Wheel of Fortune (1983)/Season Five

Season Five of Wheel of Fortune premiered on September 7, 1987.

In-Depth

The show began an "all cash" format and the shopping rounds were retired. However, shopping was continued on the NBC daytime version until June 1989.
$1,000 is now the top dollar value in round 1 only. The $2,500 and $3,500 spaces were added this season. The $2,500 space was on the wheel in round 2, and the $3,500 space was on the wheel in round 3. The $5,000 space was now on the wheel only in round 4 and other last main-game rounds. This is how it would be until June 2000.
Bonus round prizes were displayed on turntables. They would display them this way until June 1995.
A big neon sign featuring the $25,000 bonus round cash prize that would raise and lower was added.
In July 1988, Jack Clark was dying of bone cancer and could not continue working on the show. He was heard for a few weeks reading updated fee plugs on summer and weekend reruns of the show in a very weak voice. When he became too ill to do it, Pat took over. Sometimes Vanna pitched in, too.

Wheel of Fortune (1983) Seasons