Pat Sajak is leaving Wheel Of Fortune
The iconic host of Wheel Of Fortune will solve the puzzle for the last time at the end of this season
Aux News Pat Sajak
After 40 years of stifling laughter as contestants attempt to spell “Fresh Tropical Fruit,” Pat Sajak is abandoning his post as host of Wheel Of Fortune. Per The Hollywood Reporter, his near-half century of selling vowels comes to an end after the 2023–24 season.
“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” Sajak said in a statement. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!).”
Avoiding all the brouhaha and politicking that made the search for Jeopardy!’s next host such a treat in summer 2021, Wheel Of Fortune will wind down Sajak’s tenure, leading into a three-year consultancy position on the show after he leaves the stage behind. However, there is no word as to whether or not an executive producer has named himself host of the show, despite not having any prior experience hosting a game show.
Sajak’s ascension to America’s favorite wheel-based game came at the behest of television legend Merv Griffin. After original host Chuck Woolery left Wheel Of Fortune in 1981, Griffin chose Sajak to take over. When the NBC brass rejected the suggestion on the grounds of Sajak being “too local,” Griffin threw his weight around and imposed a moratorium on filming until Sajak was hired. He and co-host Vanna White have been spinning the big boy ever since. Sajak even hosted the daytime version of the show for nearly a decade before exiting to host his late-night talk show, The Pat Sajak Show, for a year. As of 2019, Sajak is also the Guinness World Record holder of the longest career as a game show host for the same show. Apologies to Bob Barker, who currently sits at number two. The price is wrong, Bobby.
40 Comments
For decades my local ABC affiliate has aired Wheel and Jeopardy and I was still a kid when Millionaire debuted, so not knowing what syndication was I thought ABC was the big network for game shows.
He can’t just go out quietly, has to whine about clickbait.Has there ever been a richer loser?
“Avoiding all the brouhaha and politicking that made the search for Jeopardy!’s next host such a treat in summer 2021, Wheel Of Fortune will wind down Sajak’s tenure, leading into a three-year consultancy position on the show after he leaves the stage behind.”Yes, it’s easier to avoid all the brouhaha and politicking and have a gentler transition when your current host is, you know, still alive.
A lot can happen in a year!
“It’s . . . WHEEL OF FORTUNE! With your host . . . Donald Trump!”
“You know what must be done, Pat.”
“That…that was so long ago, Jeff! And I’ve worked hard! I did all you asked of me!” “You know what you signed up for.” slides across a pistol “No one leaves The Wheel alive.”
Pat Sajak is an awful human being.
There’s a reason the Beastie Boys called out Chuck Woolery instead of Pat Sajak and it’s not rhyming ease.
Chuck Woolery is even worse though, he’s got a whole right-wing radio show
Why exactly? I’m trying seriously to figure this out. Yes, he’s a Republican, and has said stupid things in relation to climate change, but is this it? I looked at his Wikipedia page to see if he raped anyone or was a Neo-Nazi or something but nothing like that was there. I know he is not “of my tribe” as I am a Democrat with a doctorate in a science, but is that enough to make him an “awful human being”?
Just in time, I heard Fox News opened up a few vacancies on their schedule as of late!
You joke, but he actually had a show there back in 2003.
So by those standards, he’s way too normie for them now
Man, they’re going to have a hard time replacing Pat Sajak…*dissolve to*“Sajak Replaced with Teddy Ruxpin Doll”
Bring back Rolf Benirschke!
A lot of famous Pats are turning out to still be alive who, at least up until a short time ago, I would have thought were very likely long dead when suddenly they’re in the news. Is Patrick Duffy still alive, and if so, what’s he been up to lately?
I hear he’s been functioning as the leg of a mythical woodland creature in Colorado.
That’s a deep cut reference I haven’t thought about in 20+ years.
He’s alive and has been popping up on The Bold and the Beautiful lately – as the father of someone he’s only 13 years older than.
The “too local” thing is because Sajak was an LA weatherman, which means he had lots of experience of filling dead air when nothing particularly interesting is happening.
“Hey Pat, what’s the forecast look like for the greater LA area?”“Well today was nice, and checking the radar nothing in particular, it looks like tomorrow should be more of the same. Here’s the seven-day outlook [displays graphic with the word “nice” written out seven times]. Back to you!”
“Hey Pat, what’s the forecast look like for the greater LA area?” “Sunny. 72. Our next weather report will be in 3 days.”
Weathermen in general and I would imagine particularly so in LA, where there is rarely weather at all to report (unless wildfires count as weather).
I know what category I’d put Pat Sajak in:
Naggers?
He of course will be replaced by Mayim Bialik
USA Today named Vanna White the top best replacement for Pat. But anyone who watched her fill in while Pat was out for medical reasons know she is the last person they should pick.
Do they even need a host(s)?Player spins wheel. It lands on dollar value. You choose letter. Automation reveals said letter or not on the board. They should honestly give it a try as the first un-hosted game show and lets see the mayhem.
This is big news because I’m over 70
“Avoiding all the brouhaha and politicking that made the search for Jeopardy!, Wheel Of Fortune will wind down Sajak’s tenure, leading into a three-year consultancy position on the show after he leaves the stage behind.”
Trebek fucking DIED you steaming pile of shit. What the FUCK is wrong with you?
Little does he know that his soul is bound to the wheel.
“We had one chah-nce…”
America’s favorite wheel-based game Ok, but TPIR’s Showcase Showdown has to be a pretty darn close second, right?RIGHT?
Love the comments. Someone who has held onto the same job for 40+ years gets slammed by people still living with their parents, begging for their student loans to get cancelled.Better still: Legend has it that Pat turned down the game show host cameo in Offspring’s video to “Why Don’t You Get a Job?”
Joel McHale, then?
Thats…..a damn good idea.
Setting aside Sajak’s politics for a second (which, in all honesty, is probably a net positive for many Wheel watchers), one thing I noticed with him lately has been a mild almost contempt for the players. He doesn’t seem to want to be there any more, he doesn’t seem to really care about anyone even superficially, his interactions have all the energy of a drunk uncle biting his tongue while talking to his recently-out niece. The contrast becomes even more stark when he does celeb wheel, where he is a lot more enthusiastic and personable. Not that I am a fan of his, but I think someone with Jimmy Fallon’s demeanor would be a good fit for the show.