The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: brianhenke on September 06, 2004, 07:29:22 PM
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Well, Wheel of Fortune's new season premiered tonight. Here is a spoiler free look at the changes.
- As was mentioned previously, the Mystery Round spaces now are $1000 instead of $500. The spaces are now blue instead of black.
- There is a new Toss-Up graphic at the start of each Toss-Up.
- There is a "FINAL SPIN" graphic that appears on the screen when Pat gives the Wheel the Final Spin.
- The Fun and Games category makes its debut.
- Finally, the Bonus Wheel is the one with all the lights flashing.
Brian
Bing Crosby was named after an Allman Brothers Band song?
We want some more pro wrestling (STILL) and NASCAR questions!
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Also, there are now two $1000 gift tags on the Wheel instead of one.
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I haven't watched the tape-delay of the show yet, but I caught the new opening title- nice.
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I like all the changes EXCEPT the Last Spin graphic. There is absolutely no point to that, and just is distracting.
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You know, for as much as we've mocked it over the summer, the new Bonus Wheel actually does look sorta neat...although not as neat as the graphic of it.
It's sorta nice to have a couple $1000 spaces on the wheel again, even if they are mainly a gimmick for the Mystery Round.
Was a "Final Spin" graphic really necessary?
And dear Lord, the set looks like it might actually be something they could use every week.
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[quote name=\'brianhenke\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 07:29 PM\'] - The Fun and Games category makes its debut. [/quote]
Cleveland got a different episode. We got the debut of Best Seller.
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[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 06:58 PM\'] You know, for as much as we've mocked it over the summer, the new Bonus Wheel actually does look sorta neat...although not as neat as the graphic of it.
It's sorta nice to have a couple $1000 spaces on the wheel again, even if they are mainly a gimmick for the Mystery Round.
Was a "Final Spin" graphic really necessary?
And dear Lord, the set looks like it might actually be something they could use every week. [/quote]
I was expecting these really bright lights on the bonus wheel blaring over the set. Still, new colors were neat. And, I agree the final spin thing is not needed. I like the new toss up graphic also.
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Haven't watched in some time - found the set very beautiful. I've read others discuss the extra plugs and sponsorships, many saying it has made everything "too commercial". Nothing I saw tonight made it any worse than an old episode of Let's Make A Deal. If the plugs come in and fit in the flow of the game, not forced, no problem. They didn't distract from the game. Have past seasons been heavier on the plugs than this opener?
..and I'll join you on the "final spin" graphic. Have to admit, tho..when it first flashed on the screen, I was expecting to see something like, "final spin - presented by Best Buy!" Please - no "first spin of the game" graphic. Maybe, like in corporate radio, they're going to have a live host replaced by "visual tracking"? ;-)
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[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 06:58 PM\'] Was a "Final Spin" graphic really necessary?
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I think Pat should call it the "Final Spin of the Day", lick his finger, point to the 5000 space and say the rules as "I'll ask you to give a letter in the puzzle, and if it's there, I'll ask you to solve it, it's just that simple"
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What did everyone think of what Pat called "The soda machine"?
Adam
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IMO, easily the biggest problem with the new graphics (for Toss-ups and THE FINAL SPIN!) is the lack of smooth transition--or any transition at all, in the latter's case. I don't THINK they wanted laughter and whiplash as the top two reactions to their graphics . . .
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I agree that the Final Spin graphic is totally absurd. I KNOW it's the final spin. That's what the bell means, and Pat even says that it's the final spin. I think the graphic is actually meant to make it look less obvious when then they have to edit due to Pat hitting a bankrupt or something, but having the graphic every day is much worse than a choppy edit once in a while.
As for the other changes, I really don't mind any of them too much. I especially like the new bonus wheel look.
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Dunno how new it is, but the win puzzle cue has been shortened. If this was done before, please disregard this post.
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[quote name=\'WilliamPorygon\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 09:15 PM\'] I think the graphic is actually meant to make it look less obvious when then they have to edit due to Pat hitting a bankrupt or something, [/quote]
Do they edit those out now? I remember at least once seeing Pat land on Bankrupt a few years ago. Nice ad-lib as he was explaining the rules: "Vowels are worth nothing...and neither are consonants."
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Apparently they do. I never notice it though. Did anyone else not get credits BTW? After Pat and Vanna did their good-byes, they went straight to Jeopardy (well, the local lottery numbers and then J). Did this happen to anyone else?
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Your affiliate
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[quote name=\'gsfan85\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 08:17 PM\'] What did everyone think of what Pat called "The soda machine"? [/quote]
I think that whoever decided it was a useful and/or necessary addition is addicted to something a little stronger than the contents of a soda machine.
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I forgot about the new opening while I was typing. There were so many changes that I just forgot to put it up in my original post.
Brian
Little Bo Peep lost her virginity?
We want some more pro wrestling (STILL) and NASCAR questions!
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Also, did anyone else notice Pat's little reference to Ken Jennings ?
He said just before the bonus sping something to the effect of: "Lets win as much as we can, because unlike other game shows, where you can win untill you have grandkids, you're only on once"
Also: The producers of WOF lied to us ! I looked closely and I only saw 1,276,495 colors of light !
-Joe R.
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[quote name=\'rigsby\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 10:30 PM\'] Do they edit those out now? I remember at least once seeing Pat land on Bankrupt a few years ago. Nice ad-lib as he was explaining the rules: "Vowels are worth nothing...and neither are consonants." [/quote]
They do. It's actually pretty obvious if you're trying to see it (which, obviously, most people aren't) -- the aerial shot will show the wheel clearly about to land on a Bankrupt, and then they'll cut to a close-up of it stopping somewhere that's nowhere near that space.
As for what you saw...either it was before they started editing (and I have no clue when that happened), or they left it in because of Pat's one-liner.
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[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 11:05 PM\'] As for what you saw...either it was before they started editing (and I have no clue when that happened), or they left it in because of Pat's one-liner. [/quote]
Yet one more reason why Wheel is a complete waste of time.
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Maybe the other 233,505 colors were "unavailable". Who knows.
I thought the new opening was neat. The toss-up graphics were a bit too amimated I thought. The Final Spin graphic was TOTALLY unnecessary.
As far as the maim wheel goes, I didn't noticed a 2nd gift tag untill the lady in yellow(Lindsay) solved her puzzle. I guess it was "hiding" under the eBags tag. Also, that new $1,000 Mystery Wedge space loolks much better than the $500 ones laste year.
As far as the bonus wheel goes, NICE! Also, where there usually was a colored wedge in between the letters & numbers on it, that's now been replaced witn 3 little stars on it. I thought that was a nice touch there as well as the rotating colored lighting on it.
Overall, the new changes for the most part were very intresting.
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[quote name=\'brianhenke\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 07:29 PM\'] - There is a "FINAL SPIN" graphic that appears on the screen when Pat gives the Wheel the Final Spin.
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It really should say "FINAL SPIN (unless Pat hits a bankrupt)."
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Also: The producers of WOF lied to us ! I looked closely and I only saw 1,276,495 colors of light !
Yeah...what was up with that? I didn't get the reference - I certainly didn't see very many different colors. Maybe it's when the background fade from one color to another(?)
I personally think they're going a bit overboard with all these graphics for the Last Spin, etc.
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Yet one more reason why Wheel is a complete waste of time.
Well, maybe for you then.
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[quote name=\'Craig Karlberg\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 04:26 AM\'] Maybe the other 233,505 colors were "unavailable". Who knows.
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Actually, here's the breakdown on those other 233,505 colors:
126,003 --> colors only dogs can see (along the same principles as dogs who can hear sounds that humans cant).
38,646 --> Colors only cats can see.
29,594 -- > Colors only hamsters, gerbils &/or guinea pigs can see.
37,339 -- > Colors other animals and birds can only see.
But the other 1,923 colors are the most interesting. They are "hypnotic colors" that are used by Sony execs to subliminally convince WoF watchers that GSN's programming is the best it's ever been in it's 10+ year history and that it *must* be watched at least 8.6 hours a day.
(Always wear sunglasses with a minimum of 100% UV Protection, watch via a mirror, and/or watch via a pinhole box contraption used during a solar eclipse during Wheel to avoid this hypnotic trance).
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[quote name=\'Lemonjello\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 04:43 AM\'] It really should say "FINAL SPIN (unless Pat hits a bankrupt)." [/quote]
In that case, the spin would be replaced and the program edited (and you never knew it happened).
Although I do miss the days (especially in the NBC years) when Sajak's "Bankrupt" spins would be left in (sometimes those would be the only moments Mother McKenzie's laugh track would be utilized).
Doug
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[quote name=\'brianhenke\' date=\'Sep 6 2004, 07:29 PM\'] - There is a "FINAL SPIN" graphic that appears on the screen when Pat gives the Wheel the Final Spin. [/quote]
I am guessing that this gfx is used to cover up any over-obvious edits. For example, if the wide shot shows the wheel heading for one Bankrupt and the close-up shot a couple frames (1/30ths of a second) later, the other Bankrupt passes. Snippy people (read: some of us on this board) might contact Sony to complain about this haphazard editing.
Or is Sony just showing off their new electronics and gfx programs? Is it just me or do a lot of the nooks and crannies Sony has implemented since they took over the show in 1994 seem unnecessary? Was that really a new pop machine?
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 09:47 AM\'][quote name=\'Lemonjello\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 04:43 AM\'] It really should say "FINAL SPIN (unless Pat hits a bankrupt)." [/quote]
In that case, the spin would be replaced and the program edited (and you never knew it happened).
Although I do miss the days (especially in the NBC years) when Sajak's "Bankrupt" spins would be left in (sometimes those would be the only moments Mother McKenzie's laugh track would be utilized).[/quote]
You forget the contestant interviews.
I happen to remember one show where I'm guessing that Jack Clark was running off to the men's room and Pat said, "Jack, can you get the crowd to do some more of that oohing and aahing?" Fortunately, whoever was running Mother McKenzie bailed Jack out there (although I wonder if Jack even bothered rehearsing the crowd in oohs and aahs, since he knew it wasn't really necessary).
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[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 11:15 AM\'] Was that really a new pop machine? [/quote]
Could someone tell me what this "soda machine" thing is? Dave Z. tried explaining it to me last night but to no avail. I took a look at the show Cleveland got last night (Cleveland didn't get the season premiere, probably Wednesday's or Thursday's episode with a University of Akron student) and couldn't find anything resembling a soda machine. Did Coca-Cola repurchase Wheel? :-)
Any help is appreciated.
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 10:50 AM\'] You forget the contestant interviews.
I happen to remember one show where I'm guessing that Jack Clark was running off to the men's room and Pat said, "Jack, can you get the crowd to do some more of that oohing and aahing?" Fortunately, whoever was running Mother McKenzie bailed Jack out there (although I wonder if Jack even bothered rehearsing the crowd in oohs and aahs, since he knew it wasn't really necessary). [/quote]
Even so, more often than not the laugh track wouldn't be used during the contestant interviews unless something really uproarious happened (instead leaving it to the live mikes picking up giggles out of the crew or the real audience).
There was one moment that I do recall (this was a syndie ep) where a male contestant decided he wanted to do what Vanna did (referring to the modeling, not the letter turning). So sure enough, they let him join Vanna on stage as Jack Clark announced the prize--and the McKenzie op gave it the proper "ooh" and "aah", along with some of its laugh track (as he waved his arm wildly). The sequence was quite humorous.
Doug
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[quote name=\'hmtriplecrown\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 11:19 AM\'] [quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 11:15 AM\'] Was that really a new pop machine? [/quote]
Could someone tell me what this "soda machine" thing is? Dave Z. tried explaining it to me last night but to no avail. I took a look at the show Cleveland got last night (Cleveland didn't get the season premiere, probably Wednesday's or Thursday's episode with a University of Akron student) and couldn't find anything resembling a soda machine. Did Coca-Cola repurchase Wheel? :-)
Any help is appreciated. [/quote]
It's not by chance the Skybox by Maytag, is it?
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[quote name=\'hmtriplecrown\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 12:19 PM\'] [quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Sep 7 2004, 11:15 AM\'] Was that really a new pop machine? [/quote]
Could someone tell me what this "soda machine" thing is? Dave Z. tried explaining it to me last night but to no avail. I took a look at the show Cleveland got last night (Cleveland didn't get the season premiere, probably Wednesday's or Thursday's episode with a University of Akron student) and couldn't find anything resembling a soda machine. Did Coca-Cola repurchase Wheel? :-)
Any help is appreciated. [/quote]
It's this goofy-looking, totally pointless video screen thingy that they've stuck off to the right of the contestant backdrop. I can't imagine it'll even be on camera outside of the opening. Lord only knows why they decided to stick it there -- even by Wheel of Fortune standards, it's completely useless.
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The "final spin" graphic wouldn't be quite as bad if it were about a second and a half shorter and superimposed over the existing spin rather than on a black background. I figure that would provide more than enough visual noise to cover any edit necessary.
It's good to see that the bonus wheel has entered the same visual era as the rest of the show, but using all 1.5 million colors at once is a bit much. Speaking of which, was it just me, or did we not see about 1,499,998 of those colors after the end of the Phoenix trip? It seemed like it was the same sky blue and purple every week after that. (And, before anyone points this out, I am aware of the green on the puzzle reveal and white on the solve, but they're accents.)
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Those changes were pretty neat. And I agree, the FINAL SPIN graphic isn't necessary.
I can tell it's the final spin by one of two things:
1. Bell
2. One Bankrupt space on the wheel, and the wheel being prize-wedge and gift tag free before Round 4 even begins.
And I sorta like that soda machine. Pretty neat, and the totally colorful lighting in the bonus wheel is even more neat!
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Watched the season premiere of Wheel on Monday just to see the changes they've made, then went right on back to completely ignoring it.
Is it just me or does the game seem even MORE rushed now than ever before? Contestants calling out their letters before Pat can even announce the dollar amount, spinning the wheel before Vanna is done lighting up the letters, etc.--not the best places to try and save time, IMO. They did get at least a few spins into Round 4 before declaring speed-up, but if they really want to save time they should just drop the extraneous toss-up at the beginning and the Jackpot Round.
If this keeps up, I dunno how much longer the show will stick around. Then again, I don't watch it anyway, so why am I complaining?
--Sam
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[quote name=\'SamJ93\' date=\'Sep 8 2004, 02:53 PM\']Is it just me or does the game seem even MORE rushed now than ever before? Contestants calling out their letters before Pat can even announce the dollar amount, spinning the wheel before Vanna is done lighting up the letters, etc.--not the best places to try and save time, IMO.[/quote]
I believe you are attributing to time-conscious producers something that can more easily be attributed to Wheel of Fortune contestants with no manners.