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Here’s one puzzle we never wanted to solve: How much longer will Pat Sajak host Wheel of Fortune?
The TV icon is currently celebrating his 40th season of peddling vowels, and in a new interview with ET, he strongly suggests that those days could be numbered.
“Years go by fast,” Sajak says. “We’re getting near the end. It’s been a long [time]. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near. … It’s an honor to have been in people’s living rooms for that long.”
Sajak acknowledges, “In most television shows by this time, you would have said, ‘That’s probably enough,’ but this show will not die.'”
In fact, “it appears I may go before the show,” he jokes.
Wheel this week, for its 40th anniversary, unveiled a new LED-screen puzzleboard, as well as an “XL Week” of shows that put more prize money at stake than ever before.
New executive producer Bellamie Blackstone said in a statement, “I’m looking forward to celebrating all of the ways this show has become a staple in so many living rooms, but also to help it grow so we see its 50th season and beyond. We have a beautiful new puzzleboard. We’re trying to give away the most money ever offered on the syndicated version of the show. But, more than anything, I want our viewers to continue to enjoy this classic game while adding a few new and interesting twists. We are all looking forward to this being our biggest season ever!”
Can you imagine a world where Sajak isn’t hosting Wheel? Drop a comment with your thoughts on his new interview below.
Often times he seems a bit jaded/smug or just over it, a change in host wouldn’t be bad at all.
Agreed with much enthusiasm
Pat’s personality is what makes this show. He’s one of kind. Too many cookie cutter game show hosts.
my God, Tom – the guy’s in his 70’s – let him be – when he’s ready to retire he’ll retire!
This does not surprise me … it does sadden me. 😢 Pat Sakai IS ‘Wheel of Fortune.’ I certainly understand he is toying with his ‘retirement’ – guess I’m just not ready for that.
No can’t imagine Pat not being on show .Won’t be the same . There won’t be another Pat Sajak
Replacing the host is not the end of the show. The Price is Right and Jeopardy! are doing nicely.
Jeopardy is NOT doing nicely. The majority of devoted Jeopardy fans can’t stand Mayim Bialik and the ratings drop by close to a million viewers when she hosts. Hopefully, Pat’s departure will not include a similar fiasco to the one Jeopardy went through and continues to experience.
Many love Mayim. You’re just super used to Ken. You need to give her a chance.
She’s had nearly a year of chances and has not improved one iota. She has had scores of mistakes that the judges needed to correct. She is constantly at odds with the tone and rhythm of the show and acts superior to the contestants. She is wrong for Jeopardy and her ratings reflect that. If they wanted two hosts, I’d vote for Buzzy Cohen over her.
Buzzy would’ve been fabulous. Especially for Celebrity Jeopardy. Too bad. The suits at ABC blew this.
I’m not even a Jeaopardy fan, so I’m not “used to” anyone…I just find Miyam Bialik irritating to watch.
Bialik now only hosts the evening show and special tournaments. I happen to like her, but that’s why we have vanilla and chocolate. The show still gets outstanding ratings, as does The Price is Right. But this post is about Wheel. My point is that Wheel will still do well without Sajak.
How about all Sayjaks & Vanna to leave Wheel of Fortune?? We need a clean slate. So tired of this crew, Esp Pat Sayjak. Thank goodness
Wrong. I love watching the show when Mayim is the host.
And some people eat bugs. Just because I don’t eat bugs doesn’t make me wrong. Mayim is wack.
Mayim is a good host, I like her.
Different strokes : In all of the polls Mayim topped out at less than 10% approval and Ken never scored less than 80+%. Jeopardy fans are disgusted with her and if you doubt that, keep track of the ratings when she hosts.
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Maybe they can give Mayim Wheel of Fortune and get her away from Jeopardy. That would be great.
Colin jost and Maggie sajak would make a great team .
Another one who is qualified is Ken Jennings. The new host should be one who has been there for a while….please do not search for an outsider to take over as host the two people I named should take over as host. I am not keen with the idea of the lady host taking over. Mayim Bialik replacing the current host…
If you like boring people with pompous attitudes …. Ken’s your cup of warm water… he even make the “at least well educated” Blalik look good sometimes
The best thing for the show would be to slowing start try out new hosts for when Pat is ready to retire. Maybe have Pat do a few shows a week and a new host do few shows a week, Test out some people that way
Pat is 75 years old. While hosting is probably not that strenuous, I can imagine him wanting to retire and take it easy. When he goes, it will be the end of an era for game show hosts.
Vanna is 65 and I wonder how much longer she will last. I could see her leaving when Pat does and turning the show over to a new generation. Even though a “letter-turner” is not really needed anymore, I would think they keep one as fans would probably come unglued as the prospect of not having one.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they give it to Maggie Sajak. She’s filled in before and it keeps things in the family.
I sure hope not. She adds nothing to the show and is a prime example of nepotism. she has no talent and I’m not surprised that she hasn’t found any other success in Hollywood and her father has to help her out.
Nothing against Vanna personally, but she has the most useless job in the world. Every time I tune in I roll my eyes at the fact that she is still paid to stand there in an evening gown and *not* turn letters. If Pat and Vanna leave, I hope in a revamped show they drop that.
Exactly! We hadn’t watched in a while and were like, wait, is she NOT turning letters? What is she doing there? It looks ridiculous. Meanwhile, Pat Sajak isn’t really necessary, either. Give it to someone fresh off Dancing with the Stars who needs a job. Isn’t that what they’re there for? Or Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest, Steve Harvey, Jane Lynch, Alison Sweeney, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Strahan, Cameron Mathison, or one of the other people who seem unable to have enough jobs.
It’s hard to believe Pat and Vanna are 75 & 65, I was wondering if Pat’s daughter was being added for this very reason. I am trying to picture someone else in his place. Better start looking now.
I can empathize with his desire to retire. I just hope the producers don’t do what was done with Jeopardy! and drag the new host decision out for a year. I’d rather have the new host set before Pat retires.
Agree! I still find it very hard to believe that Alex didn’t totally give his blessing to the new host before he passed away. They had plenty of time for them to be prepared and for Alex to have his input.
https://tvline.com/2020/01/20/alex-trebek-will-have-no-say-in-jeopardy-successor/
Retire the whole show and Pat and Vanna. No more will of fortune. He knew when it was time to let go. I have stop watching since the early 2000’s.
Then why would you care.? Millions of fans want the show to continue.
Am probably one of only a handful who will not miss him if he goes. His snarky, unkind comments are not befitting a person in his position. Other than that the show has always been very enjoyable. My family is mostly people who like word games and puzzles so the show itself is a favorite.
He is just saying the end is near in general. You know end of the world, fire and brimstone.
It’s been kind of fun having both Pat Sajak and Vanna White hosting Wheel of Fortune for these 40 years, but what about a 50th anniversary season in 2032-33!
Pat will be hard to replace. His wit and off-the-cuff comments are funny!
It’s not like no one else is capable of hosting the show. Jeopardy proved that a game show can survive a new host, and Sajak is not even the original Wheel hose. Chuck Woolery did it before him for the daytime version.
Jeopardy has lost ratings since the two host format was instituted and will most likely not do well when MB hosts the prime time Celebrity Jeopardy episodes. WoF should start asking fans for suggestion for replacements, since the execs blundered badly when they hired Mayim Bialik on Jeopardy. I’d be happy with Brooke Burns or Buzzy Cohen taking Mr. Sajak’s place.
It’s silly. Jeopardy and Wheel should be bigger than the host. I watch for the game, not for the host. It doesn’t matter to me in the end who is reading the questions.
It matters when the new host tries to make it all about them. Jeopardy and Wheel are the TV equivalent of comfort food at the end of the day. A show off host disrupts that.
Although that one week Vanna hosted when Pat had to take emergency leave clearly demonstrated that not just anyone thrown in there as the host can do a great job like Sajak does
Agree, Vanna as a wheel turner is great but as the show’s host, she was terrible!
To be fair, she was given incredibly little warning that she was going to be hosting the show and had never planned on doing so. I thought she did well for a last-minute fill-in.
Good! I am not a fan of his!
Thank you for confirming that I am not alone in not liking Pat Sajak.
I watched it as a child growing up with my Mom and Dad. Then with my Mom as she laid in that Hospital bed in the living room of our family room as her life was slowly slipping away, she knew when 7pm came that it was time for wheel of fortune. Some of my most precious memories were shared with her watching her favorite game show. I still watch it every night because it gives me joy and a sense of peace that Mom is still with me. I will definitely miss Pat and Vanna for many different reasons. For precious memories that you cannot replace
If and when Pat or Vanna retire let’s just wish them well and thank them for a job well done.
I’m usually open for change. I love the show but probably will not tune in with a new host unless they are phenomenal.
I love the show and always will but don’t look forward to not having Pat, and/or Vanna, they just fit so well! Pat is a comedian! and so relaxed, makes the contestants comfortable and everything flow smoothly. I hope the show goes on but he will be sorely missed!! Don’t blame him for wanting to retire, it’s great, I love it!
Oh no first Alex..[unfortunately] and then possibly Pat…and probably Vanna would join him. Then we would have the same problem finding a new host. But in all fairness, I guess Pat does deserve retirement.
I can understand why he would want to retire. But, I hope he doesn’t for a long time!
I love Pat. He is so quirky and funny!
Maggie would be a perfect host.
It will be hard to watch Wheel without Pat Sajak at the helm, but everyone deserves a good retirement to enjoy life’s freedom. When Pat does leave, I hope we can all give his replacement a chance to settle in. I wish Pat well in all of his future endeavors!
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First of all, yes…the show would not die just because they retired. As long as people like the host and co-host, the show itself will do fine. It’s hard to picture Vanna continuing without Pat, but maybe that’s where the gorgeous Maggie Sajak comes in. That would be a smooth transition for the co-host/letter turner. And go with a somewhat humble, little-known, good looking host to replace Pat. Or, if you need someone recognizable? John Michael Higgins of America Says. I think he’s very funny and relatable. The only problem there is that the two co-hosts should be similar in age. The chemistry between Pat and Vanna is magic, and that’ll go a long way with new co-hosts.