“Wheel of Fortune” will make a major change before its new season begins. Longtime announcer Jim Thornton will not appear in the first episodes of the upcoming season. The change comes as Sony Pictures Television Studios investigates allegations involving Thornton. Producers now face a big editing job before the premiere.
Jim Thornton is being edited out of Wheel of Fortune episodes after Sony suspended him amid an investigation
According to TMZ, the first month of the new season has already finished filming. Producers are now re-editing those episodes with a new announcer. One source called the job a “major undertaking” because the episodes already exist. The new season will premiere Sept. 14.
Sony suspended Thornton after learning about allegations tied to a May commercial flight. The studio told the outlet, “We have recently been made aware of allegations concerning Jim Thornton.” Sony added, “He has been suspended from Wheel of Fortune, and we are recasting while we conduct a thorough investigation.” The studio has not publicly shared more details about the allegations.
Sources with direct knowledge told TMZ that a passenger complained about Thornton to a flight attendant during the flight. The complaint prompted the pilot to ask law enforcement to meet Thornton at the gate. Officers questioned Thornton after he arrived, and he wore a “Wheel of Fortune” jacket at the time. Law enforcement ultimately released him.
Thornton’s attorney also addressed the airline incident in a statement to TMZ. The attorney said Thornton “did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.” The outlet also reached out for comment about the decision to re-edit the upcoming episodes. It had not received a response about the re-editing effort. The investigation remains ongoing, and it is unclear when Thornton could return to “Wheel of Fortune.”