User:Daniel Benfield/Joker's Wild 1990 Episode Guide

Syndicated, Daily: September 10, 1990 - March 8 [September 13], 1991 (approx. 130 episodes, taped May 1990 - January 1991 at Television City)

The 1990s version of The Joker's Wild pretty much just used the name and a couple of ideas and built a definition-based format onto it, then tried to bring back the idea of categories at midseason...before going back to their original format at the very end (I'll get to that).

All that said, the show isn't not that bad, though I can't say I disagree with some of the criticisms lobbed against it. The 1990-91 season being overcrowded by games didn't help its chances, either.

In both formats, the Joker's Jackpot started at $5,000 and grew by $500 each day until won.

Repeats aired on USA from December 30, 1991 through September 11, 1992, then again from March 29, 1993 through June 24, 1994.

The "Other" Episodes
There are two other episodes which don't particularly fit into either of the below, to my knowledge.


 * One is the pilot, shot in 1989. A photo of Pat Finn in front of the slot machine appeared in Broadcasting.
 * The other, per this Game Show Forum post, was a special celebrity episode taped specifically for Detroit's WJBK with David Rogers (then-weatherman for WJBK), Gil Hill, and Denny McLain as the players.

"Dollar" Format
September 10, 1990 - January 4, 1991 (approx. 85 episodes)

In this format, it takes $500 to end Round 1 and $2,000 to end Round 2.

Originally, the opening spiel was "Welcome back to the game where knowledge is king and lady luck is queen! It's the return of The Joker's Wild! Now here's your host, Pat Finn!" By about mid-December, this was altered to remove "back" and "the return of".

It's been said that the Premiere was a continuation from a "mock pilot"; the first few airdates are given based on this.


 * September 10, 1990 (Premiere): MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 2?) vs. Judi vs. Michael. [Michael Cedar is deemed the returning champion, for reasons explained above; oddly, the Joker's Jackpot is at $7,000.]
 * September 11, 1990: MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 3 - $4,800+) vs. Liz vs. Larry. [Circulates from a WHEC airing (not sure if original broadcast or repeat).]
 * September 12, 1990: MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 4 - $8,345) vs. Jodi vs. Roger. [Circulates from a KCOP airing (not sure if original broadcast or repeat), as well as a 3/2/94 USA broadcast with commercials; $8,000 Joker's Jackpot won!]
 * September 13, 1990: MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 5 - $18,395) vs. Carolyn vs. Greg. [Joker's Jackpot resets to $5,000.]
 * September 14, 1990: MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 6 - $21,900) vs. Cathleen vs. Al.


 * September 17, 1990: MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 7) vs. Eric vs. Jim. [Circulates from original broadcast, with commercials.]
 * September 18, 1990: MICHAEL CEDAR (Day 8) vs. Kathy vs. Roger. [Circulates from an old broadcast (not sure if Syn. or USA), albeit with low audio.]
 * September 19, 1990: Roger (Day 2 - $2,000+) vs. ? vs. ?.


 * Late 1990: Jonathan (Day 2 - $2,000+) vs. Carlene vs. THOMAS VAN DYKE (Joker's Jackpot: $11,500).
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 2 - $4,000+) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 3) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 4) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 5) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 6) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 7) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 8) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 9) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 10) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 11) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 12) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 13 - $36,017!) vs. Najee vs. Barney. [Circulates from a USA broadcast; Thomas breaks the Joker's Jackpot for $17,500!]
 * Late 1990: THOMAS VAN DYKE (Day 14 - $55,562!) vs. Marita vs. Darrell. [Joker's Jackpot resets to $5,000.]
 * Late 1990: Darrell (Day 2 - $8,000+) vs. ? vs. ?.


 * Late 1990: George vs. Vicki vs. Darrell. [Circulates from a USA broadcast, with commercials. Possibly the same Darrell as above; not sure.]


 * Late 1990: Dennis vs. Ron vs. Kim. [Circulates from a USA broadcast, with commercials.]


 * Late 1990: John vs. Susan vs. Raymond. [A correct answer on The B-52's is declared wrong!]
 * Late 1990: Raymond (Day 2 - $2,000+) vs. Christine vs. DONNA MCNEELY. [Circulates from a USA broadcast, with commercials; Donna breaks the Joker's Jackpot for $10,500!; Pat says "tomorrow" when signing off.]
 * [In this Game Show Forum post, Chuck Donegan lists this win as having happened during the third week. No idea how accurate that is, but I thought I'd note it just in case some contemporary articles or somesuch turn up.]
 * Late 1990: DONNA McNEELY (Day 2 - $12,500+) vs. ? vs. ?. [Joker's Jackpot resets to $5,000.]
 * Late 1990: DONNA McNEELY (Day 3 - $15,600?) vs. Greg vs. Pat. [Circulates from a USA broadcast. Pat says "tomorrow" when signing off.]
 * Late 1990: DONNA McNEELY (Day 4 - $18,805) vs. Peter vs. Janie. [Circulates from a 4/93 USA broadcast, with commercials; Pat says "tomorrow" when signing off.]
 * Late 1990: DONNA McNEELY (Day 5 - $21,855?) vs. Jon vs. Toby. [Circulates from a USA broadcast. Pat says "tomorrow" when signing off. Still has the original intro.]
 * Late 1990: DONNA McNEELY (Day 6 - $23,875) vs. ? vs. ?.


 * December 1990: Steve vs. Jann vs. John. [Circulates from original broadcast with commercials, albeit with low audio; uncertain intro.]

Intro slightly shortened (began by about mid-12/90)
 * December 1990: Debra (Day 4 - $19,800+) vs. Jobie vs. Alison (Joker's Jackpot: $6,000). [Circulates from a USA broadcast, with most commercials; Jobie was later on Scattergories (1993).]
 * December 1990: Jobie (Day 2 - $2,000+) vs. ? vs. ?.


 * December 31, 1990: Jon vs. ? vs. ?. [Jon is the same one from Donna/Jon/Toby, presumably back due to an error.]
 * January 1, 1991: Jon (Day 2) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * January 2, 1991: Jon (Day 3) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * January 3, 1991: Jon (Day 4) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * January 4, 1991: Jon (Day 5) vs. ? vs. ?.

"Categories" Format
January 7 - March 8, 1991 (well...kinda; approx. 45 episodes)

It now takes $1,000 to end Round 1, and straddling is now present, but otherwise the show is pretty much the same.

January
 * January 7, 1991: Jon (Day 6 - $15,600+) vs. Peter vs. Greg (Joker's Jackpot: $26,500). [Circulates from original broadcast, with commercials.]
 * January 8, 1991: Peter ($2,000) at Joker Machine, then (Game 2) vs. Julie vs. J.C. [Circulates from original broadcast, with commercials; J.C. was also on Press Your Luck (1984).]
 * January 9, 1991: Julie ($2,000) at Joker Machine, then (Game 2) vs. ? vs. ?.
 * January 10, 1991: Steve at Joker Machine, then vs. Jeff vs. Ned. [Circulates from a 12/30/93 USA broadcast with commercials (ends during credits); Jeff was also on Shuffle: The Interactive Game (1994).]
 * January 11, 1991: Jeff (Game 2) vs. Kathy vs. Jay. [Circulates from original broadcast, with some commercials.]


 * January 14, 1991: Jeff (Game 3) vs. Joan vs. Ted.
 * January 15, 1991: Jeff (Game 4) vs. Sioux vs. Steve. [Circulates from a 1/4/94 USA broadcast with commercials (ends during credits).]
 * January 16, 1991: Sioux (Game 2) vs. Chip vs. Rod. [Circulates from a 1/5/94 USA broadcast with commercials (ends during credits).]
 * January 17, 1991: Rod (Game 2 - $2,000) vs. Sally vs. Frank (Joker's Jackpot: $30,500). [Circulates from a 1/6/94 USA broadcast, with commercials; Audience Game played!]
 * January 18, 1991: Frank (Game 2 - $2,500) vs. Nancy vs. Billy. [Circulates from a 1/7/94 USA broadcast, with commercials.]

Maingame slides change (began 1/21/91)
 * January 21, 1991: Frank (Game 3) vs. Sharon vs. Rusty. [Circulates from a 1/10/94 USA broadcast, with commercials.]
 * January 22, 1991: Frank (Game 4) vs. David vs. Dennis. [Circulates from a 1/11/94 USA broadcast with commercials (ends during credits).]
 * January 24, 1991: Frank vs. Phil vs. Kay. [Circulates from a 1/13/94 USA broadcast with commercials, albeit with no last segment.]
 * January 25, 1991: Phil (Game 2) vs. Beth vs. Anthony. [Circulates from a 1/14/94 USA broadcast, with commercials (ends during credits).]


 * January 28, 1991: Phil at Joker Machine, then vs. Libby vs. Joyce. [Circulates from a 1/17/94 USA broadcast, with commercials.]
 * January 30, 1991: Laura ($3,700+) vs. Dennis vs. Nancy (Joker's Jackpot: $35,000). [Circulates from a 1/19/94 USA broadcast, with commercials; Pat still makes comments about the "new" format.]

February
 * February 1, 1991: Dennis (Game 2 - $2,000+) vs. Mary vs. David. [Circulates from a 1/21/94 USA broadcast with commercials, albeit with no last segment.]


 * February 4, 1991: Mary at Joker Machine, then vs. Tim vs. William. [Circulates from a USA broadcast (most likely 1/24/94), with few commercials; Mary breaks the Joker's Jackpot for $36,000!]
 * February 5, 1991: ? vs. ? vs. ?.
 * February 6, 1991: Jerry vs. Karen vs. Tom. [Circulates from a 1/26/94 USA broadcast, with commercials (first minute missing); Audience Game played!]
 * February 7, 1991: Tom (Game 2 - $2,000) vs. John vs. Jock. [Circulates from a USA broadcast (most likely 1/27/94), with commercials; Audience Game played!]
 * February 8, 1991: Tom vs. Judy vs. Mike. [Circulates from a 1/28/94 USA broadcast, with commercials (first minute missing).]


 * February 1991: John vs. Elizabeth vs. Mike. [Specific placement unknown.]


 * February 14, 1991: Peter vs. Howard vs. Fred. [Circulates from a 2/94 USA broadcast with commercials (ends during bonus round).]
 * February 15, 1991: Peter (Champ) vs. Winnie vs. John. [Circulates from a 2/94 USA broadcast with commercials, albeit with no intro; Joker's Jackpot won!]


 * February 18, 1991: John (Game 2) vs. Cameron vs. Tom. [Circulates from a 2/14/94 USA broadcast, with commercials.]
 * February 19, 1991: John (Game 3 - $13,500) vs. Rochelle vs. Tony. [Circulates from a 2/15/94 USA broadcast, with commercials (ends during fee plugs); copyright date is still 1990; by this point, Pat no longer remarks about the "new" format.]
 * February 20, 1991: John (Game 4 - $15,500) vs. ? vs. ?.

Copyright date changes to 1991 (began by 2/27/91)
 * February 27, 1991: Greg vs. Irene vs. Mark. [Circulates from a 2/94 USA broadcast with commercials, albeit with no intro.]
 * February 28, 1991: Lew vs. Carolyn vs. Mark. [Circulates from a 2/94 USA broadcast with commercials, albeit with no intro.]

March

On March 6 or 7, the format reverts to the "dollar"-era style, presumably to avoid having the possibility of straddling on the last show.


 * March 1, 1991: ? vs. ? vs. ?.


 * March 4, 1991: Matt at Joker Machine, then vs. Wendy vs. Art. [Circulates from a USA broadcast (most likely 2/21/94), with commercials.]
 * March 5, 1991: Wendy (Game 2) vs. Gary vs. Morris. [Circulates from a 2/22/94 USA broadcast, with commercials.]

Return to "dollar" format (began 3/6 or 7/91)
 * March 7, 1991: Larry vs. Sue vs. Jim. [Circulates from a 2/24/94 USA broadcast, with commercials.]
 * March 8, 1991 (Unannounced Finale): Sue (Game 2 - $3,000+) vs. Remi vs. Michael (Joker's Jackpot: $11,500). [Circulates from a 2/25/94 USA broadcast with commercials, albeit with no intro.]
 * [For the record, Michael's last name is Martin. For a time, I'd thought that this was Michael Cedar's actual first appearance, but the copyright date is 1991.]