‘Wheel of Fortune’ reveals new set, music and gameplay changes for season 39 and viewers freak out

Wheel of Fortune made a few changes to the show as it kicked off its 39th season on Monday, and viewers definitely took notice and had plenty to say on social media. The updates include a colorful new set, more screen time for the show’s announcer Jim Thornton, updated music and some tweaks to the gameplay.

Viewers watching at home had plenty to say about the new changes and took to social media with their thoughts, ranging from loving it all to not loving any of it.

And while not everyone is a fan of the changes for season 39, we can think of one person who definitely is: Monday’s big winner, Allison, a teacher from California who took home over $81,000 in cash and prizes.

Video transcript

PAT SAJAK: Can you believe this is season 39? It's incredible. You'll notice some changes in the studio. I thought I caught a glimpse of that Thornton guy on the way out, a few little tweaks in the game, but it's still "Wheel of Fortune." We're going to have a great time. Let's get to it.

- "Wheel of Fortune" kicked off its 39th season on Monday, and with it came a few changes to the show, including a colorful new set, which some viewers on Twitter liked, while others not so much, and what Sony has described as a modernized arrangement of the classic "Wheel of Fortune" music, which has one viewer pointed out was extra distracting during the toss up round.

[BUZZER SOUND]

PAT SAJAK: Alison?

- Trigonometry.

PAT SAJAK: Yeah, that's it.

- New changes come after the departure of Executive Producer Mike Richards, who left amid controversy last month and, also, after the announcement that host Pat Sajak will now serve as a consulting producer on the show. And one of his first orders of business was taking the final spin away from himself and giving it to the contestants.

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

PAT SAJAK: Alison, well, that sound means time is running out. Something else is here. The final spin goes to whoever has control of the wheel. In this case, Alison. So you'll do the first final spin by a player, OK? We're going to have a 1,000 to whatever you land on.

- Reactions on Twitter poured in with comments like, "Wheel of Fortune" changed a lot of the music and sets today. It is messing with me. And "Wheel of Fortune" took the final spin away from Pat Sajak, made the set early 2K neon blue, and has weird new music. Me right now. And while not everyone is a fan of the changes for season 39, we can think of one person who definitely is.

- Garden Path.

PAT SAJAK: Yeah, that's it.

[CROWD CHEERS]

Well, look what we got going this year. 39. 39.