After a legendary 41-year run because the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak is bidding adieu to the traditional recreation present.
“The time has come to say goodbye,” Sajak mentioned in an emotional speech, thanking viewers for welcoming him into their houses by way of their tv units over the many years.
Sajak, 77, introduced final yr that he could be retiring on the finish of Wheel of Fortune‘s forty first season. His closing episode as host will air on Friday, June 7.
“I’ve a couple of thanks and acknowledgments earlier than I’m going, and I wish to begin with all watching on the market. It’s been an unimaginable privilege to be invited into hundreds of thousands of houses night time after night time, yr after yr, decade after decade,” he mentioned.
And with nice privilege comes nice duty. Sajak famous that he took it upon himself as host to “hold this every day half-hour a protected place for household enjoyable. No social points, no politics, nothing embarrassing I hope, only a recreation.”
“However step by step it grow to be greater than that — a spot the place youngsters discovered their letters, the place folks from different nations honed their English expertise, the place households got here collectively together with buddies and neighbours, and whole generations.”
“What an honour to have performed even a small half in all of that. Thanks for permitting me into your lives,” he concluded.
As audiences say goodbye to Sajak, they are going to be saying hey to Ryan Seacrest at first of the brand new season. The American Idol host has been confirmed as Sajak’s substitute.
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It might be exhausting for viewers to simply accept anybody apart from Sajak as host, given how lengthy he’s held the place. However no less than longtime co-host Vanna White might be staying on the present by means of the 2025-26 season.
“I don’t know the right way to put into phrases what these previous 40 years have meant to me however I’m going to strive,” White mentioned in a tribute to Sajak on Thursday. “8000 episodes glided by like that. After I first began, I used to be so inexperienced. You made me so snug and so assured, Pat. You made me who I’m, you actually did.”
“As this chapter of our lives is coming to an finish, I do know you’ll nonetheless be shut by,” she added. “You’re like a brother to me and I take into account you a real lifelong pal who I’ll at all times adore. I like you, Pat.”
It was introduced final yr that Sajak would keep on as a marketing consultant for Wheel of Fortune for no less than three seasons after retiring from internet hosting duties.
In a latest interview with Good Morning America, Sajak mentioned he was “surprisingly OK” hanging up his hat.
“I’ve had time to kind of get used to it and it’s been somewhat bit wistful and all that, however I’m having fun with it and taking all of it in and reflecting on a fantastic run,” he mentioned.
And what a run it has been. Sajak has been internet hosting the syndicated night version of Wheel of Fortune because it debuted in September 1983. The unique Wheel of Fortune was a daytime program when it began in 1975, with Chuck Woolery as host.
Sajak changed him as host of the daytime version in 1981, that means his connection to Wheel of Fortune goes again a whopping 43 years.
He ranks because the longest-serving host of any U.S. TV recreation present, surpassing the 35 years Bob Barker presided over The Worth is Proper on CBS and the 37 years Alex Trebek starred on Jeopardy!
— With information from Reuters
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