(Headline USA) Pat Sajak is taking one last spin on “Wheel of Fortune,” announcing Monday that its upcoming season will be his last as host.
Sajak announced his retirement from the venerable game show in a tweet.
Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)
— Pat Sajak (@PatOnWheel) June 12, 2023
“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all,” the tweet said.
Sajak, 76, has presided over the game show, which features contestants guessing letters to try to fill out words and phrases to win money and prizes, since 1981. He took over duties from Chuck Woolery, who was the show’s first host when it debuted in 1975.
Along with Vanna White, who joined the show in 1982, Sajak has been a television mainstay. The show soon shifted to a syndication and aired in the evening in many markets, becoming one of the most successful game shows in history.
Sajak will continue to serve as a consultant on the show for three years after his retirement as host.
“As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years,” said Suzanne Prete, executive vice president of game shows for Sony Pictures Television.
“We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season,” she added.
In recent years, some of Sajak’s banter and chiding of contestants have become fodder for social media.
That prompted Sajak to remark in his retirement post about doing another season: “(If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”
As for Sajak, he likely will have plenty to keep himself occupied as he has spent his time moonlighting as a conservative commentator on Twitter—a rarity in showbusiness.
That Sajak has managed to avoid the attacks that other Hollywood conservatives have faced may be a testament to his long tenure and his innate charm.
His personal account, with more than 373,000 Twitter followers, far eclipses his official “Wheel of Fortune” account and holds no punches in espousing his right-wing views, often with a witty or ironic twist.
Almost attended @wef in Davos. Luckily, I realized at the last moment I had confused it with Friday’s @WWE SmackDown in Detroit. Close call!
— Pat Sajak (@patsajak) January 19, 2023
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
