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Wheel of Fortune (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Wheel of Fortune is a long-running New Zealand
television game show
that is hosted by television personality Jason Gunn
and co-host Sonia Gray. It screens on TVNZ channel TV ONE.
debuted in February 1991 screening on TVNZ channel TV2 at 5:30pm. The show was originally hosted by Phillip Leishman with co-host Lana Coc-Kroft
.
During its time the show aired on various time slots and switched between TV ONE and TV2; at the show's peak it aired in prime time on TVONE at 7:00pm, a time slot previously used to screen Sale of the Century
, but moved off this slot in 1995 when TV ONE extended their news to a one-hour show followed by Holmes
. After moving to TV2 in a 6:00pm time slot the show was ultimately axed in 1996 as the show could not compete with the 6pm news shows on TV ONE and TV3.
In an incident which has entered New Zealand folklore, boxer David Tua
was miss-heard on an episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune as saying "O for awesome" when in actual fact he had said "O for OCEAN" This can be verified by actually listening to what he says on the video you can see on you tube. The host then tells him that he is unable to use a vowel at that stage of the game. this episode aired on 10 October 1992. He also requested "P" when buying a vowel on the same episode.
and Sonia Gray. The show now airs at 5:30pm local time. At the conclusion of filming of the 2008 season TVNZ announced the show will return in 2009 bigger and better. Additionally Jason Gunn officially announced that his co-host Sonia Gray was pregnant with twins and that she would return to co-host the show after her pregnancy. Greer Robson
temporarily took Sonia's role on the show until she returned in May, 2009.
air. The reasons given by TVNZ for the cancellation were lower ratings than the previous season, decreased advertising revenue and the high cost of producing the show. Lower ratings may have resulted after reformatting of the show interrupted its flow due to an increased emphasis on 'Speed Digits'. The last show was screened in June 2009.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
that is hosted by television personality Jason Gunn
Jason Gunn
Jason Gunn is a New Zealand television personality. He is now best known as the main host of the hit New Zealand entertainment television show, Dancing with the Stars, Wheel of Fortune, and The Rich List.- Early career :...
and co-host Sonia Gray. It screens on TVNZ channel TV ONE.
History
The original New Zealand version of the popular American game show Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
debuted in February 1991 screening on TVNZ channel TV2 at 5:30pm. The show was originally hosted by Phillip Leishman with co-host Lana Coc-Kroft
Lana Coc-Kroft
Lana Coc-Kroft is a New Zealand television and radio personality, and was Miss Universe New Zealand in 1988.Coc-Kroft began her television career appearing in Sale of the Century, and in 1991 on the New Zealand version of Wheel of Fortune as the co-host with Phillip Leishman, later Simon Barnett....
.
During its time the show aired on various time slots and switched between TV ONE and TV2; at the show's peak it aired in prime time on TVONE at 7:00pm, a time slot previously used to screen Sale of the Century
Sale of the Century
Sale of the Century is a television game show format that has been screened in several countries in various incarnations since 1969. The show found its biggest success in Australia, where it aired weeknights from 1980 to 2001...
, but moved off this slot in 1995 when TV ONE extended their news to a one-hour show followed by Holmes
Holmes
Holmes is a geographical surname of English origin. The name is first recorded in Lancashire in North West England. The name is derived from "holm", a Scandinavian word meaning "a small island". The word was introduced to Great Britain and Ireland by Old Norse-speaking Vikings...
. After moving to TV2 in a 6:00pm time slot the show was ultimately axed in 1996 as the show could not compete with the 6pm news shows on TV ONE and TV3.
In an incident which has entered New Zealand folklore, boxer David Tua
David Tua
David "Tuamanator" Tua is a New Zealand professional heavyweight boxer, fighting out of South Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.He is a former WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion....
was miss-heard on an episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune as saying "O for awesome" when in actual fact he had said "O for OCEAN" This can be verified by actually listening to what he says on the video you can see on you tube. The host then tells him that he is unable to use a vowel at that stage of the game. this episode aired on 10 October 1992. He also requested "P" when buying a vowel on the same episode.
2008 return
On April 14, 2008 the New Zealand version of Wheel of Fortune returned again to TVNZ channel TV ONE. The show returned with new hosts Jason GunnJason Gunn
Jason Gunn is a New Zealand television personality. He is now best known as the main host of the hit New Zealand entertainment television show, Dancing with the Stars, Wheel of Fortune, and The Rich List.- Early career :...
and Sonia Gray. The show now airs at 5:30pm local time. At the conclusion of filming of the 2008 season TVNZ announced the show will return in 2009 bigger and better. Additionally Jason Gunn officially announced that his co-host Sonia Gray was pregnant with twins and that she would return to co-host the show after her pregnancy. Greer Robson
Greer Robson
Greer Robson-Kirk born is a New Zealand television actress well known for her role in the Television Drama, Shortland Street.-Biography:...
temporarily took Sonia's role on the show until she returned in May, 2009.
Sudden Cancellation
It was announced on the 2nd May 2009 that the series was being cancelled after only one year onair. The reasons given by TVNZ for the cancellation were lower ratings than the previous season, decreased advertising revenue and the high cost of producing the show. Lower ratings may have resulted after reformatting of the show interrupted its flow due to an increased emphasis on 'Speed Digits'. The last show was screened in June 2009.