Pat Sajak, the beloved host of the long-running game show “Wheel of Fortune,” has revealed his plans to retire at the end of his upcoming 41st year as the show’s host, making it one of the longest hosting stints in American television history.
In a Twitter announcement on Monday, the 76-year-old Sajak shared that the upcoming 41st season, scheduled to begin in September, will be his last. While he did not provide specific reasons for his decision, he expressed gratitude for the incredible journey and promised to share more details in the months to come.
The show will continue its successful run for at least three more seasons following Sajak’s departure. During this time, Sajak will remain involved as a consultant, as confirmed by Suzanne Prete, head of the game show division at Sony Pictures Television, the production company behind “Wheel of Fortune.” Prete expressed enthusiasm about Sajak’s continued presence, stating that they are thrilled to have him remain close to the show’s family.
No mention was made regarding the future of Vanna White, Sajak’s long-time co-host, who has been an integral part of the show for over four decades. White, known for her glamorous and ever-smiling presence as she turns the letters on the puzzle board, joined Sajak in celebrating their 7,000th episode together in May 2019. She also temporarily stepped in as host when Sajak underwent emergency intestinal surgery later that year.
Sajak’s association with “Wheel of Fortune” stretches back even further. The show originally aired on NBC in 1975, with Chuck Woolery as the host. Sajak took over as the host in 1981 and continued on the daytime version until 1989. Simultaneously, he began hosting the syndicated nighttime edition in 1983.
With his remarkable tenure, Sajak holds the distinction of being the longest-serving host of any U.S. TV game show, surpassing the records set by Bob Barker, who hosted “The Price is Right” for 35 years, and Alex Trebek, who starred on “Jeopardy!” for 37 years.
Although “The Price is Right” holds the title for the longest continuously running game show on American television, “Wheel of Fortune” claims the record for the longest unbroken run of any syndicated U.S. game show. Another creation of the late TV entertainer-producer Merv Griffin, “Jeopardy!,” has a longer history but experienced breaks between various syndicated and network versions.
Sajak briefly left the NBC evening edition of “Wheel of Fortune” when he debuted his own late-night talk show on CBS. During his absence, Rolf Benirschke and Bob Goen stepped in as hosts for the NBC program, which later moved to CBS and briefly returned to NBC.
As Pat Sajak prepares to bid farewell to “Wheel of Fortune,” his remarkable contribution to the show’s enduring success will forever be remembered. Fans can look forward to celebrating his final season and await the exciting future of this iconic game show.