Wheel of Fortune (Danish game show)

Infobox Television


caption =
show_name = Lykkehjulet
format = Game show
rating = TV-G
picture_format = PAL | creator = Merv Griffin
starring = Michael Meyerheim, host (1988) Pia Dresner, co-host (1988) Bengt Burg, host (1989–2000) Carine Jensen, co-host (1989–1994) Maria Hirse, co-host (1995–2001)
country = DEN
network = TV2 (Denmark)
first_aired = October 1, 1988–2001
num_episodes = 3,559
website = |

"Lykkehjulet" is the Danish version of the "Wheel of Fortune" television game show. Airing in 1988, the show was the first big American game show to be imported to Denmark and it was one of the first successes for Danish broadcaster TV2 when it became Denmark's second TV channel in 1988. [cite web
title = Lykkehjulet
publisher = IMDb
url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332934]

The show originally used the "shopping" format of the American program in which winnings were used to buy studios prizes, such as furniture, appliances, and trips. In later years the format was changed to reflect the American version of all-cash winnings. The host during the first season was Michael Meyerheim with Pia Dresner as his co-host. Subsequently, the show was hosted by Bengt Burg from 1989 to 2000, with a short stint by Keld Heick during 1996-1997, and in the final 2001 season by Lars Herlow. The letter-turning co-hosts were Carina Jensen (1989–1994) and Maria Hirse (1995–2001). The show's announcers during the run of the program were Ole Jacobsen, then Henrik Hannibal and later, Dennis Johannesson. According to TV2, the show had a run of 3,599 episodes until it was cancelled in 2001 after an attempt at modernizing the format to suit young viewers.

(For details about how the game was played, see Wheel of Fortune.)

Unique to the Danish Version

There were several details which were unique to the Danish version of "Wheel of Fortune".

*Theme SongThe opening theme to the program was an original composition composed by Jesper Ranum. [cite web
title = Lykkehjulet Theme
publisher = Jesper Ranum Website
url =http://www.ranum.dk/files/sounds/mp3/productions/tv_programs/0205_lykkehjulet.mp3]

*The Wheel and PodiumsThe multi-colored wheel had 22 wedges instead of the 24 wedges of the American show, and value amounts originally ranged from 400 to 3,000 krones to be used for shopping purposes. Eventually, the money values were converted to Euros with amounts ranging from €100 to €500, and one space worth €5,000 imitating the $10,000 space in the United States version. The podiums followed a blue-red-yellow pattern, as did several other foreign adaptions.

*VowelsVowels cost 500 Krones (€250) and were to be purchased prior to spinning the wheel.

*The Free SpinKnown as an "Ekstra Tur," it was originally conceived like the US Free Spin, where it was an entire wedge on the wheel, and multiple Free Spins could be won. It eventually became a single token placed on the wheel. This version is the only version in which the token was automatically awarded to the player who landed on it. The player called for a letter to win the hidden amount beneath the token (usually 600 Krones).

*Puzzleboard and Sound effectsThe letters on the puzzleboard were the traditional trilon shape for the first twelve yeras of the program. In 2000, the puzzleboard was changed to an electronic form. The bell indicating a correct letter had a high D-note pitch to it, while the horn for a wrong guess or a "Tabe Tur" (Lose A Turn) was borrowed from the US version of The Price is Right.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332934 Lykkehjulet at IMDb]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HdW7-vDBkA Film of Lykkehjulet on YouTube]
* [http://www.ranum.dk/files/sounds/mp3/productions/tv_programs/0205_lykkehjulet.mp3 mp3 of Lykkehjulet Theme]