Click here to watch a Joker's Wild opening from 1978!
2 years after the CBS version left the air, a new syndicated version was launched. The syndicated version came about because CBS reruns of "The Joker's Wild" were placed on KTLA Los Angeles and WOR New York, and drew high ratings. Jack Barry joined up again with Dan Enright, his old partner from the 1950's.
Main Game
The rules were basically the
same. A single was 
worth $50, a pair $100, a triple $200. $500 or more won
the game, or three Joker's spun with a correct answer won the game.
There were things added on
during the run. If a player spun a natural triple (three of the same
category, no joker's), they won a prize. At various
times during the run, there was a "Natural Triple Jackpot"
which grew everyday until someone spun a natural triple. If a player
won five games consecutively, they won a car (usually a
Buick).
Face the Devil
The bonus round throughout the whole run was
the third bonus round used on the CBS run, called the "Face the
Devil" round. Dollar ammounts ($50-$200) and Devil's were only on the
wheels. If a player reached $1000 or more without
seeing a devil or spun three like dollar ammounts on one
spin, they won the money and a prize package.
The Evolution
When the show premiered in 1977, the set
looked very similar to that used on the CBS version and used the same
theme music. In 1978, the set was changed to include MUCH more lights
and a remixed version of the Savers was used as the opening theme,
and a new theme was brought in for the
closing theme, both composed by Hal Hidey. In 1981, another new set
was brought in, almost a complete overhaul of the original, 
with
neon lights surrounding the slot machine, a new backdrop behind the
host, and various other differences. Also new sound effects were
added, such as bells for adding money to scores.
Hosts
Jack
Barry hosted the show from 1977 until his death in May 1984. Jim Peck
had been substituting for Jack in the last two seasons. Jack
apparently was phasing himself out for Peck, who had hosted such
shows as "Big
Showdown" and the infamous "Three's a Crowd". However,
Dan Enright hired Bill Cullen (who at the time was hosting Hot Potato
for Barry and Enright on NBC). Cullen, who hosted MANY shows in his
game show career, such as the original Price is Right and
Blockbusters, was painfully slow and out of place on The Joker's
Wild. It was obvious it was time for him to hang it up, and Joker's
Wild ended up being his last show as host. He appeared as a celebrity
on the $25,000 Pyramid in 1987, which would be his last TV appearance
until his death in 1991 of lung cancer.
A Joker's Wild video game??? Not many people know there was one, but there was! Click here