) has two blank spaces between PAINT and CANVAS, likely for similar reasons as the two puzzles in November that did this.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Round 2 is Things, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On December 22:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 3 is Clue. The former, COPACETIC, has only three unique consonants and is one of only five known times that Round 2 is shorter than ten letters.
  • Rounds 1 and 2 both have a very rare instance of a contestant or team losing their turn with only vowels remaining. With only the I's and E's missing from the puzzle Round 1 puzzle INDELIBLE INK, contestants Peter and Renee buy an A, and with only the E missing from the aforementioned Round 2 puzzle, contestant Ava and Terry give a wrong answer.
  • Round 2 is also followed by the contestants failing to use a Megaword in a sentence.
  • Rounds 1, 4, and the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 (a Clue puzzle of EARTH'S TALLEST ANIMAL {Giraffe}) being the longest at only 19 letters.
• On December 23:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Next Line Please and Round 3 is Clue.
  • Contestants Erin and Sheila solve the Speed-Up puzzle CHRISTMAS WREATH with only the C revealed.
  • Each family pair gets a box of Perugina chocolates after the Speed-Up Round.
  • RSTLNE reveals more than half of the bonus puzzle (FRASIER).
• Reruns air during the week of December 26.

January 1995

• A second set of reruns airs during the week of January 2.
• On January 9:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • The Surprise is erroneously placed on $800 in Rounds 1 and 2.
  • The Free Spin (on the blue $300) comes loose during Round 1, partially exposing the 3. It is secured before Round 2.
  • The Round 2 Prize wedge is dark green.
  • Round 2 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
  • The Round 3 puzzle HEIGH-HO HEIGH-HO IT'S HOME FROM WORK WE GO has an apostrophe and two hyphens, tying the record for the most known punctuation used in the trilon era (barring Fill In the Blank puzzles) until January 1997.
  • The Bonus Round Prize won is a $7,198 pair of motorcycles plus $10,000 cash.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On January 11:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
  • Contestant Paula wins with only the Round 4 Prize (a $6,744 trip to Austria).
• On January 12:
  • The $10,000 Wedge is accidentally placed over the Bankrupt between $900 and $500 in Rounds 3 and 4; this ends up affecting the game, as contestant Paula hits the center of the Bankrupt between $600 and $500.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Fill In the Blank and Round 3 is I WANT TO BE ALONE (Quotation) is followed by a question asking for who is famous for saying it. Contestant Melanie does not provide the correct answer of Greta Garbo.
  • Contestant Chris solves the bonus puzzle RODEO despite getting no help from his extra letters.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 1 (MY LIPS ARE QUIVERING) being the longest at only 18 letters.
• On January 13:
  • The Surprise is absent in Round 1.
  • Against normal practice at the time, the buzzer sounds on a wrong answer in Round 3.
  • The Round 4 prize is on the pink $200.
  • Contestant Betty wins despite not claiming $13,750 in Round 3.
  • In the closing chat, Pat and Vanna mention that the show's newsletter held a Vanna White lookalike contest, and then introduce the contest's winner, Rosanne Basile.
• January 16 is Best Friends Week, with the Friday Finals. During this week:
  • All the Wheel Prizes and Surprises are either trips or prizes that come in pairs.
  • The Round 4 Prize is not used.
• On January 16:
  • $3,500 is accidentally placed over $150, while the Prize is placed on the red $300 in Round 3. Contestants Kristi and Shauna hit the latter and call two R's (meaning they would have gotten $7,000 under normal circumstances). This does not affect the outcome as they win anyway.
  • Rounds 1, 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On January 17:
  • There is rare instance of a team losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the vowels missing (except the E's) from the Round 1 Where Are We? puzzle SAMURAI SHOGUNS TEA CEREMONIES (Japan), contestants Josh and Rob buy an I, leaving them with only $150, and still fail to solve the puzzle before getting buzzed out. After this, contestants Cedric and Quintan buy the A's and O's and solve, and their answer is accepted despite them mispronouncing the second word. This ruling ends up affecting the outcome, as they win with the $7,322 claimed in that round.
  • After the above round, Pat mistakenly announces Cedric and Quintan's Surprise as the Round 2 Prize. Charlie then says that it was his fault and not Pat's.
  • The Round 3 Megaword puzzle ABRACADABRA has only one vowel.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Where Are We? and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On January 18:
  • The Prize is a trip to the Bahamas worth $10,452.
  • The Prize is on the pink $200 in Round 4.
• On January 19:
  • The Prize is a pair of Klein mountain bikes, modeled by two unknown teenagers.
  • There is a rare instance of a team losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up.
  • The Bonus Round puzzle is JEOPARDY (Title).
• On January 20:
  • Rounds 2 and 3 are Before & After.
  • Cedric and Quintan only spin once in the entire game, calling an incorrect letter in Round 3.
  • The $10,000 Wedge cash prize is won for the first time.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Fill In the Blank and Round 4 is Megaword.
  • Pat mistakenly says that the Megaword bonus is $1,000 instead of $500, but lets contestants Kristi and Shawna keep the extra $500 anyway.
  • Kristi and Shauna sweep the game. In an unusual move, Pat lets them pick between the two remaining bonus prizes (two cars or two pianos) instead of using the W-H-E-E-L envelopes. They choose the cars, but do not win them.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• During the week of January 23, all of the closing chats feature Pat and Vanna calling winners of the Red White and Blue sweepstakes.
• On January 23, contestant Betty solves the bonus puzzle ROOF despite getting no help from her extra letters.
• On January 24:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The Round 2 puzzle ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK (Place) is followed by a question asking whose show tapes there. Contestant Richard gives the correct answer of David Letterman just after the buzzer, at which point Pat says that they will check the tape during the commercial break. Pat forgets to mention the outcome until after Richard's first letter call in Round 3 is revealed, at which point he confirms that the buzzer beat him.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on a Prize wedge.
• Between January 10 and 24, eleven bonus puzzles in a row are only one word.
• On January 25:
  • Round 1 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
  • Contestant Paul wins a $46,000+ home décor package including $1,000 cash in the Bonus Round, the cash part of which is modeled by Vanna holding several bundles of money.
• On January 26, two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is Clue and Round 4 is Megaword.
• On January 27:
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks.
  • Paul retires with $122,075.
• On January 30, Round 3 is a Where Are We? with four clues.
• On January 31:
  • Rounds 2, 4, and 5 are Phrase.
  • The bonus prize is a Wurlitzer piano with $5,000 cash.

February 1995

• On February 1:
  • Round 2 (a Megaword of EROTICISM) is the fourth of only five known times that Round 2 is shorter than ten letters.
  • There is a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the E missing from the above puzzle, contestant Verla buys an A.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
  • The winning contestant accidentally calls E in the Bonus Round, and the E is briefly put on the chyron.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 1 (a Same Name of HITCHING & TRADING POST) being the longest at only 19 letters.
• On February 3:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 3 is a Where Are We? which uses four clues.
  • Vanna turns the B in the bonus puzzle THE BLAHS too far, causing the letter to slide partway off the trilon.
  • Contestant David says "the blah" among his Bonus Round guesses, stopping just shy of saying the full answer.
• The weeks of February 6-27 are taped at Walt Disney World. During these weeks:
  • The original $10,000 Wedge with skinnier numbers is used, suggesting that these episodes were taped before or immediately after the week of November 28.
  • For reasons unknown, the Surprise Wedge's letters do not have sparkles on them during these episodes.
  • These episodes have the 1994 logo zooming up and then wiping away vertically in the intro.
  • Each show opens with Vanna saying, "From Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida; it's Wheel of Fortune!" The logo zooms up as Charlie says the show's name; as the logo vertically wipes, he continues, "America's favorite show is on location at America's favorite theme park! And now, your host and hostess: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • The taping location disclaimer is updated to "Production Facilities Provided by Disney-MGM Studios", complete with the theme park's logo and Charlie's spiel.
• February 6 is the last My Favorite Teacher Week. Teacher-themed weeks do not occur again until May 28, 2007. During this week, the Round 4 Prize is not used.
• On February 6, nobody correctly identifies the missing word in Round 2's Fill In the Blank puzzle ? PLAINS ? CORPUSCLES ? SULPHUR SPRINGS (White).
• On February 7, the Prize is a $1,499 camcorder.
• On February 8:
  • The Prize, a trip to United States Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, has "SPACE" written horizontally at the top of its wedge in very narrow letters with "CAMP" written vertically underneath.
  • Two "bonuses" are played. Round 2 is a Red-Letter Puzzle and Round 3 is Fill In the Blank.
• On February 9:
  • Contestant Eliot is the youngest known contestant to appear on the show at 12 years old.
  • The Surprise is on the purple $150 in Round 3.
  • Neither Bankrupt nor Lose a Turn is hit.
  • Contestants Noah and Martin sweep the game and win a pair of cars in the Bonus Round.
• On February 10:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 2.
  • Contestants Luann and Rhonda perform a technical sweep, winning everything except the $500 bonus for the Clue (which goes to contestants Alan and John).
  • In the Bonus Round, Pat lets Luann and Rhonda pick from the two remaining prizes (a New York trip or an annuity) instead of drawing from the envelopes. They pick the annuity and win it.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
  • Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Person, while Round 4 is People.
• On February 13:
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the peach $200 in Rounds 3 and 4.
  • Round 5 (KARAOKE BAR) has only three unique consonants.
  • Contestant Mike accidentally calls an N in the Bonus Round and is shown briefly on the chyrons.
  • Mike solves the bonus puzzle LAGOON on the buzzer. Pat initially rules it as a loss and has Vanna reveal the answer. Upon returning from commercial, Pat reveals that his answer was checked and was determined to have come before the buzzer. The show ends after Charlie describes the prize won.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 2 and 3 are Phrase, while Round 5 and the Bonus Round are Place.
• On February 14:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a shopping spree at Mall of America.
  • Pat accidentally stops the Wheel in mid-spin in Round 2.
  • Round 3 is a "three question marks" Fill In the Blank with four question marks. From this point onward, the question marks in this category are already turned when the puzzle is revealed, as opposed to the previous practice of Vanna turning them as she would any other punctuation mark.
  • Three consecutive Lose a Turns are hit in Round 3 (one by the red contestant and two by the yellow contestant).
  • The bonus puzzle IVORY SOAP uses the middle two rows, despite other road shows at this point still using the top two.
  • During the post-game chat, Vanna gives Pat a box of chocolates and he gives her his half-eaten bagel.
• On February 15, Rounds 2, 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On February 16:
  • The Round 1 puzzle TINA LANA TED & KATHLEEN (Turner) is categorized as Clue, instead of using four question marks and Fill In the Blank.
  • Rounds 2 and 5 are Thing, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Surprise is erroneously placed on the blue $200.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt.
• On February 17:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • After the Round 1 puzzle FUNK & WAGNALLS (People), contestant Sandi is given a bonus question asking who they are, and she provides the correct answer of dictionary and encyclopedia publishers.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 2 and 5 are Before & After, while Rounds 3 and 4 are Phrase.
  • Sandi retires with $91,748.
• February 20 is "Some of the Greats!", with 11 past winners competing for charity. During the interviews, clips are shown from some contestants' prior episodes. Some other notes about this week:
  • After the chant and logo wipe, Charlie's intro is "Remember [players' names]? They're back, playing for charity, as we present Some of the Greats from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! And now, the stars of our show: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • Contestants who finish with $0 are given $500 towards their charities.
  • The returning-champion rule remains in effect minus the three-day limit, which results in Kelly Vaught playing all five shows.
  • All of the contestants seem to have been chosen for notable eccentricities and solely from the nighttime show, as totals range from about $39,000-$91,000 and the contestants consist of one each from Seasons 7-9, three from Season 10, and five from Season 11. Furthermore, five (Carol, Robin, Alison, Nicole, and Gary) did not retire undefeated.
• On February 20:
  • The contestants are Raymond Taylor ($81,665 on January 13-14 and 17, 1994), Kelly Vaught ($75,498 on December 18 and 28-29, 1992), and Carol Terrana ($76,403 on December 3-4 and 7, 1992). They are playing for the Motion Picture and Television Foundation, the Orange County Red Cross, and the Northern Illinois Hospice Association.
  • Vanna's dress is red, but the category chyrons are magenta.
  • In Round 2, nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle CERVANTES' ROMANTIC IMPRACTICAL KNIGHT (Don Quixote).
• On February 21:
  • The new contestants are David Schwacher ($71,534 in November 1990) and Monte Sternfeld ($76,451 on March 18-19 and 22, 1993). They are playing for the Police Memorial Foundation and the New York Philanthropic League.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 2 is Megaword.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 2.
  • All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 3.
• On February 22:
  • The new contestants are Robin Slate (McFadden) ($43,749 on March 10-11, 1994) and Alison Gordy ($77,109 on February 21-23, 1994). They are playing for the Virginia Beach SPCA and the Habitat for Humanity.
  • Round 1 and 4 both begin with three consecutive lost turns: Round 1 begins with a Lose a Turn followed by two incorrect letters, while Round 4 begins with a wrong letter, Bankrupt, and another wrong letter.
  • 10 wrong letters are called in both Rounds 3 and 4.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Slang appears in the Bonus Round for the last time.
  • Kelly solves the bonus puzzle HANGING OUT by saying "Man, we are just hangin' out!" and is credited with a correct answer despite leaving off the second G in "hanging".
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 1 and 2 (a Before & After of GYPSY ROSE LEE MAJORS and LACK OF COORDINATION respectively) tied for the longest at only 18 letters.
• On February 23:
  • The new contestants are Maria Mason ($76,421 in November 8-10, 1993) and Nicole Mordis ($91,530 on October 27 and 30-31, 1989). They are playing for the United Negro College Fund and the Hope Worldwide.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Megaword and Round 4 is OF CABBAGES AND KINGS (Quotation), Kelly is asked for the source of the quotation, and he does not provide the correct response of Alice in Wonderland. This is the last time until November 1995 that a non-"bonus" category has a trivia question.
  • Round 2 (STUPEFIED) is also the fifth of only five known times that Round 2 is shorter than ten letters, but not the last time it is only one word.
  • There is a very rare instance of a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it. The puzzle, VOODOO, is not solved.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On February 24:
  • Kelly Vaught appears on his eighth episode, setting a record for the most known episodes on which any contestant has appeared.
  • The new contestants are Gary Koven ($39,400 in March 26-27, 1992) and Angela Thompson-Murphy ($60,693 in October 1993). They are playing for the Starlight Foundation and the Black Women in Sport Foundation.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Megaword and Round 2 is Clue.
  • None of the contestants identify the object described by the Clue puzzle FOUND ON A WALL OR ON YOUR TEETH (plaque).
  • In Round 3, with only the C missing from the puzzle INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE BY ANNE RICE, Angie hesitates on whether or not to spin again; she ultimately decides to spin, hits Bankrupt, and slumps over the railing, after which Kelly pats her to "console" her. After Gary calls D, Kelly calls the missing C and solves the puzzle in a Dracula voice, then pretends to bite Pat's neck during the throw to commercial.
  • All three contestants hit Bankrupt consecutively in Round 3.
  • For the second consecutive show, there is a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it: COWBOY, which is also not solved. This puzzle was previously used there on December 21, 1992, making it the second known bonus puzzle without RSTLNE to be used twice. It is also the only known time that two such puzzles are used on consecutive episodes.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• By February 24, Charlie's closing spiel is changed to begin with "Created by Merv Griffin", and a separate chyron credit with said text is made to reflect this change.
• On February 27:
  • There is an undisclosed error with contestant Dan's spin when he calls Q in Round 1; what exactly happened is unknown, since the camera stays focused on the puzzle during the turn.
  • Seven consecutive turns are lost in Round 1 (six wrong letters and a Bankrupt).
  • Contestant Renae fills in the entire Round 3 Before & After puzzle PUTTING GREEN AROUND THE GILLS by herself.
  • Rounds 2 and 4 are Person.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
  • Charlie appears on-camera in the final segment.
• On February 28:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is the last Red-Letter Puzzle and Round 3 is Clue.
  • Rounds 1, 2, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on Bankrupt.

March 1995

• On March 1:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Fill In the Blank and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Renae offers "Being on Wheel of Fortune is a bombastic experience" as the sentence for her Megaword (BOMBASTIC). This results in a quip from Nancy Jones (in her last known appearance), who says "If she really feels that way!"
  • Renae retires with $28,000, having lost all three Bonus Rounds. This is the lowest known total for an undefeated champion.
  • Although Renae loses the Bonus Round, Pat has her husband come onstage anyway.
• On March 3, Round 4 (a Same Name of NO SMOKING & GRAPEFRUIT SECTION) is the longest puzzle.
• On March 6:
  • The footage of the Bonus Round Prize (a Reinell sportboat) uses a "ripple" transition.
  • Contestant Alan retires with $103,275. This is the only known instance of three consecutive undefeated champions.
• On March 7:
  • Round 1 (WHO'S NEXT) is shorter than ten letters.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 4 are Phrase, while Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Person.
• On March 8:
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are Before & After.
  • In Round 3, contestant Doreen is only credited with two H's on $600 despite the puzzle having three. This does not end up mattering as she hits Bankrupt later in the round.
  • Vanna's dress is light blue, but the category chyrons are teal.
• On March 9:
  • The Round 2 Prize is accidentally placed on the blue $500 between $700 and $800.
  • The Round 3 Megaword puzzle WITTICISM has only one vowel.
• On March 10:
  • Rounds 1 and 6 are both shorter than ten letters (WHAT GIVES and GLOVES respectively).
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Place in Round 4 and the Bonus Round, and Things in Rounds 5 and 6.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 4 (TROPICAL RAIN FOREST) being the longest at only 17 letters.
  • Doreen retires with $113,559.
• On March 13:
  • There is rare instance of a team losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the I's and E missing from the Round 1 puzzle WOULD I LIE TO YOU, contestant Michelle buys an A.
  • In a very rare occurrence, the Round 2 Prize is food: specifically, $1,000 credit to Lobster Gram.
  • In Round 3, nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle BUTTER OR GALLERY (Peanut).
  • The Round 4 Prize is accidentally placed on $400 in that round.
  • Contestant Glenn finishes with only $2,300.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 being the longest at only 15 letters.
• On March 14:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The R in the Round 4 puzzle PET PARAKEET dims and then shuts off while Vanna is turning it, but this is corrected when the A's are revealed on the next turn.
  • Rounds 4, 5, and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On March 15:
  • The Round 3 Megaword puzzle OXIDIZED has only three unique consonants and none of the five most common ones. It takes the contestants 11 spins to reveal any letters in the puzzle. 21 turns are lost, very likely a record. Every consonant is called except J, and the round lasts for 5 minutes and 40 seconds (from the reveal of the puzzle to the end of the contestant's Megaword sentence).
  • There are noticeable audio splices both before and after contestant Glenn calls X in the above round, suggesting a possible edit (a very likely occurrence, given the extreme length of the round).
  • Rounds 1, 2, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• On March 16:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Clue and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On March 17:
  • Rounds 1 and 5 are both shorter than ten letters (BIG AS LIFE and CHUCK IT respectively).
  • The buzzer does not sound on an incorrect letter in Round 5.
  • Contestant Joe retires with $63,845.
• On March 20:
  • Round 4 (DEAR OLD DAD) has only three unique consonants.
  • Round 2 and the Bonus Round are Event.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On March 21:
  • Nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle PRESIDENT ON TWENTY-DOLLAR BILL (Andrew Jackson).
  • Round 5 (GREAT LEGS) is shorter than ten letters.
• On March 22:
  • Vanna is wearing blue, but the category chyrons are purple.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Megaword and Round 3 is Clue.
• On March 23, Pat happens to be wearing the same jacket as contestant Gene, and switches to a black jacket for the closing chat.
• On March 24:
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 5.
  • Contestant Lucille's name tag falls off during the Surprise description but it is retrieved before Round 2.
  • The chyrons are still on screen when the Round 4 puzzle is solved.
  • The Round 5 puzzle SCRAM has only one vowel and is a tie for the shortest known main-game puzzle at only five letters.
  • Eleven turns are lost in the above round (including six in the Speed-Up).
  • Contestant Gene wins by $50.
  • Gene fills in the bonus puzzle LOCKER completely. Unusually, the timer starts while Pat is still joking with Gene about this.
• On March 27, there are two sets of duplicate categories: Rounds 2 and 5 are Phrase, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On March 28:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $1,184 set of Oneida Crystal stemware.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 2 is Where Are We? and Round 3 is Megaword.
  • Interestingly, the place described by the Where Are We? puzzle is Africa, which was also described by a puzzle in that category on October 5. This is the second of only two known times that two "bonus" category puzzles in the same season have had the same answer to their question.
  • The Bonus Prize is a home theater system, whose TV displays the opening segment while Charlie describes it.
• On March 29:
  • Three "bonus" categories are played: Clue in Round 1, Megaword in Round 2, and Round 3 is the last "three question marks" Fill In the Blank to have four question marks.
  • Contestant Colleen gives a response of "wedding" to the missing word in the Round 3 Fill In the Blank puzzle ? REGISTRY ? CONSULTANT ? BOUQUET ? GOWN. Pat consults with Nancy, who decides to accept it over the intended answer of "bridal".
• On March 30:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 3 is Where Are We? and Round 4 is Megaword, a rare instance of a "bonus" category being used in a Speed-Up.
  • The Round 3 Where Are We? puzzle PEWS CATHEDRAL IRISH SAINT FIFTH AVE (St. Patrick's) is both the last Where Are We? to use four clues and a rare instance of a puzzle using an abbreviation due to the full word not fitting on the board.
  • The bonus puzzle STRUCK BY LIGHTNING is categorized as Event instead of Phrase.
• On March 31:
  • Contestant Herb is accidentally given an extra $10 after Round 3. This is corrected before Round 4.
  • Herb solves the bonus puzzle WAY OFF BASE with only the O, S, and E showing before the timer can start.
  • Rounds 1, 2, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
• All five Bonus Rounds are won on the weeks of March 27. This is part of a ten-day winning streak beginning on the 23rd, a tie for the longest known winning streak.

April 1995

• On April 3, the Round 2 Prize (a trip to South Dakota) has the word "South" in very small letters horizontally at the top, and "Dakota" written in normal-size letters.
• On April 4:
  • Nobody identifies what is described by the Round 1 Clue puzzle HIGHEST GREEK PEAK (Mount Olympus).
  • No vowels are bought in Round 2.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 1 and 3 (the latter being YOU'RE UNDER ARREST) tied for the longest at only 16 letters.
  • Herb retires with $115,930, having won all three of his Bonus Rounds.
• On April 5:
  • Contestant M.E. wears a hat.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a rare piece of artwork of Joe DiMaggio with signature.
  • Eleven turns are lost in Round 4 (ten of which are consecutive including six in the Speed-Up).
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • All of the cardboard is claimed.
• On April 4 and 5, for the only known time, two bonus puzzles in a row are completely filled in.
• On April 6:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Megaword, and Round 3 is I CAME I SAW I CONQUERED (Quotation) followed by Charlie asking for the person famous for that quotation; contestant Richard provides the correct answer of Julius Caesar.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
  • After Richard solves the Round 3 puzzle, Pat accidentally spills a water glass onto him.
• On April 7:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Round 1 is Megaword and Round 2 is Clue.
  • Round 4 (SOB STORY) is shorter than ten letters, and has only one vowel.
  • Contestant Lou wins by $50.
  • Pat and Vanna do their chat from the puzzle board, and Vanna uses the bonus puzzle to show how the trilons work.
• April 10 is Teen Week, using the Friday Finals.
• On April 10:
  • Charlie's opening spiel is altered: the word "the" before the show's title and the phrase "soaring into your lives" are removed, with the phrase "here they are" now drawn out to fill the space of the latter.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $1,499 AT&T computer, which is shown running a 1994 Windows video game version of Wheel as Charlie describes it.
• On April 11:
  • There is a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the O missing from the Round 1 Before & After puzzle TORI SPELLING BEE, contestant Jennifer gives a wrong answer.
  • Contestant Matt's arrow flashes after Round 1.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200.
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 4.
  • Rounds 2, 4 and 5 are Thing(s).
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 (DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS) being the longest at only 19 letters.
• On April 12:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
  • Contestant Stacey says the correct answer to the bonus puzzle RAISIN BREAD, and manages to make one more guess before Pat realizes that her answer has been accepted.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On April 13:
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 3.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • There is a rare instance of a team losing their turn with only vowels remaining in the Speed-Up.
  • Rounds 5 and 6 (FIELD TRIP and BULL'S-EYE) are both shorter than ten letters.
  • Rounds 3, 4, 6 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
• On April 14:
  • The Surprise is a $12,840 trip to the British Virgin Islands.
  • Stacey's total accidentally turns off briefly and her arrow also still flashes after Round 1.
  • The Round 2 Prize, a trip to United States Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, has "SPACE" written horizontally at the top of its wedge in very narrow letters with "CAMP" written vertically underneath.
  • Contestant Chris's name tag falls off during Round 2. It is retrieved for Round 3.
  • Round 4 (POISON IVY) is shorter than ten letters.
  • Twelve turns (including eight consecutive) are lost in Round 4; despite this, the game manages to end without a Speed-Up.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 1 (THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE) being the longest at only 18 letters.
  • Rounds 2, 3, 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
  • Stacey sweeps the main game and wins a Caribbean cruise in the Bonus Round.
• Reruns air during the week of April 17.
• On April 24:
  • The Surprise is on the purple $150 in Round 3.
  • All three contestants hit penalty spaces consecutively in Round 4 (Bankrupt, Lose a Turn and then Bankrupt).
  • Round 5 (ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN) has only three unique consonants.
  • Rounds 2, 3, 5 and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Rounds 1-4 (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, EXUDES CONFIDENCE, QUENCH YOUR THIRST and CHERRY LIFE SAVERS respectively) all tied for the longest at only 16 letters each.
• On April 25:
  • Rounds 2, 4, and the Bonus Round are Phrase.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 (a Before & After of SUNNY SIDE UP THE CREEK) being the longest at only 19 letters.
  • Contestant Jean finishes with a two-day total of $9,000. This is one of only two known instances of a returning two-day champion winning less than $10,000.
• On April 26, the Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200.
• On April 27:
  • Round 1 (PETER FALK) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200.
  • The Round 4 Prize remains on the Wheel during the Bonus Round.
  • The Bonus Round window does not appear until the first letter is chosen.
• On April 28:
  • Round 3 is the last appearance of Megaword.
  • Round 4 (a Before & After of WICHITA KANSAS CITY MISSOURI) is the longest puzzle.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 1 and 4 are Before & After and Round 2 is Things, while the Bonus Round is Thing.

May 1995

• May 1 is Celebrity Award Winners week. During this week:
  • The celebrities are: Richard Karn, Deidre Hall, and Louis Gossett Jr. on Monday; Paul Rodriguez, Chelsi Smith, and Jeffrey Tambor on Tuesday; LL Cool J, Garry Marshall, and Jess Walton on Wednesday; Kimberlin Brown, Janet Evans, and Al Michaels on Thursday; and Dave Barry, Justine Micelli, and Rita Moreno on Friday.
  • During the intro, all 15 stars are listed off in alphabetical order over the softer closing mix of the theme. Pat and Vanna then introduce each day's players as they walk onstage.
  • The three-round structure is used. As a result, Rounds 2 and 3 use the Wheel templates normally used for Rounds 3 and 4 respectively, the Free Spin is removed after Round 1 if not claimed, and the $10,000 Wedge is moved to Round 2.
  • Before each commercial break, a clip is shown of a work for which the celebrity is known, presented in a silver square with the Wheel of Fortune and "Celebrity Award Winners" logos at the bottom.
  • Dave writes a column about his appearance on the show, which is printed on April 23 and ends up spoiling the outcome of his game.
• On May 1:
  • Free Spin is inexplicably placed on $1,000. This does not affect the outcome, as Deidre wins despite calling three N's on the token in Round 1.
  • After Richard hits Lose a Turn in Round 2, he attempts to move the Wheel one peg clockwise.
  • The Round 3 puzzle is not shown, nor do the category chimes sound, until after the first spin begins.
• On May 2:
  • Pat and Paul briefly discuss the series finale of The Pat Sajak Show, which Paul guest-hosted.
  • In Round 3, Chelsi decides to solve the puzzle, but Pat convinces her to spin instead. She hits Lose a Turn.
  • The clip used to represent Paul is of his version of The Newlywed Game, which aired from 1988-89. This is the only known time any footage of this version has aired since its cancellation, and was retained on Game Show Network airings of this episode.
• On May 3, after Jess calls G in the Bonus Round, she has difficulty making her last two choices because she knows there are no other consonants in the puzzle (NOSTALGIA). After she picks C, Pat tells her to pick M just to move the round along.
• On May 4:
  • Rounds 1, 3, and the Bonus Round are Event, the first of only two known times that this category has been used three times.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On May 5:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • Against normal practice at the time, the buzzer sounds on a wrong answer in Round 2.
  • Only Thing(s) and Phrase are used: the former in Rounds 1 and 2, the latter in Round 3 and the Bonus Round.
  • As Dave is the only celebrity to compete on the show with no prior on-camera appearances, the clip used to represent him is instead of Harry Anderson portraying him in the sitcom Dave's World.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 3 (OPENING NIGHT JITTERS) being the longest at only 19 letters.
  • Pat does not call for RSTLNE in the Bonus Round due to Dave doing it for him.
  • Dave finishes with only $3,250.
• On May 8:
  • Fill In the Blank's name is now shown in full on the chyron.
  • There are two set of duplicate categories: Round 1 and 2 are Phrase, Round 4 is Things, while the Bonus Round are Thing.
  • There is a rare instance of a bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it. The puzzle, PUPPY, is solved.
  • Contestant Dan retires with $71,415.
• On May 9:
  • In a rather rare occurrence, contestant J.T. wears a cowboy hat.
  • Round 1 Next Line Please puzzle is a factually incorrect answer of LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES ("you never know what you're gonna get"). It should be "Life was like a box of chocolates" (or more accurately "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates", although this would not fit on the board).
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • The shot of the Surprise (a Curtis Mathes television) shows a shot of contestant Kathleen.
  • Kathleen solves the Round 5 puzzle FIRST THINGS FIRST with only the S's and T's showing.
  • Vanna's then-husband George and son Niko appear during the closing chat.
• On May 10:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • Pat accidentally goes straight to the bonus puzzle before contestant Kathleen picks an envelope. Vanna turns the RSTLNE letters while the camera is still focused on Pat.
• On May 11, Round 1 is the debut of Who Is It? Despite this, it is not used for the rest of the season.
• On May 12:
  • Round 3 is the first of only two appearances of The 70's this season. From this point onward, "decade" categories use numbers instead of spelling out the decade.
  • Coincidentally given the upcoming tapings, Round 4 is NORFOLK VIRGINIA.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.

• The weeks of May 15 and 22 are taped on the hangar deck of the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is docked in Norfolk, Virginia at the time.
  • According to several published articles and accounts of the tapings, Harry Friedman replaces Nancy Jones as Executive Producer prior to the Norfolk trip.
  • The intro for these episodes shows Pat and Vanna standing in front of the ship. Pat says, "We're at the naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, about to board the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower for some very special shows." Vanna then says "Please join us as we celebrate Armed Forces Week right here on...", followed by everyone on-ship doing the "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" chant. Afterward, a marching band rendition of the original "Changing Keys" melody plays over footage of the Navy, with a flag background. The logo for the week then appears, followed by a timpani roll as Pat and Vanna are lowered onto the ship's deck. Charlie introduces them as "Here they are, Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • The applause machine is not used.
  • Unlike all other road shows since at least the Disney episodes in April 1994, the chyrons are in Gill Sans.

    

    One of the shots likely from a hand-held camera (May 15).

  • Several shots of the board appear to be done with hand-held cameras very close to the blue contestant's arrow, as the shots are shaky and lack the chyron.
• May 15 is Armed Forces Week, with the Friday Finals.
• On May 15:
  • The trilons containing the first M and W in the Round 1 puzzle MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND are crooked until those letters are revealed.
  • The Round 2 prize is a $2,500 Service Merchandise gift certificate. Its wedge only uses "G.C." in large letters in the top half of the wedge.
  • On Billy's first spin in Round 2, his flipper barely passes $750 to land on Bankrupt, but he is still credited with a $750 spin. Although this mistake is never realized, it does not affect the outcome.
  • Round 2 also has a rare instance of a contestant losing their turn with only vowels remaining: with only the U and I missing from PORTRAIT ON THE U S DIME, Billy buys the I but is obviously unsure of the answer. Even though he has more than enough money to buy the U, he instead attempts to solve, but gets as far as THE before stopping. Against normal practice at the time, the buzzer sounds on his incomplete answer. While the next contestant (Arrah) solves for the house minimum, none of the three players identify the person described by the puzzle (Franklin Roosevelt).
  • A siren sounds shortly into Round 3. Billy's decision to buy a vowel is obviously hindered, and Pat sarcastically thanks the siren after the vowel is purchased.
  • Billy solves the bonus puzzle GAME PLAN despite getting no help from his extra letters.
  • All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 2 and 3 (the latter being NO PURCHASE NECESSARY) tied for the longest at only 19 letters.
• On May 16:
  • The Round 2 Prize is $1,250 credit to Allen Edmonds shoes, modeled by a group of children.
  • Contestant Yvonne's name tag falls off as she spins in the wheel in Round 2. She picks it up and pins it back on at the end of the round.
  • The Round 3 puzzle AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART is categorized as Event instead of Phrase.
• On May 17:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a historical document signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
  • Lose a Turn is hit three times in a row in Round 2.
  • Contestant Brian accidentally calls N in the Bonus Round, and it is put on the chyron before changing to M. Pat does not notice this until after Brian calls P, at which point the M changes again to P and Pat confirms P as his first call.
• On May 18:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • In a rather rare occurrence, Rounds 1-3 all use four rows.
  • Rounds 2 and 4 are Before & After.
• On May 19:
  • Vanna wears a suit.
  • The bonus puzzle GUY is an extremely rare three-letter answer without RSTLNE in it. No letters are revealed, and the audience boos after the puzzle is revealed.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Person.
• During the week of May 22, the intro begins with an outside shot of Vanna saying, "Welcome to beautiful historic Norfolk, Virginia, for a very special week on..." followed by all of the contestants shouting "Wheel! Of!" and a group of children shouting "Fortune!" A unique piece of music plays over footage of Norfolk, before Pat and Vanna are lowered onto the deck in the same fashion as the previous week.
• On May 22:
  • Three new contestants start off the week.
  • The lighting around the puzzle boards suddenly fades out briefly in Round 3.
• Between May 18 and 22, three contestants in a row get no help from their Bonus Round letters.
• On May 23, Round 1 is Places, while the Bonus Round is Place.
• On May 24:
  • Rounds 1-3 all have hyphens.
  • There are two set of duplicate categories: Rounds 1 and 3 are Event, while Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing.
• On May 25, the Round 2 Prize is a pair of Klein mountain bikes.

  

• On May 26:
  • Round 2 (MARSHMALLOWS) is a very rare instance of a one-word puzzle in any round other than the first or last one. This is also the last instance of such a puzzle appearing in Round 2.
  • Rounds 2, 4, and the Bonus Round are Thing(s).
  • For the only time during the Norfolk episodes, the $25,000 is won in the Bonus Round. Since there is no ceiling that could house the $25,000 sign, a hexagonal graphic is used instead.
• On May 29, contestant Kristie (the champion on May 12) returns.
• On May 30:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless shirt and pants.
  • Round 4 (SHANGRI-LA) is shorter than ten letters; it is also the first known appearance of Fictional Place, although Pat's comments imply that it is not the first ever.
  • Pat's Final Spin lands on Lose a Turn.
  • The chyron for contestant Steve's two-day total after the Bonus Round reads $52,592 instead of his actual total, $51,592.
  • In the final segment, Charlie appears on-camera when Pat and Vanna ask him whether the stated two-day total or the total on the chyron was correct.
• On May 31:
  • Steve solves the bonus puzzle GENIUS despite getting no help from his extra letters.
  • Steve retires with $82,242.
  • Interestingly, Steve calls P C F A for all three of his Bonus Rounds.
  • During the post-game chat, Pat and Vanna stand on the edge of the Wheel.

June 1995

• On June 1:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • The bonus puzzle HUG is an extremely rare three-letter answer without RSTLNE in it. No letters are revealed.
  • During the closing segment, Pat brings out a Free Spin token and asks why it is not called "Free Turn" since it can be turned in to buy a vowel as well. Interestingly, he previously did the same thing on May 1990 and would later do it again on December 1998 and January 2006.
• On June 2:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $2,500 gift certificate to Service Merchandise.
  • Rounds 1-3 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • There are two sets of repeated categories: Rounds 2, 4 and the Bonus Round are Thing, while Rounds 3 and 5 are Phrase.
• During the week of June 5:
  • One of the bonus prizes is a trip to the Mall of America.
  • One of the Bonus Round envelopes (a watch) has a golden star on the inside.
  • Pat and Vanna promote the upcoming Alaska Cruise Week during the closing chat.
• On June 5:
  • There are two returning champions: contestants David from June 2, and Kyle from the last Norfolk episode (May 26).
  • As a result of the above, two contestants named David play (the returning champion David Baxter and new contestant David Azzato). Pat refers to the former as "David number two" since he is at the blue arrow.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the peach $200.
  • The bonus puzzle PEBBLE is a rare instance of E being the only vowel in a bonus puzzle.
  • David Baxter fails to solve the above bonus puzzle with only the B's missing.
  • David Baxter retires with $63,038.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of Vanna, George, and Niko in Alaska are shown.
• On June 6:
  • Contestant Jeff offers a guess of "coffee" to the Round 1 Clue puzzle GOOD TO THE LAST DROP; when Pat asks him to be more specific, he does not give the intended answer of Maxwell House. This is a very rare instance of someone who answers a "bonus" question being asked to be more specific.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a television, which shows footage of Vanna and the crew modeling outdoors. This footage is later used during the week of June 12 to promote Alaska Cruise Week.
  • The Round 4 Prize is on the pink $200.
• On June 7:
  • The Round 1 puzzle FRANK BARBARA NANCY TINA & FRANK JR. is the first appearance of a period. This is also the only known Family puzzle not to include a last name.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a Tobie fishing boat.
  • Rounds 1-3 use all four rows.
  • The Round 4 Prize is a $10,000+ trip to Greece; said Prize is placed on the red $300, while the Round 2 Prize is on the pink $200.
  • For the first known time in the history of the trilon puzzle board, every main game puzzle has punctuation: an ampersand and the aforementioned period in Round 1, an apostrophe in Rounds 2 and 3, and a hyphen in Round 4.
  • During the post-game chat, more clips of Vanna, George, and Niko in Alaska are shown.
• On June 8, during the post-game chat, clips of the restaurant on Vanna's Alaskan cruise are shown.
• On June 9:
  • Two "bonuses" are played: Fill In the Blank in Round 2, and Clue in Round 3.
  • Nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle THE YEAR DISNEYLAND OPENED (1955).
  • Contestant Dave fails to solve the bonus puzzle MENU with only the U missing.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of the M.S. Windward cruise ship are shown.
• June 12 is Alaskan Cruise Week. During this week:
  • In the intro, Vanna states the week's theme from Taku Glacier. A unique piece of piano and string music then plays over footage of the staff vacationing in Juneau, with the words "Alaskan Cruise Week" appearing. "Alaskan" is in a golden cursive font, and "Cruise Week" in a blue serif font.
  • Harry makes his first known on-camera appearance in several pieces of footage from the Alaskan cruise.
  • "Endeavor" by Network Music Ensemble plays during the intro. This is the first use of stock music from that library, which becomes increasingly common through the end of Season 17.
  • The bumpers are footage of Alaska with the "Alaskan Cruise Week" logo.
  • All of the contestants, except for June 9's champion, are winners of the Red, White & Blue Sweepstakes.
  • Vanna models all of the prizes in Alaska, often with other members of the staff.
• On June 12:
  • The first two spins of Round 1 are both Bankrupt; the "ooh" applause machine track begins to sound on both, but switches to the "aww" partway through.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a $1,500 gift certificate for Cabela's, with which a pair of boots may be purchased.
  • In both Rounds 2 and 3, Pat forgets to ask contestant Anna if she wants to use her Free Spin.
  • Round 4 (SUPERMODEL ELLE MACPHERSON) is the longest puzzle.
  • A Prize is added for Round 4, despite it going to Speed-Up after only three turns; it is also accidentally placed on the pink $200.
  • The Surprise is the same pair of Klein bicycles that was previously used as the Round 2 Prize on May 25.
  • Contestant Dave sweeps the game and wins a fishing boat in the Bonus Round.
  • None of the puzzles have T in them.
  • In the final segment, Vanna shows footage of a trip that the crew took to Juneau.
• On June 13:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 3.
  • The Round 2 Prize is on the peach $200 in Round 4.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of Vanna and George taking a helicopter ride to the glaciers are shown.
• On June 14:
  • No vowels are bought in Rounds 1 or 3.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of Vanna exploring Glacier Bay are shown.
• On June 15:
  • The Round 2 Prize is a framed and signed photograph of Jack London.
  • Round 4 is HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, which occurred on the 18th this year. It is not known why this puzzle was used on this day instead of on Friday.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of Vanna in Ketchikan are shown.
• On June 16:
  • The Round 2 Prize is the same as it was on Monday.
  • The Round 4 Prize is accidentally placed on the pink $200.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
  • During the post-game chat, clips of Vanna and Charlie aboard the M.S. Windward cruise ship are shown.
• June 19 is Teen Week, using the Friday Finals.
• On June 19:
  • Round 1 (BRAD PITT) is shorter than ten letters.
  • The Round 2 Prize is a Bic Sport windsurfer and swimwear from Body Glove. It is accidentally placed on the pink $200, and the Round 4 Prize on the red $300 (where the Round 2 Prize should be).
  • Round 4 is the last appearance of Slang.
  • Two spins are mis-identified, although neither affects the outcome. The first (from contestant Erin in Round 2) is identified as $800 despite barely passing it for $750; while her score is never corrected, she still would have won regardless. The other (from contestant Jennifer in Round 4) is identified as having landed on $5,000 despite actually landing on $300, but the letter she calls is not in the puzzle.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used in the main game.
• On June 20, the Surprise is a $12,000+ trip to the Virgin Islands.
• Between June 9 and 20, eight bonus puzzles in a row are Thing.
• On June 21:
  • In Round 2, nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle KRAMER'S FIRST NAME ON SEINFELD (Cosmo).
  • The first six turns of Speed-Up are all wrong letters; overall, 10 wrong letters are called.
  • Neither Thing nor Phrase is used.
• On June 22:
  • The bonus puzzle, BACKPACK, is the longest known bonus puzzle without RSTLNE in it. It is solved.
  • Harry appears on-camera at the end of the show and is acknowledged by Pat and Vanna as Producer for the first time.
• Between May 19 and June 22, 25 bonus puzzles in a row are only one word.
• On June 23:
  • The show tapes at CBS Television City's Studio 33 for the last time.
  • In Round 2, nobody correctly identifies what is described by the Clue puzzle BIBLE'S FIRST SIBLING RIVALRY (Cain and Abel).
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • Contestant David wins by $100.