Pilot Episode: Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune…
Tonight What’s On The Tube was there for the pilot episode of Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Tim Campbell and Kelly Landry.
Filming was underway at GTV9 Melbourne with this being the first official practice run for the new hosts and production crew, and also the first time the show has come out of Melbourne, as it was originally done out of Adelaide then Sydney for the Seven Network.
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There are a few changes to the way the game is played, this will be explained shortly but all up it remains pretty much the same as it always has been. The title of “Million Dollar” Wheel of Fortune is a little bit misleading as well which I will cover further on, and also a few extra bits to entice viewers to watch the News after and an idea stolen from Deal or No Deal.
First of all the set, walking into the studio first thoughts were oh no what have they done, very white, very bland, very boring. It appears that a lot of the set has been recycled from Bert’s Family Feud, if you remember the backgrounds behind the contestants, the outline of those is exactly the same and I’m pretty sure the circle display lighting on the roof is also from Feud as well as perhaps from Who Want’s to be a Millionaire too.
Everything is electronic as you would expect it to be Kelly just has to push a button under each letter to light it up, the wheel is also coloured by a lighting system. However when the show gets underway it is easy to see why everything is white because with the correct lighting they can change it to any colour they like just about. The background where the car is kept has a fancy light display, and the car this time around is sponsored by KIA.
The changes when it comes to prizes are that at the completion of every round the contestant no longer gets to choose a prize, rather they now win the money amount they accumulated from the wheel. This method entices the contestant to keep spinning the wheel rather than trying to solve it as fast as possible. Now this is where the “Million Dollar” title comes from, no you cannot win a million dollars in an episode, the highest possible amount you can win is $200,000 plus a car, so Million Dollar Wheel comes from $200,000 times 5 nights equals 1 Million. If no one wins the $200,000 the first night apparently another $200,000 is added to the wheel until it is won.
The show starts off with all the contestants trying to solve a puzzle, who ever solves it wins a prize and then the introduction roles with the voice over (Simon Diaz, formally of Bert’s Family Feud) saying its Australia’s favourite game show. Tim and Kelly then come out to introduce the show and move to their respective places and the contestants are introduced. The game then starts with everything the same as usual, even with some bonus prizes or a bankrupt as a mystery prize on the wheel.
Now here is the part where they are trying to boost the news ratings, they show a phrase that viewers at home have to try and guess, and they can enter via phoning in or sms for a chance to win $5,000 (I think that was the amount). They then say if you don’t get it don’t worry more letters will be revealed during the news. So obviously during a break in the news there will be a promo for the show featuring this phrase that viewers can try and win money from. However you would have to have only half a brain if you needed to watch the news to get more letters, the answer for this one was obvious “Two and a Half Men” (a bit of cross-promotion).
Also in addition to that in the final round where the contestant goes on to try to win a prize, Tim will throw to the news room to find out what is coming up, this tactic was started by Seven on Deal or No Deal where Andrew O’Keefe will cross to the newsroom for the news headlines.
There you go that is basically the Nine Networks version of “Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune” which has just been reported on TV Tonight will start airing 5:30pm weeknights from May 26th.
From an audience perspective, Sean Cosgrove the former announcer from The Price Is Right is the audience warm-up guy, where he will give away Hoyts movie passes as well as some Sanity gift vouchers if your raffle ticket is lucky enough to get pulled out.
All up Tim is a great host for the show, Kelly is a little quiet but that could have been for this test episode while she gets settled in. I’m not sure though that it will beat Deal or No Deal in the ratings race however, as much as I hate Deal it just has a more dramatic feel to it where as Wheel is more free flowing you could say. Although Wheel is more of a show that people can play at home as opposed to Deal so only time will tell when it comes to this.
They will shortly be asking for contestants, more information can be found on the web site at http://ninemsn.com.au/wheel, and of course follow the same link to be in the audience.
Also have a look out for new promos which will start airing soon, and you might see a certain dork in the audience as they are supposed to feature us in it, although you don’t know what this dork looks like so you would be wasting your time anyway.
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Comment by Alex on 15 May 2008:
Great review! What did the theme sound like? Was it basically the same and remixed or was it totally new?
Comment by DANNY on 15 May 2008:
Totally brand new theme.
Comment by Evan Davis on 15 May 2008:
So why not show us a pic of you so we can spot you in the promo?
Evan (in Taipei) :p
Comment by DANNY on 15 May 2008:
Because I’m a shy boy
haha… Plus how can you see the promo in Taipei?
Comment by Tom W on 15 May 2008:
You should start a paid media reporting service - you’re as good if not better than anything else in the country … indeed, The Australian’s ‘Media’ - You’ve had two exclusives in two nights. Thanks Whats on The Tube!
Comment by DANNY on 15 May 2008:
haha, well thanks for your kind comment, I personally wouldn’t go that far but thank you all the same. If only I put this much effort into my uni work and then I would be on easy street.
Comment by Martin on 20 May 2008:
Excellent work.
Do you know where I can apply to be a contestant?
I’ve scanned the net but haven’t had any joy.
I was very successful on DOND so am keen to have a crack at WOF
Comment by DANNY on 20 May 2008:
Yes as said above http://ninemsn.com.au/wheel, and you can always look at the Audience and Contestant information page on this site which has the information for just about every show you can be part of. It is located at the very top of the page next to the main heading.
Comment by Lettergal on 20 May 2008:
for anyone reading this review please note - it was a TEST game and not all was revealed to the audience or contestants on that night because it was just that - a TEST
I am a future contestant and they revealed things to us that were not included in that test episode - most of your info is correct but there are some errors…..u will just have to wait and see on Monday!
Comment by DANNY on 20 May 2008:
That’s why it say’s Pilot episode I never said it was going to air, they were just testing and I’m sure there will be many changes, apart from testing the idea was to record promo’s s well.
Comment by wheelnotwheelbig on 25 May 2008:
OMG how small is that wheel…. why did they make it smaller.. it looks dicky
Comment by chris on 26 May 2008:
That was so bland and boring all the glamour of wheel is gone.
The wheel looks plastic the theme is crap. The sounds really didnt suit the show.
Comment by Jay P. on 27 May 2008:
I liked it. The Wheel will be replacing the Deal on my telly, 5:30 weeknights. Congrats to all involved for putting on a terrific first show!
Comment by Swanny on 27 May 2008:
MDW was great, don’t like the set much but the new format is a lot better and Campbell’s a great host, explains the game to the newbies (I’m not one) really well. Just glad I’m in QLD so I don’t have to choose between Wheel or Deal, cos yeah I like both and DoND Double Shot was pretty entertaining as well.
Comment by chris on 27 May 2008:
the 2nd episode was a bit better however the new fprmat will take time to get used too.
Im just glad the wheel is back!
Comment by louise on 2 June 2008:
love the show and im going really well at guessing the phrases, titles etc. however im trying really hard to find out how to apply to be on the show but im having no such luck.
could u pls pls tell me how to apply!!
Comment by DANNY on 2 June 2008:
http://ninemsn.com.au/wheel
Comment by Candy on 3 June 2008:
Does anyone know whats involved in the auditions to become a contestant??
Comment by Lynda Welch on 4 June 2008:
I love the new Wheel of Fortune and would like to be a contestant. How can I get on the show that I have watched for may years?
Comment by sydney winston on 5 June 2008:
how can i be a contestent?
Comment by Leanne Geale on 8 June 2008:
How can i be a contestant?
Comment by DANNY on 8 June 2008:
Everyone please stop asking how to be a contestant, it has been clearly said how in this post and several times in the comments so I will say it one more time.
http://ninemsn.com.au/wheel is where you need to go to apply, this and infromation on how to apply for other shows can be found on the Audience and Contestant Information page located on this site.
Comment by carolyn on 10 June 2008:
In response to Danny’ post of “Everyone please stop asking to be a contestant”, i myself would like to know how. I have followed your link you posted and all that comes up is “audience call’ to be apart of the audience.There is nothing that states audience and contestant information.So if it is not too much bother could someone please tell me if there is another link or some other way to apply.
Comment by DANNY on 10 June 2008:
Well that then means they are not taking applications at the moment, keep an eye on that site because that is where it will be. They are only offering audience spots at the moment so if you are really keen my recommendation is to go along to the audience where they sometimes give out application forms and you can ask personally.
Audience and Contestant Information is a page on this site not on channel nines and can be found here http://whatsonthetube.net/be-part-of-a-show/
Comment by minetosay on 11 June 2008:
Have to say Wheel of Fortune is such a good show but I cant watch Tim Campbell, he is so over the top, tries to be funny & isnt, it’s a pity you didnt choose someone more suited & easy to watch than him, as long as he is there I wont be. What a pity
Comment by Lara on 14 June 2008:
I always liked Wheel Of Fortune as a game and I love the new revamped version. I’m not usually watching TV at that time but even find myself recording it most nights. Tim Campbell is such a lovely warm friendly presence as well as being ‘easy on the eye’. I love the way he’s been encouraging interaction between the contestants as it creates a great atmosphere. I agree it’s a really good show now.
Comment by Chris on 15 June 2008:
Tim, I think you and Kelly are doing a great job. I find the show fast and entertaining. There is no rocket science it is just a fun show which everyone at home can play as well.
Comment by Lea on 15 June 2008:
This show just keeps on improving as the new hosts settle into their roles.
Tim is warm and engaging and it’s great to see the ‘female host’ role expanded from merely being a glorified prop as was in the past.
Comment by Eden on 15 June 2008:
Love the Wheel, no more Deal in our household. Tim’s just great, he’s not your stock standard cookie cutter game show host and thats what I like about him, he comes across very natural and warm.
I’m not sure what people are saying about the set, I really like it, I think its updated and fresh.