The company later became part of Coca-Cola Television on November 24, 1986, merged into Columbia Pictures Entertainment on December 21, 1987, and was sold to Sony Corporation along with CPE's other companies on November 8, 1989. Griffin, however, still held the copyrights of the game shows. On May 5, 1986, Griffin sold the company to The Coca-Cola Company (then-owner of Columbia Pictures Industries) for $250 million during his retirement. That same year, Jeopardy! also returned to television, but was syndicated nightly as well on September 10, 1984. In 1984, Griffin expanded his company as Merv Griffin Enterprises. Until 1986, King World company also had the rights to syndicate The Merv Griffin Show, when the syndication rights were moved to Columbia Pictures Television for the final episodes and the first two pilots of Jeopardy! in 1983 and January 9, 1984. The syndication rights to Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, and The Merv Griffin Show were given to King World (now CBS Television Distribution) in 1982 to syndicate a nightly version of Wheel of Fortune. Updated with Ryan Seacrest comments on Vanna White’s contract extension.In 1980, Griffin and Metromedia picked up syndie rights of Wheel of Fortune from NBC as well as the revival of the Jeopardy! television series. They are the longest-running game show hosts in American TV history. White and Sajak have hosted the syndicated Wheel of Fortune since its debut in 1983. Van Wagner’s credits include The Masked Singer, Holey Moley and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ennis worked on the show as both director and technical director, dating back to 1992.

I’m very happy to hear it and very happy I get to work with her.”Īdditionally, Alex Van Wagner has taken the directing reins of Wheel of Fortune following the retirement of longtime helmer Robert Ennis over the summer. “She’s beloved by this country and the viewers and I can’t even imagine standing next to her on that set being able to say, ‘OK, let’s get to it.’ It’s great news. “It’s super important to have Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune,” Seacrest added. I’ve been very excited to work with her but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations, Vanna.’ I can’t wait. “Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. “This is such great news,” Seacrest said in an interview with Willie Geist for NBC’s Sunday Today show.

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