Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak recently took an impromptu interview from his daughter Maggie. As a result, fans of the show got a small glimpse behind the curtain.
Maggie Sajak shared a video of her and her father from the bustling game show set. The senior Sajak was preparing ahead of recording on what is to be his ultimate season.
Remarkable Wheel of Fortune Run
Pat Sajak has now worked on the show since its inception. The show has been going strong now since 1975.
For almost the show’s entire run, Pat Sajak has been the host, leading to him now holding the Guiness World Record for longest-serving career as a game show host for the same show.
Who is Pat Sajak?
Besides being intimately associated with Wheel of Fortune, Sajak has made several TV and movie appearances, as well as appearing on other game shows and taking over hosting duties.
Sajak even hosted his own late night talk show at one point, The Pat Sajak Show, which ran from 1989 to 1990.
Sajak Family Grew Up On Set
Sajak’s son and daughter, Patrick and Maggie Sajak, were born during the show’s run and so have grown up entirely within their father’s era as Wheel of Fortune host.
His eldest child, Patrick, was born in 1990, 9 years after his father’s hosting tenure began. Maggie is professionally involved in the show, currently working as the show’s Social Correspondent.
Maggie’s Behind the Scenes Look at the Show
Maggie posted the video on her Instagram, captioned teasingly as “Secrets from behind the puzzleboard!”.
She claimed to be caving into fan pressure to offer a peek behind closed doors: “A lot of people were asking what behind the puzzle board is like, so we wanted to give them a glimpse,”, she says in the video.
High-Tech Production Set
Despite having been involved in the show for so long, Pat still expresses excitement about the complex machines behind the production process.
He says it “looks like election headquarters back here” and marvels at the number of screens filling up the set.
Joke About the Water Bottles
Fans may be disappointed by the lack of juicy details but they will be heartened to see their favourite host in an ebullient mood.
Although he didn’t provide any groundbreaking secrets behind the success of the show, he did joke that the showrunners had given him enough water “to last the rest of the season” as the camera panned over to a table labelled ‘Pat’s water’.
When is the Last Episode Airing?
The show is now in the twilight of the Pat Sajak-era, so fans may be wondering how many episodes they have before the reign are taken up by another.
There’s now less than a week left, as Pat Sajak’s final episode will be airing on June 7, bringing his 41st season to a close.
What About His Co-Host?
Pat’s co-host, Vanna White, teased that she might also be considering her own future.
However, White fans can breathe a sigh of relief. She has now signed a contract extension to take her through to the end of the 2025/26 season.
The Next Wheel of Fortune Host
So who has the unenvious task of taking up the mantle next season following the departure of the legendary host?
Ryan Seacrest revealed a year ago, in a post on X that he would be the next host of Wheel of Fortune. Here’s to another 4 decades of success!
