# Pat Sajak is irreplaceable as the host of Wheel of Fortune **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [May 4, 2021, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399 "2021-05-04T23:47:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/21 "2021-05-05T20:25:31Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Chuck Woolery could host Wheel. Assuming I’m not being whooshed…he, of course, was the show’s original host. [![](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/HD6YW4/wheel-of-fortune-from-left-co-host-susan-stafford-host-chuck-woolery-HD6YW4.jpg) ](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/HD6YW4/wheel-of-fortune-from-left-co-host-susan-stafford-host-chuck-woolery-HD6YW4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/22 "2021-05-05T22:17:17Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Assuming I’m not being whooshed…he, of course, was the show’s original host. [That is correct.](https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-why-did-original-host-chuck-woolery-leave-show/) > However, the show didn’t start with Sajak and White hosting. “Wheel of Fortune” first premiered in 1975. This network version of the show was hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford. > > They hosted the show from 1975 until 1981. According to Paley Matters, the two ended up leaving over a salary dispute with the show’s creator, Merv Griffin, and NBC. This is when Sajak and White stepped in as their replacements. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/23 "2021-05-06T02:48:08Z")
I assume that Pat and Vanna will both leave at the same time, whenever that moment arrives. When that happens, does Vanna really need to be replaced? In the original iteration of the show, she actually turned the letters. But, that role has been replaced by technology for quite a long time now. Personally, I don’t know if I could do a job as pointless as hers. I suppose, for the correct amount of money, I could find a way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/24 "2021-05-06T02:49:52Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > When that happens, does Vanna really need to be replaced? I would suspect that, to maintain a sense of continuity and familiarity for their target audience (seniors who have been watching the show for years), they would, indeed, hire a replacement for her. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/25 "2021-05-06T03:54:21Z")
Maybe if they hire a woman to host they could hire a guy to turn the letters. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/26 "2021-05-07T00:00:52Z")
White’s job isn’t to turn letters. It’s to smile, wave, and look pretty in an evening gown. Which is a job that she’s very good at. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/27 "2021-05-07T04:36:16Z")
A couple years back, when Pat was recovering from something, Vanna showed she couldn’t replace Pat. Totally awkward, as if she hadn’t spent 30-some years watching him. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/28 "2021-05-07T04:43:26Z")
Begin the thawing of Wink Martindale! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/29 "2021-05-07T07:04:42Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > A couple years back, when Pat was recovering from something, Vanna showed she couldn’t replace Pat. Totally awkward, as if she hadn’t spent 30-some years watching him. And, in that, they still replaced Vanna at the board. But the replacements (Disney characters in costume) didn’t actually turn the letters, because that’s not her main purpose. Vanna is a cheerleader. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399/30 "2021-05-08T19:17:57Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > A couple years back, when Pat was recovering from something, Vanna showed she couldn’t replace Pat. Totally awkward, as if she hadn’t spent 30-some years watching him. She did get a bit better as time went on. Remember she did this with like one day’s notice, so she deserved a break. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-is-irreplaceable-as-the-host-of-wheel-of-fortune/941399.md?page=1)