Lykkehjulet
Encyclopedia
Lykkehjulet is the Danish
version of the Wheel of Fortune television game show. Airing in 1988, the show was the first big American game show to be imported to Denmark and it was one of the first successes for Danish broadcaster TV2 when it became Denmark's second TV channel in 1988.
The show originally used the "shopping" format of the American program in which winnings were used to buy studios prizes, such as furniture, appliances, and trips. In later years the format was changed to reflect the American version of all-cash winnings. The host during the first season was Michael Meyerheim with Pia Dresner as the letter-turning co-host. Thereafter, the show was hosted by Bengt Burg from 1989 to 2000, with a short stint by Keld Heick during the 1996-1997 season. The final season in 2001 season was hosted by Lars Herlow. The letter-turning co-hosts were Carina Jensen (1989–1994) and Maria Hirse (1995–2001). The show's announcers during the run of the program were Ole Jacobsen, then Henrik Hannibal and later, Dennis Johannesson. The show ran for 3,599 episodes until it was cancelled in 2001 due to declining viewership
and a failed attempt at modernizing the format in the final year.
(For details about how the game was played, see Wheel of Fortune.)
There were several details which were unique to the Danish version of Wheel of Fortune.
The opening theme to the program was an original composition composed by Jesper Ranum.
The multi-colored wheel had 22 wedges (each with 4 pegs) instead of the 24 wedges of the American show, and value amounts originally ranged from 100 to 1,500 kroner
(2,500 in later rounds) to be used for shopping purposes. The podiums followed a blue-red-yellow pattern, as it did for several other foreign adaptions.
From 1990 to 1994, the top value was 3,000 kroner in every round. From 1994 to 1998, the top value was 3,000 kroner in Round 1 then KR5,000 from Round 2 onwards. From 1998 until the end of its run, the top value was 5,000 kroner in every round.
Vowels cost 500 Kroner and were to be purchased prior to spinning the wheel.
Known as an "Ekstra Tur," ("Joker" in 1988) it was originally conceived like the US Free Spin, where it was an entire wedge on the wheel, and multiple Free Spins could be won. It eventually became a single token placed on the wheel. After landing on the space with the token, the player automatically picked it up and called for a letter to win the hidden amount beneath the token (usually 600 Kroner).
The letters on the puzzleboard were the traditional trilon
shape for the first twelve years of the program. In 2000, the puzzleboard was changed to an electronic
form. The bell
indicating a correct letter had a high D-note pitch to it (similar to the sound effect used on the American version when a bonus envelope is taken), while the horn
for a wrong guess or a Tabt Tur (Lose A Turn) was borrowed from the US version of The Price is Right
.
and a downward whistle for "Fallit" (bankrupt) making a player lose all of their money and losing their turn.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
version of the Wheel of Fortune television game show. Airing in 1988, the show was the first big American game show to be imported to Denmark and it was one of the first successes for Danish broadcaster TV2 when it became Denmark's second TV channel in 1988.
The show originally used the "shopping" format of the American program in which winnings were used to buy studios prizes, such as furniture, appliances, and trips. In later years the format was changed to reflect the American version of all-cash winnings. The host during the first season was Michael Meyerheim with Pia Dresner as the letter-turning co-host. Thereafter, the show was hosted by Bengt Burg from 1989 to 2000, with a short stint by Keld Heick during the 1996-1997 season. The final season in 2001 season was hosted by Lars Herlow. The letter-turning co-hosts were Carina Jensen (1989–1994) and Maria Hirse (1995–2001). The show's announcers during the run of the program were Ole Jacobsen, then Henrik Hannibal and later, Dennis Johannesson. The show ran for 3,599 episodes until it was cancelled in 2001 due to declining viewership
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
and a failed attempt at modernizing the format in the final year.
(For details about how the game was played, see Wheel of Fortune.)
Unique to the Danish Version
- Theme Song
The opening theme to the program was an original composition composed by Jesper Ranum.
- The Wheel and Podiums
The multi-colored wheel had 22 wedges (each with 4 pegs) instead of the 24 wedges of the American show, and value amounts originally ranged from 100 to 1,500 kroner
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
(2,500 in later rounds) to be used for shopping purposes. The podiums followed a blue-red-yellow pattern, as it did for several other foreign adaptions.
From 1990 to 1994, the top value was 3,000 kroner in every round. From 1994 to 1998, the top value was 3,000 kroner in Round 1 then KR5,000 from Round 2 onwards. From 1998 until the end of its run, the top value was 5,000 kroner in every round.
- Vowels
Vowels cost 500 Kroner and were to be purchased prior to spinning the wheel.
- The Free Spin
Known as an "Ekstra Tur," ("Joker" in 1988) it was originally conceived like the US Free Spin, where it was an entire wedge on the wheel, and multiple Free Spins could be won. It eventually became a single token placed on the wheel. After landing on the space with the token, the player automatically picked it up and called for a letter to win the hidden amount beneath the token (usually 600 Kroner).
- Puzzleboard and Sound effects
The letters on the puzzleboard were the traditional trilon
Trilon
A trilon is a triangular prism-shaped object, turning on an axle to show different letters or images. Trilons have been used on game shows and billboards....
shape for the first twelve years of the program. In 2000, the puzzleboard was changed to an electronic
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
form. The bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
indicating a correct letter had a high D-note pitch to it (similar to the sound effect used on the American version when a bonus envelope is taken), while the horn
Horn (acoustic)
A horn is a tapered sound guide designed to provide an acoustic impedance match between a sound source and free air. This has the effect of maximizing the efficiency with which sound waves from the particular source are transferred to the air...
for a wrong guess or a Tabt Tur (Lose A Turn) was borrowed from the US version of The Price is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
.
and a downward whistle for "Fallit" (bankrupt) making a player lose all of their money and losing their turn.