How ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Is Paying Tribute to Pat Sajak Ahead of His Last Episode Ever
May 15, 2024
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Pat Sajak’s tenure as the host of Wheel of Fortune is coming to an end, and many fans are not ready to say goodbye to the beloved entertainer.
77-year-old Sajak, who has been the face of the iconic game show since 1981, has filmed his final episode, which will air on June 7. Following his departure, Ryan Seacrest will take over as host for Season 42 this fall.
Throughout this week, the game show’s episodes have been highlighting some of Sajak’s funniest moments, showcasing his wit and charm. On May 14, the official Wheel of Fortune Instagram page shared a highlight Reel, prompting an outpouring of affection from fans in the comments.
Pat Sajak attends the ceremony honoring Harry Friedman with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on November 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Sajak was recently honored on the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Instagram… Pat Sajak attends the ceremony honoring Harry Friedman with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on November 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Sajak was recently honored on the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Instagram ahead of his retirement.
Michael Tran/FilmMagic
The clips featured memorable moments from Sajak’s 40-plus years on the show. One vintage clip showed Sajak turning to a skeleton prop and quipping, “So how long have you been waiting to be a contestant on Wheel?” Another clip captured his quick retort to a contestant describing how her and her husband are in their DINK era (Dual Income No Kids), to which the Sajak responded, “I have children so I’m in my LING era, which Large Income Nearly Gone.”
Co-host Vanna White, 67, praised Sajak’s humor, saying, “You are so funny,” after the highlight reel aired. Sajak responded warmly, “Actually, you’re the best audience because I can get you giggling pretty quickly.”
Fans expressed their admiration and sadness over Sajak’s departure. One fan commented on the Reel, “Pat and his humor Gosh I’m going to miss him!!” Another praised his and White’s jokes, saying, “🔥🔥🔥No one does improve like Pat and Vanna 💙✨🙊🙉🙈” A hopeful fan wrote, “I hope Ryan Seacrest will be as entertaining and funny as Pat. He has big shoes to fill.”
Seacrest, 49, has hosted other massive shows such as E! News, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and American Idol, among others, and has also worked as a producer.
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