Pat Sajak, Legendary 'Wheel of Fortune' Host, Announces Retirement

Legendary game show host Pat Sajak, best known for hosting "Wheel of Fortune," has announced that he will be leaving the long-running game show and retiring.

According to CBS News, Sajak revealed that he will leave "Wheel of Fortune" after the game show's 41st season, which begins airing in September.

"It's been a wonderful ride, and I'll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all," he wrote on social media.

Meanwhile, the official "Wheel of Fortune" Twitter page paid tribute to its outgoing host, who had been part of the program since 1981.

The tweet stated, "Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever!"

NPR pointed out that Sajak's banter with contestants has drawn criticism across social media. In his retirement post, Sajak joked about the final season, writing, "(If nothing else, it'll keep the clickbait sites busy!)".

No Replacement for Pat Sajak Yet, But Sony Promises 'Wheel of Fortune' Will Continue After He Retires

Sajak is now 76 and has hosted the game show for over four decades. He is the second "Wheel of Fortune" host, taking over hosting duties from original host Chuck Woolery in 1981. Woolery hosted the long-running game show when it debuted in 1975.

This now begs the question of who will replace Pat Sajak after hosting the show for over 40 years. So far, no replacement is still named, though Sony Pictures Television promised that "Wheel of Fortune" will continue even after the legendary host leaves.

According to CNA, Suzanne Prete, the head of the game show division at Sony Pictures Television, stated that the show will be running for at least three more seasons after Sajak retires. However, the host will remain with the show as a consultant, "We're thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family," Prete stated.

Sajak co-hosts the show with Vanna White, who has been rotating the letters on the show's puzzle board for over 40 years. She joined the show in 1982, shortly after Sajak took over hosting duties. No word if she will also be leaving the show.

Pat Sajak and Vanna White's 'Wheel of Fortune' Success

Legendary TV entertainer-producer Merv Griffin created Wheel of Fortune in 1975 with original host Chuck Woolery as part of NBC's daytime TV lineup. Sajak then took over the show in 1981 before shifting its schedule from daytime to nighttime in 1983.

Now, Sajak and co-host Vanna White have become true American TV mainstays, with Sajak becoming the longest-serving game show host on US TV, surpassing Bob Barker's 35 years hosting "The Price is Right" and Alex Trebek's 37 years hosting "Jeopardy!" Almost throughout that legendary run, Vanna White was there at his side, turning board tiles.

White has been so entrenched with "Wheel of Fortune" that she was the one who hosted the show over several months as Sajak underwent emergency intestinal surgery. The pair also celebrated their 7,000th episode on the show together in 2019, which means they have persevered as one of TV's longest-running duos.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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