'Wheel' To Spin Faster

摘要

Heading into its 23rd season, syndication behemoth Wheel of Fortune has no plans to rest on its laurels. Despite its winning 86 consecutive sweeps periods (it reaches 47 million viewers every week), executive producer Harry Friedman wants to pick up the show's pace when it returns Sept. 12. Friedman is altering the format to do so, always a risk with a popular program. "Every year, he makes subtle changes that make the show better without alienating the core viewers," says Steve Mosko, president of the show's producer, Sony Pictures Television, "and that is no easy task."