Distributed by KingWorld 12/28/1981 Pat's Debut OB

Pat has announced his impending retirement as of next season, so I present his very first appearance as a companion to Vanna's debut episode.

[@nokayso]

This is why KZbin is great. Feeling nostalgic after Pat's last show. Might as well watch where it all started. Thank you.

[@blanka4545]

exactly always lives on go back and rewatch the legend again! :) never gone from us! Memories live on! Childhood comes back! :)

[@scottleung9587]

I'm here after watching Pat's farewell speech.

[@wimzswimz9843]

I came back after Pat Sajak's farewell in 2024. What a legend as we know that he's been the host of wheel of fortune since 1981!

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

This is not just an old episode of Wheel of Fortune, this is a glimpse into another cultural reality

[@A.Z-Town.]

Thank you Pat Sajak. You’re one of the greatest host of Wheel Of Fortune. It’s now Pat Sajak to write the next chapter of his life.

[@flashfocusbruh5144]

1:38 He really said “And now I’d like to announce that I’m leaving the show” and 43 years later that statement became reality 😭

[@scottleung9587]

Well, he gave us a little foreshadowing that he wouldn't be the host forever.

[@xblast2701]

Those old advertisements are mesmerizing I would like to have a 24/7 stream of just that as a background in my room

[@MxCartney_Lou]

This is crazy to see without Vanna it seems off without her

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

Yep that was Susan Strafford

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

It actually seems odd with Vanna on the show. I think Susan had a better personality.

[@Foot_Fungus]

Vanna was way better

[@Angie2343]

"And now I'm announcing that I'M leaving the show. Ah, just kidding." He never spoke those words since...until now.

[@anthonyguarino4242]

This episode is on Pluto tv on demand listed as season 10 #1,768 and Vanna’s debut episode is also on Pluto tv on demand listed as season 11 episode #2,016 because both Pat’s debut is the episode #1,768 and Vanna’s debut is the episode #2,016. It’s possible they did this to honor Pat’s and Vanna’s debut respectively.

[@Angie2343]

@@anthonyguarino4242 Cool! :)

[@thetalkingarchive4795]

Pat has the record for the most years (nearly 43) hosting one American game show. The prior record was Bob Barker with 'The Price Is Right,' which he hosted for thirty-five years.

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

Quality over quantity. I think Chuck is better and Drew is better. Better personally in my opinion.

[@dianepines9014]

What about Alex Trebec on Jeopardy?

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

@@dianepines9014 apples and oranges. Alex hosted an intellectual show where he needed to be on his toes. Pa just watched the wheel go around and a around. Vanna had to walk back and forth touching boxes. It you want to watch a top notch game show, watch WHEW with Tom Kennedy from the 70's . He was on his game.

[@alexanderpytko5394]

Alex Trebek has the record for most game show episodes hosted.

[@mikesoucie6803]

@@dianepines9014 Jeopardy with Alex Trebek debut in 1984, a year after Wheel started syndication. He was always a year behind Pat.

[@alexanderpytko5394]

Fun Fact: Pat and Vanna's first puzzles were both TITLES and their first letters were both T's.

[@kevinb8881]

The REAL Wheel Of Fortune, MAJOR flashback right here!!!

[@neilgorsuch5302]

I don't think people had a problem with Sajak when he took over. He is likable and hosted the show well. He has personality. That was why he lasted 43 years.

[@shandylynn2228]

Pat was not always kind to the contestants, particularly the last few years of his career. I often felt like he made fun of or was irritated by them.

[@Wizardof]

Pat's filming his last "Wheels" here soon. Hate to see him go change sucks. But he's done it a LONG TIME.

[@dimitriberozny3729]

Ryan Seacrest won’t last even till Thanksgiving!! They will plead with Pat to come back!!

[@alexanderpytko5394]

I don’t know. Drew Carey has done well as the new host of TPIR and Ken Jennings has done well as the new host of Jeopardy!. People don’t come on these shows to meet the host, they come play the game and win money and prizes. People watch the shows to play along at home not to look at the host. Plus, Pat is in his late 70s, he can’t go on forever. He’s still going to be part of the production team.

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

It is not like it was rocket science. Pat just stood there and did nothing. At least Chuck had a personality.

[@alexanderpytko5394]

Pat: And now I would like to announce that I'm leaving the show. No."😂 Pat made that announcement about 42 years early. 😂

[@edb8689]

The end of an era with a tremendous host. Kudos to you Pat and thanks for all the years from childhood to adulthood on our televisions every weeknight ! 🌻

[@myles-spikewebby8519]

Pat looks young in his debut. Susan looks beautiful. The Teen Week contestants from Pat's first show made an appearance during the closing segment on December 24, 2007 during the nighttime show's 25th anniversary season.

[@chrisfinch8637]

I remember them looking so grown up, and they looked so dapper, in their time with Pat, while having their mini reunion, then. I was just surprised Susan Stafford couldn't make the cut, since they were on, when she was the letter-turner, at the time, and Vanna White was still in her auditioning phase, and such.

[@bobsiyt6548]

Susan, what an incredible spin and topped off with the fingers through the hair “move” - not awkward at all, and so smooth. Less than a year later, she too would leave to focus on bigger and better things 😂. Pat and Vanna were sure pleased and realized this was a nice gig.

[@Defensewhiz]

I saw an interview with her about a month back...I had no idea how well connected she was in Hollywood and how many A list friends (at the time) she had. She was an awesome lady

[@millenniumman75]

@@Defensewhiz Susan is a PhD. She was in India in 1982 and everything changed. She knew that there was something more than turning letters. She knew Wheel was going into syndication, but still left.

[@Defensewhiz]

@@millenniumman75 She went over lhat in her interview (it was over an hour long), plus I knew all that from past interviews I'd seen about what she did after she left Wheel. But she also went into stories about her Hollywood friends, especially Lucille Ball and Sammy Davis Jr. Those were the things I found interesting.

[@MrGSfan]

@@Defensewhiz She also had a close partnership with the infamous game show producer Dan Enright

[@liamhanrahan2271]

Well, her movements were distracting.

[@wns808]

The daytime episode that started it all for Pat. Now he’s going to retire after the 41st season of syndicated Wheel

[@wecantfightgravity]

And after nearly 43 years on both the daytime and the syndicated versions of Wheel of Fortune.

[@anthonyguarino4242]

@@wecantfightgravity 42 years overall, his final episode will be on June 2024.

[@PraveenSrJ01]

Very sad 😞

[@bradleyskb]

1:38 He never said this until 40+ years later

[@PraveenSrJ01]

Exactly true

[@chriswells506]

Boy, they really upgraded with Vanna.

[@jimbotc2000]

Did they though?

[@myles-spikewebby8519]

Anybody here for Pat's final show tonight?? 😢

[@DS_IndustrieZ]

Yes

[@bmabry91]

So am I

[@lukeleonardrasmussen3550]

Yup. Saw his last show now I want to see his first

[@myles-spikewebby8519]

@@lukeleonardrasmussen3550 Let's all rewatch his first show, along with older Wheel episodes. I just finish watching his last show. No teary eyed for me. His farewell speech nearly made my eyes water.

[@JaxMcBloxy]

Yup I was sad

[@Gannooch]

Pat: “I’m leaving the show.” Give it 42 more years Pat.

[@chrisfinch8637]

Pat Sajak sure looked young as ever, when he used to do the weather, and when he first started hosting Wheel of Fortune, around that time. Less than a year later, Susan Stafford later left the show, and brought in Vanna White, where she actually began her stardom and her iconic job and clapping, a little over two years, after appearing on The Price is Right. Now comes Season 41, and Pat's final season as host (in which is a fine number to retire at), while Vanna White will still hold her position, for another two years, and Ryan Seacrest comes in as host- he's all over the place, but there we are. Pat Sajak, here's to you, after 41 incredible years, of hosting Wheel of Fortune. Like Chicago White Sox Organist, Nancy Faust, she retired at that same number, too, and she led a great life to music, like you did, to reading letters and puzzles. We shall miss you, dearly.

[@clintjacops958]

I'm Gonna Miss Pat After 42 Years On Wheel Of Fortune After 4 Decades! :(

[@rumham7130]

They should bring back these teens for Pat's final show. Obviously, it would be senior week.

[@notnek202]

I was a freshman in college out on Xmas break when this show premiered. Didn’t think he would last a year. 😂😂😂😂

[@RaevynLumens]

out of curiosity why did you think that

[@notnek202]

@@RaevynLumens I really thought they would bring back Chuck Woolery.

[@alexanderpytko5394]

By this fall, they'll be saying, "Here's your new host, Ryan Seacrest."

[@seanm6215]

After 43 years, it won't be the same.

[@dimitriberozny3729]

By this FAIL,they will be saying,Here’s your new host Ryan Seacrest!! He will be all washed up by Thanksgiving! They will plead for Pat to come back!! It was Dick Clark who gave Ryan Seacrest his break,when he interned for him on American Bandstand and the $100.000 Pyramid.

[@PraveenSrJ01]

Inflation rears its head very ugly head

[@AnnieWall-v7s]

Yes they will most definitely

[@HarrisonPeloso]

thank you pat for a rocking 41 years with wheel of fortune and chuck for all the fun times over the last 50+ years on air

[@LongJumpingSurprise]

To put into perspective how long Pat Sajak has been hosting this show. When Pat started hosting, my Dad was in High School, he is now retired with grandchildren

[@antdude]

Is he a WoF fan?

[@Kathleen-rh5mc]

Thank you Pat for making my childhood and adulthood so much better ❤. I will miss you.

[@kristopherversteegt2939]

Keep this video up because I'm also gonna watch this episode before Pat's farewell episode in June. AND I'm hoping that the Wheel of Fortune KZbin channel will have Pat's farewell message available so I can watch that after the last summer rerun I watch before I put it on hiatus to watch U.S. Open Tennis.

[@kristopherversteegt2939]

That is I'm watching Pat's farewell message in live time in June AND replaying it on KZbin in August in place of the normal goodbye for my final Friday rerun before the U.S. Open Tennis.

[@kristopherversteegt2939]

@DontTouchMyTree I was talking about Pat Sajak's farewell message which airs in June and which I will replay at the end of my last rerun before I watch US Open Tennis. The best way I'm putting it as is that I hope that the Wheel of Fortune KZbin channel or anyone on KZbin who watches Wheel of Fortune religiously like I do uploads the farewell message so I can replay it August.

[@Jitsover50]

Look how happy and decent people used to be. Thank you for all the memories Jack

[@StormyJP]

I was 5 then. 48 now as of Pat's retirement so yes many shows watched growing up. Doesn't seem possible that Pat is retired and Alex Trebec and Bob Barker are gone. I know it was bound to happen but still like the twlight zone. Happy Retirement Pat. Thanks for the mems!

[@ijnfleetadmiral]

There were two 'Big Threes'. One of News, the other of Game Shows. News Dan Rather - retired in disgrace. Peter Jennings - dead from lung cancer. Tom Brokaw - graceful retirement. Game Shows Bob Barker - went to the nearest retail price without going over (dead at 99). Alex Trebek - taken from us way too soon. Pat Sajak - graceful retirement.

[@PraveenSrJ01]

I was born in 1983

[@bryanloveseighties]

"And now, I'd like to announce that I'm leaving the show..." Yes, you are, Pat, but not for 43 years.

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

I’m here because today is his last day hosting wheel of Fortune.

[@bd764]

Amazing the show was like that at one time.With the shopping and all. All that wasted time,when they could have had more puzzles.Glad it switched formats.

[@millenniumman75]

It became tough to constantly load the puzzleboard!

[@DylanMeadowland-pt2qy]

These commercials and live games shows are like 'Little House on the Prairie' every talk and action is so happy and nice.

[@mocha1886]

An absolute legend, we will miss you Pat! ❤

[@donmccullen1973]

The Start of something Big for Pat Sajak.

[@marymiller6305]

I am going to miss Pat Sajak when his final episode airs this Friday!

[@lonestar8312]

For those ignorant to Susan. Susan was the letter turner on Wheel of Fortune from 1975-1982 she was very liked back then by viewers. Chuck Woolery and her were a great team on the show and they had the number one daytime gameshow on NBC in the 70's. Her style was very different. Vanna turned the letters more like a model where Susan had more of a personality as she stood there. She would make facial expressions.

[@ajk]

She spoke a lot more than Vanna did too, particularly in those early days (Vanna's that is). She was a co-host more than a letter turner. She introduced contestants a lot in fact, standing at podium w/Chuck.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Hopefully Vanna doesn't get a hissy fit and do what Susan did

[@cammy85]

I totally forgot they used to have commercial breaks in the middle of a puzzle. I know this was normal in the daytime show, but what about evenings back then?

[@thetalkingarchive4795]

The evening version never had commercial breaks in the middle of a puzzle. When contestants were required to buy prizes, if the game ran long, they would return from the break and Pat would say, "Here's Jack Clark to describe what you bought..."

[@ChuckD79]

​@thetalkingarchive4795 The nighttime show's first couple of weeks actually did have a mid-round commercial break, but that didn't last long (I think they dropped it around the time the R1 top dollar value was increased from $750 to $1K).

[@thetalkingarchive4795]

@@ChuckD79 Thanks for letting us know. Growing up in Los Angeles, the primetime Wheel of Fortune was not cleared in that market when it debuted in September 1983. We didn't get to see this version until February or March 1984 when it debuted on KCOP 13 at 7pm. Prior to that, Joker's Wild and Tic-Tac-Dough were on during that hour. The two Barry & Enright programs moved to weeknights on from 8pm to 9pm on KHJ Channel 9, where they ran until their cancelation in Sept 1986.

[@ChuckD79]

@thetalkingarchive4795 Anytime...here in NY, we didn't get it until Jan. 1984, but was able to see the earliest shows years later, thanks to GSN.

[@antdude]

@@thetalkingarchive4795 Joker's Wild was rad. I didn't like the modern version hosted by Snoopy Dogg.

[@MattZ653]

Thank you for showing this. Totally different era where the contestants ended up choosing the prizes, as opposed to what we have been used to with boatloads of cash.

[@alexanderpytko5394]

Leaving WOF turned out to be one of Chuck Woolery's big regrets as he later saw how big and popular the show had become.

[@newstarcadefan]

Yes, of course Chuck had Scrabble, Love Connection, or even Lingo. However, you are right, Wheel of Fortune became a Juggernaut once the nighttime version kicked in not too long after.

[@alexanderpytko5394]

I did enjoy Scrabble and wish that was still around.

[@ClapHurts]

I wonder would Chuck stay on wheel for 30 years or would he eventually leave.

[@gynandroidhead]

I loved that show

[@antdude]

Even for less pay?

[@bufnyfan1]

Chuck Woolery (the original host of the daytime version of Wheel of Fortune) lost the chance to go on to the nighttime/syndicated version due to a contract demand for $10K a week from his salary that had been $5K. Merv Griffin offered him $7.5K but Woolery held out thinking Griffin would "cave in". Instead, Griffin hired Sajak

[@paololim3513]

$5K back then is worth over $17K today. So that means $68K a month and $680K per year. Not bad for daytime.

[@brandonsvlog8533]

He got greedy and it backfired on him

[@philliprollman7421]

Thanks for putting this up very cool to see I was only like 1.5 years old and seeing the commercials 👏

[@rockinyouallnight]

Comedian Freddy Lewis auditioned to be the host of The Wheel. Lewis alleged that his penchant for Manischewitz was the reason that Pat was selected over him.

[@KenMasters.]

I don't know what's more round, Pat's head or the wheel.

[@franzerfe9538]

PAT SAJAK in December 28, 1981 until June 7, 2024. So will be replacing the new Generation host from The American Idol RYAN SEACREST.

[@deathymnribm]

Glad to see the comment section filled with a lot of us who watched the last who wanted to see the first. I wasn't born when this aired.

[@digiblader1]

The opening was used on Pat's final nighttime Wheel June 7, 2024.

[@drewski1535]

Thank you Pat Sajak for 41 years of amazing memories and years of entertainment best wishes on your retirement

[@alexanderpytko5394]

I was only a few months old when this aired.

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

And you remember the episode. Very impressive

[@alexanderpytko5394]

@@JamesMoritz-f6l No, I don't. I looked up when it aired. But I will say, that I watched WOF even before I understood it.

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

@@alexanderpytko5394 I was just joking

[@JasonRourhier]

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!! A DEEP THANK YOU FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS OF WHEEL OF FORTUNE!! NBC & CBS DAYTIME 1975-1991 & SYNDICATION 1983-2024-NOW. THANKS TO CHUCK WOOLERY & SUSAN STAFFORD & LATER ON WITH VANNA WHITE & A VERY CONGRADULATIONS & HAPPY RETIREMENT TO PAT SAJAK!! & RIP!! TO THE LATE MERV GRIFFIN WHO CREATED WHEEL & JEOPARDY!! & RIP!! CHARLIE O,DONNELL & JACK CLARK !!

[@TripSoul10]

How many people are watching this episode before Pat's last episode on 6/7/24.

[@ericsamuelson5656]

ME!!!!!!!

[@johnsofdoe4957]

@@ericsamuelson5656 So am I!

[@utubethumbsup]

[@landonleys9619]

Me

[@jmjfanss]

so am I, pat sajak is a legend.

[@chacewilson846]

Anyone here with Ryan seacrest replacing him tonight

[@Max64sprig]

Me

[@scottleung9587]

Me too

[@mooncrab]

I just saw him with Vanna

[@danielcraig1745]

Yup

[@hatusnee]

Ryan is really killing it

[@kienphatong5534]

0:48 "Teen Week On Wheel Of Fortune. And now here's your new host, Pat Sajak" 0:56 Thank you. Thank you, Jack Clark

[@mosespray4510]

I'd completely forgotten that they used to select prizes after each round. Thanks for sharing this!

[@chefjeff1366]

came here to see Pat's debut after watching his farewell - he's so natural and charismatic right outta the gates, it's no wonder he continued to be the only WOF host people wanted for more than 40 years

[@toddmccreary4579]

Pat mentioning the kid passing on the hot tub reminded me of the time my cousin who is now a TV and movie producer won one in the Chuck Woolery daytime version.

[@WorkaholicB1]

According to wikipedia in 1981, Merv Griffin asked Sajak if he would be interested in taking over the duties as host on Wheel of Fortune from Chuck Woolery. However, Fred Silverman, the president and CEO of NBC, rejected his hiring, claiming Sajak was too local, and Griffin responded by imposing a moratorium on new tapings until Sajak was hired.

[@anthonyguarino4242]

Glad Merv dismissed Fred’s rejection!

[@thetalkingarchive4795]

Fortunately for Griffin, Silverman was dismissed soon after and new president Brandon Tartikoff gave his blessing to hire Pat.

[@anthonyguarino4242]

@@thetalkingarchive4795 I’m so glad Fred was dismissed because he was disrespectful to Pat Sajak and Merv over his hiring just because Pat was “too local”. We would’ve never seen Pat Sajak nor Pat Sajak would not become a legendary figure if he wasn’t hired!

[@millenniumman75]

@@anthonyguarino4242 Fred Silverman's departure wasn't over Pat Sajak's hiring. It was a culmination of things that happened on NBC from 1980. Wheel of Fortune was cancelled in June 1980 to make room for....get this.....a 90-minute daytime David Letterman Show. At the last minute, the decision on Wheel was reversed - but they lost Charlie O'Donnell (original announcer) because he found other work like Tic Tac Dough thinking Wheel was done. Jack Clark announced until he passed away of cancer in the Summer of 1988. By early 1981, The David Letterman show would be reduced to 60 minutes, and then ultimately cancelled. Also in the infamous 1980-1981 TV season, which was already shortened due to a writer's strike (the 2023-2024 season was actually WORSE; it lasted longer), was the Saturday Night Live debacle with Jean Doumanian replacing Lorne Michaels. The entire season bombed - only Joe Piscopo and promoted Eddie Murphy saved the show. At that point, Dick Ebersol had to clean house in 1981.

[@anthonyguarino4242]

@@millenniumman75 interesting!

[@ncnuggets]

Literally from day one, Pat acts surprised when contestants know the phrase but still ask to spin.

[@Chiefof16]

LOL ......Because he's seen too many greedy fools roll a Bankrupt/Lose a Turn. Most contestants never understood that even if you solve a puzzle with little cash in your bank, you're still winning a puzzle that your opponents simply CANNOT win instead......By solving a puzzle, you're not just making money, you're taking away an already rare chance of winning a puzzle for your opponents......I know I sort of repeated myself, but it's insane that so few people understand the true value of solving a puzzle.

[@scottleung9587]

@@Chiefof16 Yeah - even if there's not a whole lot of money to be made, I'd rather keep spinning until I reach the $1K house minimum threshold. Of course, the only exception would be the Prize Puzzle!

[@natedax9946]

1:38 - No, not for another 43 years.

[@PraveenSrJ01]

lol 😂 true😊

[@Explore531]

my god I was like 11 years old back then wow what a memory

[@alexanderpytko5394]

I was only a few months old.

[@daleadams6947]

This is it, tonight is Pat Sajak's last episode.

[@johng1482]

The music going to commercial break at 12:57 sounds like "Temptation Eyes" by The Grass Roots.

[@keith.wilson1981]

LOL it reminded me of 3-2-1 Contact LOL

[@skb6767]

Some online WOF forums call it the “Temptation Eyes cue” lol

[@ArthurIdis-c7k]

I miss the old bongo drum music from back in the day. I remember it well from the Woolery years

[@millenniumman75]

"Big Wheels" and the music used until 1983 - written by *Alan Thicke*

[@DeadRaymanWalking]

Had to watch this just weeks after seeing the last WOF episode that Pat Sajak hosted before his retirement.

[@jeopardy60611]

With Susan Stafford on the puzzleboard, the shopping rounds, the music and sound effects as they originally were, and the bonus round only allowing 5 consonants and one vowel to be called, it's weird to see Pat hosting instead of Chuck. I can remember seeing it with Chuck hosting when I was a kid in the 70s.

[@doctorbob6791]

I just want to point out that Pat was courteous enough to recognize his predecessor by name on his first episode.

[@ZOSO53]

Those sets and wheel! I'll take the ceramic dog, the free week of maid service and the rest on a gift certificate. 😅

[@Lupton2000]

This was the sixth show (and beginning of the second week) of the new set. That old set was looking really old by then (I think that new set helped keep on the air).

[@ArmyJames]

The first contestant is the most shot out 16-year-old I’ve ever seen.

[@danpieroni6316]

The quick wit was there from the start. I read somewhere that Pat didn't think he'd last more than 13 weeks on the job since the show was losing to Love Boat reruns on ABC in the ratings. Serendipity is a funny thing.

[@JohnSmith-zr1pi]

Wow what a vast improvement with vanna white 😍

[@alexanderpytko5394]

Susan Stafford left the show and show business to become a humanitarian but she was nice enough to return for 2 weeks in 1986 while Vanna was on a leave of absence.

[@biruss]

Vanna always wore a proper bra!!!

[@biruss]

​@@alexanderpytko53941

[@yadirasotelo6377]

Probably there wasn't a set standard for Susan, she did what felt comfortable for her. Maybe when Vanna started they had a clearer vision of what they wanted her to do, which was to stand still, smile, clap, and turn the letters.

[@kristinwalz8878]

People were so polite saying, "yes please". Miss that

[@poconos66]

12/28/81-- 06/07/24

[@camerondavila5881]

A legendary run!

[@shaliseshaw9385]

I still wish Pat Sajak stayed on Wheel Of Fortune for the 42nd season, the 43rd season, etc. instead of retiring. ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

[@antdude]

Hopefully, he can return once in a while like Bob Barker did when Drew Carrey hosted.

[@michaela.mccracken4461]

On December 28th, 1981, with The show's set returning to Hollywood, California, and it's original host Chuck Woolery moving on to other projects, the world watched as Pat Sajak made his debut on "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" on NBC. Sajak was the heart and spirit of the show, and he spanned his career there for almost 42 years. On June 7th, 2024, Pat Sajak finally stepped out of "WHEEL OF FORTUNE", to make room for another host to come.

[@Ty_Ranus]

Chuck Woolery….tremendous career move sir!

[@GamingFanactic911]

I love how the bankrupt sounds like some cartoon falling sound effect😂😂

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

The modern bankrupt sound didn't come out until the summer of 1989 on CBS, and then that fall for syndication (when both versions of the series were taped at CBS Studio City).

[@Chiefof16]

Oh Shit.....They took a commercial break in the middle of the 2nd round puzzle! That TOTALLY gives the advantage to the person who's turn it is. No way in hell Jim's not guessing this one correctly!....And (assuming I'm talking to him 43 years ago) lay off the ball-caps, buddy. A receding hairline at 16 is bad news..... On a much more serious and solemn note, it's truly incredible to see Pat on his first appearance. He seems truly gracious to be there, and extremely well suited for the job (minus the minor hyphen blunder at the beginning of round two that amounted to no issues anyway)....But he'll be missed. I was apparently 8 months old when this episode aired, which blows my mind..... Pat might just know the alphabet better than anyone else alive by now. *Also*...Amazing how many commercials there were back then. I keep thinking commercials have been out of control lately, but they were literally just as bad in 1981.

[@toddmccreary4579]

The difference is minutes only six in this half hour broken up to two minutes at the most. I think later they got rid of that break in the middle of the game and made one longer. They were much more tolerable then because they were shorter even if they seemed too many. Now it's very fortunate to get just a two minute break at a time. Most are 3 or 4 minutes. Lifetime movie Network is the worst with about ten minutes of program and 4 or 5 minutes of commercials. Much worse today than then. You remind me of my cousins listening to the radio. When the commercial came on they changed the station. Now I wouldn't blame them. Radio prefers only two or three breaks an hour and 4 or five minutes of commercials unless it's a talk, sports or news station.

[@Defensewhiz]

Back in the day of mid game commercial breaks, the contestants had to turn their backs to the puzzle board so they couldn't have an advantage. You can sort of hear Pat say it before the break but the audio isn't super clear

[@millenniumman75]

Partway into the Woolery era, they started turning their backs so they couldn't study the puzzle. Standards and Practices!

[@KwaIified]

hats dont cause baldness

[@gayninja9962]

Wow! This is a blast from the past. Pat did very well on his first episode, but the shopping format made the game too slow.

[@trevortuominen8233]

Even Pat wasn't a big fan of the shopping format. Removing the shopping mechanic was one of the best decisions they made.

[@antdude]

@@trevortuominen8233 When did they stop doing that?

[@trevortuominen8233]

@@antdude About '87 in syndication. The daytime version adopted that format two years later when moving to CBS.

[@gilval808]

Chuck was fired he had a contract dispute and wanted more money.

[@Zkhan2475]

Vanna started in 82.

[@ericdixon2898]

I'd do anything to get that car new now

[@antdude]

Time machine!

[@der22672]

How cool would it be to have the teens from Pat’s first week to play again in Pat’s final week as adults? Didn’t some of them come back at some point at the end of an episode awhile back? 😊😊

[@brendonneely9456]

This was a daytime show. "Distributed by KingWorld" doesn't apply to this one.

[@TR47]

It's just an alternate way of titling episodes so that they're not blocked.

[@mujer8]

I didn't know his first show was with teens, it would have been cool if they would have brought the same 3 contestants for his final show.

[@youbetcha6880]

They'd be close to 60 today.

[@mujer8]

@@youbetcha6880 yeah... that would have been cool if they would have brought them.

[@JohnathanWilliamson849]

they did come back during the 25th season

[@mujer8]

@@JohnathanWilliamson849 😲 oh cool, I didn't know that! I will look for the episode:)

[@PraveenSrJ01]

@@JohnathanWilliamson849is it on KZbin

[@not_jr7212]

Just finished his last episode, you will be missed Pat

[@christopherlucas4620]

I wonder if they will show this clip on the last episode set to air June 7 2024.

[@myles-spikewebby8519]

They did in the opening

[@ricflair9717]

Two of the teens looked like they were in their 30s while the one in the middle looked like he was 11 or 12.

[@DelfagoTightcheeks]

Nobody asked you 😅

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

​@@DelfagoTightcheeks if you don't care why answer?

[@BoldWittyName]

That first dude had the biggest comb over for a 16 yr old I've ever seen.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Free country my friend

[@gregspot]

It never failed that you would be stick with the pink flamingos when trying to pick the prizes.

[@MaMagicMelanin]

The commercials bring back some good and bad memories 😂😢😂

[@8avexp]

I remember that original theme music.

[@youbetcha6880]

The show got so much better when they got rid of the prizes between rounds.

[@boweandrew3]

Wow amazing

[@voicevitality7197]

I can see why they went with Vanna.

[@biruss]

Susan to often didn't wear a proper bra

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

​@@birussAnd what was wrong with that

[@biruss]

@@JamesMoritz-f6l It didn't look good

[@chrisfinch8637]

I actually didn’t mind Susan, myself. I liked whoever was turning the letters, each and every time, like her and Vanna.

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

@@chrisfinch8637 the reason she left was to advance or education. I believe she has her PhD. Didn't make as much as Vanna but a very reputable career change.

[@mrBDeye]

His photo was on MAD magazine.

[@matthewsan78]

Couldn’t believe he bombed on Frosty the Snowman! Guess the pressure got to him.