For more than four decades, Pat Sajak has been synonymous with the beloved gameshow, “Wheel of Fortune.” On Friday, the 77-year-old host took his final turn on the iconic show after an impressive 41-year, 8,000-episode run.
“Well, the time has come to say goodbye. I have a few thanks and thanks before I go. And I want to start with all of you watching there. It has been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” Sajak said in a statement. preview before Friday’s broadcast released by the show.
“And I always felt that privilege came with the responsibility of keeping this daily half hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope, just a game,” he continued.
What started as a game ended up meaning so much more.
“But it gradually became more than that: a place where children learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families gathered with friends and neighbors and entire generations.”
“What an honor to have played a small role in all of this. Thank you for allowing me into your lives,” concluded Sajak.
Sajak announced he was leaving the show last June, writing on X: “Well, the time has come. I have decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be our last. It has been a wonderful journey and I will have more to say in the coming months.”
In a post on X Friday morning, Sajak wistfully wrote, “Thank you all so much.”
Sajak took the helm of “Wheel of Fortune” in 1981, alongside co-host Vanna White, and anchored the program for many years with her humor, grace and reliability. The dynamic presenter duo became a constant presence on American TV screens and, over time, established themselves as pop culture icons.
On Thursday, the program released a video of White delivering an emotional tribute to her TV partner, where she said: “I can’t believe tomorrow is our last show together. I don’t know how to put into words what these last 41 years have meant to me, but I’ll try.”
“8,000 episodes have passed like this,” she said quickly. “When I started, I was so green. You made me so comfortable and so confident, Pat. You made me who I am, you really did.
She said they shared beautiful moments together on and off the show.
“As much fun as we have on camera, those memories, milestones and life events we share with our families outside of the studio are my favorites,” White said. “We watched our children grow up together, we traveled all over the world, we ate hundreds of meals together, we laughed, we cried, we celebrated. Wow, what an incredible and unforgettable journey we’ve had.”
The co-host got teary-eyed as she said, “As this chapter of our lives comes to an end, I know you’ll still be around. You are like a brother to me and I consider you a true friend for life who I will always adore. I love you, Pat.”
Sajak has won three Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of outstanding game show host (1993, 1997, 1998), as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2011, according to the Internet Movie Database.
Sajak said in a interview with “Wheel of Fortune” social correspondent Maggie Sajak, his daughter, that he feels a “mixed bag” of emotions coming out of the show.
“For me, it’s a little melancholy, again, when you look out and see faces that you’re going to miss,” he said, “but I’m comfortable with the decision. I think it’s the right time for me.”
Still, the show must go on.
Ryan Seacrest will take over as host of the syndicated game show. White will remain co-host through the 2025-2026 season.
Sajak isn’t fully retiring just yet. Variety reported Thursday that he has planned his first post-“Wheel of Fortune” show, set to star on stage in the play “Prescription: Murder,” a Columbo mystery. He will reunite with his longtime friend Joe Moore, host and actor for KHON-TV Hawai’i, for the production that will run at the Hawaii Theater in downtown Honolulu in the summer of 2025.
The final episode of Sajak’s “Wheel of Fortune” will air at 7:30 p.m. ET.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
