Video: “Wheel of Fortune” Pilot Hosted by Edd Byrnes
We don’t really focus on classics here but when something rare enough comes, it’s impossible to ignore it. We’ve been flooded with emails and comments regarding a very rare gem finally being released. The first ten minutes of the second of two pilots for Wheel of Fortune has been released. As many know Chuck Woolery was the original host of Wheel from 1975 to 1981. However, in this pilot, Edd Byrnes, an actor and television host, took the role. The game, for the most part, resembles what you see today and what you saw in the past. The only gigantic differences are the smaller dollar values on the wheel (look at the $25 space), a slightly different set, and the categories to the puzzles are much more specific. The game follows the shopping format that ran from 1975 to 1987 in syndication.
There have been many interesting rumors and stories passed down about this pilot. Stories include Edd Byrnes being slightly intoxicated while hosting, reciting the vowels repeatedly to remember them, and just generally messing up a few things which you can see in the clip. However, what’s interesting when watching is how little has realistically changed from the 70s to today. It’s still practically the same exact game (sans the shopping), just with a few cosmetic touchups. It goes to show what a durable and great format they came up with early on. What do you think?
It’s funny, because the rules of the game are bot at all complicated and second nature to those of us who watch regularly…it’s weird to hear the rules spelled out in such simple terms for the first time.
You can tell it’s a pilot, as they didn’t bother to edit out or correct Edd Byrnes’ poor math skills… :)
That, and the fact that Edd was clearly staring off at the cue cards the whole time… and doesn’t THAT look creepy?
All kidding aside, it seems a good thing that he didn’t get the gig, as he was just too stiff to work out as a game show host.
yeah Edd was too stiff and even when he ad-libbed something it sounded stupid, saying “wheee” when the board slides in. leading Tanya into buying the brass bed and trying to get her to buy a vowel. he seems to get more excited when a contestant loses their turn than when they get a letter. the main problem with the pilot was Edd, and NBC and Merv Griffin made the right call to drop Edd and get Chuck Woolery back.
That’s because he was drunk
If I were a network executive, a lot to like.
I’m a big Maynard Ferguson fan, so of course love the theme they used…Give It One…though it doesn’t work.
I’ve often wondered why they’ve made the Wheel today so damn heavy to spin…this one looks like nothing.
I like the reveal and intro of the contestants, and movement of the puzzleboard.
Wanted to see this for years…thanks.
I wondered the same thing while watching this. The contestants barely touch the wheel and it goes around a couple times. I don’t think most people today get it to go around once.
well remember in E! True Hollywood Story it was mentioned there was a stage hand underneath the wheel kicking at it to get it to stop, cause it wasn’t till the move to CBS where the wheel got heavier. At least with the wheel as heavy as it is now this would possibly prevent the notion that the wheel was rigged.
I’ve read a few places that Edd was drunk. Nothing in this film refutes that.
This, in a word, is just AMAZING to watch!
Alex…you bring up a good point though. With the exception of shopping, it really is the exact same game that’s still the #1 show in syndication. VERY durable format!
LOVE watching this! The “WHEE!,” by the way, is STILL my favorite part of this!
I read that before the tapings Edd was caught reciting his vowels in the hall.
I miss the shopping format of the older version… :(
I would love it if somebody reading this ended up getting on the show and not only said “wheeee”, but “I’d like to spin the puzzle.”
“Spin the Puzzle”, major lulz.
Super cool how the center chromakey green circle is utilized to change the center color of the wheel which each new overhead shot. Also very cool how there was no back of the puzzle board and the whole display of prizes could be seen behind. They should have kept it that way for the actual show. The puzzle board actually did slide in and out like that but I don’t recall that being used as an on-camera affect. It was used to change the letters to the next puzzle behind a curtain off to the side.
nope it was never an on-camera effect, only in the pilot that we just saw. Given the fact that we can see the prizes behind the puzzleboard leads me to believe that the puzzles were loaded from the back instead of the front. I can’t believe Susan forgot to turn that last letter, but then again seeing that Edd was never corrected, guess like they didn’t want to correct Susan either.
I hope the other pilot will surface so we can see Edd twist someone’s arm into not solving the puzzle cause they only had $300 at the time.
I would not be surprised if, as one of the consolation prizes, the host would give each of the contestants a comb.
Those of you born after the 60′s, look up Edd Byrnes to get that..
What’s interesting is that the feature attraction of the show here was the wheel. These days it’s almost as if they could do without a wheel at all and just make every consonant worth $500. It’s good to see the origins of the “on account” option and the strategic value of it. With $350 being top dollar value, it’s hard to get enough in one round to win a car. A contestant could risk all the small prizes she could buy with one round’s earnings, put it all on account and try for something really big. I’d imagine it would’ve been very exciting seeing someone try this.
From everything I had heard about in the past, I really expected Edd to be much worse. He really wasn’t that bad. Everyone makes occasional mistakes. Let’s not forget Chuck Woolery made many during his 7 year run as host. That has always been one of the things that made Chuck seem so warm and down to earth. He never took himself too seriously and had a fun time with the contestants! I started watching Wheel in 1979 when I was 2 years old and have been a fan from Scabble all the way to Lingo.
Interesting $350 being top dollar value for round 1. I always thought it was $500. Nice to see spaces on the wheel ending in something other than 50 or 00. Anyway, I wish someone would have landed on the Buy A Vowel space. I’ve never completely understood how that actually worked out. I guess not too well. As I recall reading somewhere, it was taken off the wheel not long after the programs debut. It was weird seeing Susan Stafford turn the trilons over backwards and no chimes ringing out as she gestures to the puzzleboard as the category is given to the contestants. I enjoyed Susan introducing the players. Lin Bolen’s idea I’m sure. It made me think of Summer Bartholomew on $ale of the Century.
Overall, the basic idea of the game has remained the same for 37 years. Interesting that the only thing that has remained consistant since 1975 is the sound effect used when the trilons light up on the board.
I agree with you, I really through he was going to be much worse as well, he wasn’t that bad he made a few mistakes but he wasn’t that bad i think he would of got better throughout the show and if he didn’t had a drinking problem as well. But i am glad Chuck got the job i thought he was the best host I enjoy his version more then Pat and Vanna tbh. I enjoy Susan talking and introducing the contestants it reminds me of the Australian Version when the Co host talks to the host during the start of the show. Also i like when the audience yell when the wheel was spinning it just seem exciting.
But these days i can’t really stomach wheel of fortune its like a big advertisement and the contestants are annoying.
“You wanna go shopping, or solve the puzzle?” Uh, Edd, you go shopping ONCE you solve the puzzle. >.<
And I totally agree with the first poster: it's kinda weird hearing the rules explained every five seconds. With the show going into its 30th season, anyone who asks how the game is played gets many a dirty look from people, lol.
Just a detail I noticed after watching it again- anyone else find it trippy that the center of the wheel seems to change colors? How’d they do that?
-”The first ten minutes of the second of two pilots for Wheel of Fortune has been released.”
–It’s actually the third pilot. The first, “Shopper’s Bazaar”, was hosted by Chuck (and the first segment is on YouTube). The next two were hosted by Byrnes, and it was his first pilot that “Wheel” showed clips of during their ceremonial 3,000th nighttime show in 1998.
-”The game follows the shopping format that ran from 1975 to 1987 in syndication.”
–And in daytime until mid-1989.
-”There have been many interesting rumors and stories passed down about this pilot. Stories include Edd Byrnes being slightly intoxicated while hosting”
–No, that was actually true. Edd admitted it in his autobiography, namely that he got drunk because he was “scared to death” about doing “Wheel”. The results speak for themselves.
Drunk or not, Edd just couldn’t cut it as host, hence why Merv and NBC went with Chuck. This guy made Rolf Benirschke look like Pat Sajak by comparison!