Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 22

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A timeline for Season 22 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired in first-run from September 6, 2004 through June 3, 2005.

Season Changes

• This season is the last to begin on Labor Day.
• This season's opening sequence begins with a "swishing" sound added, at which point the title is displayed in outlined orange neon Arial Black lettering on two bars, with a light that flashes many different colors; the title is written in lowercase on one bar and uppercase on the other. As the introductory fanfare starts, a very low-pitched whoosh plays as the two bars combine to form the edge of a Wheel graphic with many different colors of lights reflecting off its wedges, on a starry dark blue background where bright blue streaks of light appear at random intervals. The Wheel graphic then tilts to form the O in "OF", and the rest of the letters (all silver) spin into place. After the audience chants, the camera zooms onto the Wheel graphic, and a white light comes out of the hole replacing the proper center and reveals the show's set.
  • The Wheel graphic is extremely inaccurate in numerous ways. It has 30 wedges (all cash), which are as follows: four red wedges (one of which is $350); two orange wedges (both using the same shade of that color, even though the then-current Wheel layout used two different shades of orange); four yellow wedges (two of which are $1,500); five green wedges ($500, $600, $700, $800, and $2,000); five blue wedges and two light blue ones (the then-current Wheel layout did not have blue on any standard cash wedges); and three purple wedges and four pink ones (which are in darker shades of those colors than on the actual Wheel). The inclusion of $1,500 and $2,000 is odd, as the former had been retired in 1996 and the latter had only been used on the nighttime show once, by mistake, in January 1988.
  • For Seasons 22-23, as well as part of season 24, the animation transitioning to and from the Prize Puzzle plug footage is changed to feature the Wheel graphic from the Season 22 title sequence zooming towards the camera from the top-right corner, tilting to the left, as it reveals the footage of the prize.
  • The opening shot of the Wheel now starts from stage right, but still pans over to Pat and Vanna as they walk out. This lasts until Season 24.
• The show begins "sweetening" audience applause with a pre-recorded applause track at certain points during the show, such as the intro and Bonus Round wins. This same track can also be heard in at least the last few episodes of the Tom Bergeron version of Hollywood Squares.
• The Wheel is changed slightly:

  

  A second-era Mystery Wedge.

  • A second Gift Tag is added on the pink $300 next to the red $900.
  • The face value of the Mystery Wedges is increased from $500 to $1,000. Their color scheme is also changed: the wedges are now blue, with a black circle around an orange-yellow question mark, and dark blue number. Meanwhile, the text used for the Bankrupt on the reverse changes color from orange-yellow to dark blue. Also, the prize now stays the same for the entire week instead of alternating between two prizes. Also resulting in the following changes:
    • $1,000 is once again present since the retirement of the sparkly green wedge in Season 18.
    • For the first time since the change to a one-template system in September 1996 a four-figure dollar amount other than the top dollar amount is once again present in Round 3.
    • Until Season 26, $500 is only present in the Mystery Round if the Mystery Wedge is flipped.

• The Toss-Up wipe keeps the same overall shape, but now uses Futura Extra Bold with golden lettering, and the pieces of the wipe "fly" into place quickly. Its accompanying sound effect is changed to the current version. Also, the circle changes to blue.
• The main game category strips are still white on dark blue, but darker than those in Season 21, and the edges of the blue field are more pronounced. The category name remains in Alternate Gothic, but the text is slightly taller and bolder. Also, the strips now reveal with two white "sparks" flying in opposite directions. However, the Bonus Round category strips remain unchanged from Season 21.
• The prize values and post-Bonus Round totals switch from Gill Sans (which they had used since Season 19) to Futura Extra Bold, with silver lettering, and the outlines are changed from white to black and become thinner than they were previously. The prize values are revealed by a white-gold comet which travels from the right side of the screen, and the post-Bonus Round totals turn into place with the same cyan light background that had been used since Season 19.

• The Jackpot graphic at the beginning of the round is changed to a red outlined triangle with a yellow star and silver "JACKPOT" text in Futura Extra Bold. Also, the graphic showing the wedge "positioning" itself onto the Wheel is changed to match.
• The Jackpot display is changed to match the new graphic, except that the triangle appears there in silver, and the "JACKPOT" name is in yellow Futura Bold text on a silver rectangle; additionally, the rectangle showing the amount is changed to yellow-bordered silver, while the amount itself remains red.
• The fireworks graphic for a Jackpot win is changed to a group of multi-colored fireworks which explode at the top of the screen.

• The Mystery Round animation changes to the words "Mystery Round" written in Futura Bold on the same blue "starry sky" backdrop used for the main title animation and host chat, with spinning blue $1,000 wedges on either side and a blue question mark in the center of the screen.

• The Final Spin now has a graphic wipe. The first one is similar to the first part of this season's main title animation, in that it uses orange neon lettering with a light flashing many different colors and has the words "FINAL SPIN" written in lowercase on one bar and uppercase on the other; however, instead of using Arial Black, the Final Spin wipe has the lettering in Futura Extra Bold.
• The Bonus Wheel is redone in neon colors to match the set, and the solid-color wedges are changed to stars (one after "WIN", two after "$100,000", three after "CASH", four after "BONUS"). The animations displayed before and after the second-to-last commercial break are updated to reflect the new design, and the colors for the envelopes flying out of the wheel in the post-commercial Bonus Wheel animation change as well - to orange for $25,000, teal for $30,000, blue for $35,000, purple for $40,000, yellow for $45,000, and red for $50,000.
• A sound now plays when the Bonus Round puzzle is revealed.

  

• The number graphics for the Bonus Round envelope amounts, which appear after their respective cash values have been won, are switched to Impact. Their colors are changed to green for the $100,000 prize and blue for all the others. The $100,000 graphic also uses gold on their borders while the $25,000-$50,000 graphics use silver on their borders. The $100,000 graphic, also seen after the post-commercial Bonus Wheel animation, now also has a fireworks background. The animation for the cash amount graphics are altered to a 360-degree bounce animation.
• The Pat & Vanna talk backdrop is changed to the same blue "starry sky" used for the main title card.
• This season's Toss-Up wipe, prize values and post-Bonus Round totals, "no more vowels" graphic, Jackpot graphics, Final Spin graphic wipe, and host chat backdrop all carry over into Season 23.
• The Prize Puzzle now occasionally occurs four times a week.
• Themed puzzles become more prominent than in previous seasons.

September 2004

• September 6 is American Adventures. During this week:
  • The "swishing" sound is not present in the intro.
  • There is a cylindrical column with the Season 17 logo at stage left. On the season premiere, Pat jokingly refers to it as a soft drink machine.
  • The Prize Puzzle still does not have a graphic wipe, and the bug is still the same as in Season 21.
  • The Mystery Prize offers a year's worth of travel courtesy of Southwest Airlines, valued at $10,000.
• On September 6:
  • Some broadcasts display a LivePlay bug during the intro, representing compatibility with a Tiger Electronics interactive home game which is ultimately never released.
  • Fun & Games debuts, interestingly as the $2,000 Toss-Up.
  • A "good" turn is accidentally edited out of Round 1. With one Gift Tag and the Free Spin, contestant Lindsey spins and calls an incorrect C. After she hands in the Free Spin, the P is showing in the puzzle LATHER RINSE REPEAT, despite not being present before she called the C. Also, she is holding both Gift Tags at the end of the round, although one of them is never seen being hit. It is not known why this was done, as the first three rounds did not run abnormally long.
• On September 7:
  • The second Gift Tag is on the pink $300 next to Lose a Turn.
  • Before contestant Kirti begins Round 3, Pat lets her say hello to her family in the audience, since she did not get to do so during the interviews.
  • Round 4 (THE WAYANS BROTHERS) is the first instance of Family naming a family by surname instead of by its individual members.
• On September 8, Best Seller debuts in Round 5.
• On September 9, Round 3 is the fifth Prize Puzzle to be categorized Before & After.
• On September 10, contestant Forest solves the bonus puzzle GUITAR PICK with only the T, A, and R showing.
• September 13 is Home Sweet Home. During this week, the Mystery prize is a $10,000 credit to Sony Style.
• On September 13:
  • The "soft drink machine" column is removed.
  • A wipe is added for the Prize Puzzle. The first one features three-dimensional silver letters on a "starry sky" blue background, just like the main title card, but the "PRIZE PUZZLE" name, written in center-aligned Futura Heavy, has gold edges on the lettering, and the letters quickly rise onto the screen from the bottom right-hand corner, one at a time, instead of spinning into place; also, the background has exploding fireworks in various colors (red, green, cyan, and white). The Prize Puzzle bug is updated to have the new text of the "PRIZE PUZZLE" name in light cyan lettering with light reflecting off it in many pastel colors; the new bug sometimes shifts to an alternate bug reading "Have Your SPIN ID Ready", where the "SPIN ID" text is represented by a miniature puzzle board similar to that found in the SPIN ID reveal plugs but with the same light background behind it, and the rest of the phrase is written in two curved, all-caps Futura Bold text elements, one above the mini-board and one below it. Like all the graphics listed in the "Season Changes" section above, this first Prize Puzzle wipe and its accompanying bugs remain in use throughout Season 23.
  • The Prize Puzzle (FAMED MUSICAL SOUTH PACIFIC) is categorized as Title instead of Show Biz; as a result, it is also the only known Title puzzle to have a descriptive term.
  • For the only time since November 2002, Same Name is used in Round 4. This may suggest that it is a replacement puzzle, although as per standards set in Season 21, it still uses only two rows.
  • Against normal practice at the time, the "only vowels remain" beeps sound in the Speed-Up.
  • In a rather unusual move, after losing the Bonus Round, contestant Dee says "I missed HIPBONE on the TV show too, you know" (in reference to the bonus puzzle on February 17).
• On September 15:
  • The Prize is a $3,500 gift card to The Home Depot.
  • The A in the bonus puzzle WAX FRUIT takes an extremely long time to reveal after Vanna touches it. Similarly to a previous incident on May 28, 1997, Vanna hits the monitor with her fist before the letter finally reveals.
• On September 16:
  • A "null" cycle appears to have been edited out of Round 1, as Pat says "still no Y" when contestant Kelly calls Y, despite none of the previous aired turns having been an incorrect Y.
  • Round 4 (AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE) is categorized as Proper Name instead of Thing.
• On September 17:
  • The Prize is $3,500 credit to Pier 1 Imports.
  • In Round 2, there is a somewhat well-known incident: with only the A and S's revealed in the first word of the Same Name puzzle ASSEMBLY & THE DOTTED LINE, contestant Sam buys E, causing Pat to quip "Praise the Lord!" in regards to the word spelled out by those letters.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Around the House.
• September 20 is Theme Park USA. During this week:
  • The Mystery Prize is a $10,000 Sony Card.
  • Except on Thursday, the $1,000 Toss-Up is themed to the week; while themed Toss-Ups happen several other times afterward, they would not otherwise become a standard practice until Season 28.
  • All of the Wheel Prizes are trips to theme parks.
• On September 20:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Person.
  • Contestant Barbara solves the bonus puzzle MATH WHIZ with only the M and T showing.
• On September 21:
  • Contestant Anson accidentally leaves out the word BIG when solving the Round 2 puzzle CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG but corrects himself. Pat asks him to say it a second time before accepting the answer, and he is ruled correct. This ruling ends up not mattering, as he does not win.
  • Due to the above, Pat forgets to mention that Anson won the Wheel Prize in that round. He announces this while attempting to behind the Prize wedge before introducing Round 3.
  • After Anson solves Round 3 on an un-flipped Mystery Wedge, Pat flips it over to reveal that it concealed the Bankrupt.
• On September 22, Round 4 (WINNING AN EMMY AWARD) is categorized as Event, instead of Show Biz.
• On September 23, contestant Kim finishes with $61,596 despite losing the Bonus Round.
• On September 24:
  • Five wrong answers are given in the Speed-Up, four of which are from the same contestant.
  • Against normal practice, the "only vowels remain" beeps sound in the Speed-Up.
• September 27 is World Tours. During this week:
  • The Mystery Round Prize is a Chevrolet Aveo; unlike the week of March 22, 2004, Charlie pronounces "Aveo" correctly. However, all Mystery Rounds offering this car continue to use only a stock image of it on a white background, as opposed to the normal practice of footage of the car being driven.
  • All of the Prizes are trips sponsored by Delta Vacations.
  • A prop is added above the video wall resembling directional signage at an airport.
• On September 29, Best Seller is used as a Toss-Up (the $3,000) for the first time.
• On September 30:
  • The Round 1 puzzle RAND MCNALLY ATLAS has only one vowel.
  • The puzzle CHANGES IN LATITUDES CHANGES IN ATTITUDES is categorized as Rhyme Time instead of Title. This happens again when the puzzle is used on February 1, 2012.

October 2004

• On October 1:
  • After contestant Melanie solves on an un-flipped Mystery Wedge, Pat flips it over to reveal that it concealed the Chevrolet Aveo.
  • During the closing chat, Pat and Vanna show off outtakes of Vanna attempting to say "highlight your nightlife" when doing bumpers for the previous season's San Francisco road shows.
• October 4 is Southern Hospitality.
• On October 4:
  • A graphic is introduced to indicate to home viewers if no more vowels remain in the puzzle. The first one features "NO MORE VOWELS" written in black Futura Condensed Extra Bold Oblique text on a yellow rectangle, which "pops" out of the category strip and makes a popping noise. Until Season 38, the "no more vowels" graphic does not appear in Speed-Up rounds.
  • After the Round 3 puzzle FICTIONAL KING WITH THE GOLDEN TOUCH (Who Is It?), there is an obvious edit when contestant Margaret is asked the bonus question. According to one recollection, this is due to an audience member shouting out the right answer of King Midas. This ends up not mattering, as Margaret does not seem to notice and admits that she did not know the right answer anyway.
• On October 5, contestant Sharon is ruled correct despite mispronouncing the last word of the $2,000 Toss-Up GREAT BLUE HERON. Due to this error, contestant Hannah is brought back to play again on February 28, 2008.
• On October 6:
  • The Prize is a trip to Nashville with tickets to the Country Music Association awards.
  • Fun & Games appears in the Bonus Round for the first time.
• On October 7:
  • There is a $6,400 Jackpot win.
  • The Bonus Round (WALKING A TIGHTROPE) is categorized as Phrase instead of Event.
• On October 8, during the closing chat, Pat and Vanna show off footage of stagehands adding the $3,500, Prize, Jackpot, and second Bankrupt to the Wheel.
• October 11 is Going in Style. During this week, the Season 20 title card (without the "20th Anniversary" byline) is used on some monitors offstage.
• On October 11:
  • The "no more vowels" graphic does not appear in the Speed-Up despite the last vowel being called.
  • Vanna's daughter Gigi appears during the closing chat.
• On October 12:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up is only the third appearance of Occupations.
  • Against precedent at the time, the buzzer sounds after contestant Carolyn gives an incorrect response to the Round 1 Prize Puzzle IF YOU LIKE PINA COLADAS.
  • Carolyn solves the bonus puzzle WISHY-WASHY with only the I and S's showing.
  • During the closing, a montage of Vanna's outfits from various shows over the years is shown. Many of the outfit clips used in the montage were previously shown in the ceremonial 3,000th and 4,000th episodes; in addition, the rock-based music cue used resembles the music of the Robert Palmer song "Simply Irresistible", which played over the montage of Vanna's outfits in the 3,000th episode.
• On October 13:
  • Contestant Pat solves on a Mystery Wedge after having previously flipped over the other one to find a Bankrupt. To prove the show's integrity, Pat Sajak flips over the other one to show that it contained the Scion xA.
  • During the closing chat, Pat and Vanna show off behind-the-scenes footage of Prize footage shot in Malibu.
• On October 14, Pat repeatedly mispronounces "Swarovski" when referring to their Gift Tag in Round 2 after contestant Micah wins it. Before Round 3, he holds up the Gift Tag and pronounces it correctly.
• On October 15, during the closing chat, Vanna shows off a montage of dresses she wore during the Wheelpalooza sweepstakes in Season 19.
• October 18 is Florida Week. During this week, the floor is blue.
• On October 18:
  • Contestant Rhonda sweeps the game (except for the Slogan in Round 2) but loses $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
  • The Bonus Round graphics now condense to the bottom of the screen before disappearing.
• On October 19, during the closing chat, Pat and Vanna show off footage of Vanna in South Beach.
• On October 21, Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Fun & Games, the first duplication of that category.
• October 25 is Halloween Week.
• On October 25, there is a $100,000 loss.
• On October 27:
  • Round 1 (EDWARD SCISSORHANDS) is categorized as Fictional Character, instead of Title or The 90s.
  • Contestant Jose is asked to be more specific when answering a bonus question. After the Round 2 Slogan puzzle THE SOUP THAT EATS LIKE A MEAL, Jose guesses Campbell's; upon being asked to be more specific, he does not provide the right answer of Campbell's Chunky. This is a very rare instance of someone who answers a "bonus" question being asked to be more specific.
  • Round 5 is PLAYING HANGMAN.
• On October 28, Round 4 (THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK) is categorized as Fictional Characters instead of Title or Best Seller, due to Title being used as the $2,000 Toss Up.
• On October 29:
  • Nobody solves the $1,000 Toss-Up RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
  • There is an $8,550 Jackpot win.
  • Before Round 3, Pat acknowledges a group of Marines in the audience, who are then shown on-camera.
  • The bonus puzzle ALMOND JOY is misleadingly categorized as Around the House. This may have been one of the reasons behind renaming On the Menu to Food & Drink in Season 24.
  • In keeping with the Halloween theme of the episode, a special effect makes Pat and Vanna "disappear" during their closing chat.
• During the week of October 25, for the first of only three known times, all of the bonus puzzles are themed to the week.

November 2004

• November 1 is America's Game. During this week, except on Friday, the Mystery Round Prize is $10,000 credit: to Sony Card on Monday and Wednesday, PriceGrabber on Tuesday, hsn.com on Thursday.
• On November 1:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up MEET ME IN ST LOUIS is improperly punctuated ("St." should have a period after it).
  • Round 3 is the sixth and final Prize Puzzle to be categorized Before & After.
  • Contestant Rhonda solves the bonus puzzle PROVO UTAH before the timer can start.
• On November 2, during the closing chat, Vanna shows outtakes of her and the San Diego Chargers shooting intro footage for the week of May 12, 1997 (which was taped in San Diego).
• On November 3, contestant Stefanie wins by $50.
• On November 4:
  • There is a $7,800 Jackpot win.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE is incorrectly categorized as Title (the publication does not have "magazine" in its title).
  • During the closing chat, Vanna shows outtakes of her trying to catch a fish at Pike Place Fish Market during the Seattle tapings in Season 20.
• On November 5, at the start of the Bonus Round, Pat accidentally asks contestant Ken if he has any friends or family members in the audience despite knowing he does not. Pat then blames his gaffe on "that damn ventriloquist" who was one of the other contestants.
• The weeks of November 8 and 15 are taped at the Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Center in Philadelphia. During these weeks:
  • Unique music cues play during Charlie's intro.
  • The Prize Puzzles use the original Prize Puzzle bug, but the wipe is still used, and the bug still shifts to "Have Your SPIN ID Ready".
  • Several spins in Round 1 are shot with a bird's-eye view of the contestant area which zooms in on that contestant's arrow.
  • The Mystery Round Prize is a year of air travel valued at $10,000: Southwest Airlines on the week of November 8 and Northwest Airlines on November 15.
  • At the end of the Bonus Round, the category strip wipes left-to-right and becomes a gray gradient before disappearing. This effect is also used on all subsequent road shows this season, plus the first six weeks of Season 23.
• On November 8:
  • In Round 2, Pat says that the Jackpot is "over $9,000" despite the actual total being $11,250. This is likely due to the Jackpot having been added incorrectly on the off-screen scoreboards.
  • After contestant Valicia solves Round 2, Pat accidentally identifies her Gift Tag as being for Boscov's. Before Round 3, he points out that the one she won is actually for Capresso and that the one to Boscov's is still on the Wheel.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up RACEHORSE SMARTY JONES is the first of only two instances of Proper Name being used for an animal.
  • During the closing chat, Vanna shows footage of her touring Philadelphia.
• On November 9:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up HALL & OATES is categorized as The 80's; while the duo was most commercially successful in the 1980s, they had multiple hits in the 1970s as well, thus making this one of the only known times where a puzzle in a "decade" category could logically fit more than one decade.
  • The Prize is a $5,000 shopping spree at Steven Singer Jewelers.
  • The Round 3 puzzle THE FLYERS AND THE SEVENTY-SIXERS uses a hanging indent on the last word.
• On November 10, during the closing chat, Vanna shows footage of her touring Betsy Ross' house.
• On November 11:
  • The red contestant, whose real name is Glenn, is referred to as G throughout the show.
  • There is a $9,600 Jackpot win.
• On November 12, Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
• November 15 is Family Week.
• On November 15:
  • For the second and final time, Same Name is used as a Prize Puzzle: the Round 2 puzzle BICYCLE & CHEESE WHEEL offers a trip to Amsterdam.
  • The audience accidentally applauds a wrong answer in the Bonus Round.
  • In an interesting coincidence, the bonus puzzle is ROCKY BALBOA, while on the 12th, the $2,000 Toss-Up is YO ADRIAN.
• On November 16:
  • Though the Round 1 puzzle is Living Things and is announced by Pat as such, the category strip accidentally says Living Thing for the entire round.
  • Rounds 1 and 3 are played entirely by the teams that began them.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Title.
• On November 17:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • All three teams are composed of identical twins.
  • Song Lyrics makes its first of only two appearances in the Bonus Round.
• On November 18, both contestants on the blue team are named Dominic.
• November 22 is Cash & Splash.
• On November 22:
  • The Round 1 Same Name puzzle SURF'S & THUMBS UP has only one vowel.
  • Unusually, Charlie announces the value of the Prize (a $4,000 trip to see the Sony Open in Hawaii) at the beginning instead of at the end, and said value does not appear on-screen. This is due to the Prize copy also including a plug for a contest where Wheel Watchers Club members may bid online for a chance to attend the Sony Open as well.
  • On multiple occasions in Round 3, shots of the board are done from behind the contestants' backs.
  • The High Rollers chimes sound twice in Round 3 due to Pat not hearing them the first time.
  • After the Round 3 Headline puzzle U.S. SWIMMER MICHAEL PHELPS RULES THE POOL AT OLYMPICS, Pat asks where the 2004 Summer Olympics were held. Contestant Mardi provides the correct answer of Athens.
• On November 23:
  • During the interviews, Pat jokes that there is a buffet behind the puzzle board, at which point Vanna is seen walking out from behind the puzzle board with plates of food.
  • Landmark appears in the Bonus Round for the last time.
• Between November 19 and 23, three contestants in a row call their vowels out of order in the Bonus Round.
• On November 24:
  • The Round 2 puzzle TOM SELLECK AS MAGNUM P.I. is categorized as Classic TV instead of Star & Role. This is also the only time Classic TV is used as a Prize Puzzle.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up THE PRINCE OF TIDES is categorized as Best Seller, an unusual move given the more famous film adaptation.
  • The second H in the bonus puzzle HOPSCOTCH fails to light up until Pat points this out.
• November 29 is Pacific Coast Highway.
• On November 29, contestant Sue solves the bonus puzzle ON A WHIM before the timer can start.
• On November 30:
  • Contestant Barbara solves the Round 4 puzzle IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT with only the T's and S's showing.
  • Starting with this episode and continuing through March, one Prize Puzzle copy per week mentions that the trip comes with $1,000 spending cash. When Charlie mentions this, a wipe or graphic appears which typically consists of $100 bills.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up and the Bonus Round are Person.

December 2004

• On December 1, the Round 1 puzzle THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR is categorized as Classic TV, an unusual move given that the show ended only eight years prior.
• On December 2:
  • After Round 1 is solved, the answer reveals like an unsolved bonus puzzle: the remaining letters appear one at a time, and the board's frame does not flash.
  • The bonus puzzle BASKET WEAVING is categorized as Thing instead of Event or Fun & Games.
• On December 3, no vowels are bought in Round 3.
• December 6 is Winter Wonderland.
• On December 6, there is a $14,350 Jackpot win.
• On December 7:
  • There is a $6,900 Jackpot win.
  • Before the aforementioned Jackpot win, Pat accidentally says that the value is "almost nine grand".
  • One shot of the board in Round 3 is done with the crane, which then pans to the contestant area before cutting to the usual shot of the Wheel coming to a stop.
  • Contestant Pam gives a guess of Pat Sajak when asked for the person described by Round 3's Who Is It? puzzle TV HOST WHO GAVE BRAND-NEW CARS TO ENTIRE AUDIENCE, to laughter from both Pat and the audience (the actual answer being Oprah Winfrey).
• On December 9:
  • After contestant Mark calls an incorrect letter in Round 4, Pat begins to ask Mark if he wants to use his Free Spin but is cut off by the Final Spin bells. This confuses Pat, who initially asks Mark to call the first letter in the Speed-Up before being corrected.
  • Round 4 and the Bonus Round are Occupation.
• On December 10, Round 1 and the Bonus Round are Event.
• December 13 is Shopping Week. During this week, except on Monday, the Prize is a shopping spree: Cambridge SoundWorks on Tuesday, Furniture of America on Wednesday, PriceGrabber.com on Thursday, and Sharper Image on Friday. All are valued at $3,500 except for Tuesday's, which is $5,000. The Prize wedge features a graphic of a ceramic Dalmatian.
• On December 13:
  • The Prize is an electronics package consisting of a Sony Vaio laptop, Canon digital camera, VoIP phones (incorrectly identified in the copy as "talk phones"), and one-year subscription to AOL for Broadband.
  • There appears to be an edit after contestant Heather calls N in the Speed-Up, as Pat is abruptly cut off mid-sentence and the buzzer can be heard faintly in the background.
• On December 14:
  • Contestant Brian fills in the bonus puzzle KEEPSAKE completely.
  • The second K in the aforementioned puzzle fails to light up until Pat points this out.
• On December 15, there is a $5,800 Jackpot win.
• On December 16, there is a $9,950 Jackpot win.
• On December 17, the Round 1 puzzle NEW YORK'S FIFTH AVENUE is a rare instance of On the Map using a descriptive term.
• December 20 is Happy Holidays. During this week:
  • The frames of the puzzle board are red and green, and a graphic of Santa's sleigh is projected behind the board.
  • The Mystery Round Prize is $10,000 credit to Sony Style.
• On December 20:
  • Rounds 1, 3, and 5 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • There is an $8,850 Jackpot win.
  • The Round 2 puzzle LIKE A BOWLFUL OF JELLY has none of the five most common consonants.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up JINGLE-BELL ROCK is improperly hyphenated.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Round 5 and Bonus Round are People.
• On December 21:
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up DASHER & DANCER is the second of only two times Proper Name(s) is used for an animal; it is not known why this was done instead of categorizing the puzzle as Fictional Characters.
  • Contestant Luwanna wins despite giving wrong answers to the $1,000 and $3,000 Toss-Ups and Round 3.
• On December 22, contestant Chris solves the $3,000 Toss-Up FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA with only the fifth A showing.
• On December 24, the Prize is a trip to San Francisco and a gift certificate to Pier 1 Imports.
• December 27 is Let's Party! During this week, fake plants are added to the audience railing.
• Starting December 27, Prize wedges begin to feature the name of the week's theme instead of graphics relating to the Prize.
• On December 28:
  • The Round 2 puzzle EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION is the first use of a colon.
  • After the Round 3 Who Is It? puzzle AGELESS HOST OF ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE SPECIAL (Dick Clark), Charlie appears on-camera when Pat mentions that the two worked together on American Bandstand.
  • After the above, there is a clip added in post-production of Pat on the set of the Great Outdoors week of February 28. In this clip, Pat says, "As most of you know, we tape these shows in advance. You may have heard that our good pal Dick Clark had a bit of a health setback, and we just want to take a moment to wish him all the best from all of us here at Wheel of Fortune, Dick." followed by Pat doing Clark's signature salute. This clip was added due to Clark suffering a stroke shortly before the episode's airdate.
  • In the final segment, Pat points out that contestant Bianca missed the $100,000 by only one envelope.
• On December 30:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up THE BUNNY HOP is categorized as Title instead of Fun & Games; however, that category is also used as the $3,000 Toss-Up.
  • The Round 3 puzzle FIRST DAUGHTERS JENNA & BARBARA BUSH is the first known instance of Family using a descriptive term.
• 2004 is the first of three years with no $100,000 wins.

January 2005

• During the weeks of January 3 and 10, likely as a result of taping order, Charlie does not mention the $1,000 cash during any of the Prize Puzzle copies.
• January 3 is NFL Players Week. During this week:
  • The NFL players are: Hines Ward, Jevon Kearse, and Torry Holt on Monday; Warrick Dunn, Brandon Stokley, and Kurt Warner on Tuesday; Nate Burleson, Eric Dickerson, and Willie McGinest on Wednesday; Drew Brees, Rod Smith, and Robert Gallery on Thursday; and John Riggins, Larry Fitzgerald, and Rex Grossman on Friday.
  • Sportscaster James Brown does an intro before the title chant. After this, each episode's NFL player introduces himself in a picture-in-picture shot against a backdrop of football players, with the traditional logo spinning in the lower-left hand corner.
  • The Players, Inc. logo is on the floor at center stage.
  • Some of the bumpers are the football players naming their charities, while others are of James Brown giving commentary.
  • The highest-scoring team wins a five-day trip to Jacksonville, Florida, to attend the NFL players party, NFL Mania, and Super Bowl XXXIX. Also included are autographed memorabilia, authentic NFL gear, and a Reebok gift certificate.
  • The video walls and puzzle board are fitted with protrusions resembling stadium lights.
  • The NFL players' name tags are red rounded rectangles with football helmets.
  • During the interviews, the NFL players' names appear on a category strip with a graphic of a helmet.
  • On Monday-Thursday, the next day's players introduce themselves before the closing chat.
  • Pat and Vanna do the closing chat with the NFL players.
  • For the second of only three known times, all five bonus puzzles are themed to the week.
• On January 3:
  • During her interview, contestant Dianne holds up a customized license plate reading LV RAMS to honor her teammate Torry Holt, then a member of the St. Louis Rams.
  • The shot of the board is zoomed in too close during the entirety of Round 1.
  • The Prize is a chance to join 30 top draft picks for a trading card photography session, sponsored by Players, Inc.
• On January 4:
  • One of the Gift Tags is a Canon Rebel digital camera.
  • The Prize is $3,500 credit to NFL.com.
  • There is a $7,100 Jackpot win.
• On January 6:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up BLING-BLING is incorrectly categorized as Rhyme Time.
  • The Prize is a $3,500 Visa gift card.
• On January 7:
  • The Prize is a catered party with an NFL player and 30 people, sponsored by Pepsi.
  • In the final segment, Jim Brown reveals the highest scoring team of the week (contestant Brenda and Nate Burleson).
• Between January 7 and 14, the $25,000 bonus prize is hit six times in a row.
• On January 10:
  • The $2,000 Toss-Up FREE REFILLS is incorrectly categorized as On the Menu.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
• On January 12, Round 5 (THE PERFECT STORM) is categorized as Best Seller, an unusual move given the more-famous film adaptation.
• On January 13:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up THE GREAT PYRAMID is a rare instance of an incomplete answer (it is called the Great Pyramid of Giza).
  • Rounds 1 and 2 are played entirely by the contestants who began them.
  • The Round 3 Who Is It? puzzle BRITISH FILM SUPERSPY FOND OF GADGETS AND DRY MARTINIS (James Bond) is a tie for the longest puzzle ever used on the show in terms of letters, but not in terms of overall spaces, using 46 of the 52 spaces.
• January 17 is 5-Star Getaways.
• On January 17, there is a $100,000 loss.
• On January 18, the Round 4 puzzle PARDON THE INTERRUPTION is categorized as Phrase instead of Title.
• On January 19, the bonus puzzle PRIDE & JOY is a rare instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.
• On January 20, there is a $100,000 loss, resulting in the first instance of that envelope being hit twice in a week.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of January 17, part of a seven-loss streak that extends to the 25th.
• January 24 is Hot! Hot! Hot!, composed of sixth episodes.
• On January 25, in the final segment, Vanna shows clips of her driving various sports cars during previous road shows.
• On January 26, Pat accidentally says that the category for the Bonus Round is Phrase instead of Place, but is corrected by the staff.
• On January 27:
  • The Round 2 puzzle NEWLYWEDS: NICK AND JESSICA is only the second use of a colon.
  • An alternate closing chat is shot for rerun purposes.
• On January 28:
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up CSI: MIAMI is only the third use of a colon, although it was most likely taped before the previous two, given Pat's joking over-reaction to its presence. Interestingly, despite three being used in the course of only a month, they are not used again until September 2006.
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up and Bonus Round are Title.
• January 31 is Teen Best Friends Week, the third week of episodes filmed from Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. During this week:
  • The intro is "From Philadelphia, it's Teen Best Friends Week on...", followed by all of that week's players doing the "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" chant from center stage and one of the contestants giving a comment. Charlie's introduction follows with "And now, from the Wachovia Center in the city that loves you back, here are the stars of America's Game: Pat Sajak and Vanna White!"
  • Presumably due to taping order, the Prize wedges do not have the week's theme on them.
  • The bumpers are photos of the best friends teams against a backdrop resembling a computer window.
  • The Mystery Round Prize is $10,000 credit to Sony Style.

February 2005

• On February 1:
  • The Prize is a pair of electric vehicles from Rad2go.com.
  • Although a repeated M is called in Round 2, it is not acknowledged as such.
• For no particular reason, the last three episodes of Teen Best Friends Week air out of order: the shows originally scheduled for February 2-4 air on the 4th, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.
• On February 3, there is a $100,000 win; this is the first outside Culver City and the only one of this season. The $100,000 graphic is in Clarendon instead of the usual Impact.
• On February 4:
  • After contestants Elizabeth and Tyler solve Round 1 for $850, Pat forgets to round their score up to $1,000. He corrects this before the start of Round 3.
  • The Prize is $5,000 credit to ticketsnow.com.
  • Contestants Melissa and Katelynn solve the $3,000 Toss-Up DOUBLE ESPRESSO by pronouncing the second word as "expresso", after which Pat points out that it was deemed a common enough mispronunciation to be acceptable.
• The weeks of February 7-21 are taped at the Las Vegas Hilton. On the Vegas episodes:
  • Vanna does a cold open from a casino.
  • The second Gift Tag is on the pink $300 next to Lose a Turn.
  • The set features a black backdrop and is decorated with Vegas-esque lights, poker chip and dice props, and cards.
  • The frames of the puzzle board are pink, and the board itself is equipped with neon lighting fixtures at the top and sides.
  • The video screen graphic shows the wordmark on a starry blue background, with no Wheel.
  • The video wall is replaced with an oversized replica of a slot machine, with video screens for the tumblers. They spin and beep at the beginning of each round, rotating among 7's, BARs, cherries, lemons, and the Wheel of Fortune logo. They also show the cash amount during Toss-Up rounds, "Final Spin" during Speed-Up rounds, and "Jackpot" if the Jackpot is won. They also spin during commercial breaks, the credits, and Bonus Round wins. Additionally, at the start of the Final Spin, the camera zooms in on the tumblers spinning and displaying the "Final Spin" text before cutting to the usual overhead shot.
  • The credits from Executive Producer to Art Director are graphics of taxis displaying signs.
  • The Bonus Round cars are placed outside of the Las Vegas Hilton.
• February 7 is Sweethearts Week. During this week:
  • All of the bonus puzzles are themed to the week for the third known and final time.
  • After Round 2, there is a bumper where Pat and Vanna promote the upcoming You Could Be on Wheel of Fortune Sweepstakes.
  • The Mystery Round copy is "And in tonight's Mystery Round, a pair of sweethearts could take home this sweet Saturn Ion!"
• On February 7, the Prize is a trip to the 2006 Woman's Day Red Dress Awards in New York City; as a result, the copy includes a promo for Woman's Day magazine and the award's sponsor, Bayer.
• On February 8, the Round 3 puzzle BILLY CRYSTAL & MEG RYAN AS HARRY & SALLY is both the second of three instances of Stars & Roles, and the third of only six known puzzles to have more than one ampersand.
• On February 9, the bonus puzzle HOT & HEAVY is a rare instance of an ampersand in the Bonus Round.
• On February 10, after the red team solves Round 1 for $950, their score is not increased to $1,000. This does not affect the outcome.
• On February 11, Round 4 is the fourth appearance of Occupations.
• On February 10 and 11, both Prize Puzzle copies mention the $1,000 spending cash. Additionally, the copy on February 10 mentions it at the beginning and not the end.
• The weeks of February 14 and 21 are the You Could Be on Wheel of Fortune Sweepstakes, where home viewers may submit each day's bonus puzzle on the show's website. The grand prize is a VIP trip to Los Angeles hosted by the show's staff, with a chance to audition. During these weeks:
  • Vanna does a cold open from a Las Vegas casino where she says, "Stay tuned, I'm going to tell you how you could be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, coming to you tonight from fabulous Las Vegas!"
  • Charlie does a second bumper for the contest after Round 2. This bumper features clips from previous shows, including contestant Anthony wrestling Pat on November 7, 2003 and the bonus puzzle THINK BIG from January 14, 2005.
  • After the Bonus Round, Vanna stands in front of the puzzle board as it displays the bonus puzzle, and reminds viewers to submit it online.
• February 14 is Las Vegas Week.
• On February 14:
  • Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
  • Unusually, two contestants finish in second place with the same total ($10,200).
• On February 15, the Round 1 puzzle OCEAN'S ELEVEN & OCEAN'S TWELVE is a very rare instance of Titles.
• On February 16:
  • Former Miss Michigan 1999 Audrie Chernauckas is a contestant.
  • The Prize is a $5,000 shopping spree at the Forum Shops at Caesars.
  • When the Round 3 puzzle blanks are revealed, one blank on the third row appears much later than the others.
  • When Audrie hits Bankrupt in Round 3, the Wheel is shot with a bird's-eye view.
• On February 17, the value of the Prize appears at the center of the screen instead of the bottom.
• On February 18:
  • Contestant Nora sets a new one-round record of $54,000 in the Speed-Up. She has $60,150 before the Bonus Round.
  • The second-place contestant has $27,910.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• February 21 is Big Money.
• On February 21:
  • The intro montage ends with a shot of Pat parking the Wheelmobile and then handing a picture of himself to a valet.
  • Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
  • The Prize is a trip to see One Night Star: Usher Live, an Usher concert special filmed in Puerto Rico and aired on Showtime on March 5.
• On February 22, for unknown reasons, Vanna's cold open uses a different take than the other episodes.
• On February 23:
  • Contestant Jess gives two wrong answers to the Round 3 puzzle MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL CARDS.
  • The second-place contestant has $27,016.
• On February 24, the $1,000 Toss-Up A DIAMOND IS FOREVER is the second of three instances of Slogan being used as a Toss-Up. This is also the only instance of the bonus question not being used despite the product's name (De Beers) not being in the puzzle.
• On February 25, Vanna wears a shirt and pants.
• All five Bonus Rounds are lost on the week of February 21, part of a seven-day streak.
• February 28 is Great Outdoors.
• On February 28:
  • Perhaps coincidentally given the previous weeks, Round 1 is a Slogan of WHAT HAPPENS HERE STAYS HERE (Las Vegas).
  • Contestant Robert wins despite losing $19,750 to a wrong answer in Round 2.

March 2005

• On March 1, the Round 3 puzzle I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER is categorized as Rhyme Time instead of Title, and is incorrectly hyphenated.
• On March 2, Round 3 is only the third appearance of Who Are They?
• On March 4, the Round 3 Before & After puzzle REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING NIGHT is a rare instance of the category also containing part of the answer.
• March 7 is Caribbean Week. During this week, the floor is blue.
• Starting with the week of March 7, the "$1,000 spending cash" portion of the Prize Puzzle copy is now done twice a week instead of once, with one episode having it at the beginning of the copy and one at the end.
• On March 7:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 1.
  • The Round 2 puzzle FRITOS CHEETOS DORITOS & TOSTITOS is the first Rhyme Time to be a list of thematically similar items, as opposed to an existing figure of speech with rhyming elements.
  • Six rounds are played.
  • Contestant Amber solves the Round 6 Speed-Up puzzle PLANETARIUM on the buzzer and is credited with a correct response. After she does, Pat says that her answer will be checked. Despite this, he does not comment on the validity of her answer for the rest of the episode.
  • Contestant Jonathan holds a picture of his mother during the Bonus Round.
  • Jonathan solves the bonus puzzle GRAVY BOAT despite getting no help from his extra letters.
• Between February 28 and March 7, six Bonus Rounds are played for $25,000.
• On March 8, contestant Jeff solves the bonus puzzle VIOLIN before the timer can start; despite this, the timer sounds for about two seconds before the win music plays.
• On March 9, before the Mystery Round, Pat comments that he and Charlie pronounce "Caribbean" differently; he then says "I say Wheel of Fortune and Charlie says...", after which Charlie says "Wheel of Fortune" with the word "Wheel" drawn out, as was the case on 1980s and 1990s episodes.
• On March 10, contestant Dan solves the bonus puzzle KAYAKING with only the I, N, and G showing.
• March 14 is Cruise Week. During this week, there are two different cold opens with Vanna:
  • Monday, Wednesay, and Friday: Vanna says "Ahoy, America! It's Cruise Week on Wheel of Fortune" from the deck of the Grand Princess.
  • Tuesday and Thursday: Vanna says "Welcome aboard! It's Cruise Week on Wheel of Fortune" via voiceover while footage of a cruise ship appears.
  • At the end of the Bonus Prize spiel, the $100,000 graphic appears without the Bonus Wheel animation.
• On March 16:
  • The $3,000 Toss-Up METER READER is incorrectly categorized as Rhyme Time.
  • There is a $10,950 Jackpot win.
• March 21 is World Class Spas.
• On March 21:
  • The $1,000 Toss-Up CALGON TAKE ME AWAY is both a rare instance of a Slogan puzzle with the product's name in the answer and the third and final appearance of that category as a Toss-Up.
  • Contetant Lori loses $20,100 to Bankrupt in Round 2.
  • A rules summary for the Wheel Watchers Club is added at the end of the show, after the disclaimers but before Vanna's wardrobe credit.
• On March 23, contestant Lea calls M P D A in the Bonus Round, but her P is mis-heard as B, shown as such on the chyron, and lit up. She solves before the timer can start. During the closing chat, Pat points out the error and shows a freeze-frame of Lea celebrating before stating that she will keep the $25,000 she won.
• March 28 is Surfin' Safari. During this week, in an unusual move, both March 28 and 30 have themed bonus puzzles (WIPEOUT and BEACH BUMS).
• On March 28, the category strip for the $1,000 Toss-Up disappears as soon as Vanna activates the board.
• On March 29, after contestant Jim solves on an un-flipped Mystery Wedge, Pat flips it over to show that it concealed the Bankrupt.
• On March 30:
  • No vowels are bought in Round 2.
  • Contestant Lisa solves the bonus puzzle BEACH BUMS before the timer can start.
  • Pat and Vanna do the closing chat sitting on the steps in front of the puzzle board.

April 2005

• April 4 is Lap of Luxury, a week of sixth episodes.
• On April 4:
  • In Round 2, contestant Amy accidentally picks up the Gift Tag instead of the Prize due to her looking at the wrong arrow.
  • The wipe for the $1,000 spending cash during the Prize Puzzle copy is a graphic of a vault opening as dollar bills fly by, with the vault opening to show a photograph of coins inside.
  • Round 5 (DALLAS & DYNASTY) has only one vowel.
  • There is a $100,000 loss.
• On April 6, the bonus puzzle THE BEACH BOYS is categorized as Show Biz instead of Proper Name.
• On April 8, after contestant Chuck solves the Prize Puzzle, he asks if he would win a second trip should his SPIN ID be drawn on that episode. Harry is then shown on-camera saying "sure" in response.
• April 11 is the last Big Money Week until Season 28, and the last time it is used more than once in a season.
• During the weeks of April 11 and 18, the Mystery Round prize is $10,000 cash courtesy of Sony Card, only the second time cash has been offered. The copy includes a plug for wheeloffortune.com.
• On April 11:
  • Nobody solves the $2,000 Toss-Up, WILD DINGO.
  • The "$1,000 spending cash" portion now occurs during all Prize Puzzle copies. This continues until the end of the season.
• On April 12:
  • All three contestants ring in on but do not solve the $1,000 Toss-Up TAKE IT TO THE BANK. The wrong-letter buzzer sounds after the third contestant gives a wrong answer; despite this, the music continues playing until the last two letters are revealed and the board's border flashes. Pat references the previous day's unsolved Toss-Up by saying the correct answer was TAKE IT TO THE DINGO.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
• On April 15:
  • As contestant Larry is in a wheelchair, he has his brother Dave spin the Wheel for him.
  • After Todd lands on the orange $900, that amount is not added to the Jackpot.
  • The second-place contestant Kimberly has $23,800, of which $18,000 comes from the Speed-Up.
  • Todd solves the bonus puzzle BAKE-OFF with only the A and E showing before the timer can start.
• April 18 is Passport to Adventure.
• On April 18, the Prize copy includes a trailer for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
• On April 19, contestant Amy sweeps the game and wins $25,000 in the Bonus Round.
• On April 21, no wipe or graphic is present when Charlie mentions the $1,000 spending cash during the Prize Puzzle copy.
• April 25 is Travel USA.
• On April 26, the wipe for the "$1,000 spending cash" portion of the Prize Puzzle copy is neon dollar signs on a black background.
• On April 28:
  • The Round 2 puzzle WRITER'S & H&R BLOCK is the fourth of only six known puzzles to have more than one ampersand.
  • No vowels are bought in Round 4.
  • During the closing chat, clips of Pat and Vanna eating various foods over the years are shown.
• On April 29:
  • A shot from behind the blue contestant's back, similar to what was seen on some road shows in Season 12, is used when Vanna reveals the F and O in Round 1.
  • During the closing chat, Vanna shows a blooper reel of her recording road show bumpers.

May 2005

• The weeks of May 2-16 are taped at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.
• May 2 is Mom & Me. During this week, the Mystery prize is $10,000 credit to Sony Style. For the first time, Vanna reads the copy. Specifically, she announces most of the copy from a set featuring her on a couch surrounded by Sony electronics products, which then cuts away to close-up shots of said products as Charlie promotes them, before cutting back to Vanna promoting Sony and saying "$10,000".
• On May 2, there is a $9,850 Jackpot win.
• On May 3, Lesly and Maggie join Pat and Vanna for the closing chat, where he shows footage of them touring the headquarters of Hallmark.
• On May 4, the second-place team has $28,440.
• On May 5:
  • There is an $8,550 Jackpot win.
  • Contestants Matthew and Marilyn win Round 3 with only the $10,000 Mystery Prize.
  • Contestants Terri and Janett solve the bonus puzzle WORKBENCH before the timer can start.
• On May 6, during the closing chat, Pat shows footage of him and his son Patrick touring the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
• May 9 is Kansas City Week. During this week, the Mystery Round Prize is $10,000 cash courtesy of Sony Card.
• On May 9, during the closing chat, Pat shows footage of him and Patrick eating at Arthur Bryant's.
• On May 10:
  • There is a $9,550 Jackpot win.
  • George Brett makes a guest appearance after the puzzle ROYALS CAPTURE WORLD SERIES CROWN.
• On May 11:
  • The Prize is a VIP tour of Kansas Speedway, along with season tickets to NASCAR, IndyCar, and ARCA RE/MAX (now ARCA Menads) races held there.
  • During the closing chat, Pat and Vanna sample barbecued meat from KC Masterpiece, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant's, and Gates Bar-B-Q. While they are eating, thought bubbles appear over their heads showing their thoughts on each. After they are done, a thought bubble appears over Pat's head saying "I can't pick", while one appears over Vanna's saying "I want 'em all, I'm still hungry."
• On May 12, the Prize is a $5,000 shopping spree at Country Club Plaza.
• May 16 is Big XII College Week. During this week:
  • College students play; as usual, they introduce themselves during the intro while a cheerleading squad (in this case, from the University of Kansas) introduces Pat and Vanna.
  • The University of Kansas Basketball Band plays music as bumpers.
  • The Mystery Round Prize is $10,000 credit to eBay.
• On May 18, during the closing chat, Charlie gives a tour of the American Jazz Museum.
• On May 19, during the closing chat, Vanna gives a tour of Union Station.
• May 23 is the last Wheel Goes to the Movies. During this week:
  • Except on Wednesday, the Prize copy includes a movie trailer: Bewitched on Monday, Madagascar on Tuesday, Mr. and Mrs. Smith on Thursday, and Be Cool on Friday.
  • The Mystery Round prize is $10,000 cash courtesy of Sony Card.
• On May 23, after the Quotation puzzle I'LL GET YOU MY PRETTY AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO!, Pat asks for the film the quotation came from, and contestant Carol provides the correct answer of The Wizard of Oz. This is the last time until November 8, 2011 that a "normal" category has an extra question (coincidentally, the exact same puzzle was used, albeit being categorized as Movie Quote).
• On May 24, there is a cold open where Vanna announces that the episode will include a preview of Madagascar, followed by a brief clip from the movie.
• On May 25:
  • After the Prize Puzzle, Pat admits he does not know the connection between the puzzle I AM SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN and the trip offered, which is to Austria. The camera then cuts back to the puzzle board as an offstage crew member tells him the song "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" is from The Sound of Music, which takes place in Austria.
  • The wipe during the "$1,000 spending cash" portion of the Prize Puzzle copy is music notes and staffs, again playing on the theme of The Sound of Music.
  • The Prize is a Sony home entertainment system including a WEGA high-definition TV, a DVD Dream System, and a year of DVD rentals from Netflix.
  • Round 4 is a very rare occurrence of Titles (HBO SHOWTIME & CINEMAX).
• On May 26:
  • A cycle of turns is edited out of the Jackpot round despite not being "null"; the cycle includes an incorrect A from contestant Karen, whose scoreboard reads $150 immediately after a $400 spin. This affects her final score, as she solves the puzzle and wins the game.
  • Bankrupt is hit six times in Round 3, a tie for the most known in one round.
• On May 27:
  • The Prize includes a DVD copy of Be Cool.
  • There is a $13,050 Jackpot win.
  • The bonus puzzle FAWN is the only four-letter bonus puzzle since November 2001 and the last overall.
• May 30 is Life's a Beach, a week of sixth episodes.
• On May 30, there is a $100,000 loss.

June 2005

• On June 1, for the last time until March 2023, no Prize Puzzle is played.
• On June 2, the Round 1 puzzle THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA is a rare instance of On the Map using a descriptive term.
• On June 3, as it is the sixth episode of Big Money Week, the Mystery Round Prize is $10,000 cash courtesy of Sony Card.