GAME show enthusiasts and viewers alike were shocked when Pat Sajak revealed that he would be retiring from his longtime hosting gig on Wheel of Fortune.

Wheel of Fortune, television’s longest-running syndicated game show, is set for a major shakeup in the summer of 2024, complete with a brand new host for the first time in the show’s history.

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Pat Sajak reacts during an episode of Wheel of Fortune; Sajak has hosted over 7,500 episodes of the long-running game show since December 28, 1981Credit: Getty

When is Pat Sajak’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune?

Pat Sajak has been a mainstay on Wheel of Fortune for over forty years, shocking audiences when he announced his upcoming retirement.

Sajak revealed the news on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, June 12, 2023.

“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he tweeted.

“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!)” he added.

“When we started ‘Wheel of Fortune’ who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later?” Vanna White tweeted in response to Sajak’s post.

“I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come,” she added.

“Cheers to you!”

Wheel of Fortune’s 41st season premiered on September 11, 2023, and will reportedly run through early June 2024.

The show airs weekdays at 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT.

Sajak’s last episode is believed to be airing on ABC on June 7, 2024, at 7:30 pm ET.

It’s unclear whether the episode will be “supersized” or whether any additional surprises are set for Sajak’s final duties as host.

Suzanne Prete, executive vice president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, the studio that produces Wheel, did reveal that Sajak will remain on the show in a slightly different capacity.

Prete confirmed that Sajak will “continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting,” as reported by AP News.

“As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years,” Prete said.

“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.

Who is replacing Pat Sajak?

Just a few weeks after Pat Sajak announced that Wheel of Fortune’s 41st season would be his last, his already rumored replacement confirmed the news on his social media.

On June 27, 2023, Ryan Seacrest posted a note on Instagram, captioning the post: “Wheel of Fortune.”

““I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest wrote.

“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.”

“Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease.”

“I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition.”

Seacrest is a longtime television presenter, host, and producer.

He’s known for hosting Live with Kelly and Ryan, American Idol, American Top 40, and On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

He also served as the co-host and executive producer of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve from 2006 until the broadcaster died in 2012.

“Many people probably don’t know this but one of my first jobs was hosting a little game show called ‘Click’ for Merv Griffin 25 years ago so this is truly a full circle moment for me and I’m grateful to Sony for the opportunity,” Seacrest added to his post.

“I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”

On February 12, 2024, Seacrest opened up about taking over Sajak’s role on Good Morning America.

“I’m so excited,” Seacrest said, as reported by ABC News.

“I’ve been watching it for so many years, like so many people here in this country.”

“Pat Sajak is such a legend,” he said.

“He makes it look so easy and smooth and seamless. He’s remarkable,” he added.

Seacrest also confirmed he’s already been shooting promotional materials with Vanna White, who is under contract with Wheel through the show’s 42nd season.

“I talked to them both about, what’s the best part of ‘Wheel of Fortune,'” he said.

“And [they say] it’s the contestants every night winning cash and prizes. I mean, that’s what it’s all about.”

Seacrest, who is currently hosting season 22 of American Idol, says he “just can’t wait to start” hosting the game show.

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Vanna White joined Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune on December 13, 1982, becoming an overnight pop culture and fashion icon, and even hosting a handful of episodes herselfCredit: Getty

When did Pat Sajak join Wheel of Fortune?

Despite hosting the show for over forty years, Pat Sajak is not Wheel of Fortune’s original host.

That title goes to Chuck Woolery, who hosted the series from its premiere in 1975 until December 25, 1981.

Alex Trebek even filled in for Woolery for a week’s worth of shows in August 1980.

Wheel’s creator, Merv Griffin, chose then-weatherman Pat Sajak to host the then-daytime series beginning on December 28, 1981.

Before hosting Wheel, Sajak filmed two game show pilots in 1980: Press Your Luck and Puzzlers.

He was also a weather reporter for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.

Fred Silverman, then the president and CEO of NBC, initially rejected Sajak’s hiring, claiming he was “too local” for a national show.

Silverman was eventually replaced by Brandon Tartikoff due to multiple programming failures, paving the way for Sajak’s hiring.

Sajak ended up hosting both the syndicated “nighttime” version of the show and its daytime version until January 9, 1989, when he left to host a late-night talk show for CBS.

He was replaced by Rolf Benirschke, a former NFL placekicker, who held onto the role until June 30, 1989, when NBC canceled the daytime version of the show.

The daytime show briefly returned, this time on CBS, on July 17, 1989, with Bob Goen hosting.

Wheel of Fortune returned to NBC on January 14, 1991, but was canceled again on September 20, 1991.

The nighttime, syndicated version of The Wheel of Fortune debuted on September 19, 1983, with Pat Sajak and Vanna White hosting.

Sajak and White have hosted what is now the longest-running syndicated game show in the US, with over 7,500 episodes airing since 1983.

Sajak also beat out Bob Barker, who hosted The Price is Right from 1972 until 2007, as the longest-running host of any game show in history.

For his work on Wheel, Sajak has earned 19 nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning three times.

He’s also served as the show’s consulting producer since 2021, and hosts its celebrity spin-off, Prime Time Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, alongside White.