Wheel of Fortune timeline (syndicated)/Season 42

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A timeline for Season 42 of Wheel of Fortune, which aired premiered in first-run syndication on September 9, 2024.

Season changes[]

Season 42 of "Wheel of Fortune" premiered on September 9, 2024, with Ryan Seacrest taking over as host of the syndicated version. Seacrest replaced Pat Sajak, who retired after 41 seasons as host (1983-2024). Sajak retired from broadcasting to focus on other projects. In addition to hosting "Wheel of Fortune," Seacrest is also the host of "Wild Animal Games" and "American Idol."
Season 42 of Wheel of Fortune premiered on September 9, 2024. One of the most noticeable changes is the new look of the set:
- The puzzle board consisted of a thin neon blue edge. The board also has a new golden border, consisting of 90 "wedges" that alternate in shades of gold. In addition, there are two hollow golden illuminated wheels behind the board, similar to the ones that appeared on the set in the 1995-1997 seasons. The lights flash clockwise when the puzzle is solved.
- In addition to serving as the entrance for the hosts, a new feature was added to the center stage. It is a door that is an illuminated blue-and-white oval frame with a blue lining, and within it is a blue oval. As an added feature, the door doubles as a video screen, with the beams of the frame “radiating” in blue and white patterns.
- The contestant backdrop consists of two hollow golden illuminated wheels, similar to the ones that are located behind the puzzle board.
- The base of the Wheel has blue light beams, although they do not appear between the arrows. The new base is black.
- The Wheel and contestant area are now considerably closer to the puzzle board, which has resulted in the front row of the middle portion of the audience being removed.
- The set has an illuminated two-row logo in a gold oval on the left of the stage.
- The floor of the set is lit up in blue and white, with a pattern that makes it look like a wheel.
- The contestant arrows are now cyan when not in use, but when in use, they change to match the color of the scoreboard of the contestant who has control.
- The audience now applauds when returning from commercial before Round 3 and before the Triple-Tossup.
- The Bonus Wheel's lights are changed to turquoise, and they chase in a perpendicular pattern as it spins. The lighted dome in the center is replaced with a solid gold beveled circle, similar to the one used in Season 19, and the Bonus Wheel now sits on a solid black cone-shaped stand, which itself stands atop a round platform that is appended to the Wheel's base exclusively for the Bonus Round.
- Ryan now stands to the contestant's right (viewer's left) throughout the Bonus Round, like Pat Sajak did during Seasons 3 and 4 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
- Starting with the December 27, 2024 episode, the intro has been extended, and Roman numerals have been added to the wheels on the set.
Toss-Up rounds and Speed-Up rounds now feature the puzzle board at the top of the screen and the contestants at the bottom. In addition, the category is now at the top of the screen, with each contestant's corresponding gold box lighting up in their respective podium color when they ring in. If a contestant solves a Toss-Up, their score appears in a rectangle below their box. Finally, the boxes "glow" during each contestant's turn in the Speed-Up rounds.
Several other graphic changes are made, all on the fifth week of taping:
- The opening sequence changed to the two-row logo zooming into place against a number of colored wedges, with several white-on-blue wheels in the background. This new opening sequence replaces the previous opening sequence, in which the two-row logo appeared on a solid background.
- The category strips are now translucent black with an opaque gold border, a change from previous seasons.
- The new graphics for losing turns and going bankrupt have white spots behind them.
- During the toss-up, the font changes to Futura Extra since Season 22.
- The Mystery Round wipe has been given a new look that matches the set.
- During the Toss-Ups and Speed-Up rounds, the puzzle board is now at the top and the contestants at the bottom. In addition, the category is now at the top of the screen, with each contestant's corresponding gold box lighting up in their respective podium color when they ring in. If a contestant solves a Toss-Up, their score appears in a rectangle below their box. Finally, the boxes "glow" during each contestant's turn in the Speed-Up rounds.
- The Mystery Round wipe has been given a new look that matches the set.
- The score graphics are back to their full-color rectangle format, but now they are considerably smaller than before.
- The Final Spin graphic consisted of a blue spinning wheel that had "Final" on the first wedge and "Spin" on the second wedge.
- During the Bonus Round, the category strips are now two inlaid golden ovals with connecting lines.
- The prize puzzles are now themed to the prize that is offered.
- With the closing chat and credits now running continuously, the split-screen during the closing chat was dropped, and the plugs between the closing chat and closing credits were discontinued.
- In the first two weeks of this season, one episode per week did not have a break between the end of the Bonus Round and the closing chat.
- The two-word Toss-Ups and bonus puzzles are now almost always on one line instead of being divided between two lines.
- Compared to previous seasons, there are now fewer confetti cannons on the set and confetti drops are now contained to only the area in which the contestant is standing, rather than the entire stage.
- The "Wheel of Fortune Memories" segments were discontinued after Pat Sajak retired from the show.
- The bonus round cars are retired permanently. This means that for future bonus rounds, there will no longer be a chance to win a car. Other prizes will be available in the bonus round, though.
- There is no closing chat after some Bonus Round wins. On the episodes where there is no closing chat, Vanna joins Ryan after he closes off.

September 2024[]

September 9 is Season Premiere Week, taped July 25. During this week:
- The Bonus Round is sponsored by LG, and contestants are given G in the Bonus Round in addition to RSTLNE. Also, $10,000 cash is added to every prize won in the Bonus Round. During the Bonus Round, RSTLNE appears before a wipe with the LG logo on a black background appears and the letters change to RSTLGNE, with the L and G closer to each other than the others. In a seemingly deliberate choice, every bonus puzzle this week has at least one G in it.
- Home viewers may enter each day's bonus puzzle on the show's website for a chance to win prizes, which vary each day.
On September 9:
- Ryan Seacrest hosts the syndicated version for the first time. He opens the show with a short speech welcoming viewers.
- Due to Monday Night Football, all ABC affiliates in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones air Wheel in primetime slots following the game. Unlike the previous three season premieres, the show airs in its entirety in all impacted markets.
- Jim introduces Ryan and Vanna with "And now, together for the first time, here are the stars of our show: Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!"
- Appropriately, the $1,000 Toss-Up is OPENING NIGHT.
- The NFL Prize wedge from last season's NFL Superfan Tournament is placed on the green $500 next to the pink $600. It awards two passes to any NFL game of the contestant's choice and is worth $2,500 (although its value is not stated). Unlike other Prize wedges, it does not award $500 per consonant when picked up, though the contestant's score still does the swiveling animation as if changing.
- In Round 1, contestant Corina forgets to pick up the Wild Card. In-studio, she and Ryan reach over to the card after her next spin and struggle to pick it up, a clip shown in promos but edited out of the actual show. Corina picking up the card is reshot and inserted in post-production on the turn where she earned it, though this results in the card reappearing on the Wheel during her second spin.
- After Round 2, there is a "season kickoff puzzle" which reveals in the style of a Toss-Up (including the music), accompanied by Jim saying, "How quickly can you solve tonight's season kickoff puzzle?" After the answer (MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL) fills in, he says, "Touchdown! Wheel of Fortune will be right back." Unlike the closing segment, this is not exclusive to ABC affiliates.
- There is a jump cut to Ryan when contestant Terry gives a wrong answer on the first Triple Toss-Up.
- ABC airings feature an alternate closing segment in which Ryan promotes Monday Night Football.
On September 10:
- Wheel is pre-empted in most Mountain and Pacific Time Zone markets by the 2024 Presidential Debate, although most affiliates schedule the show in primetime slots following the debate. Airings on ABC's East Coast O&O stations add a countdown clock for the debate in the top-right corner of the screen throughout the show.
- In Round 2, 16 turns are lost, 12 of which are consecutive. However, nine turns are edited out as part of three "null" cycles (with the latter two occurring consecutively), itself tying the record for the most known in one round. Ryan makes several exasperated comments throughout the round implying the edits, including, "This has never happened before on Wheel of Fortune", a clip shown in promos but not aired. Overall, the lost turns consist of nine wrong consonants (one of which is repeated), one wrong vowel, four Bankrupts (one of which is from the Mystery Wedge), and two Lose a Turns.
- A fourth "null" cycle is edited out at the start of Round 3.
- As the Prize Puzzle offers a trip to the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, Ryan announces after the copy that a home viewer may win a trip to the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Los Angeles by entering a form on the show's website.
On September 11:
- There is an additional Prize on the green $500 next to the pink $600, offering $10,000 from Health-Ade Kombucha. Like the NFL Prize on Monday, it does not offer $500 per consonant.
- Jim appears on-camera to promote Health-Ade Kombucha after Ryan mentions the above.
- The Speed-Up begins with a "null" cycle that is not edited out, although a second one is edited out later in the round.
- Contestant Samantha solves the Speed-Up IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW with only the K's and N's showing.
- The Bonus Round is spoiled two days in advance when a clip of it (including the puzzle and outcome) is shown on Good Morning America on September 9, as well as during an interview with Ryan and Vanna on Minneapolis affiliate WCCO-TV on September 10. The outcome is also spoiled in the daily promo, but not the winning contestant or puzzle.
On September 12;
- After contestant Caitlin wins a trip to New Orleans through the Prize Puzzle, Ryan gives her two free tickets to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour stop in that city.
- For the first time, both What Are You Doing? and What Are You Wearing? are offered as category choices in the Bonus Round.
On September 13:
- The Round 1 puzzle AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE is only the second Proper Name since Season 27 to be something other than a person's name, sports team, or college name.
- Contestant Derek wins a trip to Vanna's hometown of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the Prize Puzzle. Vanna joins Ryan at his podium to congratulate Derek.
September 16 is Jetsetters Week, taped July 26. During this week:
- A graphic with the week's theme now appears on both the doors and the base of the Wheel.
- Several rectangular, postcard-like graphics are around the set, two of which are inside the contestant backdrop.
On September 16:
- There is a cold open with Ryan and Vanna standing in front of the puzzle board, followed by a montage of both of them being prepared by wardrobe and makeup mixed with fast-motion shots of the set being prepared. ABC affilites instead show a cold open with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman promoting Monday Night Football.
- There is a $1,000,000 loss, which is the first in the Ryan Seacrest era. Unusually, the shot cuts back to the puzzle board after Ryan opens the envelope.
On September 18:
- Four consecutive penalty spaces are hit in Round 1 (three Bankrupts and Lose a Turn). The latter three comprise a "null" cycle that is not edited out, due to the Bankrupts not claiming anything. Overall, Bankrupt is hit six times, tying the record for the most known in one round.
- There is no credit roll, just Bellamie's producer credit and disclaimers.
- Ryan and Vanna talk about salmon at the end.
On September 19:
- Contestant Troy spins over the Final Spin bells due to Ryan not hearing them at first. There is a pause in recording while the producers determine how to handle this, and it is ultimately decided to count his spin as the value of the Final Spin.
- The bonus puzzle HIGH-END FASHION is a rare instance of What Are You Wearing? consisting solely of a descriptive term.
- A full credit roll was shown for the first time this season.
On September 20:
- Vanna wears a suit.
- During Round 3, there are two editing errors. The category strip shows Same Letter (the category of Round 1) instead of Living Things, and the reflection of the puzzle board in the floor lighting shows Vanna walking across the board despite her staying in place during the actual shot.
- For the first time since April 26, a Bonus Round puzzle is a singular word that is not a compound word or a word ending in -ING (DOLPHINS).
September 23 is Teacher's Week, taped June 10. During this week:
- The Season 39-41 set is used due to being taped out of order.
- All of the Prizes are sponsored by Road Scholar.
- Before Round 3 on Monday-Wednesday, there is a bumper of one of the teachers' students wishing them good luck.
On September 23, the Speed-Up (FINISHING IN FIRST PLACE) is categorized as Event instead of What Are You Doing?, due to the Triple Toss-Ups being What Are You Doing?
On September 24:
- Jim appears on-camera before Round 1.
- There was no bumper after the Bonus Round.
On September 25:
- The intro is shortened.
- Contestant Reneé is only the third known contestant to have an accent mark on their name tag.
- The Round 2 puzzle DRAWINGS PAINTINGS SCULPTURES is inexplicably missing the word AND.
- Kari appears to leave off the final S when solving the Round 3 puzzle VACATION KEEPSAKES, but this is not noticed. This does not affect the outcome, as she does not win.
On September 26:
- Contestant Kristen fails to claim $20,600 in Round 4.
- There is a $100,000 loss (the first $100,000 loss in the Ryan Seacrest era).
- Against normal practice, the closing theme is not back-timed to end with the credits.
On September 27, Jim appears on-camera during the contestant interviews.
September 30 is the BetMGM Big Winners Tournament, taped August 14. During this week:
- All of the Prize Puzzle trips are to various hotels in Las Vegas
- A variation of the BetMGM Jackpot mechanic from BetMGM Big Money Week in Season 41 is used: on Monday through Thursday, the Jackpot starts at $5,000, and each day's Jackpot is awarded to a home viewer who enters the Bonus Round puzzle online.
- A BetMGM Free Spin token is used, which works exactly like the Free Spin token, placed over the green $500 next to the orange $900, and awarding $500 per letter. Also, another BetMGM Free Spin token is placed on the Wheel if it was picked up in a previous round.
- No Crosswords are played.
- On the Friday finals, the tournament champion will have a chance to win the combined total of the 5 Jackpots.
- The Free Spin returned to the wheel.
On September 30:
- Starting with this episode (barring episodes taped before this), the title card is followed by an overhead shot of the Wheel spinning on its own. This shot is achieved by having a stagehand spin the Wheel, and is taped before the opening itself, after which the Wheel is reset to $2,500.
- Eight consecutive turns are lost in Round 1 (an incorrect R, Bankrupt, Lose a Turn, incorrect H, Lose a Turn, two more Bankrupts, and an incorrect M). Despite the former two Bankrupts not taking anything away and therefore comprising two consecutive "null" cycles, none of the turns are edited out, likely due to the non-penalty spins affecting the Jackpot.

October 2024[]

On October 1, a "null" cycle is not edited out of the Speed-Up.
On October 2:
- A "null" cycle is not edited out of Round 2 (an incorrect M, Lose a Turn, and an incorrect C).
- None of Same Name, Before & After, or Same Letter are used.
On October 4:
- For only the second time, and the first intentional time, the Million-Dollar Wedge is not used.
- As with Season 41's tournament, the finalists are positioned in chronological order of their first appearances.
- The Jackpot is tallied from the sum of Monday through Thursday's daily Jackpots plus the base $5,000.
- The $2,000 Toss-Up WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER ties the record for the longest answer to be used as a Toss-Up in terms of only letters, at 25 letters.
- After Round 1, there is a Wheel Winners segment for contestant Kelsey from January 31, 2024.
- Unlike the rest of this week, the Bonus Round is automatically played for the final Jackpot, which is totaled at $94,900. However, the Bonus Wheel is still spun to establish a prize for the home viewer sweepstakes.
- Contestant Cody wins the Jackpot and finishes with a two-day total of $148,050. The confetti is launched.
- There is no closing chat.
October 7 is Girlfriend Getaways, taped June 6 (the day before Pat Sajak's final show aired). During this week:
- The Season 39-41 set is used due to being taped out of order.
- On Monday-Wednesday, the Prize Puzzles are not themed to the week.
On October 7:
- After Round 1, there is a Wheel Winners segment for contestant Melissa from September 14, 2023.
- There is no closing chat.
On October 8:
- A photo of contestants Rachel and Amanda standing in front of Ryan's star on the Walk of Fame is shown during the contestant interview.
- During the post-game chat, Ryan's sister Meredith Seacrest Leach, the executive director & COO of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation introduces a children’s book called “The Make-Believers”.
On October 9:
- After Round 1, there is a Wheel Winners segment for contestant Fred from March 21, 2023.
- Jim appears on-camera after Round 2.
- Contestants Kim and Yolanda do a hula dance with Ryan before the start of Round 3.
- For the second time this season, the bonus puzzle is a singular word that is not a compound word or a word ending in -ING (BEGONIAS).
- There is a $100,000 loss.
- During the post-game chat, a clip montage of Vanna hanging out with her girlfriends in North Myrtle Beach is shown.
On October 10:
- Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
- Photos of younger versions contestants Jenny and Alisa are shown during the contestant interviews.
- Toya & Dionna added nail before all of the completely filled in words, so it was not accepted.
- Hallie and Nickie solved the second Triple-Tossup MR. WRONG with only the G showing.
- The Speed-Up puzzle PHOTO SHOOT has only one vowel.
On October 11:
- The Round 1 puzzle RUBIES DIAMONDS EMERALDS is missing an ampersand or AND.
- When contestants Hanna and Laura call P on Express in Round 3, a question mark appears in the letter circle due to the judges and Ryan not knowing what letter they called. While this is normal practice in-studio if a letter call is unclear, it is typically replaced with the actual letter in post-production.
- A total of $36,000 is unclaimed in the Speed-Up.
- During the post-game chat, clips of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation are shown.
October 14 is Great Outdoors Week. During this week, cars are offered during the Bonus Round.
On October 14:
- Starting with this episode (barring episodes taped before this), the lights around the Wheel now flash a pattern of red, yellow, blue, green, and fuchsia while the Wheel is spinning.
- Contestant Morgan finishes second with $21,000.
- The car is lost for the first time in the Ryan Seacrest era.
On October 15:
- The Speed Up (WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS) is categorized as Phrase instead of Quotation, due to Round 2 being a Quotation.
- Contestant Jamel wins $40,998 despite losing the Bonus Round.
On October 16:
- The Prize Puzzle (MOUNT OLYMPUS) is categorized as Landmark, instead of On the Map, due to the $2,000 Toss-Up being On the Map.
- Ryan and Vanna try some yo-yo tricks at the end.
On October 18, Round 2 is a Crossword Round with only three words.
October 21 is Halloween week.
On October 22:
- Round 1 (TRANSFORMING INTO A WEREWOLF) is categorized as What Are You Doing?, instead of Event, due to the Prize Puzzle being an Event.
- The Speed-Up (PURPLE RAIN PURPLE RAIN) is categorized as Song Lyrics, instead of 80's Song Lyrics.
- The Bonus Round (YOU WEAR IT WELL) is categorized as Phrase, instead of Song Title.
On October 23:
- Jim appears on-camera after Round 3.
- The Speed-Up (WICKED THE MUSICAL) is categorized as Show Biz, instead of Title, due to Round 2 being a Movie Title.
- There is a $100,000 win (first $100,000 win in the Ryan Seacrest era) and no closing chat.
On October 24, the real 8,000th episode airs, which is show #S-8044.
October 28 is the first week of sixth episodes.
On October 28:
- The Season Premiere set is used.
- There is a $100,000 win.
- The CBS Media Ventures logo was changed to CBS Broadcasting, Inc. logo
On October 29 and 30, the Season 39-41 set is used due to being taped out of order.
On October 29:
- The Girlfriend Getaway set is used.
- There is a $75,000 loss.
On October 30:
- The Great Escapes set is used
- There is a $100,000 win.
On October 31:
- The Halloween set is used
- The staff trick or treats with the kids at the end.

November 2024[]

On November 1:
- The Teachers week set is used.
- The seasons 39-41 set is used due to being taped out of order.
- There is no closing chat.
November 4 is Bright Lights, Big City, taped May 21. During this week, the Season 39-41 set is used due to being taped out of order. It is also Ryan's first taped week.
On November 4:
- Contestant Kenneth wins by $100.
- There is a $75,000 loss.
- Starting with this episode, the closing logo for CBS Media Ventures is replaced with one that reads "CBS Broadcasting Inc., A Paramount Company". This is also dubbed into reruns starting November 9. This change does not take effect on Jeopardy!
On November 5:
- Wheel is pre-empted in most of the United States due to coverage of the 2024 Presidential election.
- Contestant DeShannon solves the second Triple Toss-Up puzzle WASHING MY CAR with only the G showing.
- The bonus puzzle QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU is the first known one to contain more than one Q. It is solved.
- There is no closing chat.
On November 6:
- Vanna and Ryan come to give contestant Dean a hug after the main game and Vanna stood in between Alicia while she was choosing her BR category.
- During the post-game chat, contestant Alicia teaches Ryan and Vanna to do a dance called the "cumbia".
On November 8:
- Contestant Phoebe fills the Round 2 Before & After puzzle SESAME STREET SMARTS by herself.
- Ryan brought a shopping bag at the end.
November 11 is Veterans Week, taped August 15. During this week, cars are offered during the Bonus Round.
On November 11:
- Round 1 goes viral due to contestant Will incorrectly solving the puzzle GIVE YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE as "TREAT YOURSELF A ROUND OF SAUSAGE". This results in sausage company Johnsonville using the incorrect answer in a promotional collaboration with Wheel.
- The remaining letters of the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle are not revealed when the puzzle is solved.
- Contestant Chantel wins the game by solving only the Toss-Up puzzles.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
- Pictures of Ryan in the military are shown at the end.
On November 12, Ryan and Vanna talk with Dan at the end.
November 18 is LG Home for the Holidays
On November 18:
- Starting with this episode (barring episodes taped before this), the letters on the puzzle board are in a slightly thinner font.
- The taping of this episode is temporarily halted during the contestant interviews due to a fire alarm going off.
- Contestant Lindsay tells Ryan that she submitted several votes for Ruben Studdard during Season 2 of American Idol, after which a video message from Studdard is played, thanking Lindsay for her support.
- After contestant Joey mentions that his late father met Vanna at an event in 1985, a picture of them is shown on the center stage screen.
On November 22, Ryan and Vanna talk about cooking for the holidays at the end.
On November 23, Chuck Woolery passes away.
November 25 is Great Escapes, taped June 7. During this week, the Season 39-41 set is used due to being taped out of order.
On November 25, the $2,000 Toss-Up is OCEAN KAYAKING, which had previously been used as the $1,000 Toss-Up less than six weeks prior on October 18.
On November 26:
- Jim appears on-camera during the contestant interviews.
- The Speed-up (TOURING A WINERY) is categorized as Event, instead of What Are You Doing?, due to the Prize Puzzle being What Are You Doing?
On November 27:
- The $2,000 Toss-Up (TEXAS HOLD 'EM) is categorized as Song Title, instead of Fun & Games, in reference to the Beyoncé song.
- The remaining letters of the Speed-Up puzzle (WINDOW-SHOPPER) are revealed after Vanna touched the first W.
- The "only vowels remain" beeps do not sound in the Speed-Up.
On November 28, Ryan and Vanna sit in the beach chairs at the end.
On November 29, contestant Dimsey finishes second with $23,449.

December 2024[]

December 2 is Fabulous Food Week. During this week, cars are offered during the Bonus Round.
On December 3, the car is won for the first time in the Ryan Seacrest era and there is no closing chat.
On December 4, Vanna shows some tools with her initials engraved in them at the end.
On December 5:
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle WELL-BALANCED MEAL. It is the first time in the Ryan Seacrest that nobody solves a Toss-Up puzzle.
- Contestant Jenn finishes second with $20,490.
- Ryan and Vanna eat some banana pudding at the end.
On December 6:
- Nobody solves the $1,000 Toss-Up puzzle LET'S GET COOKING.
- Ryan and Vanna wear Christmas sweaters at the end.
December 9 is the first Disney Secret Santa Holiday Giveaway
On December 10:
- Jim appears on-camera after the $2,000 Toss-Up puzzle.
- Disney ambassador Jada Young appears at the end.
On December 11:
- The wheel spin in the intro is not done
- Round 4 (IF YOU HAD FUN YOU WON) is categorized as Phrase, instead of Rhyme Time.
On December 12:
- The $1,000 Toss-Up puzzle UNDER THE MISTLETOE is categorized as Place, instead of Phrase due to the Prize Puzzle being a Phrase.
- Contestant Kevin gets buzzed out during the Mystery Round.
- Contestant Jackie finishes second with $23,000.
December 16 is the second Disney Secret Santa Holiday Giveaway
On December 16:
- Wheel of Fortune is pre-empted on most ABC affiliates except most 7:00 PM Eastern airings due to Monday Night Football, which is preceded by a pregame show at 7:30 PM Eastern due to the game itself starting at 8:00 instead of the typical 8:15.
- Jim appears on-camera after the $2,000 Toss-Up puzzle.
On December 17, the wheel spin in the intro and the $10,000 Wheel Watchers Club plug are not done.
On December 18, the wheel spin in the intro is not done.
On December 20, Ryan and Vanna talk about the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive at the end
December 23 is second week of sixth episodes
On December 23:
- The Jetsetters set is used.
- Vanna mentions at the end that Ryan will be turning 50 tomorrow.
On December 24:
- The Veterans week set is used
- Contestant Humberto solved the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle ONE HUNDRED & TEN PERCENT with only the second T showing.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
- Ryan and Vanna have some cake at the end in honor of Seacrest's 50th birthday.
On December 25:
- The Home for the Holidays set is used.
- Wheel along with virtually all other syndicated programming is pre-empted on all ABC affiliates, including the West Coast, due to the network running five consecutive NBA games, instead of the usual three, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM Eastern.
- Contestant Shari finishes second with $21,300.
On December 26:
- The Great Outdoors set is used.
- Round 1 (MR. & MRS. SMITH) is categorized as Title, instead of Movie Title, due to the title being popular in multiple mediums.
- Car is being offered during the Bonus Round.
- Contestant James solves the entire Prize Puzzle Round Event A WELL-DESERVED VACATION all by himself.
On December 27:
- The Happy New Year Week set is used.
- Jim appears on-camera after the $2,000 Toss-Up.
- Car is being offered during the Bonus Round.
Starting with December 27, 2024, the intro’s been extended and Roman numerals have been added to the wheels on the set.
December 30 is Happy New Year Week. During this week:
- Cars are being offered during the Bonus Round.
- The wheel-shaped backdrops have Roman numerals and clock hands added to them.
- No Crosswords are played.
On December 30 and 31, there is a cold open with Ryan in Times Square (taped during rehearsals for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in December 2023). The chant is done live by a crowd of spectators.
On December 30:
- A special one-off category of Resolutions is used during Round 2.
- The prize for the Prize Puzzle was a trip to New York including a VIP experience at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in which Seacrest also hosts.
- ABC airings feature an alternate closing segment where Ryan teases that three former contestants will join him in Times Square on New Year's Eve. It is not known who this referred to, as this is never mentioned again on Wheel nor on New Year's Rockin' Eve. At least two non-ABC affiliates accidentally air this version.
- The second Triple Toss-up puzzle (LOVE STORY) is categorized as Thing, instead of Title.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
- Contestant Carmetta solves the third Triple Toss-Up "THE STORY OF MY LIFE" with only the first F showing.
On December 31:
- Once again, ABC airings feature an alternate closing, with Ryan telling viewers to keep their TVs on ABC for New Year's Rockin' Eve.
- A promo for Wheel's 50th anniversary airs during New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC affiliates that carry the show.

January 2025[]

On January 1:
- The extended intro is used.
- Most 7:00 PM Eastern airings are at least partially pre-empted due to coverage of President Joe Biden addressing the New Orleans truck attack earlier in the day. Affected ABC and CBS airings begin by Round 2. On NBC, coverage continues with a press conference and discussion regarding the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas and does not sign off until 7:30, resulting in some 7:30 airings being slightly cut off at the beginning.
- The Triple Toss-Up is categorized with a clue (similar to the current versions in the United Kingdom and Australia) instead of one of the standard categories, in this case, "Colorful Language".
On January 3, there is no closing chat.
January 6 is Wheel of Fortune 50th Anniversary Week. During this week:
- There’s a golden “WHEEL of FORTUNE 50th” logo and there’s no extended intro.
- $50,000 is the minimum for the 50th Anniversary and $70,000 is offered during the Bonus Round.
On January 7:
- Ryan invites us to let us see some of the crew backstage before the show starts (Pat’s backstage), then we see Ryan and Vanna enter when we’re behind them.
- Contestant Channing gets buzzed out during the Prize Puzzle round.
On January 8:
- An extended intro is used with clips.
- Merv speaks from 1998 at the end of the show.
- Contestant Jennifer finishes second with $23,894.
On January 9:
- Former Wheel of Fortune contestant, Rhea Matthews got a surprise proposal under pretense of Wheel's 50th anniversary taping. Jim also appears in this segment filling in for Ryan.
On January 10:
- There is a $100,000 loss.
- Round 2 is a Crossword Round with only three words.
On January 11, 2025, "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" were pre-empted in Los Angeles due to news coverage of the wildfires. The wildfires started on January 10 and burned for over a week, causing extensive damage.
January 13 is Holland America Cruise Week
On January 13:
- Wheel of Fortune is pre-empted on 7:30 PM Eastern/6:30 PM Central ABC airings due to Monday Night Football. Connecticut ABC affiliate WTNH will not air Wheel of Fortune at all.
- There is no closing chat.
On January 14, some “WHEEL” mugs are shown at the end.
On January 15, Ryan answers an Instagram question of what it was like the first day he taped this show at the end.
On January 16:
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
- Contestant Angela finishes second with $22,600.
- Braden tries to solve a Rubik’s Cube within 18 seconds at the end and Ryan tells us we need to go to social media to see if he succeeded.
On January 17:
- Contestant Brittany finishes second with $21,550.
- There is no closing chat.
January 20 is Winter Wonderland Week on Wheel of Fortune. During this week:
- Cars are being offered during the Bonus Round.
- The set is decorated in a winter wonderland theme, and the contestants wear winter attire.
On January 20, 2025, "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" were pre-empted in many markets so that viewers could watch news coverage of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th president of the United States. Trump replaced Joe Biden, who had served as the 46th president from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025. On January 20, 2025, Joe Biden stepped down as president and returned to his home state of Delaware. On the same day, Donald Trump returned to the White House and replaced Joe Biden as the 47th president of the United States. Trump previously served as the 45th president of the United States from January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021. Some Fox affiliates preempt the episode in favor of a women's college basketball game between Maryland and Texas. WXIX in Cincinnati doesn't air the episode at all.
On January 21:
- A short video of Ryan and Vanna at the Stein Eriksen Lodge and Residences is shown just before the short intro.
- A special one-off category, Weather Report, is used in Season 2.
- The "No More Vowels" graphic does not appear in Round 2
- All three contestants hit the Bankrupt wedge in Round 3.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On January 22:
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle FRENEMY.
- Round 4 (SUGAR BOWL) is categorized as Thing, instead of In The Kitchen.
- Some footage of Ryan and Vanna skiing in Park City is shown at the end.
On January 23:
- A cold open from the Stein Eriksen Lodge and Residences is shown.
- Nikko cooking’s video is shown at the end.
On January 24:
- Round 2 is a unique category of Weather Report.
- None of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
- Contestant JaRyce finishes second with $20,650.
All five Bonus Rounds are won on the week of January 20 (first week with all five Bonus Rounds won in the Ryan Seacrest era), part of an nine-day winning streak beginning on the 15th through the 27th.
January 27 is America The Beautiful Week. During this week, cars are being offered during the Bonus Round.
On January 27:
- Contestant Rachel solves the second Triple Toss-Up puzzle FACEBOOK POST with only the K showing.
- Ryan and Vanna are seen on a different set at the end to acknowledge this week of shows was taped prior to the wildfires.
- We see the camera on the maingame wheel during the credits.
On January 28, an Instagram video of Ryan looking for Vanna in a casino is shown at the end.
On January 30, Ryan takes off his jacket at the end after Vanna said she wasn’t wearing a gown,

February 2025[]

February 3 is Collette Spin Solve and See the World Week. During this week:
- The short intro is used with no wheel backdrops on the set.
- The trips replace the show logo on the top part of the envelopes during the bonus round.
- There is no final chat after any Bonus Round win.
On February 3, The Triple Toss-Ups use a unique category of Colorful Language.
On February 4:
- A short intro video with Maggie is shown before the opening titles.
- Round 1 is a unique category of Travel Tips.
On February 7:
- Contestant Abby finishes second with $21,350.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
February 10 is the third week of sixth episodes.
On February 10, none of Same Name, Before & After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On February 11, nobody solves the second Triple Toss-Up puzzle OVERTIME.
February 17 is National Geographic Expedition Cruise Week
On February 17:
- A video message from Antarctica expedition leader Alex Van Nostrand is shown before the opening titles.
- Round 3 is a unique category of All Aboard!
- None of Same Name, Before and After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
On February 18:
- Contestant Akeya solves the Speed-Up puzzle PIE-EATING CONTEST with only the T's showing
- A message from Erika Larson in British Columbia is shown at the end.
On February 19:
- The $2,000 Toss-Up is a unique category of Travel Tips.
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle PROTECTING THE PLATE.
- Tim Laman, Ph.D. from the Amazon River shared a message at the end.
On February 20:
- The $2,000 Toss-Up is a unique category of All Aboard! while Round 3 is a unique category of Travel Tips.
- Naturalist Frankie Wilton from Antarctica does a message before the second break.
- Contestant Eric finishes second with $23,324.
- A message from explorer Gabby Salazar, Ph.D. in Costa Rica’s played at the end.
On February 21:
- Round 3 is a unique category of All Aboard!
- None of Same Name, Before and After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
- Contestant Derek solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle QUARTERBACK SACK with only the first K showing.
February 24 is Out Of Office Week
On February 24:
- Round 1 is a unique category of The Office while Round 3 is a unique category of Weather Report.
- None of Same Name, Before and After, Same Letter, or Crossword are used.
- Contestant Ryan solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle OUT OF MY MIND with only the D showing.
On February 25, Ryan and Vanna are on a beach in a brief video before the short intro is used.
On February 27, there is a $100,000 win by a contestant who picked up the Million-Dollar Wedge in Round 2 but loses it to a Bankrupt.

March 2025[]

March 3 is Island Time Week. During this week:
- Cars are being offered during the Bonus Round.
- There is no closing chat after any Bonus Round win.
On March 3:
- Round 3 is the debut of Life's a Beach.
- Contestant Caitlin solves the second Triple Toss-Up puzzle GAS STATION with only the N showing.
- Contestant P.J. begins to solve the Speed-Up puzzle SAND IN MY SWIMSUIT but pauses and does not say the last word until after the buzzer. Ryan hesitates on making a ruling, at which point P.J. demands the judges take his answer, which they do.
- P.J. appears to exclaim a profanity after solving the Speed-Up puzzle, though it is not edited nor interpreted in the closed captioning.
- Before choosing his Bonus Round category, P.J. says to Ryan, "I won't throw you on the ground like last week", referencing the incident on the January 21 episode, which aired eight days before this episode taped.
On March 4:
- A video of Ryan and Vanna on the Hawaiian beaches is shown before the opening titles.
- Pacific Time Zone airings are moved to later time slots due to a Presidential address to Congress. After said coverage overruns by 20-25 minutes, NBC and CBS run their respective primetime programs delayed but in their entirety, resulting in some airings of Wheel either getting joined in progress during the Speed-Up or Bonus Round, or being delayed further. ABC airings are not affected due to that network joining its primetime program (a repeat of Will Trent) in progress following the address.
- Round 3 is the debut of Happy Hour.
- All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 4 (FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT) being the longest at only 19 letters.
On March 6:
- The Round 3 puzzle AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE is a rare instance, and only the second since 2013, of What Are You Doing? not using an "-ING" suffix.
- All of the puzzles are very short, with Round 1 (SUN SURF & SANDY SHORES) being the longest at only 18 letters.
- A clip of Daniel’s Bonus Round win on the puzzleboard is shown at the end, we see the Instagram posts “That was so wholesome! You sure you’re okay, Ryan?” and “I want to be the next person to tackle him”.
On March 7. there is a $100,000 loss.
March 10 is Rail Tour Week
On March 10:
- Contestant Linda solves the third Triple Toss-Up CHOO-CHOO TRAIN with only the fourth O showing.
- A video of Vanna getting her first tattoo is shown at the end.
On March 11, Vanna says at the end she’s been scared of spiders since she was in second grade and Ryan scares her with a decoy spider.
On March 12:
- Contestant Sarah only spins once in the entire game, landing on Bankrupt in Round 1. However, she solves three Toss-Up puzzles for a total of $5,000.
- Contestant Randy solves the third Triple Toss-Up puzzle THE LAST STRAW with only the second T showing.
- Ryan takes off his jacket to show a shoulder tattoo at the end.
On March 14, The $2,000 Toss-Up DON'T PACK YOUR WHOLE CLOSET has three lines. From this point onward, three-line Toss-Ups become more common.
March 17 is the forth week of sixth episodes.
On March 17, the Chasing Sunsets set is used.
On March 18:
- The Island Time set is used
- The Triple Toss-Up is the debut of Say Cheese!
- The bonus puzzle GAZEBO is a now-rare instance of a bonus puzzle that is shorter than seven letters.
On March 19:
- The Collette Spin Solve and See the World set is used
- Contestant Nikki wins an $11,898 trip to Ireland, but only $10,198 is added to her score, and she is credited with a final score of $14,148 instead of $15,848. As a $10,198 trip to Iceland was awarded earlier in the same taping session, it is likely the value of that trip was added by mistake. This discrepancy does not affect the outcome, as Nikki would still have finished in second place regardless.
On March 20:
- The Winter Wonderland set is used
- The first two Triple Toss-Ups (DON'T CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN and DON'T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL) both tie the record for the longest Toss-Ups in terms of overall spaces, using 26 of the 52 spaces on the board (both puzzles each have 25 letters and an apostrophe).
- An Instagram post asked Vanna what’s the longest crochet project she’s ever worked on and she says blankets; she brings one at the end.
On March 21, the Rail Tour set is used.
March 24 is Chasing Sunsets Week.
On March 24, Round 4 (BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF) is the longest puzzle.
On March 25:
- Contestant Rachael mentions that she was a fan of Wheel since Chuck Woolery and the shopping format, also recalling Sheldon the ceramic Dalmatian. Ryan presents her with a mini figure of Sheldon after the Speed-Up round.
- The Round 2 puzzle SEE THE LINE WHERE THE SKY MEETS THE SEA IT CALLS ME has twelve E's, tying the record for the most vowels in one puzzle and the most instances of any letter in a puzzle.
- The Round 3 puzzle FUZZY NAVEL is the shortest answer to be used as a Prize Puzzle at only ten letters.
- Vanna sits on a beach at the end
On March 26, Ryan and Vanna talk about American Red Cross’ Giving Day at the end.
On March 27:
- In an unusual move, the Triple Toss-Up is categorized as Rhyme Time, but instead of each puzzle containing its own rhyme, the three puzzles are one-word answers that rhyme with one another.
- The Bonus Wheel stops exactly on the peg between the second A and apostrophe in AMERICA'S, briefly confusing both Ryan and the technical crew. An offstage voice can be heard telling Ryan to pick the apostrophe, whose wedge lights up at that point. According to an audience member, a reshoot is done of Ryan picking the envelope, but the original take is ultimately used.
- There is a $100,000 win.
On March 28, contestant Christina finishes second with $22,132.
March 31 is Festivals & Celebrations Week. During this week:
- The Money Tags are on a Clothes Line.
- Cars are being offered during the Bonus Round.
On March 31, Round 1 is the debut of Fun Festivals while the Triple Toss-Up is the debut of Wordplay.

April 2025[]

On April 1:
- The short intro is used
- The third Triple-Toss TALKING WITH FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH ties the record for the longest answer to be used as a Toss-Up in terms of only letters, at 26 letters.
On April 3, Vanna rolls a cheese wheel and Ryan chases it down at the end (footage of a festival where people roll cheese down the hills is shown in the background).
On April 4:
- The short intro's used
- The third Triple-Toss THROW YOUR PLANS OUT THE WINDOW ties the record for the longest answer to be used as a Toss-Up in terms of only letters, at 26 letters.
- Young pictures of Ryan and Vanna are shown on the puzzle board at the end.
April 7 is iHeart Radio Week. The Friday Finals format is used, with the finalists teaming up with three mystery celebrities in the music industry playing for charity. As with most if not all previous Friday Finals weeks of the modern era, only winning contestants are eligible to compete in the finals.
On April 7:
- Vanna wears a sleeveless top and pants.
- Keith Urban presents the Prize Puzzle, which offers a trip to Chicago along with tickets to his High and Alive World Tour.
- The Speed-Up puzzle (NAILED IT!) is shorter than ten letters.
- Starting with this episode, the distributor's closing logo reverts to CBS Media Ventures. This logo remains intact on Season 41 weekend repeats starting April 12.
On April 8:
- A cold open with Meghan Trainor’s done before the intro.
- Vanna and Elvis Duran present the Prize, a trip to New York.
- Round 2 is the debut of Top 40 Hits of the 70s while the Triple Toss-Up is the debut of Food for Thought.
On April 9:
- Flavor Flav appears in the intro segment.
- Round 1 is the debut of Top 40 Hits of the 80s while the Triple Toss-Up is the debut of On My Playlist.
- Lainey Wilson announces the Round 3 category.
- The second Triple Toss-Up puzzle ICE-T ties the record for the shortest Toss-Up ever used (in terms of only letters) and the shortest known puzzle ever to be used outside the Bonus Round.
- Contestant Andrew solves the above Toss-Up puzzle with only the T showing.
On April 10:
- Lady A appears in the intro segment.
- Mario Lopez presents the Prize, which offers a trip to Los Angeles.
- Round 2 is the debut of One-Hit Wonder.
On April 11:
- The episode begins with Ryan and Vanna at center stage introducing the three top winners from Monday-Thursday and their celebrity partners. As a result, the chant is not done, and Jim does not introduce the hosts.
- The three top winners from Monday-Thursday (positioned in chronological order of first appearance, as has been the norm since Season 40) are paired with singers: Jason Derulo, Andy Grammer, and JoJo. The singer whose corresponding contestant wins the most money has that amount matched to charity, while the other two win $10,000 each for their charity.
- The Prize is not used.
- Unlike previous celebrity/civilian team episodes, the house minimum is doubled. This decision affects the outcome, as the red team wins the Speed-Up with $1,500, which is bumped up to $2,000, and they win by $200.
April 14 is Hilton Hawaiian Vacation
On April 14, Round 2 is a Crossword Round with only three words.
On April 15, the final segment has Ryan and Vanna in Hawai’i
On April 16:
- Contestant Becky solves the second Triple Toss-Up puzzle SUNSET with only the T showing.
- Iam Tongi appears in the closing chat.
On April 18:
- Nobody solves the third Triple Toss-Up JUST STAY CALM.
- We see footage of the Friday fireworks show that the Hawaiian Village does weekly.
April 21 is Disney Magical Fairy Tale. During this week, the intro is done at the Walt Disney World.
On April 21, MATTEL doll designers Ann Coddou and Jaclyn Sachauer appear in the closing chat.
On April 22, contestant Caroline solves the Speed-Up puzzle THE LITTLE MERMAID with only the M's showing.
On April 23:
- Round 2 is a Crossword Round with only three words.
- LEGO Master Builder Chris Steininger appears in the closing chat.
On April 24, a clip of Ryan in the Magic Kingdom as a balloon vendor is shown before Round 3.
On April 25:
- When contestant Aerial solves the Round 1 puzzle PRETTY PARKS & PERFECT PALACES, the second word is incorrectly displayed as "parts" on the closed captioning. According to one of her opponents, there is about a minute pause in recording while her answer is checked, so it can be presumed she did indeed say "parks".
- Ryan and Vanna present the Prize for the Prize Puzzle, a trip to Walt Disney World.
- During the closing chat, there is a clip of Ryan and Vanna at Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
April 28 is Lake Life Week
On April 28, contestant Dawya solves the second Triple Toss-Up puzzle THE A-LIST with only the second T showing.
On April 30, Round 4 is a debut of What Time Is It?.

May 2025[]

On May 2:
- Contestant Annelorrie gets buzzed out in Round 1.
- There is a $100,000 loss.
May 5 is Myrtle Beach Week. During this week, the intro is done at Myrtle Beach.
On May 5, Vanna goes inside Hoskins Restaurant at the end.
On May 6, Ryan and Vanna golf at the end.
On May 7:
- Jim appears on-camera during the contestant interviews.
- A young photo of Vanna’s family is shown at the end.
On May 8, Ryan and Vanna visited Winna’s Kitchen at the end.
On May 9:
- Ryan holds a puzzleboard with the letters T in the intro
- Rob Gronkowski presents the Fan Fridays segment with Maggie.
May 12 is Bragging Rights Week. During this week.
- The contestants on each episode have a pre-existing relationship.
- The intro begins with the 2017-2021 Bonus Round win cue, as the episode's contestants are shown walking out on stage from behind the video wall. Jim notes the connection they share, and then a clip is shown of the contestants interacting with each other, presumably before the show. Jim then continues, "Three friends compete not only for money, but for the ultimate bragging right, tonight on..." followed by the chant.
- A variation of the Jackpot round is used in Round 1. The Jackpot starts at $0, and increases by $500 with each spin of the wheel regardless of its result. The player who solves the puzzle automatically wins the Jackpot.
- The Million Dollar Wedge rules are temporarily changed. If the wedge is picked up and still in play at the end of the main game, the winning player automatically takes the wedge to the Bonus Round regardless of the player who picked it up. Ryan indicates that if the million dollars is won, the contestants share that money.
- The two losing contestants remain on stage to watch the winning contestant play the Bonus Round.
- A first, second and third place podium is placed on stage before the bonus round between the video wall and the wheel. The losing contestants stand on the podium during the bonus round, and then during the closing chat, all three contestants are shown standing on the podium based on their final scores.
On May 13, Same Letter is played in the second round for the first time since Season 38.
On May 15, contestant Steven finishes second with $21,699.
On May 16, contestant Terri gets buzzed out during the Prize Puzzle Round.
All fifteen Bonus Rounds are lost on the weeks of April 28 through May 12, part of a sixteen-day losing streak.
May 19 is Margaritaville Resorts Week
On May 19, Ryan and Vanna play in the “water” on the floor screen at the end.
May 26 is the fifth week of six episodes.

June 2025[]

June 2 is Yearbook Week.

Post-Season[]

TBD