1st look: Pat Sajak on retiring from ‘Wheel of Fortune’ after 41 seasons

Sajak is preparing for his “final spin" on Friday after more than 8,000 episodes behind the wheel.

[@Ramiestar]

First it was Alex Trebek's "final Jeopardy". Now Pat Sajak's "final spin". Truly the end of an era.

[@natepoon-lj4cb]

Bad dude

[@julievanderleest]

That and Ryan Secrest has taken over after longtime hosts retire.

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

Had Alex Trebek not contracted pancreatic cancer, he may have continued hosting the show even though he was already in his 80s. ❤

[@timepilotcluefinder94]

​@@MorganNye because Pat wants to enjoy retirement while he can still have a free play.

[@MorganNye]

@@timepilotcluefinder94 Screw you Pat! You will regret it! If I ever become new executive producer I will fire Seacrest and hire you back! MUHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!! >:)

[@Canucks44219]

Bob, then Alex and now Pat. The end of an Era for sure.

[@AmandaHemstreet-nl7rw]

Happy retirement Pat Sajak and thank you for sharing amazing man

[@jacobsteitler7872]

Pat Sajak you will be missed. No one can replace you and what you did for the show. God bless you and God bless your retirement. God be with you.

[@faridajackson]

*R-S-T-L-N-E :) Happy Retirement Mr. Sajak!*

[@adamblackburn9921]

Thanks for the memories pat on wheel of fortune

[@suzettecampbell1144]

The best game show host ever! I grew up watching this. As we love to say in Jamaica...Walk good, Pat!

[@mackenziewachter2508]

He was one of my childhood legends throughout the years. I know I'm gonna miss him hosting, but I'll still look back of how talented he was (including roasting the contestants).

[@XJames4]

God is wonderful, thanks for sharing such good news and opportunity for others.

[@cynthiasmith4130]

No one can replace Pat!!! Nobody!!!! Ryan will never be Pat!!!! Enjoy your retirement!!! You deserve every bit of it!!! 🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳!!!!

[@RoyalMasterpiece]

I wish it was LeVar Burton. ❤

[@cynthiasmith4130]

@RoyalMasterpiece I would also agree, he would be great....

[@marygajdos896]

Ryan is RYAN!!! He should NOT be expected to be Pat Sajak. Just like Ken Jennings is not Alex Trebek. For God’s sake, give Ryan a chance to make the show his own. Let Pat Sajak enjoy a well deserved retirement! Are we expected to work until our retirement is in a casket?

[@DrewTheDisneyManiac]

I wish it was Steve Harvey

[@nancykerrigan]

​@@RoyalMasterpiecewish he hosted Jeopardy! Instead.

[@wendysteinberg2595]

I always loved this show! It was always something we could depend on no matter how our day would go. Thank you Pat Sayjack. You will be greatly missed! Enjoy your grand babies!

[@natepoon-lj4cb]

Will miss pat sayjack

[@natepoon-lj4cb]

Cry

[@chaupin5]

Sajak was the best

[@clintjacops958]

Pat We're Going To Miss You Pal After 42 Years At Wheel Of Fortune For 4 Decades Good Luck To You & All The Best In The Future! 💗🙏

[@gameshowguy2000]

41. Ryan Seacrest starts Season 42 in the fall.

[@clintjacops958]

@@gameshowguy2000 Yay 😁

[@Blu-ray4KPhenomena]

They’re saying 41 years because that’s how long Pat has hosted the syndicated Wheel of Fortune (1983-2024). Pat started hosting the NBC network Wheel two years earlier in 1981 though. So he’s hosted the show for a total of 43 years/seasons.

[@shaliseshaw9385]

Nooooooo! ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️ I'm going to miss seeing Pat Sajak on Wheel Of Fortune. Pat Sajak was awesome.

[@JOON0914]

You are right.😥

[@MorganNye]

Blame Pat’s dumb move!

[@gameshowguy2000]

GIVE RYAN SEACREST A CHANCE. WE GAVE KEN JENNINGS AND MAYIM BIALIK A CHANCE. WE GAVE DREW CAREY A CHANCE.

[@theteeman]

Agreed 💯

[@JonesDylan874]

I'm gonna miss Pat Sajak. This really is the end of an era. Good luck with your retirement, Pat.

[@cindymoore5642]

Wow, that was incredible. Awesome well we’re going to miss him, but we understand. Congratulations. on your retirement.

[@Courtneyhuggins1]

Very bittersweet! I watched wheel of fortune with my lovely grandmother! She loved this show! 🥹🥹🥹🩷🩷

[@christiangonzales7429]

Good for him. I could tell he was getting bored hosting the show for so long. Have a happy retirement, Pat!! Thanks for the amazing run!!

[@antonioleyba6522]

Omg may his career rip I know he’s live still but like it’s like a death of a legend 😭😭

[@aydantheyoutubeking]

Thanks for everything Pat never really watched wheel of fortune that much but I loved when I did more of a jeopardy guy can’t believe it happy retirement ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jakethecarsandreactorvideo9409]

This June was a emotional year of goodbyes not only for Pat this was the last concert for my former band director and last year for my former superintendent and last show for my news and for my local news anchor who’s retiring at the end of the month

[@TheSoftballstar1261]

My mentor who taught at my university just retired too and is moving, so it's a lot for me too. He and I are SO close! I took his class during the pandemic.

[@booklover555]

He’ll be missed but deserves some free unstructured time to make family memories.

[@Darci3333]

Love Pat Sajak he is such a kind wonderful man❤

[@maxbrown070]

I can’t believe Pat Sajak is about to leave wheel of Fortune. He has been my role model over the years I can’t believe it’s been 41 years

[@myles-spikewebby8519]

All the best in your retirement Pat. Gonna miss your jokes, wit, and Pat-isms! #ThankYouPat

[@marygajdos896]

Happy Retirement, Mr. Sajak!! Thank you for sharing your personality, sense of humor and Wheel of Fortune moments that made us smile for the last 40+ years. You and Vanna were a great team but you have given the show your all and your retirement is well deserved! Don’t let people give you a hard time about it. Just enjoy your life and know we enjoyed and appreciated what you brought to Wheel of Fortune. Best wishes!

[@JoshLeRose]

Thank you, Pat Sajak!

[@amberluckes]

We love ur show

[@cheryltowner4402]

We started watching wheel when my now 26 year old daughter was in her baby swing and went wild when I was changing the channel and she saw Wheel. We now watch every night while eating dinner and she's not sure she wants to keep watching without Pat. But, we do hope he has a wonderful retirement.

[@eleanorthompson425]

Have a great retirement. Hope you will have many healthy years to enjoy it with your wife and family. 🎉❤

[@CLF2050]

Pat and Vanna are genuinely two of the nicest people in show business. They are a large part of why the show has been a success for decades.

[@lindakelling6647]

Pat you will be missed. Good luck to you. I enjoy watching you for all these years I ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 💘 love your show

[@natalieparcher3827]

It has been a joy to watch Wheel of Fortune for 41 years! Thank you, Pat! Happy Retirement!🎉

[@haniapowalka6052]

Pat sajak I will miss you so much I wish you the best retirement yet

[@choleluvstoshop8134]

After college & settling into my profession ; realized if I called my favorite best mentoring relatives - they would answer the phone in a more quiet tone if i called during Wheel of Fortune in their time zone! Ha. .. Quickly adjusted my calls! Pat Is a low-key favorite icon! Best wishes for a "wild card, "free play" & "million dollar" memories fun retirement for Pat! ❤️

[@choleluvstoshop8134]

Just found past episodes the network has put on free Pluto TV!

[@kev7161]

Without cable TV, I have missed several years of Wheel of Fortune (saw an occasional episode at friends' and relatives' homes), so I can't feel too sad. But it will be odd seeing, who, Ryan Seacrest (?) making that final spin at the end of each episode.

[@canadianmike711]

You can watch wheel on a antenna

[@mellocello187]

Thank goodness they’re giving a newcomer a break and introducing some diversity. Oh, wait.

[@christiangonzales7429]

Wheel is syndicated on local stations that you can get on an antenna. No cable required.

[@JaniceTaylor-it3ed]

I ❤pat

[@tonycollazorappo]

In 1981 I turned 20, lol. Wow O.O

[@TheSoftballstar1261]

My brother was born 10 years later lol! I was born 3 years after him!

[@user-sl4cd2sz5l]

😢Love you Pat! ❤️ 💖 ❣️ 😢

[@busfan9874]

Pat Sajak is a Vietnam vet and an American patriot

[@pibbitybibbity]

Pat Sajak is a right-wing MAGA nut job who needs to lay off the bottle.

[@imal25]

PAT SAJAK WILL TAKE THE FINAL SPIN ON FRIDAY SO BETTER DVR IT OR ELSE.

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

I remember Threes Company coming on after Pat Sajak's first show.

[@codymiller182008]

Pat taped his last show on April 5.

[@user-xl3gv6uf6b]

Happy retirement Pat.

[@julievanderleest]

Wow this has aired longer than I have been alive. That’s crazy.

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

Same here!

[@mixon270]

41 years of my life, I've been a wheel fan

[@TheSoftballstar1261]

Same! I'm 30!

[@pernelldh]

This week, hope Pat will have video greetings and tributes from former contestants, celebrity guests and from original host, Chuck Woolery and former original letter turner, Susan Stafford to wish him a happy retirement.

[@moosetracks3720]

Happy retirement my grandson always says there’s Pat he will miss u

[@yovanigiron7521]

Happy Retirement Pat Sajak 🥳🥹😭❤️🙏

[@TheRenard10]

This isn't goodbye for Pat. He's going to see you all soon!

[@q-storm767]

40 years ago it was Barker, Sajak, Dawson, and Trebak.... now it's Drew, Steve, Ken, and now Seacrest hosting the popular game shows.

[@canadianmike711]

Good morning America set does look like wheel of fortune

[@rubydawn1]

just a nice guy

[@LCCreole]

1981, I wasnt thought of yet

[@KT72273]

Crazy to think he took over for Chuck Woolery in 1981! Bob Barker hadn't gone gray yet and Alex Trebek's Jeopardy! wasn't a thing! Best wishes!

[@frankcross6958]

i cant believe he's leaving wont be remotely interesting without him

[@petermidani3471]

Pat were apart of everybody family and this feel like losing a family remember who i can't see no more.

[@hieuquocnguyen7645]

As people says, when we grew old we should relax with our own retirement lives... Yes, I can tell how Bob Barker does the right thing when he stepped down as TPIR host after 35 years, then today's Pat (well though, the Guiness World Records of the longest game show host has awarded to Pat and he did succeeded Bob for the astonishing 41 years of career)

[@dmtombstonebelts8644]

It's definitely the end of an era of NBC game shows

[@JOON0914]

I will never forget Pat Sajak in my life.

[@Switch-pu3un]

First Bob Barker retired from Price is Right, second Alex Trebek it wasn't retirement he just did it for the rest of his life as long as he could, hosting Jeopardy, now Pat Sajak retires from Wheel of Fortune! Yep the 1990s ended for sure

[@annegreenwood3624]

loved the old episodes when vana actually turned the letters always a great show use to watch with my grandma

[@spang9782]

Jeopardy item: Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford. Question: Who was the host and letter turner on Wheel of Fortune before Pat and Vanna? Going to miss Pat! I kind of hoped Vanna would retire at the same time to make a clean break, but she has her reasons.

[@OperationChicago]

Interesting life he has, I like they let his daughter interview him. And this news anchor would not want to Google me, ugh :(

[@chrispeplinski7306]

He will be missed and a happy retirement

[@lindakelling6647]

You have a beautiful daughter

[@sunshine885]

Aw, yes. Back when they got to pick items from Service Merchandise.

[@Nicole-nt5np]

Glad he's done

[@JBG1968]

I thought it was on longer than that

[@2quann]

Wow ..I guess I'll have to watch reruns because I'll never tune into his replacement. I know they could have found someone better.

[@minionthecrek794]

Now Ryan Seacrest will be the new host? AFTER RYAN HOSTED NYRE ON 2013?!?!?

[@RileyGamerTV3]

Pat was my childhood. It sucks that his time to leave has come.

[@joejoewilson5130]

Why did he retire when he appears to be in great shape? Does he plan on running for President in 2028 after Trump's second term?

[@gracelamson2008]

Lukas: Jesse I'm I'm So Sorry. Petra: He Was A Great Pat.

[@daleadams6947]

😢

[@MorganNye]

Will the podiums and rail part and back step part from the contestants finally go back to normal and not be social distanced and the metal railing behind them goes away since season 37?

[@timepilotcluefinder94]

Better to keep it that way...especially since Vanna's age is "nearing cash values on the wheel."

[@MorganNye]

@@timepilotcluefinder94 Why? I almost feel like almost no one enjoyed seeing the contestants together from 1975-2020 with the podiums being together.

[@timepilotcluefinder94]

@@MorganNye California's health zones are widely known to be a petri dish...especially SOCAL.

[@MorganNye]

@@timepilotcluefinder94 What’s with nobody wanting the podiums to be back together since season 37?

[@timepilotcluefinder94]

@@MorganNye better safe than sorry.

[@dobermanowner7246]

Sounds like he was forced out. When he said "This was announced a year ago....I've had time to get used to it." Sad 😔

[@yasminvaughn2975]

What is Pat Sakak going to do when he retires from The Wheel of Fortune?

[@jennings861b8]

He continues to work behind the scenes as a consultant, plus is next year starring in a broadway show called “Prescription: Murder.”

[@J_NYC]

Noooo whyyyy?!??!?!?!

[@haniapowalka6052]

I'm going to miss his jokes

[@WorkaholicB1]

most of the television shows that i watched from my youth have majorly changed or are no longer on the air. price is right, jeopardy, family feud, regis and kathie lee, madtv, snl, inside edition, and now wheel of fortune. i guess it's a sign of reaching middle age.

[@fabio40]

Trivia Question: The first show was in 1981 and the last show is in 2024, yet he has been on the show for 41 years. How can this be? It doesn't add up. I know the answer. Who else does?

[@4biz]

atleast his daughter intervewed him.

[@candacepost2137]

Let's see how the ratings go next season without him. Maggie wouldnt have that job if wasnt for Pat.

[@elijahtownsend3046]

Wish Alex Trebek lived to see his retirement

[@WeheartcherriiIi-bc4ko]

Well who's going to be the new host

[@jennings861b8]

Ryan Seacrest, who most fans protest, over too much exposure.

[@richardbutler9217]

Replace Vanna White with Yanet Garcia to do the turns.😊

[@InvisibleEnergy-sy3ud]

Be last one i watch

[@WonderfulSunlightForest-tv7we]

Is Vanna White to retire too, along with him?

[@MorganNye]

2 years she will.

[@Chicagoguy1984]

So isn't he the longest game show host in TV history?? or is it Bob Barker??

[@fable9159]

Pat is the longest. Bob Barker hosted 35 years and Alex Trebek 36 years and stopped taping when he died and didn’t finish hosting season 37.

[@momma8954]

He didn’t mention his wife is he still married???

[@timepilotcluefinder94]

Pat is still married...he doesn't always mention Leslie though...same with not always mentioning Dr. Sajak.

[@samsonwong1897]

He's still marry. Just don't to talk about. We should respect that.

[@samamir8765]

I guess I won’t be watching the wheel of fortune anymore after Pat leaves like Bob Parker why I stopped watching the price is right

[@AMDbAmber-Mad-Database]

Who cares if you're not to crazy about Drew Carey on one hand? On the other hand, I need you to stay away from The Price is Right.

[@peterparker346]

@@AMDbAmber-Mad-Databasewho’s asking you who was born in the 2000’s everyone’s been watching these shows in the 1900’s go talk to your family members kiddo

[@peterparker346]

Sam ignore this child who’s not a big fan of Pat

[@Suhadisgood]

@@AMDbAmber-Mad-Databaseyour some fan of the wheel of fortune show you don’t seem to care that Pat the legend is leaving it will never be the same without him your comment just tells me your a kid not a an adult grow up child

[@Suhadisgood]

@@peterparker346yes I agree he’s a child his parents must of not showed him the wheel of fortune to why he doesn’t care Pat is leaving

[@orangecrate5895]

Take Vanna with you.

[@tonycollazorappo]

So wait, is the show over? Who is taking over then, the new host??

[@candacepost2137]

@@MorganNye There was a lot of complaints about him and his sarcasm and being rude to some of the contestants.

[@fable9159]

He wasn’t being rude to contestants. He is trying to be funny I couldn’t believe people didn’t understand!

[@MorganNye]

@@fable9159 Yeah!

[@MorganNye]

@@candacepost2137 He literally wasn’t being rude to the players, they need to stop overreacting like wussies!

[@MorganNye]

@@fable9159 Will the podiums and rail part and back step part from the contestants and host finally go back to normal and not be social distanced anymore from covid protocols and the metal railing behind them goes away since season 37?

[@MarkJohnson-ou6xz]

If they were smart they would do what Jeopardy should have done! SHUT IT DOWN!

[@timepilotcluefinder94]

Can't do that with the two most popular syndicated gameshows. Also Ken Jennings is the GOAT Player and Host of Jeopardy...Ken is who everyone wanted.

[@lboog0907]

Shut it down for what reason it was in the middle of not only COVID and Alex passed away you expect a worldwide popular show just shut down out of nowhere 😂they had their work around as guest hosts and now Ken’s doing Jeopardy!

[@MarkJohnson-ou6xz]

@@lboog0907 I don't expect anything, but it's a good idea!

[@NameThatSong1]

Haven't watched "The Price Is Right" since Bob Barker left. Family Feud is still great with Steve Harvey. Jeopardy is still a good show with Ken Jennings. Hopefully Wheel is a good show with Seacrest. TPIR is just blah...

[@mellocello187]

What about Vanna?

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

She’s ten+ years younger than Pat so she likely won’t retire for a while.

[@samsonwong1897]

Signed for two more years.

[@robh115]

Like the old saying goes- quite while you’re ahead

[@frauwolftherehorse]

"finishing thEE ..... finishing theEE....." David, it's not pronounced thEE. It's pronounced THE . 🤦 answer= 'JOB'

[@AntonioReyesJr]

Pat Sajak for Governor of California !!!!!

[@richardbarkley9909]

I have said it before and will again that Ryan Seacrest just isn't the right choice to take over Pat's spot. I have no problem with Ryan but he just isn't right to take over Wheel.

[@wadedavid4375]

It’s Time! He’s getting Bored and Cranky!

[@MorganNye]

No it’s not time!

[@aaronchan1088]

He could've continued into his 80s, but he decided it was time to retire. The show will never be the same without Pat.