The show begins 'sweetening' audience applause with a pre-recorded applause track at certain points during the show, such as the intro and Bonus Round wins.

The opening shot of the Wheel now starts from stage right, but still pans over to Pat and Vanna as they walk out.

For Seasons 22-23, as well as part of season 24, the animation transitioning to and from the Prize Puzzle plug footage is changed to feature the Wheel graphic from the Season 22 title sequence zooming towards the camera from the top-right corner, tilting to the left, as it reveals the footage of the prize.

The inclusion of $1,500 and $2,000 is odd, as the former had been retired in 1996 and the latter has never been used on the nighttime show. It has 30 wedges (all cash), which are as follows: four red wedges (one of which is $350) two orange wedges (both using the same shade of that color, even though the then-current Wheel layout used two different shades of orange) four yellow wedges (two of which are $1,500) five green wedges ($500, $600, $700, $800, and $2,000) five blue wedges and two light blue ones (the then-current Wheel layout did not have blue on any standard cash wedges) and three purple wedges and four pink ones (which are in darker shades of those colors than on the actual Wheel).

The Wheel graphic is extremely inaccurate in numerous ways.

After the audience chants, the camera zooms onto the Wheel graphic, and a white light comes out of the hole replacing the proper center and reveals the show's set.

The Wheel graphic then tilts to form the O in 'OF', and the rest of the letters (all silver) spin into place. As the introductory fanfare starts, a very low-pitched whoosh plays as the two bars combine to form the edge of a Wheel graphic with many different colors of lights reflecting off its wedges, on a starry dark blue background where bright blue streaks of light appear at random intervals. This season's opening sequence begins with a 'swishing' sound added, at which point the title is displayed in outlined orange neon Arial Black lettering on two bars, with a light that flashes many different colors the title is written in lowercase on one bar and uppercase on the other.

This season is the last to begin on Labor Day.

Wheel of fortune logo 1980s