All of the contestants' names who played during the show (which let on that they were picked directly from the audience, but I suspect were auditioned and interviewed, since the audience was small and surrounded by reflective Mylar panels to make it look bigger, while Mother MacKenzie made it sound bigger) were placed on the wheel--whoever the wheel landed on played the end game, which involved (IIRC) picking a group of facts with numerical answers from a list so that the total stayed below a target number without going over (hmm, what show would that be like?). The show's premise, as stated by Trebek, was that it all dealt with "ooods and averages."

As time went on, that end game became the main part of the show, with three contestants picked in most rounds to answer a "Who Am I?" riddle like "SOTC"'s Fame Game, with the winner going on to play the target number game. There were other games in the mix, and earlier on Trebek did a lot of pointing to people in the audience and asking them questions for small prizes. (He continued to do that during the credits, although we never heard him, similar to Jack Clark playing Acey-Deucey with audience members during the "Dealer's Choice" credits).

I vaguely remember Wizard's Keno, which involved a selection of a random letter by the show's rear projection screen, but a game that popped up frequently that I do remember was one where there were five prizes, each one behind a clear door. Four of the doors opened, one was locked. Pick the unlocked doors, you won all of the prizes. Pick the locked door, you lost them all. Of course, you had the option to quit with what you had after every choice.

This may be stuff of legend, but I thought I heard that because of the complex nature of the show, a host with good math skills was needed, so there was no grousing about a Canadian getting the job over a U.S. host. Alex also had to utilize quick figuring on HR.

...and also wrote and sang the theme song.

I'll just add that Wizard is an OK theme, but his Diamond Head Game and original Wheel themes are much better - they're among my faves.

Let's not forget the "Whew" theme, which most of us are hoping turns up in the trade curcuit one day. That's my all-time fave!

...which left Dick Clark out of the running. :-)

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

The rest of the theme went:

"Who's the guy with the prizes
That'll light up your eyes?
It's never endin', get a friend and
Get ready to play-hey-hey-hey-hey! (Hey-hey-hey!)"

...which could confuse certain viewers watching for the first time, as happened to me the 1st time I saw that sole Clark ep that's been floating around...spent the next 2 yrs wondering "Why are the audience members screaming Jack's name during the credits?" every time I saw it, before getting it cleared up at a GSC.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

You don't suppose that if this show were on today, Frank Gari (who wrote the "Hello News" and "Turn To News" themes and also sang them) could actually compose this theme song, and get Florence Warner to sing it, maybe alongside himself and Randy Newman?

OK, that was a weird suggestion, but hey, I live with it.

Yeah, now we're livin with it too.

Yeah, they're 2 of my faves as well...the others he composed (Blank Check, Celebrity Sweepstakes, etc.) didn't seem like anything to write home about, IMO.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")