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My wife, Cindy, and I got back from New Orleans about two hours ago. While in the big easy, we attended a taping of WoF. The session we went to was scheduled for three shows -- but we only stayed for the first two then headed north in deference to Hurricane Katrina.
I'd read in an article where Harry Friedman, executive producer, tried to include more puzzles and pick up the pace of the show. By my count, no change to that regard. Eight puzzles in each show we went to (three toss-ups, three "normal" rounds, the last puzzle of each main game was a "speed-up" after the $3000 toss-up and then the bonus round).
Changes of significant note...
\ The same article I alluded to noted members of the Wheel Watchers club could win cars in addition to trips off of prize puzzles (there was one in each show Cindy and I saw). The car can only be won by the viewer if the night's winner also won an car.
\ For the mystery round, instead of a prize worth about $10,000, a $10,000 *cash* space is hidden under one of the mystery $1000 spaces ("bankrupt", of course, remains other the under).
...as for production notes (keep in mind, this was my first *ever* game show taping I attended)...
\ Each half-hour episode took about an hour to produce. Certainly would've been longer had Vanna still been "turning" the letters instead of "touching" them.
\ To the left of the puzzle out of sight to home viewers are two plasma TV screens -- one on top of the other. Most of the upper screen is a grid of 26 letters making up the "unused letter board"; IIRC, the category title was just above the alphabet; below the alphabet is the jackpot amount (for the jackpot round only) and a note of only "vowels left" or "consonants left" (again, when applicable). The bottom screen shows the players' totals for a particular round, the overall score and any prizes they've won during the game.
\ Above both screens was a small "shot clock" -- set to 5 seconds for a player to make any move (spin, buy vowel, solve puzzle), reduced to 3 seconds during the "speed-up" (for solving puzzle only) and then reset again to 10 seconds for the bonus round.
Back to Katrina for a moment, Pat noted during the first stopdown of the first show we were at, he noted the temperature when he arrived into town was about 95 with a heat index of 105 -- "and that was the good news," he said. He also acknowleged Katrina, hoped that WoF would provide a pleasant diversion (it did) and wished everyone a safe journey home.
That's all I can say about the shows. To say more would be spoiling. :) The shows we attended will air November 14th and 15th. We had pretty good seats -- and the "boom camera" caught us cheering a time or two. To put faces to our names, go to www.dougmorris.net/cindy (http://\"http://www.dougmorris.net/cindy\").
Finally, if you're of the praying sort, send one up for everyone who will be affected by the hurricane.
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[quote name=\'dmota104\' date=\'Aug 27 2005, 08:04 PM\']\ For the mystery round, instead of a prize worth about $10,000, a $10,000 *cash* space is hidden under one of the mystery $1000 spaces[/quote]
Sometimes, as was the case last season.
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It's now been reported that the mayor of New Orleans has announced a mandatory evacuation of the city.
So I presume today's tapings have been canceled, and as I said on rec.arts.tv, I hope Pat, Vanna, Harry and the rest of the crew are going to be A-OK.
Brian
100 plus 100 equals 600?
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[quote name=\'brianhenke\' date=\'Aug 28 2005, 09:48 AM\']It's now been reported that the mayor of New Orleans has announced a mandatory evacuation of the city.
So I presume today's tapings have been canceled, and as I said on rec.arts.tv, I hope Pat, Vanna, Harry and the rest of the crew are going to be A-OK.
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You presume correctly. Charlie O'Donnell, who did an excellent job of helping warm up the crowd, took a few questions from the crowd.
One member of the audience noted she had tickets for Sunday (today). Charlie said, "Keep 'em as souvenirs." I'm sure they're gettin' while the gettin's good.
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[quote name=\'brianhenke\' date=\'Aug 28 2005, 09:48 AM\'] So I presume today's tapings have been canceled, and as I said on rec.arts.tv, I hope Pat, Vanna, Harry and the rest of the crew are going to be A-OK.
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You know what--it might not be a bad idea to extend those well wishes to anyone in Louisiana or Mississippi who might be affected, not just the WoF crew.
My thoughts are with y'all right now--hope everyone's doing OK and staying safe.
Doug
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Aug 29 2005, 10:49 AM\']You know what--it might not be a bad idea to extend those well wishes to anyone in Louisiana or Mississippi who might be affected, not just the WoF crew.
My thoughts are with y'all right now--hope everyone's doing OK and staying safe.
Doug
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Thanks, Doug,
For those of you who see fit to help, the best thing to do is send money to the Red Cross. Every bit helps.
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For those who are interested, here (http://\"http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6252427.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP\") is a Broadcasting & Cable article on how Wheel got out of New Orleans. A brief excerpt:
The crew of Wheel of Fortune had the misfortune of being in New Orleans Sunday in the path of Hurricane Katrina.
That led to the first-ever cancellation of a remote taping--what would have been the final day--according to Wheel Executive Producer Harry Friedman, who had to try evacuate more than 100 employees.
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Hopefully They show the players totals during this round between the Wheel Of Fortune Logo, Simular to TV Sportscasts.
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[quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'Aug 30 2005, 05:02 AM\']For those who are interested, here (http://\"http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6252427.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP\") is a Broadcasting & Cable article on how Wheel got out of New Orleans.
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After reading the article, it sounds like they didn't even try to strike down and/or secure the set.
Just out of curiosity, is this Ernest N Morial Convention Center in New Orleans the same convention center in the news where there are now thousands of stranded residents who have been stuck there for days without food, water and a way out of there?
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Just saw the latest news all day about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and yes, that is the same convention center where Wheel did its tapings last week. And I haven't heard if the set had been struck down moments after Wheel canceled last Sunday's tapings. They have to bring both the wheel and the puzzleboard back to LA, and I haven't heard any news about that either.
Now everyone knows what the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is like in the aftermath of Katrina, thanks to continuous news coverage.
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'Sep 1 2005, 10:16 PM\'][quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'Aug 30 2005, 05:02 AM\']For those who are interested, here (http://\"http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6252427.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP\") is a Broadcasting & Cable article on how Wheel got out of New Orleans.
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After reading the article, it sounds like they didn't even try to strike down and/or secure the set.
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The set made it out. To quote the article (emphasis mine):
The final day had been scheduled for taping at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, but by that time the entire staff and set were on the way out of town...
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It was really tough seeing that video Thursday.
It's just hard to imagine almost a week earlier that same convention center played host to moments of joy, happiness and fun.
My wife and I were in that neighborhood -- grabbing a quick bite to eat at the Riverwalk next door -- before heading to the WoF tapings.
I genuinely hope Harry will allow these New Orleans episodes to air. And they'll have to air with clear disclaimers the now two weeks' worth of shows were taped before this entire tragedy struck.
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[quote name=\'dmota104\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 02:02 AM\']I genuinely hope Harry will allow these New Orleans episodes to air. And they'll have to air with clear disclaimers the now two weeks' worth of shows were taped before this entire tragedy struck.
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Okay, sell me. Why do you want to see these episodes air? I just don't get it, considering the area is about three steps away from being walled off and turned into Escape From New Orleans.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 11:45 AM\']Okay, sell me. Why do you want to see these episodes air? I just don't get it, considering the area is about three steps away from being walled off and turned into Escape From New Orleans.
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For the same reason we still watch WML? episodes with Dorothy Kilgallen and Fred Allen ... still watch movies filmed in New York with the Twin Towers in the background ... still use quarters with The Old Man of the Mountain even after it collapsed.
Run the games, and turn them into a salute to the New Orleans that was and hopefully will be again. (And get in a plug or two for relief funds; they will be needed then, too.)
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[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 12:04 PM\']For the same reason we still watch WML? episodes with Dorothy Kilgallen and Fred Allen ... still watch movies filmed in New York with the Twin Towers in the background ... still use quarters with The Old Man of the Mountain even after it collapsed.
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I'd buy the Twin Towers thing if they were central to the movie in question. But I gotta think, if there was a version of Towering Inferno where they were all in the WTC and it burned to a crisp and collapsed, there are a lot of people even today, coming up on five years (wow. it's been five years.) after the fact that would think it was a little tasteless.
I guess I see your point. It's a celebration of the good times the city saw when it was up and running. And it WOULD be a good fundraiser, and that's never bad.
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[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 02:04 PM\']... still use quarters with The Old Man of the Mountain even after it collapsed.
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When did that happen?
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I would say that sometime down the road they will air them, but it probably won't happen until they Mayor of New Orleans and the rest of the affected Gulf Coast area officially hangs up the "Open for Business" sign again -- which may not be until Spring 2006 at this point.
If there would be a perfect time at this moment to air last weekend's eps, I would say wait until February or March when Mardi Gras is 'scheduled' to take place. That would be my pick to air them with the disclaimer of when these eps were taped.
I thought I heard something on the news today that there was to be a made for TV mini-series or movie about a monster hurricane called "Category 7" that was to air soon (Nov. Sweeps???). And out of respect for the deep South, that movie has been placed in limbo for the time being.
Much in the same vain as if GSN was scheduled to rerun eps of a previous Wheel visit to New Orleans within the next few weeks -- you would probably make a safe bet that even though those old reruns are x-years old, it wouldn't be such a good idea to air them for a while.
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[quote name=\'rugrats1\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 04:43 PM\'][quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 02:04 PM\']... still use quarters with The Old Man of the Mountain even after it collapsed.[/quote]
When did that happen?[/quote]About 2 1/2 years ago (http://\"http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/05/03/old.man.mountian.ap/index.html\").
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 01:11 PM\']I'd buy the Twin Towers thing if they were central to the movie in question.
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I suppose I could have mentioned the King Kong remake, but who wants to watch that?
When did (the Old Man collapse) happen?
May 23, 2003. It just sort of fell away overnight. (http://\"http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/nhhistory/l/bloldmanofmtn.htm\")
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 03:54 PM\']I thought I heard something on the news today that there was to be a made for TV mini-series or movie about a monster hurricane called "Category 7" that was to air soon (Nov. Sweeps???). And out of respect for the deep South, that movie has been placed in limbo for the time being.
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Also, why would they call it "Category 7" in the first place, especially since there's only 5 categories?
A clue that it's likely going to be another dumb, hacked-up made-for-Tv disaster movie, whose sole purpose of existence is to show off the latest in special effects.
Much in the same vain as if GSN was scheduled to rerun eps of a previous Wheel visit to New Orleans within the next few weeks -- you would probably make a safe bet that even though those old reruns are x-years old, it wouldn't be such a good idea to air them for a while.
Of course, it also depends on if they have shown any Wheel episodes outside of the 1988-1989 season lately.
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[quote name=\'rugrats1\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 09:10 PM\']
Much in the same vain as if GSN was scheduled to rerun eps of a previous Wheel visit to New Orleans within the next few weeks -- you would probably make a safe bet that even though those old reruns are x-years old, it wouldn't be such a good idea to air them for a while.
Of course, it also depends on if they have shown any Wheel episodes outside of the 1988-1989 season lately.
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They've not shown any WOF on GSN in about a year. It was only the 1988-89 season shown for the three years or so prior to that. Their only other New Orleans visit was in early 2000, and GSN never showed that season of Wheel.
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[quote name=\'tmq800\' date=\'Sep 1 2005, 11:49 PM\']Just saw the latest news all day about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and yes, that is the same convention center where Wheel did its tapings last week. And I haven't heard if the set had been struck down moments after Wheel canceled last Sunday's tapings. [/quote]
Jeepers, how surreal would that have been? No food, no water, no electricity -- and a giant game show set on stage.
My guess -- and hell, at this point just about everything regarding ANYTHING is just a guess -- is that Sony will find a way to air the episodes as a "tribute" to the city, perhaps many months from now, along with a sizable donation to the relief effort.
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[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 10:21 PM\']They've not shown any WOF on GSN in about a year. It was only the 1988-89 season shown for the three years or so prior to that. Their only other New Orleans visit was in early 2000, and GSN never showed that season of Wheel.
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Weren't they in New Orleans sometime in the 2001-02 season as well? I seem to recall the first $100K loss in their current bonus round happened there, too.
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[quote name=\'rugrats1\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 10:10 PM\'][quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 03:54 PM\']I thought I heard something on the news today that there was to be a made for TV mini-series or movie about a monster hurricane called "Category 7" that was to air soon (Nov. Sweeps???). And out of respect for the deep South, that movie has been placed in limbo for the time being.
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Also, why would they call it "Category 7" in the first place, especially since there's only 5 categories?
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'Cause that makes it sound extra-special-disastrous. :-P
(And yeah...that would definitely be a good thing not to air right now.)
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Besides, they aired Category 6 last year, so it makes logical sense to "bump" it up to "Category 7". Yeah, that sounds super harsh, but hey, it's probably another "Wow! Look at that!" kind of movie.
To Chris: Actually, the WTC attack is approaching its 4th anniverary not the 5th.
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[quote name=\'Craig Karlberg\' date=\'Sep 3 2005, 02:57 AM\']Besides, they aired Category 6 last year, so it makes logical sense to "bump" it up to "Category 7".
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Forgotten all about Cat-6 -- probably tells you what kind of movies they were: big made-for-sweeps disaster movies that are quickly forgotten.
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The themes for next month's New Orleans shows:
Fabulous Food 11/7-11/11/05
Celebrating New Orleans 11/14-11/18/05
Celebrating New Orleans is a better-sounding theme than Let's Party!
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[quote name=\'Thad Dixon\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 10:44 PM\']Weren't they in New Orleans sometime in the 2001-02 season as well? I seem to recall the first $100K loss in their current bonus round happened there, too.
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Yes they were. And it turned out that it was an almost ladies sweep! A college guy saved the day making it 9-1.
I'm afraid that this will be the 13th road trip in a row!
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[quote name=\'GSWitch\' date=\'Oct 26 2005, 11:38 PM\'][quote name=\'Thad Dixon\' date=\'Sep 2 2005, 10:44 PM\']Weren't they in New Orleans sometime in the 2001-02 season as well? I seem to recall the first $100K loss in their current bonus round happened there, too.
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Yes they were. And it turned out that it was an almost ladies sweep! A college guy saved the day making it 9-1.
I'm afraid that this will be the 13th road trip in a row!
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Good lord...........I think I need to introduce Witch (and tmq for that matter) to a true Cajun helping of crawfish bisque with extra hot sauce in it (as we Louisianans love hot sauce with everything. :-D)
Back on topic here though, "Let's Party" could mean just about anything. I think that was a smart move on Friedman and co. to change around the theme names up a little.
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Starting next Monday, we will get to see the 2nd week of Wheel shows; but with half the Convention Center audience.
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Since this topic came back up, and referring back to the "why watch after the disaster posts"...
I was rereading the Gil Fates WML book (gotta take that back to the library this weekend) and he remarked about the syndie shows with Bennett Cerf that ran after his death.
People wrote in and complained, and Fates sent out a form letter saying "they were taped before his death, thought people would like one last chance to share his wit and humor, etc."
He also mentioned that some of the stations complained, but quit after Fates asked them to share some of the costs incurred in making the tapes to begin with.