One of the most successful game shows in history, Wheel of Fortune actually is a version of the children's game Hangman (with a large carnival wheel and prizes added). The game show, which did modestly well in the 1970s, became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1980s through syndication and made household names out of its hosts, Pat Sajak and Vanna White. Simply put, the Wheel has never stopped spinning since its premiere as an NBC daytime show that winter day in January 1975. (Ironically, the series replaced Jeopardy!, which later in 1984 when it returned, became its current companion in syndication.) The rules of the game Three contestants -- at various times during the run, including a returning champion -- compete. The host announces a category to a mystery puzzle (person, place, thing, phrase, quotation, event, landmark, occupation, etc.). The puzzle was originally contained on a three-tier, 36-space board (in 1981, changed to a four-tier, 52-space board; and in 1997, an all-e
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Seasons | |||
| Specials | 0 | ||
| Season 1 | September 1983 | 195 | |
| Season 2 | 195 | ||
| Season 3 | 195 | ||
| Season 4 | April 1987 | 195 | |
| Season 5 | 195 | ||
| Season 6 | September 1988 | 26 | |
| Season 7 | 0 | ||
| Season 8 | September 1990 | November 1990 | 50 |
| Season 9 | September 1991 | October 1991 | 25 |
| Season 10 | October 1992 | 1 | |
| Season 12 | December 1994 | December 1994 | 5 |
| Season 13 | February 1996 | 1 | |
| Season 14 | September 1996 | January 1997 | 6 |
| Season 15 | September 1997 | April 1998 | 7 |
| Season 16 | October 1998 | May 1999 | 6 |
| Season 17 | September 1999 | March 2000 | 2 |
| Season 18 | September 2000 | November 2000 | 10 |
| Season 19 | October 2001 | May 2002 | 11 |
| Season 20 | September 2002 | May 2003 | 15 |
| Season 21 | September 2003 | May 2004 | 17 |
| Season 22 | May 2004 | May 2005 | 13 |
| Season 23 | June 2006 | 1 | |
| Season 24 | March 2007 | 26 | |
| Season 25 | September 2007 | September 2007 | 5 |
| Season 27 | September 2009 | January 2010 | 41 |
| Season 28 | September 2010 | May 2011 | 12 |
| Season 29 | November 2011 | May 2012 | 7 |
| Season 30 | March 2013 | June 2013 | 19 |
| Season 31 | September 2013 | June 2014 | 52 |
| Season 32 | December 2014 | April 2015 | 7 |
| Season 33 | September 2015 | June 2016 | 195 |
| Season 34 | September 2016 | June 2017 | 195 |
| Season 35 | September 2017 | June 2018 | 195 |
| Season 36 | September 2018 | June 2019 | 194 |
| Season 37 | September 2019 | September 2020 | 166 |
| Season 38 | September 2020 | June 2021 | 195 |
| Season 39 | September 2021 | June 2022 | 200 |
| Season 40 | September 2022 | June 2023 | 195 |
| Season 41 | September 2023 | June 2024 | 195 |
| Season 42 | September 2024 | December 2024 | 82 |
| Unassigned Episodes | 0 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specials | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 3152 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | February 2014 | 1 | |
| Unassigned Episodes | 3151 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Sajak | N/A | ||
| Ryan Seacrest | N/A | ||
| Vanna White | N/A |
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We are what we watch-and over the last half century, we've watched some pretty fabulous TV. From Mary to Jerry, from Tonight to Today, from the sublime (Prime Suspect) to the ridiculous (Gilligan's Island), EW recalls everything you need to know about 100 shows that tell us who we are.
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