Pat Sajak has officially handed off Wheel of Fortune hosting duties to Ryan Seacrest. The longtime host, whose final episode aired Friday, June 7, has welcomed Seacrest to the game show, alongside co-host Vanna White. You can watch the promo above.
In the video, Sajak tells Seacrest, “You’re never going to find a better job, and you’re never going to find a better co-host,” of course referring to White.
Seacrest’s first episode will air in September 2024. In addition to serving as host, Seacrest also will serve as a consulting producer on the show.
A year ago, Sajak announced he would leave the show after Season 41. “Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” Sajak said in a statement obtained by Deadline. “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!”
In his final farewell on the June 7 episode, Sajak said “It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade. And I always felt that the privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues. No politics. Nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game. But gradually it became more than that.”
“A place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together along with friends and neighbors, and entire generations.”
He added: “What an honor to play even a small part in all of that. Thank you for allowing me into your lives.”
Sajak has agreed to stay on as a consultant on the show for the next three years, said Suzanne Prete, EVP Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television.
The post ‘Wheel Of Fortune’s Pat Sajak Officially Passes Hosting Baton To Ryan Seacrest With Vanna White – Watch appeared first on Deadline.
