The original version of Wheel was a network daytime series that ran on NBC from January 6, 1975, to June 30, 1989, and subsequently aired on CBS from July 17, 1989, to Januit returned to NBC on January 14, 1991, and was cancelled that year, ending on September 20, 1991. It stars Pat Sajak and Vanna White as hosts, who have hosted the nighttime version since its inception. The current version of the series, which airs in nightly syndication, premiered on September 19, 1983. It features a competition in which contestants solve word puzzles, similar to those in hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a giant carnival wheel. The show has aired continuously since January 1975. Likely because only one contestant ever took his advice during that period, Pat generally stopped doing this in Season 29 save for one occasion (May 10, 2012), after which the contestant solved incorrectly while on the wedge.ĭespite its 'face' value, Final Spins that land on Free Play were edited out.ĭuring Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Free Play was replaced with an orange $950 wedge.įree Play was retired at the end of Season 38 and replaced with a yellow $850 wedge.Wheel of Fortune (often known simply as Wheel ) is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin.

Throughout Seasons 27 and 28, if a contestant hit Free Play with most of the puzzle revealed, Pat would typically remind them that they could attempt to solve the puzzle with no penalty for an incorrect answer.

Presumably, $500 would have also been added to the Jackpot if the player solved the puzzle incorrectly, although this never happened in the Jackpot round.Ĭontestants were generally encouraged to call vowels on Free Play if any remain. Aside from this, Free Play acted as a $500 wedge: correct consonants were worth $500 each, and $500 was added to the Jackpot in Seasons 27-30 regardless of whether the player chose to call a consonant or vowel. Simultaneously replacing the Free Spin token and the yellow $400 between Lose A Turn and Bankrupt, Free Play allowed contestants to call a letter, call a free vowel, or solve the puzzle right away, all without penalty or money loss.

Free Play was one of the gameplay elements on Wheel of Fortune.

Wheel of fortune board game online