Wheel of Fortune

“Wheel of Fortune” is a popular American TV game show conceived by Merv Griffin. Contestants compete by solving word puzzles, akin to those in Hangman, to earn cash and prizes, which are determined by spinning a large carnival wheel. The original daytime version aired on NBC from January 6, 1975, to June 30, 1989, then moved to CBS from July 17, 1989, to January 11, 1991, before returning to NBC from January 14 to September 20, 1991, when it was ultimately canceled. The daily syndicated version debuted on September 19, 1983.

Initially, the daytime show was hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford, with Charlie O’Donnell as the announcer. O’Donnell departed in 1980, Woolery in 1981, and Stafford in 1982, succeeded by Jack Clark, Pat Sajak, and Vanna White, respectively. Following Clark’s death in 1988, M. G. Kelly briefly took over as announcer until O’Donnell’s return in 1989. O’Donnell continued until the daytime show’s cancellation and remained the announcer for the syndicated version until his death in 2010, after which Jim Thornton took over. Sajak left the daytime show in January 1989 to host “The Pat Sajak Show” and was replaced by Rolf Benirschke. When the show moved to CBS, Bob Goen replaced Benirschke and stayed until the daytime version was canceled. The syndicated version has been consistently hosted by Sajak and White since it began.