Wheel of Fortune (Australia) (19 Jul 1996) - End of Tony Barber's First Week

In mid 1996 - the long-standing partnership between John Burgess and Adriana Xenedis on the Australian version of "Wheel of Fortune" was broken in a shakeup which brought production of the show from Adelaide to Sydney, a brand new set, theme and rules, and new stewardship of the show in the way of Tony Barber. It was a change which proved to be disastrous for the show's ratings, which plummeted dramatically as a result and led to more rule and host changes only 6 months later. Judge the show for yourself.

[@newsman9539]

I wish Wheel Of Fortune woud come back to Australia with this theme song and hosted by Rob Elliot and Sophie.

[@injanhoi1]

Tony is very talented and was the best host of Sale of the Century however I think he wasn't quite suited to Wheel of Fortune. I ranked Rob Elliot very highly as Wheel of Fortune host.

[@henrywinkler6058]

Does anyone find the sound of the markers hitting the wheel of fortune pegs refreshing? I always loved that noise.

[@Marisueksu]

The sound of a 100rpm horse cart engine🤣

[@perthuser75]

I so loved this when it was on telly. RIP Adriana Xenides. Preferred it when John Burgess was hosting.

[@7120Magnum]

Thanks for uploading this. Do you also have an episode to upload from the Tony Barber era after the new theme music was axed? Just to see what was different.

[@JamesJimmaHarding]

I know this revamp of Wheel of fortune in July 1996 caused controversy at the time, But i still think it's a lot better than what Channel 7 did to 'The Price Is Right' in 2012 by turning it into a cheap piece of work. Axing the contestants row and offering such cheap prizes, and making it look more like a glorified 30-minute BigW ad rather than a game show with most of the prize supplied by BigW and a low-end car (i.e. Nissan Micra) as a top prize

[@savedbyjesusblood]

I couldn't believe how much the production values dropped when the Price Is Right returned. In the previous run of the show they were giving away $400,000 apartments. Even the games themselves looked like nasty cheap props. No wonder the show didn't last.

[@uberdan1180]

I attended a taping of the show and all I could think about was how backwards it went. No surprise it didn't last the year

[@chriso1222]

I only saw it by chance when "Tony Nasser" was mentioned cause i've got the The Best & Worst of Red Faces DVD and Tony Nasser was the Human Saxophone Guy from that act he did

[@mrfreshitalian5618]

Yeah Tony Nasso is my dad

[@JamesJimmaHarding]

The Surprise wedge returned in was featured on the wheel once twice a week in 1995/Early 1996 and again went it returned in 1997. But after 1998 it became a very rare feature for the next few years, but then it was featured in just about every episode of the 2005/06 season before the show went under

[@cutemimi25]

About the comment when I said the Bankrupt and Lose a Turn noised should be switched I think they're perfect the way they are (unfortunately the American version doesn't have a sound effect for the Lose a turn).

[@Inaworldoflove]

They even changed the font of the letters with this reboot.

[@germanname1990]

Someone just told me about this wedge called "Goodie," which existed sometime in the mid 90s. I don't know if you have any episodes with that.

[@7120Magnum]

@Spi Cybershark It wasn’t exclusive to round 1, it’s just most of the episodes on KZbin that featured it had the prize go off in the first puzzle. There was an episode from the 1995 family week where it didn’t go off at all that night and was placed in round 1 on the yellow $180 space, the green $165 space beside the Bankrupt in round 2 and then the $700 space in round 3. It was later revived in October 1996 under the guise of the Top Dollar Prize.

[@gameshowaus2]

He was a champion Australian weightlifter.

[@Inaworldoflove]

Holidays with a bus trip as the means of transportation? You’ve got to be kidding me.

[@mutsortima174]

Tony Barber was not happy with the new theme, so at his request, the old one was brought back five weeks into his run.

[@7120Magnum]

Not so. Tony had no input into the production side of the show. It was producers behind the scenes slowly undoing everything they’d done. 5 weeks worth of shows was taped at first and when the next round of taping started after the Olympics, the decision was made to bring back the old music. The music used here to introduce the new contestants remained for a little while longer trying to get both themes to co-exist but was eventually scrapped. When his “resignation” from the show was announced in November he did mention about objecting to being held responsible for ALL of the changes and everything the viewers didn’t like about it.

[@Inaworldoflove]

@@7120Magnum that’s sad. Tony is a great game show host and even though it was weird having a different host, people should have cut him some slack.

[@stupendous1068]

Bon anniversaire Tony Barber!!!

[@cutemimi25]

Why does the Australian version of Wheel of Fortune have the American Bankrupt noise for their Lose a Turn wedge (I think the Lose a Turn and Bankrupt noises need to be switched).

[@scana1979]

One of the stuff ups was to make the game four rounds instead of three in the same half hour time slot. The bell rang usually at the end of round three and the contestants' scores stayed relative to each other unless the common amount spun up was top dollar. They never reversed this arrangement for the rest of the show's run.

[@7120Magnum]

I would beg to differ. Quite often Tony was encouraging them to solve as soon as they knew the puzzle, thus trying to avoid the "speed-up" round. And yes, they did actually discontinue the 4-round game in October 1996, taking it back to the old 3 puzzles until the change of set at the beginning of 1999. There are episodes floating around from late-1996 (including Tony's final episode) that show the format was changed back.

[@cutemimi25]

I live in America so these are my honest opinions but I will admit they do sound much better than the UK version of Wheel of Fortune (they have terrible sound effects).

[@NoTaboos]

He will always be just the "Cambridge Whistler" to me, no matter how much he tries to distance himself from cigarettes. He helped thousands of people smoke. Guilty forever.

[@gameshowaus2]

I think you could be right. Great pickup! :)

[@Tubewings]

Tony's more like Bob Goen, as he had had television experience in television before hosting the "Wheel", unlike Benirschke.

[@phoenixswanson1561]

Does Mama Stream play?

[@Iggywiggywoo]

Why do they have envelopes instead of the Golden Wheel?

[@7120Magnum]

It was a change made in terms of revamping the show. The Major Prize Round concept remained the same, but used the envelopes instead of the golden wheel. Unsurprisingly though, it wasn’t well received and was replaced with a new-look Golden Wheel a matter of weeks later.

[@JamesJimmaHarding]

6:10 that's the first time i've seen someone spend their entire score on vowels

[@7120Magnum]

I got to see not so long ago on Facebook a video shared to Tony’s page - it was a “Hey Dad” repeat and went to the ad break, the first ad was a preview of that day’s Wheel. I’m assuming it was July 23 because they opened the ad up alluding to the fact Tim had been beaten. From what I could see, Tim was beaten by a bloke named Angelo (the carry over champion in the ad), the blue player that night was bloke called Lucas, and I don’t know who the female yellow player was because I couldn’t catch the name tag. Another thing that came up in the ad was the shot of Tony walking up to his spot on the podium mouthing the lyric “Wheel Of Fortune, Australia’s Game” from the new theme song.

[@daveb3987]

I remember being gobsmacked that Seven dumped John Burgess and tried to spruce it up with fake excitement and a dumb new set. It seemed like a perfect format and the combination of John and Adriana was magic. Then suddenly the whole thing was stuffed up and the guy who should only host Sale of the Century shows up. Roy and HG made so many jokes about it - Roy saying something like “and the stupid bloody wheel on an angle, lopsided so it favours the heavy side!”

[@Tubewings]

Won Golds in Brisbane, Los Angeles, and Edinburgh, right?

[@MeFrom07]

The theme music reminds me of a steam organ. Plus I know the lyrics the the song are "Wheel of Fortune, Australia's game" But it sounds like something else.

[@paulbradley705]

Strange he got all the letters and still had to say answer.

[@chriso1222]

If i'm correct isn't that the "Tony" that did the Red Faces Act on Hey Hey It's Saturday in 1993 The Human Saxophone

[@mrfreshitalian5618]

Yeah cause its my dad

[@Marisueksu]

What is that theme song ! haha

[@HarlemHyena]

This is clearly another example of corporate morons fixing that which is clearly not broken. I'm mainly referring to Tony Barber as host,that awful theme of his and nixing the "savestate" rule, as I call it. The stage I can handle; puzzle board reminds me of a theater sign. Still, firing Burgess reminds me of how the turnover went from Chuck Woolery to Pat Sajak on daytime Wof here in the States. Controversial at first, but no regrets in the end.

[@Daffyfan2006]

So Barber was the Rolf Bernishke or Bob Goen of Australia, I guess.

[@NYIslander12]

This theme music sucks. And they never should have fired Burgo. The show may still be on today if they didnt fire him in the 90s

[@paulbradley705]

Quotation is a song.

[@K.J.S.est1994]

The United States version uses the envelopes but they don’t reveal the prize until the contestant solve the bonus puzzle

[@marcpower4167]

As of 2001, the US version has a miniature 24-wedge wheel, the contestant spins it to determine their bonus prize but it's still sealed in an envelope and not revealed until after the round. Also in 2008 they added a $1 million prize. To win it the contestant has to land on the million dollar wedge in the main game, call for a correct letter and win that round. Then they have to win the game without hitting a bankrupt from then on. If they succeed the $100,000 envelope is replaced on the bonus wheel with a $1 million dollar envelope. Then it's hit that envelope and solve the bonus puzzle. Not easy to do needless to say but it's been done a few times.

[@bluebear1985]

Compared to other episodes I've seen with Burgo as host, this one seems just a little strange with Tony Barber. It's kind of like watching the American one without Pat Sajak.

[@M200XL]

Is that cash or points?

[@Daffyfan2006]

Yeah, he does seem similar to Bob considering he seems to know what he's doing. Lol. It's also interesting to note that Pat Sajak didn't have a lot of television experience before hosting 'Wheel' either since he was a weatherman for a local station. Just thought I'd point that out.

[@kylepeck4491]

🤩

[@lucylovic]

When Australia was still hopeful and positive

[@gangsnapp_yt5945]

Tony Barber Hosted Jeopardy!. but not the american version im used to

[@Inaworldoflove]

Briefly, it didn’t take off in Australia.

[@ajk]

@@Inaworldoflove Kinda funny, the two most popular shows in syndication here in US for many years (paired together in fact in most areas nightly) where I'm from (unsure if you are or not), he hosted and didn't last but a year or less on either of them. Interesting how that works.

[@user-ov4gp3sf2b]

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[@carolwilliams5959]

Wheel of Fortune ( Australia 1992 ) Wheel of Fortune ( nzl ( 2008 - general episode ( p

[@RCoon72]

burgo and rob elliot for sure

[@buddyjgollan8726]

Rip Adriana while I love Tony barber as he was excellent at sale of the century but wheel of fortune didn’t suit him and given what happened to John Burgess tony just didn’t have the ability to be a great host then John Burgess at the time at least Rob Elliott was a fantastic host and he pretty much saved the show in my opinion I think of wheel of fortune was to come back again they should definitely bring back John Burgess and this time keep him on the show unless he wants to retire but I think it would be great to bring him back again and wheel of fortune again and pay tribute to Adriana Xenides for her contribution

[@TheBundychick82]

unbelievable how did tony get dean lukin from 1 letter just the d they aksed would you like to solve he said hold on and got it right it might be the only time in wof history in Australia

[@MeaHeaR]

What do u expext, the Answér was sport relatéd AND thé Answér was an ARSE-STRAAAAYLEAN

[@dachen2375]

I thought it was Dean Jones which also fitted

[@TheBundychick82]

the music was weird back in 1996 ut wasn't like the music that they had from all the other wof episodes i supposed i turned it off i found it boring just watching it now and why i found it boring

[@Inaworldoflove]

Notice how much touchy/feely people were then? Both Tony and Adriana kiss contestants. Unheard of today.

[@dachen2375]

It was a theme of game shows in the ‘90s, kiss kiss.

[@ericsanjuan2002]

4:06-4:10 Card Fight!! Vanguard Girs Crisis BANKRUPT I’m so close I’m sorry Aiger Akabane

[@imaginarydiva]

Oh his too sale of the century.

[@billylilly1251]

haha what a song

[@marlonbrando9279]

N for nelly

[@planetX15]

B for Bob

[@TheBundychick82]

yeah tony barber wasn't very good at wheel of fortune found him boring should of stuck to hosting sale of the century loved him hosting that loved his famous run in every episode

[@Inaworldoflove]

You’re too biased.

[@drkdncr]

How tacky...

[@grahamj5113]

Tony is drunk.

[@MeaHeaR]

Ha Ha Cheâp Arse-traylian Rubbish Prizés 😁😁😀👍👍

[@mauricelong4678]

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