Season 43 of Wheel of Fortune is ending soon, and fans have strong opinions on what should change and stay the same for Season 44… and many of them agree on what those elements should be.
The game show has been renewed for two more seasons, with Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White both returning. Since Pat Sajak retired in 2024, some fans debated whether Seacrest was the right fit. Others debated on aspects of the game that could be changed.
“In the fall, what would you like to see added to the show in September?” a Reddit user asked. Season 44 does not yet have a premiere date, but a new season typically starts after Labor Day in September. Fans left their opinions, as well as what they want taken away.
One fan wanted college students and active military members weeks brought back. Many begged for the show to bring back the split screen, which would show the puzzle along with the contestants. In recent seasons, the contestant is seen spinning the wheel, then the puzzle is shown when they guess, and then it goes back to the contestants, not allowing the viewers at home enough time to solve the puzzle.
“Keep the puzzle board on the screen while players spin and think. I want to keep trying to guess, and I can’t if I can’t see the puzzle,” one fan said.
“I would like the split screen again, so we can see the puzzle more often,” another said.
A handful of Reddit users agreed that they want more gameplay, which means shorter introductions. At the beginning of every show, after the first toss-up, Seacrest talks to the three contestants, says where they are from, and then shares a fact, or two, about them. Many fans think that portion takes too long and takes away from gameplay.
“Shorten the players’ interviews!” a fan wrote.
“Shorter introductions, maybe bring back jackpot round, or the 1/2 car wedges,” another said. The Jackpot round was on the show from 1996 to 2013. It offered a cash prize, beginning at $5,000, and had the value of each successive spin added to it. To claim the jackpot, the contestant had to land on the wedge, call a correct letter, and solve — all within the same turn. The 1/2 car wedges were wedges on the board, where contestants had to collect both wedges in order to be eligible to win a car at the end of the show.
Other fans agreed that the “weird categories” needed to go and that there needed to be fewer toss-ups. There are five in total, two at the beginning and three at the end. A few more fans said that the wheel needs to increase the maximum wedge amount of $950.
What changes would you like to see made to the game show? Let us know in the comments.
Wheel of Fortune, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock