DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Monday, October 26, 2009

Hello, DFW Wheelwatchers!

Hope you are having a great fall so far, although for those of you in the immediate DFW area, I know you probably wish we had more sunshine and less rain!

This week is "Halloween Week" on Wheel Of Fortune.

In the spirit of Halloween, Pat & Vanna are “treating” contestants to prizes like a CandyApples.com gift package, a Haunted History tour of New Orleans, and a bewitching trip to Salem, Massachusetts. Take a break from trick-or-treating and tune in!

All of the fun starts tonight at 6:30pm on CBS11!

Talk to you later!

Ken

DFWWheelewatchers Blog For Monday, October 19, 2009

Hello, DFW Wheelwatchers:

This week on Wheel Of Fortune it is "Welcome Aboard" week.

Tune in and “sea” who spins and wins extravagant cruises on the waters of Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and more. Plus, watch good puzzle solvers advance to the Bonus Round where they could sail away with up to one million dollars!

The fun all begins at 6:30pm tonight, right after CBS11 News at 6 with Doug Dunbar and Karen Borta.

See ya next time!

Ken

DFW Wheelwatchers Blog For Monday, 9/21/09

Good afternoon, everyone!

I hope you had a great weekend!

Don forget that this week's Wheel Of Fortune is from The Palazzo in Las Vegas and one of our very own local DFW Wheelwatchers, Anita Nesser from Keller TX, will be on tomorrow, September 22nd.

Have a great week and remember that your favorite CBS prime shows premiere starting tonight at 7pm on CBS11!

Ken

DFW Wheelwatchers Blog For Friday, September 16, 2009

Hello, everybody!

Hope you have enjoyed the first week of the new season of Wheel Of Fortune.

Next week Wheel will be coming to you from the Palazzo in Las Vegas!!

And check out this Wheel Of Fortune cake:

http://www.walyou.com/blog/2009/09/17/wheel-of-fortune-cake/

Have a great weekend, folks!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Well, we are into the 27th season of Wheel Of Fortune this week, and all this Pat and Vanna are doing their show from Las Vegas!

Locally, Wheel was the #1 show in the Dallas/Fort Worth market last evening with a 5.5/11 on CBS11!

Here is a little more information about this week's shows:

http://gameshows.about.com/b/2009/09/13/wheel-of-fortune-season-27-premiere.htm

See you later!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Tuesday, 9/15/09

Good morning, everyone...

First of all, everyone here at CBS11 would like to express our apologies to our loyal Wheel Of Fortune fans, but good ole' Mother Nature did it again....rained out part of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in New York, forcing us to air the men's finals yesterday at 3pm....and what happened? The match went 4 1/2 hours long!! For those of you wanting to see the season premiere of Wheel last night at 6:30pm and couldn't, we sincerely apologize to you.

The good news is that tennis is over and that Wheel will be seen tonight at 6:30pm on CBS11!

Take care!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Labor Day, September 7, 2009

Happy Labor Day to everyone from CBS11 and TXA 21!

Just to remind everyone that one week from today, the new season of Wheel Of Fortune begins! It wasn't that long that this show started on network daytime television and then became the biggest hit in syndication in 1983 and has remained so for 25 years!

Hope you are having a great weekend....see you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Thursday, 9/3/09

Good afternoon from CBS11 in beautiful Dallas/Fort Worth, the fun and sun capital of the world! (remember that phrase from the Jackie Gleason Show from the 60's?).

Ever wondered what other performance or appearances the WOF personalities have made? Click on the link below to see Vanna White's resume!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001846/

See you tomorrow! Enjoy and chiao!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Happy Wednesday, DFWWheelwatchers and Wheelwatchers around the world!

If you receive the WOF "Wheelwatchers" email newsletter, CBS11 is in this week's edition! Over 130,000 subscribers alone in the DFW area receive this each week and we are proud to be associated with the newsletter.

12 days until the new season starts for Wheel...we have a little inside information for you but we can't tell just yet...but the new season is gonna get off to a great start!

See you tomorrow!!

Ken

Good afternoon, DFWWheelwatchers!

All this week on CBS11 and Wheel Of Fortune, it is Big Splash Week! Join Pat, Vanna, and Shamu for week of high adventure from SeaWorld Orlando!

The fun starts weekdays at 6:30pm on CBS11!

Remember that this is YOUR blog. We want to hear from you. Got a question or suggestion? Let us know at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

See you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Friday, August 28. 2009

Good afternoon, everybody!

Just a quick programming note from CBS11's programming department....due to our carriage of the San Francisco 49ers/Dallas Cowboys game tomorrow night, the weekend version of Wheel Of Fortune will be seen at approximately 11pm right after CBS11 News at 10!

Next week is "Big Splash" week on Wheel Of Fortune!

Have a great weekend, folks!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Monday, August 24, 2009

Hi, everybody!

Well, this week on Wheel Of Fortune is "Star Treatment" week, starting tonight at 6:30pm on CBS11.

Lucky contestants will get the chance to win trips to Italy, tickets to a Broadway play, a super-sleek Audi TT and tons more. Roll out the red carpet, hide from the paparazzi and tune in for the action!!

Also, check this article out in the London Free Press newspaper in London, Ontario, Canada about Pat Sajak........rumors always aboud about celebrities, don't they!! LOL!

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Entertainment/2009/08/19/10509141-sun.html

See you tomorrow...thanks for reading and goodbye for now!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Friday, August 21, 2009

Well, folks, here it is: the end of another week and we have the weekend to look forward to....hope that whatever you have planned that you have a wonderful and safe weekend!

We have not blogged any WOF factoids lately so I thought maybe it was time to do so:

1988: Wheel Of Fortune takes the show on the road. The series marks its first on-location taping in New York City.

Today is the last episode of this week's "Seaworld Adventure" week so tune in tonight in the DFW area on CBS11 at 6:30pm. For those of you outside of the DFW area, check local listings.

Have a great weekend everybody from all of us at CBS11!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Thursday, August 20, 2009

Good Thursday to you, DFWWheelwatchers, from CBS11!

We know that we have readers of this blog all over the world, so for those of you in the Boston area, here is some news.

When we heard “Wheel of Fortune’’ would be taping shows in the Boston area this September, our first question was: What will Vanna White be wearing?

OK, not really, but we do have the answer. The leggy letter-turner will be wearing clothes from Yolanda’s. In fact, on Sept. 1, Yolanda Cellucci is hosting a special showing for the show’s producers at her Waltham fashion emporium, where she’ll present dress choices from such designers as Faviana, Stephen Yearick and Giovanni.

Have a great day and we will see you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Hello, Wheelwatchers around the world! Hope everyone is doing well today. We are having great weather in the Dallas/Fort Worth area today...still warm but not the 100+ degree temperatures we had a few weeks ago!

This week on Wheel Of Fortune is "Wheel Around The World" week..... Watch as Wheel spins around the world giving enthusiastic contestants the chance to win big trips to different continents! Then stay tuned for special clips featuring Wheel of Fortune around the globe!

It all starts at 6:30pm here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on CBS11!

Remember if you are travelling away from home and still want to see Wheel while you are away but you don't know where to tune it, drop me a note and I will steer you to the right station anywhere in the 50 United States!

Bye, bye!!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Thursday, August 13, 2009

I hope all of you are having a great Thursday today!

Ever wondered about the theme music of Wheel Of Fortune during previous seasons?

The 1983-1989 theme was written by Merv Griffin and was titled "Changing Keys". The 1989-1992 theme was a jazzier remix of "Changing Keys", and the 1992-1994 theme was a slower remix of the 1989-1992 remix. The 1994-1997 theme was a big-band version of "Changing Keys" performed by Mort Lindsey's Orchestra, and the 1997-2000 theme was a slower remix of "Changing Keys" of big-band and rock mixed together.

Next week we will tell you about the music used after 2000!

I am off tomorrow so I will see you next Monday......have a great weekend, everybody!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Happy Wednesday to you from CBS11, DFWWheelwatchers!

It won't be long before school starts for the kids, Labor Day comes and goes, summer vacations are done with, and then..................

WHEEL OF FORTUNE'S NEW SEASON PREMIERES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th!!

Have a great day and I will see you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hello, folks!

Remember the old episode from The Dick Van Dyke Show where Laura Petrie (played by the talented actress Mary Tyler Moore) made an appearance on The Alan Brady Show (Alan played by the creator of the Dick Van Dyke Show, Carl Reiner) and spilled the beans that Alan Brady was bald? (In real life, Carl Reiner is indeed bald!).

Now, is Pat Sajak really bald or not? Check out this link and decide for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYvYtft5EmQ

See you tomorrow!!

Ken

Good Day, DFWWheelwatchers!

How was everyone's weekend? Great weekend here at CBS11 and getting ready for Dallas Cowboys preseason football this Thursday evening!

This week on America's #1 game show and #1 overall syndicated show, it is "Dream Vacation" week, all week long at 6:30pm on CBS11.

Also, check this story out about an Ohio women, Vickie Manhart, who just celebrated her 100th birthday and one of her favorite shows is Wheel Of Fortune. Wonderful story!

http://www.stowsentry.com/news/article/4643379

See you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatcher Blog For Friday, August 7, 2009

Howdy, Wheelwatchers! Happy Friday to you and everyone here at CBS11 hopes you have a wonderful weekend planned.

Some things for today:

If you are travelling anywhere and you would like to know where you can catch Wheel Of Fortune on your trip, email us at dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com and we will get that information to you.

Don't forget that tonight is the last night of Wheel's Coast To Coast week. Next week is Dream Vacation week, all starting weekdays at 6:30pm on CBS11.

And one question to ask of you: what is the one thing you have always been curious about regarding the show but never got an answer to? Would love to hear from you on that one!

Have a great weekend, everybody! Ciao!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Thursday, August 6, 2009

Well, folks, the ratings are in and Americans all around this great country have made Wheel Of Fortune the #1 game show in the U.S.A.!!

For the week of July 20-July 26, 2009, according to the A.C. Nielsen Company, Wheel Of Fortune remains the #1 in syndication, along with its sister show Jeopardy!

You, our viewers, both here at CBS11 and around the country, are so important to us in our success and we thank you so much!

Back tomorrow with more Wheel blogging and remember that this is "Coast To Coast" week.

Love to hear from you at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

See you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Good afternoon from CBS11, DFWWheelewatchers and Wheel Of Fortune fans around the world!

Congratulations to Pat Sajak for being honored at the Vietnam Veterans Of America convention that was recently held in Louisville KY. Most of you know that Pat is a veteran having served our country during the Vietnam War.

Below is a link to that article:

http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/877489.html

Remember to email us here at CBS11 anytime at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

See you tomorrow!

Ken

DFWWheelwatchers Blog For Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Hi, DFWWheelwastchers!

Gonna keep this blog short and sweet today!

For those of you who receive CBS11 over the air:

MAKE A PLAN TO RESCAN....TODAY! :)

At 11am CDT today (about 40 minutes from now), CBS11 will be moving to a new frequency with much more power....and we know you don't want to miss your daily Wheel...so be sure to rescan your channels on your set today!!

For those of you who are on cable or satellite, you need not do anything....you are set!

If you have any questions, email us at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

Thanks!

Ken

Daily Wheel Blog For Monday, August 3, 2009

Hi, everybody, I hope you had a great weekend and that you are getting your workweek off to a great start.

This week is Wheel Of Fortune's "Coast To Coast" (can you hear the radio jingle singers singing "Vanna's Coast To Coast!", kind of like Casey Kasem's American Top 40!). Wheel is sending contestants on fantastic trips from Coast to Coast this week and everywhere in between!

Also, for those of you who live in the Dallas Fort Worth area and receive your television service over the air, please read this article off of CBS11tv.com:

http://cbs11tv.com/press/digital.signal.strength.2.1102966.html

CBS11 will begin to transmit a much stronger signal beginning tomorrow at 11am CT but for those of you who receive our signal over the air, you will need to rescan your channel alignment tomorrow at that time. If you receive CBS11 through cable or satellite, you do not need to do anything. But if you are over the air, you must rescan, otherwise, you may miss getting your daily Wheel Of Fortune fix!! :)

If you have any questions, email me at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

Have a great Monday and see you tomorrow!

Ken

Article on Vanna

Hi, folks:

Check out this article on Vanna White in the Las Vegas Sun:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/20/vanna-white-wheel-fortune/

I will be off tomorrow and Friday but will be back on Monday. Take care and have a great weekend!

Ken

Good afternoon, DFWWheelwatchers and Wheelwatchers around the world from the world headquarters of CBS11!!

Do you remember the promotional campaign that the show did a few years ago called "I'm A Wheel Watcher"? According to Harry Friedman, the Executive Producer of Wheel Of Fortune, that was one of the most successful campaign ever done to create awareness of the show.

The original song was called "I'm A Girl Watcher" and was performed by an R&B group from Wilson, North Carolina called The O'Kaysions. There were six guys in the group: Donny Weaver (vocals, organ), Wayne Pittman (guitar), Ron Turner (trumpet), Jim Speidel (sax), Jimmy Hennant (bass), and Bruce Jayner (drums).

The song was written by Pittman and Buck Trail and recorded on the ABC Records label. While it was the only hit the group had, it remains today as a staple of the Carolina/Georgia/Florida beach circuit, and categorized by people in that area as "beach music." It debuted on the Billboard Top 40 on September 7, 1968, and reached #5 on the charts (#6 on the R&B charts) and stayed in the Top 10 for 11 weeks!

And there you have it for Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Hope you are having a wonderful day and I will see you tomorrow.

Remember to email us with your questions at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

See you tomorrow and take care!

Ken

More Wheel Facts

Good afternoon from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX USA! We have had a cloudy and rainy day here in the Metroplex and we really need it!!

Ever wondered what was the first letter that Vanna White turned when she joined Wheel Of Fortune as the co-host?

The first letter she ever turned on the Wheel of Fortune puzzleboard was a “T.”

Hope you had a great weekend and I will see you tomorrow!

Remember that you can see Wheel Of Fortune weeknights at 6:30pm on CBS11!

Ken

Thank you!

Good morning, DFWWheelwatchers and Wheelwatchers throughout the world!

This morning, I received a call from our CBS11 station manager telling me that our daily blogs for America's #1 game show are being read around the globe, and we thank you so much for that! We appreciate that so very much!

Have you ever wondered how easy or how challenging it is to be selected as a contestant on Wheel Of Fortune? Well, it is not as easy as it looks on TV!

Many people audition to be on Wheel Of Fortune throughout the year, but only a few are selected to appear on the show.

According to the show's producers, approximately 3,200 people audition annually for a contestant slot, yet fewer than 500 lucky Wheel Watchers are selected to appear on the show. That represents less than 16% of all people who try out!! Can we say selective? :)

I will be away tomorrow but will return on Monday, July 27th, with another blog...AND...remember, if you have any questions or things you would like us to talk about, please let us know by emailing us here at CBS 11 at:

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com

Have a wonderful rest of the week, a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday!

Ken

More Wheel Of Fortune Trivia

Hello, DFWWheelwatchers! Hope your Wednesday is going well today. Nice weather today in the DFW area today and I hope it is great where you are.

As many of you know, the majority of America's television stations made the digital television (DTV) transition back on June 12, 2009. This dramatically changed the way Americans could receive their television, both from a technical and a overall picture quality point of view. Apart from the transition from black and white to color television in the 1960's, this was THE most significant event to occur in the entire history of television.

While TV stations were preparing for this transition to be all-digital and shutting down their analog signals, the folks at Wheel Of Fortune and its sister show Jeopardy were already gearing up for high-definition quality of America's #1 game show.

On September 11, 2006, Wheel of Fortune and its sister show Jeopardy! were the first syndicated shows to broadcast in High Definition. Another #1 for America's #1.

Well, that's all for today. See you tomorrow.

Ken

Wheel Of Fortune Factoid For Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Good Day, DFW Wheelwatchers! What a beautiful day it has turned out to be today after some showers earlier this morning! CBS11's meteorolgists always get you ready for the day on CBS11 News This Morning.

As you may know, we like to blog about Wheel Of Fortune trivia and here is today's trivia:

Wheel of Fortune has awarded more than $180 million in cash and prizes to its contestants in its 25 years in syndication. Can you imagine that? Wow!

Have a great day and we will see you tomorrow!

Ken

P.S. Don't forget about Wheel's Seaworld Week all this week at 6:30pm on CBS11!

Seaworld Adventure Epispdes This Week

Howdy, folks! Hope you had a great weekend and that you are enjoying the cooler temperatures and maybe perhaps a little precipitation where you live!!

Our Nestle' World Cafe' week ended up with a weekly average of over 125,000 viewers watching Wheel of Fortune and their chance to win a fabulous vacation! Thank you so much for watching Wheel Of Fortune on CBS11.

This week is the encore of "Seaworld Adevnture Week" so in case you missed them before, here's your chance to see them!

Well, that's all for today. Hope you are having a wonderful Monday and I will see you tomorrow!!

Ken

Last Day Today!

Hello, DFWWheelwatchers, and Happy Friday to you from all of us at CBS11!! Hope you are looking forward to the weekend as much as I am, with cooler temperatures here in the DFW area.

Don't forget that tonight is the last Wheel Of Fortune episode for the "World Cafe' Week" on CBS 11.

Last night approximately 141,000 viewers tuned in to have a chance to win a vacation for 2 by being a DFWWheelwatcher, the highest viewing all week long!!

Watch tonight at 6:30pm on CBS11 and have a great weekend!!

Ken

Wheel Of Fortune & Nestle' Week

Hello, DFWWheelwatchers! Hope you are having a great Thursday!

Thanks to all of our DFWWheelwatchers who tune in to see Wheel Of Fortune on CBS11 every weeknight at 6:30pm. All this week you can watch to have your chance to win a trip for two through the show's "World Cafe' Sweepstakes."

So far through Wednesday, an average of 119,000 people alone in the DFW area have been tuned in to Wheel this week on CBS11 to have their shot at winning a fabulous vacation!

We will have more tomorrow to report. Have a great day and we'll see you tomorrow!

Ken

Good afternoon, everybody!

Don't forget that Wheel of Fortune is giving away 25 European vacations this week in their World Cafe Week Sweepstakes!!

Catch Wheel Of Fortune tonight at 6:30pm on CBS11, right after CBS11 News at 6pm with Doug Dunbar and Karen Borta.

Stay cool in the AC!!

Ken

The "Announcer"

Happy Tuesday, DFWWheelwatchers! Hope your week is getting off to a great start!

Earlier we talked about Pat Sajak and Vanna White: their backgrounds, how they became associated with WOF, etc. But there is one other person that is as essential to the show's success but one who you rarely see on camera: Charlie O'Donnell.

Charlie is a native of Philadelphia PA and got his start in 1958 on American Bandstand with Dick Clark. One thing led to another and he became a disc jockey on 50,000 watt KRLA ("Serving Southern California From Pasadena"), LA's #1 top 40 station in its day, where he worked with such legendary radio personalities as Bob Eubanks ("The Newleywed Game"), Casey Kasem ("American Top 40"), Dick Biondi, and Dave Hull.

He then moved to KCOP-TV in Los Angeles as a news anchorman. He also was the announcer on such shows as The Joker's Wild, Tic Tac Dough, Bullseye, Card Sharks, and the $100,000 Pyramid (teaming up again with his pal Dick Clark).

Charlie has also served as announcer for the American Music Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Academy Awards.

And...now you know....Charlie O!

Back tomorrow, folks. Stay cool....CBS 11's Larry Mowry is predicting a high of 104 today!!

Ken

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, DFWWheelwatchers!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. All of us at CBS11 hope you are coping with the heat we are having here!

On our last blog we told you a little about Pat Sajak. Now we want to tell you a little about Vanna White.

Vanna is a native of North Myrtle Beach SC. After attending the Atlanta School of Fashion Design and becoming one of the top models in the area, she moved to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actress. Within two years, while competing with over 200 other people in a casting call, she was selected as co-host of Wheel Of Fortune.

She has been recognized in the Guiness Book Of World Records as "Television's Most Frequent Clapper" averaging 720 claps per episode or approximately 28,000 times per season!

In 2006, she received the 2309th Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

In 25 years of being the show's co-host, she has worn over 5100 different designer outfits at the puzzleboard. Because of all of the fan interest in her fashions, she launched "Vanna Style", a web page that can be accessed on the main Wheel Of Fortune website, wheeloffortune.com.

She is the mother of two children: Nicholas and Giovanna, and in her spare time is an avid crocheter.

Well, that's about all today. Don't forget about the "World Cafe' Week" all week long. The fun starts tonight at 6:30pm on CBS11 and continues through this Friday, right after CBS11News at 6pm!

Don't forget to email us if you have a question about anything on Wheel Of Fortune. Just email us at: dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com!

Have a great day and I will talk to you tomorrow!

Ken

Meet Pat Sajak

Hello, DFWWheelwatchers!!

Well, we are heading toward the weekend and everyone here at CBS11 hopes that you have a great weekend but be sure to keep an eye on the temperatures and drink lots of fluids, because it is going to be hot, hot, hot!!

Now, most of you know Pat Sajak. He is in his 27th year of hosting Wheel Of Fortune. He join the Army in 1968 during the Vietnam War and was sent there to be an announcer with Armed Forces Radio (AFR) in Saigon, where he started each day, like the movie, saying, "Good Morning, Vietnam!!" (does that bring back images of Robin Williams?).

After his discharge, Pat was working as an announcer and talk show host in Nashville at WSM-TV when he was spotted by a talent agent and then hired at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles as its weatherman.

Four years later, he was chosen to the new host of Wheel Of Fortune by Merv Griffin for the show's network daytime version. In 1983, the nighttime version of the show you see on CBS11 was launched and Pat has hosted that version as well ever since.

Have a great weekend, everybody, and I will see you next week!

Ken

Wheel Of Fortune Stirs Up Summer With Nestle' Coffe-Mate World Cafe Flavor Launch

Hello, DFWWheelwatchers!

Hope you are doing well on this hot Thursday afternoon in Dallas/Fort Worth!

CBS11 is pleased to announce that Wheel Of Fortune has teamed up with Nestle' Coffee-Mate for one of the show's most extensive promotions ever!

Coffee-mate “World Café Week” on Wheel of Fortune, airing July 13-17 at 6:30pm on CBS11, will help launch two new Coffee-mate World Café flavors, Parisian Almond Crème and Belgian Chocolate Toffee (sounds yummy, doesn't it?) :)

Coffee-mate will provide vacations to destinations inspired by World Café flavors as ‘goodie’ prizes on the wheel. At-home viewers will also have the chance to win those same vacations with Coffee-mate offering 25 trips for two through the watch-to-win “World Café Sweepstakes.” As a CBS11/DFWWheelwatcher, you can take full advantage of your chance to win!!

This is going to be a lot of fun so don't miss out on it, all next week, July 13-17, at 6:30pm, only on CBS11!

Ken

Wheel Of Fortune Factoid For July 8, 2009

Good Day, DFWWheelwatchers!

Well, according to CBS11 Meteorologist Jeff Jamison, it is gonna be hot today, with a high of 99!! Good day to stay in and watch your favorite shows on CBS11, especially Wheel Of Fortune!

One of the items we will be doing on this blog from time to time is the DFWWheelwatchers' daily factoid.

Today's factoid is:


Vanna White made her debut on Wheel Of Fortune in 1982 as the first woman co-host of a television game show. And she IS......The Pride of South Carolina! Not many people can say that they have been turning letters for nearly 27 years!!


Have a wonderful day, stay cool, and we'll talk again tomorrow! Remember that CBS11 is YOUR home for America's #1 game show: Wheel Of Fortune!!

Ken

Happy Tuesday!

Hello, DFWWheelwatchers:

I hope all of you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend and that you are enjoying your summer!!

All This week at 6:30pm on CBS 11, we are airing the Wheel Of Fortune 2nd Honeymoon shows from Hawaii so you definitely do not want to miss them!

Remember, if you have a question or comment for, just email me at dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com.

See you tomorrow!!

Ken

Wheel Watcher Trivia For Thursday, July 2, 2009

Hello, DFW WheelWatchers!!

Happy Thursday to you!! We know that many of you are getting ready for a long holiday weekend but it will be hot so be careful out in the sun!!

On our last blog, we mentioned about the first time that the name "Wheel Of Fortune" was used in connection with a TV game show.

The show that you see today on CBS11 first originated as a daytime show on the NBC Television Network back in 1975. Merv Griffin, a singer, songwriter, and TV talk show host, was the creator of the show. Chuck Woolery, who later went on to host such shows as Love Connection, was the original host.

At first, the show was never intended to have a hostess since a motorized board was going to be used but it could not be completed in time for production, so Susan Stafford was selected as the hostess and remained with the show until 1982 (after leaving the show, she was a producer on Saturday Night Live and then returned to school and became a psychologist, earning a Ph.D).

Woolery hosted the show through 1981 until he left due to a salary dispute with Griffin.

Charlie O'Donnell, a popular Los Angeles radio disc jockey, was the original announcer. He left briefly in the 1980's but returned a few years later and has remained with the show ever since.

I will be back with another blog on Tuesday, July 7th. From all of us at CBS11 and TXA 21, we wish you and your family a happy and safe Fourth Of July!!

Did You Know This About Wheel Of Fortune?

The history of Wheel Of Fortune as we know it dates back to the mid 1970's. But the name was actually used for a game show that was totally unrelated to the one you see today on CBS11.

The first Wheel of Fortune started in October 1952 and aired for a year on the CBS Television Network both as a daytime show (9am) and as a nighttime show (9pm). It was hosted by Todd Russell and announced by Hal Simms. The theme music song was sung by Kay Starr and was a #1 hit single on the Billboard charts for nine weeks beginning in March 1952.

To be on the show, you had to have been a good-deed "doer" for someone. The person who was the recipient of the good deed was also on the show. Contestants could win as little as $30 and as much as $1000 by spinning the wheel, which would determine the amount of money and the number of questions that had to be answered. The old "You Bet Your Life" with comedian Groucho Marx was similar with regard to the number of questions and the amount that could be won. The person who had received the good deed received a gold watch as well.

And that is your DFWWheelwatcher trivia for today, Wednesday, July 1st, 2009!

Ken

Welcome To DFWWheelwatchers

Hello, DFW Wheelwatchers!

My name is Ken Foote and I am the Director of Programming for KTVT CBS 11 and its sister station, TXA 21, in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Today marks the start of a new blog here at CBS 11...just for YOU: the DFW Wheelwatcher.

CBS 11 has been proud to be your home for Wheel Of Fortune since September 2005, every weeknight at 6:30pm.

Our goal is simple: to keep you in the know about America's #1 game show...AND..to answer your questions about the show.

If you have a question about anything related to Wheel Of Fortune, email us at

dfwwheelwatchers@gmail.com and we will answer them on our blog!

Look forward to hearing from you and thank you for being a DFW Wheelwatcher!!

Ken