The new seasons of both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy started this week, and while most of the games are exactly the same, both shows debuted a couple of new things that might have hardcore game show fans talking.First, WOF. They're in Las Vegas this week, and the game hasn't changed except for one thing: they've gotten rid of the "Free Spin" card! This doesn't have the same impact as Darrin being replaced on Bewitched or William Petersen leaving CSI, but when you take something away from hardcore game show fans, they can get pretty rowdy. I don't know if that will happen here since "Free Spin" has been replaced by a "Free Play" space on the wheel. If you land on this spot, you get to do anything you want: choose a consonant, ask for a vowel, etc, and if you're wrong it's OK, you don't lose your turn.
James Poniewozik thinks this might be WOF trying to keep up with reality shows. Not sure if that's true (though I wouldn't be surprised), but I agree with him that the change wasn't needed.
As for Jeopardy, the game is the same but they did change how it looks and sounds. The biggest change is the set, which has been replaced with the set that they used for the Las Vegas shows last season. I'm not sure I like it. They seem to be getting away from the warmer sets of old and getting bigger and more modern. This new set looks like a combo of an airplane hanger, a convention hall, and the set of Tron. I don't think they need all of the futuristic stuff (like the different lights on the podiums), but the show has been on for decades so what do I know.
They've also changed the music that is used when they reveal the categories. Gone are the "bloop bloop bloop bloop" sounds (which I think they didn't have at all the past couple of seasons?), replaced by a more melodic sound.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-16-2009 @ 6:43PM
Andrew said...
I like the Jeopardy changes, but one thing that bugs me is that there is a small delay when a contestant rings in that bugs me.
I don't watch WOF very often, but the free play sounds interesting.
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9-18-2009 @ 2:26PM
Janis said...
I love Jeopardy, but I do not like all the lines-especially the long white ones on the new set. And I do not like the scribble on the contestant podiums. But love Alex and company-
9-16-2009 @ 6:58PM
Elf said...
WOF has changed so many things over the years and tweaked so many elements that the only thing still resembling the original show are the puzzle, the wheel and the number of contestants. I say bring back the prize purchasing segment, gift certificates, putting money on account, contestants returning if they win and of course, the ceramic dalmations. (Kids, ask your parents.)
As for Jeopardy, I don't care how the set looks. They could bring back the old 1960's Art Fleming set with the cardboard sliders revealing the answers on the board and with the exception of the video daily doubles, the game would play exactly as it has for the last 25 years.
In fact, that might be a fun idea for a week of episodes in their 25th anniversary year: "Nostalgia Set" week. Recreate the old low-tech set, fly in Don Pardo for a day, make the contestants wear cheap suits with thin ties (or 'house-frau' dresses for the women). Since I believe Art Fleming is no longer with us they could at the very least give Alex Trebek an old afro wig and mustache and the gaudy tuxedo he used to wear when he did "High Rollers."
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9-16-2009 @ 8:07PM
scottR said...
As for WoF, the free spin was hardly ever used strategically. Basically a contestant would get it, wait till they lost a turn somehow, Pat would ask them if they wanted to use the free spin, and they would say yes. This is basically what the Free Play does, except you land on it instead.
But the Free Play is better because you can get a free vowel out of it as well.
Hardly a big change, especially compared to Toss-Ups or adding $1000 to the final round, or the other changes elf mentioned.
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9-17-2009 @ 10:44AM
Happy Steve said...
I agree with scottR. I especially like that now every player gets an equal chance of using the Free Play. With the Free Spin, it only goes to the first one to land on it. And it might go completely wasted if not used by the Speed Up Round!
(I was a WOF contestant two seasons ago. Never got to pick up anything from the Wheel itself, but that's okay as I was the big winner anyway.)
9-16-2009 @ 10:09PM
M-D said...
They've also changed the music that is used when they reveal the categories. Gone are the "bloop bloop bloop bloop" sounds (which I think they didn't have at all the past couple of seasons?), replaced by a more melodic sound.
You're correct - for a few seasons now, they've done without the "populating the board" animation and associated SFX. My impression was that skipping the animation allowed Alex to get through the category names and into the round faster. I'm surprised it's back.
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9-16-2009 @ 11:01PM
TAG said...
I think they need to increase the price on vowels. Using vowels
should be a last resort type of move. Instead contestants are
spinning the wheel, saying an obvious letter, and immediately buying
a vowel.
They should be at a minimum $500, if not $1000 to make you
re-consider on buying one to help out.
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 12:12AM
beergas said...
Don't hardly watch WOF but noticed during Yankees rain delay that there was a $1 Million slot that some guy had
gotten. Some bunch of conditions he would need to fulfill
to get it at the game's end. Went back to Yanks and forgot all about it. Perhaps that's newish? Or rarely hit so just never saw someone holding the card. Bk spin was getting hit a lot so guess cost containmnet in vogue there too. How reality based is that! lol
Agree with comments that Jep is colder somehow. Seems to be on edge of flash & cozy. Hard to be both. Lighting isn't too bad a chance but who feel is much more remote.
Second round q&a are still hard but first round a touch easier.
And final seems still a head teaser.
Players don't yet seem as goofy now and then but season is
still young. Maybe gets some soul as goes alone.
Reading of answers seems faster so moves faster.
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 11:45AM
Mike said...
Something tells me you'd try to skip the grammar category were you on Jeopardy.
9-18-2009 @ 1:43AM
Darrell Mayeda said...
the million dollar wedge is very hard to get. it is on the wheel sandwiched between a bankrupt space. basically it's half the size of a regular money "wedge" If you hit a bankrupt you lose the million dollar "wedge" if you keep it and are the top money winner then the $100,00 is replaced by a million dollar envelope on the "prize wheel" that selects your prize you win. I think too many people were going for the big ticket prize and they do have to pay for them somehow.
9-17-2009 @ 11:09PM
M-D said...
The "Million Dollar Wedge" was added to WoF last season. Conditions are the same as other wedge-based prizes, except that the contestant must win the entire front game (rather than just the round in which the wedge is picked up) without hitting a Bankrupt. The $100K prize envelope on the bonus round mini-wheel is then substituted for a "$1Million" envelope.
It's odd that people are complaining that the J! set is "too cold" now...they only had the hardwood floors (and walls, and podiums...) for about 12 years. Anyone remember all the red & blue neon from the show's early seasons? THAT was a cold set.
9-17-2009 @ 8:35PM
jorgebrito2 said...
I like both game shows. I also like other game shows as well.
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 8:36PM
zachhoran said...
Jeopardy! is also doing a celebrity tournament this season featuring 27 celebs, some of them former celeb contestants on J! One game each month from Sep-May will feature three celebs, the first of them airing tonight 9/17with Wolf Blitzer/Andy Richter/Dana Delany. The winners of those nine games will compete in one of three semi final games, and the winners of those games will compete in a two game total point finals(much like the Teen tournament and TofC have) for a million dollars for the charity of the winning contestant.
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 9:04PM
Carolyn Zehr said...
I enjoyed both programs just as they were. My feeling is that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
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9-17-2009 @ 9:16PM
Carolyn said...
I knew Wolf Blitzer was dumb as a brick, but I didn't know how dumb. I've never seen anyone ending up so deep in the hole. Anyway, it's always the same with the celebrities. They dumb down the questions and most celebs still don't know the answers. I wish they'd just drop the celeb shows. Once a month is too often to see them embarrass themselves.
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9-17-2009 @ 10:10PM
Carolyn (Zehr) said...
I agree completely, but seeing them on Jeopardy! just gives me another reason not to watch them on their programs.
9-18-2009 @ 4:04AM
Former sailor said...
I agree, Carolyn: too many celebrity shows, with extremely relaxed and seldom-enforced rules, were responsible for the demise of the original "Who wants to be a millionaire?" If they are going to have celebrities (Wolf Blitzer is a "celebrity?) on, they should do so for just one week, maybe two, but no more.
9-18-2009 @ 12:28PM
beverly said...
I think they are both way too gaudy and overdecorated. All the TV backgrounds are heading that way and one doesn't know where to look! Back to basics, please.
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 9:31PM
Jim Barnette said...
I see no need to mess with success, concerning WOF,I do have a complaint that has bugged me for as long as it was introduced to the show. That being, having the contestents applaude. This adds nothing to the show, but it distracts the players. All you need to do is tell them they may applaude if they want. A player that has won no money is not happy enough to applaude.
Reply
9-17-2009 @ 9:44PM
Alia said...
I HATE the "celebrity" Jeopardy shows! I can't believe what morons these people are! Please, stop doing celebrity shows!
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