The end of an era is upon us as “Wheel of Fortune” fans everywhere gear up to say goodbye to a seminal TV game show figure.
Host Pat Sajak’s final appearance on the show is set to run in early June, following a week of farewell episodes. Sajak in June 2023 announced his plans to retire after his 41st season with the show, saying “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”
Vanna White, who has served beside Sajak on the show since 1983, decided to stay with the show but said in response to Sajak’s announcement, “I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you.”
Sajak’s final appearance on the show is fast approaching – here’s what we know.
Sajak’s final apperance:Pat Sajak’s final ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode is revealed: When the host’s farewell will air
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Who is Pat Sajak?
Pat Sajak is a 77-year-old American television personality best known as the host of the game show “Wheel of Fortune.” Sajark joined the show in its current iteration in 1983 and has been nominated 19 times for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning three of those times. He likewise received a lifetime achievement award in 2011.
Guinness World Records recognized Sajak as the longest-serving game show host for the same show in 2019.
A Chicago native, Sajak started his career in radio, first serving as a newsman on a local radio station and then as a disk jockey in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, working for the American Forces Vietnam Network. He later worked with local radio and television stations as a DJ and weatherman.
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When is Pat Sajak’s last episode of ‘Wheel of Fortune?’
Sajak’s final episode of the show has already been filmed and is set to air on June 7. The episode will end a week-long series of tributes to the host called “Thanks for the Memories.”
The “Wheel of Fortune” Instagram page has already been sharing some of Sajak’s funniest moments from his tenure, with posts featuring clips from different eras of the show.
How to watch ‘Wheel of Fortune’
“Wheel of Fortune” airs on ABC on weeknights. You can check times and your local station on the “Wheel of Fortune” website. Some episodes can also be watched on ABC’s website.
Those without cable can look to one of the many streaming apps that offer live television options, including DirectTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV.
Who will be the next host of ‘Wheel of Fortune?’
The open hosting spot on “Wheel of Fortune” will be taken over by none other than Ryan Seacrest.
Seacrest, 49, is known as an idol in his own right, having taken over the duties of other iconic characters such as Dick Clark on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” later renamed to “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest.”
Shortly after Sajak’s departure was announced, Seacrest announced that he had signed a multiyear contract to host “Wheel.”
In a statement at the time, Seacrest said, “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”
What’s next for Pat Sajak?Chairman at conservative Hillsdale College
Where is Pat Sajak going after ‘Wheel of Fortune?’
After retiring from “Wheel,” Sajak will continue to work as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the private conservative Christian Hillsdale College.
“For decades, Pat Sajak has been an icon of radio and television,” Hillsdale College spokesperson Emily Stack Davis said in a statement to USA TODAY last year. “We know that he will be missed and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.”
Sajak has been a member of the school’s Board of Trustees for decades, serving as vice chairman from 2003 to 2019 and chairman from 2019 onward.
Hillsdale College is known for being one of the few schools in the country that does not take any federal or state funding in order to avoid abiding by federal regulations such as Title IX guidelines, which prevent discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.