The Bankrupt side has also changed over time: it was originally light yellow on black (per the obverse), but for Season 22 changed to dark blue on black. On November 3, 2008, the wedges' fronts and Bankrupt side became indigo and the outlines were removed in Season 32, they became a blue-purple gradient. In Season 24, the font became slightly lighter and the digits got a sparkling outline. In Season 23, the circles were changed from black to red and the font was darkened. They were originally black with a blue circle, a color scheme which was reversed in Season 22. The Mystery Wedges have had six designs, always including a question mark in a circle above the dollar amount, which is in the Clarendon Bold font. Beginning in Season 31, that graphic is only used if a contestant decides not to flip over the wedge, barring instances when the contestant solves immediately after declining. Also, from Octoto Season 37, a graphic effect showed viewers what is on the reverse of a wedge if it is landed on and a correct letter is called.

Since October 3, 2005, it has almost always been that (the last non-$10,000 prize being a Nissan Versa during the week of February 19, 2007). Starting in late Season 21, it began offering $10,000 cash with increasing frequency. For the first season only, most weeks had one prize offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and a different one on Tuesday and Thursday.įrequently it would be a compact car such as a Chevrolet Aveo or $10,000 in credit to a merchant. The prize was often in the $10,000 range when the round debuted. On April 30, 2010, an organ riff of unknown origin sounded instead.

Since its debut, a tinkle effect and synthesized chord play if an 'active' wedge is landed on during Halloween weeks, a spooky effect such as a moan or howling wolf is added. If either wedge is flipped over, the other is played at face value for the rest of the round. Flipping the wedge also forfeits whatever amount is earned by calling a correct letter on it. If a contestant lands on it and calls a correct letter, s/he may take the money for those letters or risk their current earnings (including any cardboard) for a chance at the prize: one wedge has the prize on the reverse, while the other has a Bankrupt. It offers a chance at an extra prize in the main game: a pair of Mystery Wedges are placed on the Wheel in Round 2, both with a 'face value' of $1,000 ($500 in Seasons 20-21). The Mystery Round debuted on September 2, 2002. 'The Mystery Round: it's all or nothing! What's on the other side of the Mystery Wedge? It could be a Bankrupt or (insert prize and value).'

The Mystery Round is one of the gameplay elements on Wheel of Fortune.

Mystery round wheel of fortune 2002