Wheel and its discarding of shopping.

[PYLdude]

Most, if not all, of us know that the nighttime Wheel dropped the shopping portion of the game in 1987.

All the information I've been able to find, which admittedly isn't much, states that this change happened permanently in October after a month long trial run at the start of the season, and I've added this info to a certain knowledge base. But someone removed it, telling me that the info I got is wrong. That in fact the trial run didn't happen until October.

So who is right here?

[aaron sica]

IIRC, the start of the season had shopping - the "Big Month of Cash" began when October did.

[TLEberle]

So here's a thing; what constitutes a "permanent change" and is this really a battle you want to take up?

[clemon79]

I distinctly remember it running as a special promo, and then people Liked It So Damn Much that they adopted it permanently.

[snowpeck]

When GSN ran the Merv Griffin tribute marathon, the first all-cash episode was listed as #796. Given that they produce 195 episodes per season, that would mean the 87-88 season started with three weeks of shopping.

So three weeks of shopping in September, then the "Big Month of Cash" in October. then the "Big Bonanza of Cash" for a few months, then they just stopped referring to it at all.

[Vahan_Nisanian]

When GSN ran the Merv Griffin tribute marathon, the first all-cash episode was listed as #796. Given that they produce 195 episodes per season, that would mean the 87-88 season started with three weeks of shopping.

Both you and Chris (the OP) are correct. It DID indeed begin in October 1987.

[TLEberle]

Both you and Chris (the OP) are correct. It DID indeed begin in October 1987.

I don't doubt that you're right. Can you prove it to satisfy Wikipedia's labyrinthine rules?

[Vahan_Nisanian]

Wikipedia says the same thing, and even cites an article by Ben Kubasik in Newsday to prove it.

[chad1m]

King World told the 207 stations that carry Wheel of Fortune last Tuesday (Sept. 22) that beginning Oct. 5, episodes of the show will take on a different, "glossier' look with major prizes of Jaguar cars, $40,000 diamond necklaces and $50,000 zero coupon bonds. Additionally, the freshened version of the show will delete the shopping spree at the end of each of the show's three game rounds, creating time for a fourth game within the show.
...
Each round of the show will now include higher cash prizes since, for Wheel fans, the winning of money "is what people go for,' according to King World chairman Roger King. The maximum that a contestant can win will also be raised from $75,000 to $100,000.

"'Wheel of Fortune' given new spin: next month show takes on new look, new format and more expensive prizes." Broadcasting 28 Sept. 1987: 54-55.

[TLEberle]

I didn't notice, but the article does point out that the show did change its appearance during the Big Period of Cash.

/A zero coupon bond. Even I'm not that risk-averse.

[golden-road]

Sorry to go off topic, but what is a Zero Coupon Bond?

[clemon79]

Sorry to go off topic, but what is a Zero Coupon Bond?

Well would you look at that.

[Kevin Prather]

I'll ask a little more complex question, one that I couldn't find the answer with a quick google search.

One of the bonus prizes on offer from time to time was a $100,000 annuity (at least, I think it was an annuity.) And yet, the $25,000 cash was still the popular option. What were the conditions of the annuity to make the $25,000 cash a more appealing option, besides the "get it now" factor?

[clemon79]

One of the bonus prizes on offer from time to time was a $100,000 annuity (at least, I think it was an annuity.)

I could swear it was only $50K, but whatever.

besides the "get it now" factor?

Stop right there and ship it. Even at $100K, over 20 years that's 5K a year before taxes. People just aren't that forward-thinking.

[TLEberle]

One of the bonus prizes on offer from time to time was a $100,000 annuity (at least, I think it was an annuity.) And yet, the $25,000 cash was still the popular option. What were the conditions of the annuity to make the $25,000 cash a more appealing option, besides the "get it now" factor?

One I remember was to a value of $77,000: $3k a year for nine years and a $50,000 balloon payment in year ten. If you had to wait ten years to get a double payoff (in addition to the little payments along the way) would you take that or the cash up front? (And really, if you got itchy over having that financial instrument someone would be willing buy it from you and you'd get more than the $25k out of it)

Later on when the value of the bonus prizes came back to the stratosphere the annuity would be $20k or $30k and polite applause would ensue if won.