I'll add my two cents here because I worked on a concept in 2003.
Set: The video wall behind the players will be eliminated. The red, yellow and blue backdrops behind the players will return with some new futuristic design, maybe based on a diamond pattern similar to the one used in early 1990s. There will be chasing lights and backdrop behind the red/yellow/blue pattern. The electronic puzzle board will be retained, but moved closer to the wheel so there is not so much empty space between them like now.
Pat and Vanna will enter stage center from a raised area of the stage. A circle-shaped door will open and they will travel down several steps before meeting on a Wheel of Fortune logo center stage. The hosts will exchange a few words and then they separate. Then, the game will begin:
Theme Music: A new orchestration largely based on the 1992-1994 theme; with some 1989 variations mixed in will replace the current theme.
Toss-Up: This round will change slightly. The value of the puzzle will start at $3,000 and decrease by $500 after a few letters are filled to a minimum value of $1,000. After someone has buzzed in and successful solved the puzzle, they will earn control.
In a departure from previous years, there will be no contestant interviews at this point. I’ve found that this part of the show seems to drag and I would prefer to get right into the game.
At the end of the first round, Pat will chat briefly with the winning player. He will stay at his post. I’m eliminating his walk over to the player to save time.
The second round is still the Jackpot Round and a prize is added to the wheel as well as a second bankrupt.
Pat will chat briefly with the winning player after this round ends and then go to commercial unless it is the same person who won round one.
Round 3 will feature the Mystery Round as before. Pat will chat briefly with either one or two players that have not won rounds before it begins and then Charlie will describe the car featured on the wheel in the Mystery Round.
Round 4 will be preceded by a Toss-Up as Round 1 was and the winning player starts.
The purpose of cutting down on the contestant interviews, Pat’s walk to the winning contestants and eliminating one Toss-Up is to make sure we get four full rounds completed on at least most of the shows. Right now, the Speed-Up round is often happening right after the third Toss-Up on many shows.
Other changes are buying a vowel will cost $500. There is also a $500 penalty for guessing a letter that is already in the puzzle and $1,000 penalty for an incorrect puzzle solution.
Also, I totally agree with the lack of a gradually increase in money. In Round 1, I would have values of $300-$2,500 with a $1,000 and Round 1 would have the $10,000 wedge. In Round 2, a $3,500 would replace my $1,000 space.
The Wheel also gets a complete makeover with new configurations and a revised color scheme. Here is lineup starting at Bankrupt and moving counterclockwise.
I tried to cut down on the abundance of $300 spaces on the wheel and have a $1,000 and $2,500 space on the wheel at the same time.
I would add two new discs to the wheel in Rounds 1 and 2. In Round 1, “2-For-1” basically gives players a chance to guess two letters on one turn for the same dollar configuration. If they land on it and guess a letter in the puzzle, they pick it up and hold on to when they want to use it. They must tell Pat they’re going to use it before they spin. In Round 2, a disc called “Double Up” will give the person who has it a chance to double the amount of money in their bank at the end of the round. If they land on it and guess a letter in the puzzle that’s there, they get to pick it up. If they can hold onto it until they end of the round without hitting a bankrupt and successfully solve the puzzle, they will double whatever is in their bank for that round.
In Round 3, I would swap out half of the wheel with new configurations ranging $300 to $5,000 with a $1,500 and $3,500 space there.
The adding $1,000 to the final spin is retained, but the annoying think music played is dropped or severely quieted.
Pat goes over to congratulate the winners and losers. Then, the winning contestant takes a walk and meets Vanna as she comes center stage and helps Charlie with prize descriptions, which are done before the commercial break.
In the bonus rain, I would add more spaces for $30,000 and $35,000 are added. Right now there are about 12 $25K, one for each of $30K, $35K and $40K, $45K and $50K and $100K.
The annoying music they added for the walk from the bonus wheel to the spot for the puzzle solve is eliminated. Also, the 10-second bonus music is canned and only the doo-dee, doo-dee sound effect music is retained.
In the most radical move, the Pat/Vanna banter right after the commercial after the Bonus Round will be eliminated. Pat and Vanna will congratulate the winning contestant and sign off like Bob Barker does on The Price is Right or Richard Karn does right after the bonus round on Family Feud. I always thought it was pointless to go to commercial and then come back and sign off. Wheel used to end after the bonus round in the humble beginnings.
The top three players of the week will be brought back on Friday for the Friday Finals as was done from 1996-1998. On this show, the time will be cut a little short allowing for end-of-the-week banter between Pat and Vanna.
Also, the number of theme weeks like “Wheel Goes to the Movies” will be reduced to occasional status.
There will also be a tournament of champions at the end of the season. The top nine money winners will return and be randomly selected to compete on the first three shows of the week. The top three money winners will compete in a two-day final. There will be no bonus rounds on the last two shows. However, the winner will receive a $100,000 bonus. Everyone keeps all money won.
