“Wheel of Fortune” is an American TV game show created by Merv Griffin. Contestants compete by solving word puzzles, similar to Hangman, to win money and prizes determined by spinning a large carnival wheel. The original daytime version aired on NBC from January 6, 1975, to June 30, 1989, then moved to CBS from July 17, 1989, to January 11, 1991, and returned to NBC from January 14 to September 20, 1991, before being permanently canceled. The daily syndicated version began on September 19, 1983.
Initially, the daytime version was hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford, with Charlie O’Donnell as the announcer. O’Donnell left in 1980, Woolery in 1981, and Stafford in 1982; they were succeeded by Jack Clark, Pat Sajak, and Vanna White, respectively. After Clark’s death in 1988, M. G. Kelly briefly took over as announcer until O’Donnell returned in 1989. O’Donnell continued until the daytime version’s cancellation and remained the announcer for the syndicated show until his death in 2010, after which Jim Thornton took over. Sajak left the daytime version in January 1989 to host “The Pat Sajak Show” and was replaced by Rolf Benirschke. When the daytime show moved to CBS, Bob Goen replaced Benirschke and remained host until the show’s cancellation. The syndicated version has been continuously hosted by Sajak and White since it started.