Last Friday, Pat Sajak hosted his final episode of Wheel of Fortune after hosting the game show for 43 years. Now, in a new promo, Sajak has officially passed the Wheel of Fortune torch to his replacement Ryan Seacrest.
Sajak Passes The Torch To Seacrest
“Well, this is it, Ryan. What do you think?” said Sajak, 77, as he gave Seacrest, 49, a tour of the Wheel of Fortune studio. They were joined by co-host Vanna White, 67, who has extended her contract on Wheel of Fortune for at least the next two seasons.
“Impressive, Pat,” Seacrest replied.
“Ryan, I know the contestants are going to love you,” White added.
“Ryan, I know the contestants are going to love you,” Sajak continued.
The promo ended with a sweet moment after Seacrest told Sajak and White that they “both make it look so easy.” Sajak took this opportunity to praise White.
“Well, you’re never gonna find a better job and you’re never gonna find a better cohost,” Sajak said.
Check out the full promo in the video below.
Related: Vanna White Breaks Down Saying Goodbye To ‘Brother’ Pat Sajak As He Retires From ‘Wheel Of Fortune’
Sajak Says Goodbye To Wheel Of Fortune
Sajak said an emotional goodbye to viewers at the end of his final Wheel of Fortune episode last Friday.
“Well, the time has come to say goodbye,” 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’ve always felt that privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun,” he added. “No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game.”
Check out Sajak’s full goodbye message in the video below.
Sajak had hosted Wheel of Fortune since December of 1981. He hosted over 8,000 episodes of the game show. In September of 2022, Sajak officially surpassed the former Price Is Right host Bob Barker as the longest-running host of any game show.
Seacrest Honors Sajak
After Sajak’s final show, Seacrest took to social media to honor him.
“Pat, congratulations on an incredible run with Wheel of Fortune!” Seacrest wrote on Instagram. “Your dedication, charm, and wit have made the show a beloved part of American television for decades.”
“Your partnership with Vanna has been nothing short of iconic, and together, you’ve created countless wonderful memories for viewers,” he added. “You’ve set the standard for hosts everywhere, and this marks the end of an era. Best wishes for all your future endeavors!”
Seacrest is best known for hosting American Idol. He’s hosted all 22 seasons of the singing reality television competition show since it premiered back in 2002. It appears that Seacrest will continue to host American Idol next season while also hosting Wheel 0f Fortune simultaneously.
Related: The Only Argument Pat Sajak And Vanna White Had In 40 Years Will Make You Love Them Even More
Seacrest Excited To Start Hosting ‘Wheel Of Fortune’
Seacrest has made it very clear that he could not be more excited to start hosting Wheel of Fortune.
“With this game show, it’s such a success and has been for generations,” Seacrest told People Magazine last September. “You don’t mess with it, just don’t mess with it. Just get out of the way, say ‘Good evening’ and let’s play.”
“I think I have so much adrenaline rushing through my body,” he continued. “Excitement is the word because it’s such a phenomenal show. I’ve been a fan. I grew up watching the show. And I can’t wait to take over after the legendary Pat Sajak.”
While it’s sad to see Sajak go, it will certainly be interesting to see what Seacrest brings to the show when Wheel of Fortune returns in September!
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