[quote name=\'Frank15\' date=\'Jul 25 2004, 03:52 PM\'][quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'Jul 25 2004, 03:21 PM\'] And Frank, I've heard the full version of the current theme. It's not put together the same way as the other three. What you hear at the end of the show is the end of the song. [/quote]
Um... didn't they play the fourth verse for the $1 million Tournement of Champoins, though? And occasionally, you can still hear the fourth verse when they go to commercial, if it takes them long enough to fade out. Which happens every now and then.
...I'm pretty positive, at least.[/quote]
I think I see what's confusing you. Currently, at the end of each show, after the pre-recorded sponsor plugs, the theme is not starting from the beginning. Rather, it is back-timed (and I have no idea if that is the proper term)--added in post-production so that the music will end right when "Created by Merv Griffin" pops onto the screen. The music's starting point is based entirely on how many seconds are left in the show.
In fact, if you stick around for the credits often enough, you'll be able to tell when they're going to fill time with the full credits, because you'll hear the end of the "fourth verse" at the beginning of that segment.