Remember When the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Wheel Spun Automatically?

After being on air for over 40 years, the iconic Wheel of Fortune show has certainly gone through its fair share of changes. Some of the more common changes include the hosts. Pat Sajak took over in 1981, replacing Chuck Woolery. Vanna White became the official co-host a year later and even took over as a temporary host in 2019. Then, in Fall 2024, Ryan Seacrest became the host. Aside from Pat and Vanna, other changes included the set design, like the physical cards Vanna had to turn, which were later upgraded to touch screens in 1997.

As technology advanced, so did the Wheel of Fortune studio and set, which were upgraded over the years to have better lighting and a more modern design. Some of the game playing rules have also changed over the years. The wheel had different amounts and new spaces added to it, and the bonus round was changed to include a “spin for a prize.” However, while most of these changes were more noticeable, there was a smaller change that occurred many years ago that was recently featured again on a famous game show.

The ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Wheel Spun Automatically

At the recent launch of the new Wheel of Fortune season, many viewers picked up on a nostalgic twist. The intro and ending now feature a “new” element. This element was an edit that consisted of the iconic Wheel of Fortune wheel spinning on its own. It’s a simple and subtle, yet tasteful addition to the show that many fans, especially long-term fans, take delight in. The automatic wheel spinning was an edit included in the older episodes of the game show series.

However, the iconic game show removed the edit from the intro in 1997. A few months after the wheel spin was removed from the intro, it was removed from the outro back. Since then, the showing of the wheel rotating by itself had been missing from Wheel of Fortune for well over twenty years, but it wasn’t forgotten. Luckily for those who remember and enjoyed the special intro and outro, the edit returned to TV screens everywhere in late 2024.

The Special ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Feature Gave the Wrong Impression

While this distinct feature may be new for some, it’s a flash from the past for long-time Wheel of Fortune viewers. The edit was featured on the show for several years before it was removed in 1997, which many fans were dismayed to discover. According to former host Pat Sajak, the edit was removed because of the false rigged impression that it gave. Rigging a game show is a felony and can result in a $10,000 fine or up to a year in prison.

While the show wasn’t rigged in any shape or form, Pat thought the idea of having an automated wheel on the show might give the impression that they had more control over the wheel. For the sake of the shows’ imaging and to remove themselves from being associated with rumors, the game show thought it was best to have the features removed. As a result, Pat collaborated with show producer Harry Friedman to have the edit removed from the game show and, up until recently, the edit was removed entirely from the series.

Overall, it’s understandable why the game show removed the edit from the series. Some fans enjoyed the edit and didn’t think too much about it. However, in the late 90s there were many rumors and commotion surrounding the possibility of rigged game shows. As a result, some fans did think the automated wheel was suspicious and could possibly interfere with the game. However, considering the show’s popularity, even back in those days, it’s unlikely that the game show would risk its reputation. In the end, though, it was a nice nostalgic touch that many fans would love to see continued. New episodes of Wheel of Fortune Season 42 air nightly on ABC. You can also stream the show on YouTube TV in the U.S.