<P> The network version was originally hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford, with Charlie O'Donnell as its announcer . O'Donnell left in 1980, Woolery in 1981, and Stafford in 1982; they were replaced, respectively, by Jack Clark, Pat Sajak, and Vanna White . After Clark's death in 1988, M.G. Kelly took over briefly as announcer until O'Donnell returned in 1989 . O'Donnell remained on the network version until its cancellation, and continued to announce on the syndicated show until his death in 2010, when Jim Thornton succeeded him . Sajak left the network version in January 1989 to host his own late - night talk show, and was replaced on that version by Rolf Benirschke . Bob Goen replaced Benirschke when the network show moved to CBS, then remained as host until the network show was canceled altogether . The syndicated version has been hosted continuously by Sajak and White since its inception . </P> <P> Wheel of Fortune ranks as the longest - running syndicated game show in the United States, with over 6,000 episodes aired . TV Guide named it the "top - rated syndicated series" in a 2008 article, and in 2013, the magazine ranked it at No. 2 in its list of the 60 greatest game shows ever . The program has also come to gain a worldwide following with sixty international adaptations . The syndicated series' 35th season premiered on September 11, 2017 . </P> <P> The core game is based on Hangman . Each round has a category and a blank word puzzle, with each blank representing a letter in the answer, and punctuation revealed as needed . The titular Wheel of Fortune is a roulette - style wheel mechanism with 24 spaces, most of which are labeled with dollar amounts ranging from $500 to $900, plus a top dollar value: $2,500 in round 1, $3,500 in rounds 2 and 3, and $5,000 for round 4 and any subsequent rounds . The wheel also features two Bankrupt wedges and one Lose a Turn, both of which forfeit the contestant's turn, with the former also eliminating any cash or prizes the contestant has accumulated within the round . Each game features three contestants, or occasionally, three two - contestant teams; each contestant / team is positioned behind a single scoreboard with its own flipper . The left scoreboard from the viewer's perspective is colored red, the center yellow, and the right blue; which contestant / team occupies which position is determined by a random selection . </P> <P> A contestant spins the wheel to determine a dollar value and guess a consonant . Calling a correct letter earns the value before the corresponding flipper, multiplied by the number of times that the letter appears in the puzzle . A contestant with at least $250 may buy a vowel for a flat rate of that amount, until all the vowels in the puzzle have been revealed . Calling a correct letter keeps the wheel in the contestant's control . Control passes to the next contestant clockwise if the wheel lands on Lose a Turn or Bankrupt, if the contestant calls a letter that is not in the puzzle, calls a letter that has already been called in that round, fails to call a letter within five seconds of the wheel stopping, or attempts unsuccessfully to solve the puzzle . The only exception is the Free Play wedge, on which the contestant may call a consonant for $500 per occurrence, call a free vowel, or solve the puzzle, with no penalty for an incorrect letter or answer . </P>

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