Pat Sajak bid a fond farewell to Wheel Of Fortune in his final episode of the show, which aired Friday night.
The 77-year-old began hosting the iconic game show in 1981, replacing outgoing host Chuck Woolery.
Now Pat is retiring and his position will be filled by Ryan Seacrest, who will host the show alongside Pat’s co-host Vanna White.
In an emotional video posted Thursday night, Vanna broke down in tears as she said, “I can’t believe tomorrow is our last show together.”
When the final episode finally arrived on Friday night, devoted Wheel Of Fortune fans were treated to Pat’s heartwarming last hurrah.
Pat Sajak bid a fond farewell to Wheel Of Fortune in his final episode of the show, which aired on Friday night.
In a touching touch, the episode began with a flashback to Pat’s entrance in her first episode of Wheel Of Fortune in 1981.
In a touching touch, the episode began with a flashback to Pat’s entrance in her first episode of Wheel Of Fortune.
After being announced by name, Pat jumped on stage and joked with viewers: ‘Please don’t adjust your sets at home. Chuck Woolery hasn’t shrunk.
The show then cut to new footage, as Pat’s final episode at the helm of the game show began in earnest.
Pat and Vanna took the stage arm in arm, he in his trademark suit and tie and she in a long scarlet sequin dress that emphasized her still enviably slender figure.
When they arrived in front of the cameras, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause, and Pat joked with Vanna that the two of them were “all grown up.”
Without further ado, Pat moved on with the game, delivering her signature sassy retort to contestants Tammi, Nino, and Adrienne.
Adrienne shared that she likes to sing, but confessed that her family doesn’t look favorably on her talents, to which Pat joked, “Maybe we’ll just take her word for it.”
As a subtle tribute to Pat, the answer to the first challenge turned out to be Chicago, Illinois, which, as the host noted, was his hometown.
The show then cut to new footage, as Pat’s final episode at the helm of the game show began in earnest, him entering with Vanna White.
Pat and Vanna took the stage arm in arm, he in his trademark suit and tie and she in a long scarlet sequin dress that emphasized her still enviably slender figure.
When they arrived in front of the cameras, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause, and Pat joked with Vanna that the two of them were “all grown up” now.
Without further ado, Pat moved on with the game, delivering her signature sassy retort to contestants Tammi, Nino, and Adrienne.
Drienne shared that she likes to sing, but confessed that her family doesn’t look favorably on her talents, to which Pat joked, “Maybe we’ll just take her word for it.”
Pat announced that to save time at the end of the episode for his farewell statement, a round would be cut, “which steals from you guys.”
In the middle of the game, he paused briefly and said, “I think most people know that this is my last night on the show and at the end of the show I have a few things I’d like to say.” So we need to save a little time. How do we do that? So we’re going to eliminate one round, which steals a bit from you guys.’
To make up the shortfall, Pat decided to take the rare step of spinning the wheel himself, promising that whatever number he got, he would add $1,000 and give that amount to each of the three competitors.
In the end he decided: ‘You know what? It’s not my money. Let’s give them all $5,000,” and she added dryly, “Little Jimmy’s surgery can wait.”
Pat then received a testimonial from Jim Thornton, who has been the host of Wheel Of Fortune for 13 years and thanked Pat for “keeping me on my toes.”
The show then got back into the game, including the usual ads for free trips to such exotic places as Barbados and Lapland.
Then along came Pat’s daughter Maggie, who will continue as Wheel Of Fortune’s social correspondent after Pat’s departure.
“I’ve been working all year preparing something really special for our final award of the Fan Fridays season, and my masterpiece is finally complete,” he said.
She revealed a huge gift basket filled with Wheel Of Fortune memorabilia, including Sheldon the ceramic Dalmatian, a mascot from the show.
‘You could win the ultimate collection of Wheel Of Fortune memorabilia, including classic props from the show, vintage Wheel merchandise and more, and in honor of my dad’s last show, I sat down with him and asked him to sign some of his items favorites just for “You,” Maggie chirped.
He urged fans to enter the online drawing by writing the Word of the Day on WheelOfFortune.com and throwing their hats into the ring to win the basket.
“Thanks, Maggie,” Pat said, adding with her characteristic lack of sentimentality, “Those things will be on eBay before you know it.”
A few hours before his final episode aired, Pat gave a moving video speech in which he expressed his gratitude for how “privileged” he was to host the show.
‘Well, the time has come to say goodbye. “I have a few thank yous and acknowledgments before I leave, and I want to start with all of you watching,” she said.
“It has been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” he continued.
‘I always felt that with privilege came responsibility to maintain this daily half hour as a safe place for family fun. No social problems, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope, just a game.’
Vanna, who joined the show just a year after Pat did, was overcome with emotion during the farewell video she released Thursday night.
“I don’t know how to put into words what these last 41 years have meant to me, but I’m going to try,” said the television icon.
“As the years went on, we grew on television, but we also shared a lot more behind the scenes,” he revealed.
“And as much fun as we have in front of the camera, those memories, milestones and life events we share with our families outside of the studio are my favorites.”
