Created by Merv Griffin, Wheel of Fortune is a television game show, made for NBC. Griffin is also the executive producer alongside Harry Friedman, Mike Richards, Bellamie Blackstone and Steve Schwartz.
The first season of the show premiered in 1983 and ran for 39 more seasons. It received generally positive reviews and has been rated 6.7/10 on IMDb. It is currently the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States, with 7,000 episodes aired since May 2019. The show will soon return with its 40th season.
So, when is Wheel of Fortune Season 40 releasing? What is the format? Who would come back as the host of the show? Continue reading to know further details.
Wheel of Fortune Format and Cast
Wheel of Fortune is based on hangman. In each round, three players compete to be the first to guess all of the unknown words in a word puzzle, which is displayed visually on a board of 52 touch monitors. At the start of each round, the host reveals the category, which remains on the bottom of the viewer’s screen for the duration of the round.
Crossword puzzles were added to the rotation in 2016. In such rounds, the host gives a clue bonding the words in the puzzle instead of a category. Contestants win by solving all the words in the crossword by saying them in any order, as long as all of the words are said without any repetition or additional words.
The titular Wheel of Fortune is a roulette-style wheel with 24 wedges, each of which is divided into thirds. Most wedges are labeled with dollar amounts ranging from $500 to $900 and there is also a top dollar value wedge adorned with sequins: $2,500 in round 1, $3,500 in rounds 2 and 3, and $5,000 for round 4 and any subsequent rounds. An $850 wedge was added in 2021, replacing the Free Play that was removed the same year.
The wheel also features two Bankrupt wedges and one Lose a Turn wedge. Landing on either forfeits the contestant’s turn, with the Bankrupt wedge also eliminating any cash or prizes the contestant has accumulated within the round. Pat Sajak and Vanna White are expected to come back as hosts.
Wheel of Fortune Season 40 Release Date
The latest season of Wheel of Fortune premiered in September 2021 and concluded in June 2022. Considering that, Season 40 should premiere by the first half of 2023.
The series was originally distributed by King World Productions from 1984 to 2007 and is currently being distributed by CBS Media Ventures. The show has also had four announcers in its history – Charlie O’Donnell, Jack Clark, M. G. Kelly, and Jim Thornton.
Wheel of Fortune Season 40 Trailer
The developers have not released a trailer of Wheel of Fortune Season 40. Until it comes out, you can check a glimpse of the show below: