Wheel of Fortune has been a consistent source of game show entertainment on the small screen for a long time, and the iconic duo of host Pat Sajak and hostess/letter turner Vanna White have been working together for 35 years of ups and downs now. For many, it may be difficult to imagine a TV landscape without a nightly dose of Sajak and White on Wheel of Fortune. According to Sajak himself, however, there is a point at which he wants to leave his iconic role as host behind. Pat Sajak said this about when he would want to leave Wheel of Fortune:
Well, I'm getting closer to the end. I think once I'm gone, it would be unseemly to keep me as host. I'd like to leave while the show is still popular. That would be nice--to let someone else take over on a show that's still working well. I'd also like to leave before people tune in and go, 'My God, what the hell happened to him?'
Joking about his own death aside, Pat Sajak's comments to Yahoo Entertainment reveal that he'd like to leave Wheel of Fortune before it declines in popularity. Of course, there's no saying if Wheel of Fortune will ever experience a serious downswing in popularity with viewers, as it has been going strong with Sajak and Vanna White for 35 years. Still, Sajak apparently would like to take his final bow when the series is doing well. Who can blame him? He's been leading Wheel of Fortune for decades; of course he would want to end his time on a high note.
Fans who aren't ready to say goodbye to Pat Sajak as host of Wheel of Fortune don't need to panic just yet. Back in May, Pat Sajak signed a new contract that would keep him on board for several more years. He's currently contracted to stick around through the 2019-2020 seasons.
Pat Sajak isn't the only one who signed the extended contract. Vanna White is also guaranteed to stay on the small screen through the 2019-2020 seasons, and she might just be willing to stay beyond Pat Sajak's departure. She also weighed in on whether or not she would leave Wheel of Fortune, saying this:
I can't imagine not coming to Wheel of Fortune It's just not in my thought process at all, because I love what I do, I've loved it for 35 years, I've loved coming to work every time. It's a happy show, it's a fun show. So, no, I don't want to even think about [leaving the show].
It seems that Vanna White is content to keep turning those letters and strutting her stuff in all those gorgeous gowns for the foreseeable future. We'll have to wait and see how long it lasts. You can catch Pat Sajak and Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune on weeknights. Be sure to tune in to see them going strong even after 35 years together. For the shows that are not still going strong, take a look at our rundown of all the 2017 TV cancellations. If you're not up on when your favorite shows will be back in the new year, be sure to check out our 2018 midseason guide.
Resident of One Chicago, Bachelor Nation, and Cleveland. Has opinions about crossovers, Star Wars, and superheroes. Will not time travel.
