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In the early 1970s, media mogul Merv Griffin decided to turn the classic game “Hangman” into a television show, and in 1975, Wheel of Fortune premiered on NBC. Little did Griffin know, he had just created one of the most famous and long-lasting game shows in television history.
Six years after Wheel of Fortune premiered, Griffin reached out to local Los Angeles weatherman Pat Sajak to see if he would be interested in hosting the show. Sajak accepted and remained in the position for more than forty years.
Credit: Sony Pictures Television
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On June 12, 2023, Sajak announced that he would be retiring at the end of Wheel’s 41st season. Shortly after Sajak’s retirement announcement, it was revealed that American Idol host Ryan Seacrest would be taking over as game show host. Mr. Sajak filmed his last episode of Wheel of Fortune in April 2024, and it aired on June 7, 2024.
When he announced his retirement, Mr. Sajak said that he wouldn’t be leaving the show entirely. He would continue to be a consultant for three years.
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However, we have learned that Sajak WILL be returning to host a special Wheel of Fortune later this year!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sajak will return to the Wheel stage to host Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
The show is set to premiere on Oct. 7 — episodes have not yet been taped, sources say — and will air on Mondays when ABC doesn’t have a Monday Night Football game. (Ryan Seacrest will begin hosting the syndicated Wheel in the fall.)
The news about Sajak and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune was part of ABC’s announcement of its fall premiere schedule. The network will stagger its rollout, with a few shows — Dancing With the Stars, new drama High Potential and The Golden Bachelorette — debuting the week after the Emmys (which ABC will air on Sept. 15), and holding others, including Abbott Elementary, until October.
Credit: CBS Media Ventures
Related: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host’s SHOCKING Daily Salary Revealed
While Wheel of Fortune has garnered a loyal audience after nearly 50 years on the air, the show has not been without its controversies and criticisms. Recently, videos have gone viral of contestants missing easy clues, and even giving an answer that many thought was not fit for primetime television.
The show has also been criticized for penalizing contestants for mispronunciation. One contestant famously guessed “Seven Swans A Swimming” and was told that she was incorrect because the answer was “Seven Swans A Swimmin'” without the G.
Credit: ABC
Pat Sajak is not the only icon who appears on Wheel of Fortune. While hosting for more than forty years is definitely impressive, there is someone who has been on the show for even longer. That would be Sajak’s cohost, Vanna White.
Vanna White has been turning letters on Wheel of Fortune since 1976. She became one of the faces of the show just one year after it premiered. Throughout the years, she and Sajak have become good friends, and the two have traveled the world together as part of their hosting duties. White will continue to host Wheel when Seacrest joins her this fall.
Are you excited to hear that Pat Sajak is returning to Wheel of Fortune? Let us know in the comments!
