Vanna White still cannot fathom that she and Pat Sajak have completed nearly 41 seasons of “Wheel of Fortune” together. Sajak announced his departure from the program on Monday.
Who could have predicted that we would still be playing Wheel of Fortune 41 seasons later? Tuesday, White tweeted, “I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years and for many more to come.”
In a statement posted to Twitter on Monday, Sajak announced that he will spin the wheel for the final time the following year, saying, “Well, the time has arrived. I’ve decided to retire at the end of our 41st season, which begins in September.
“This has been an incredible journey, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to everyone. (At the very least, it will keep sensational websites occupied!) he added.
White concluded her tribute to Sajak by tweeting, “Cheers to you, @patsajak!”
Suzanne Prete, executive vice president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television – the studio that produces “Wheel” – told CNN that Sajak will “continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year of hosting.”
Sajak and White have been co-hosts of the Emmy-winning game show for 40 years, making them two of the longest-serving presenters of any game show on television.
White made no mention of her future on “Wheel” on Tuesday, despite Sajak’s impending retirement.
Over 7,000 episodes of “Wheel” have featured the celebrity turning the letters on the game board as contestants attempt to solve word puzzles while providing banter with Sajak and never donning the same costume twice.
