# Pat Sajak to retire **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [June 13, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401 "2023-06-13T03:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/1 "2023-06-13T03:27:02Z")
[‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak announces his retirement: ‘It’s been a wonderful ride’](https://us.yahoo.com/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-announces-retirement-002837475.html) > [Pat Sajak](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tagged/pat-sajak), the longtime host of TV’s [_Wheel of Fortune_](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tagged/wheel-of-fortune/), announced Monday that next season will be his last. > > “Well, the time has come,” Sajak shared on social media. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)” _More at the link_. And Discourse tells me this topic is similar to “Pat Sajak irreplaceable as host of Wheel of Fortune”. I guess we’ll find out, Discourse! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/2 "2023-06-13T03:29:20Z")
41 seasons. That’s quite a spell. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/3 "2023-06-13T03:52:40Z")
I like Sajak, and his daughter seems nice enough, but to say he is irreplaceable seems rather polite. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/4 "2023-06-13T03:52:47Z")
> ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/5 "2023-06-13T03:55:37Z")
Trebek summoned “the judges” when angry on a Simpsons episode. They looked like pretty tough dudes… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/6 "2023-06-13T04:03:32Z")
There was an April Fool’s in the ‘90s (?) when Sajak and Trebek switched shows. So we can absolutely judge for ourselves (if we can find footage). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/7 "2023-06-13T04:07:07Z")
How long did it take you come up with that? Well done! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/8 "2023-06-13T04:10:15Z")
Almost all of my puns are spontaneous. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/9 "2023-06-13T04:12:32Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So we can absolutely judge for ourselves (if we can find footage). Here you go! > **[Wheel of Fortune April Fools Episode (1997) - video Dailymotion](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21xcrk)** > > The April Fools 1997 episode of Wheel Of Fortune in which Alex Trebek (Jeopardy! host) hosts with Leslie Sajak (Pat Sajack's wife) as the hostess. Pat and Vanna White are the contestants on this episode here as they win money for their selected... ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/10 "2023-06-13T04:27:42Z")
Ah. A bee in your bonnet, then? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/11 "2023-06-13T04:31:21Z")
You could say that. While I’m aware that this a phrase that would have been on the show, if there’s a deeper reference, I’m lost. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/12 "2023-06-13T04:41:18Z")
He can spend more time with dear friends: > ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/13 "2023-06-13T04:48:40Z")
Spelling _bee_. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/14 "2023-06-13T13:15:18Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > his daughter seems nice enough His daughter will probably replace Vanna when the time comes. She’s filled in for her a few times. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/15 "2023-06-13T13:18:53Z")
What will his retirement gift be? Five free vowels? He was a perfect fit for the role, it’s hard to imagine who his replacement will be. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/16 "2023-06-13T13:22:32Z")
Nobody captured the essence of peppy blandness quite as well as Pat Sajak. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/17 "2023-06-13T13:54:38Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > He can spend more time with dear friends: “Friends”? To me, his face says otherwise: [![](https://www.advocate-online.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-shining_-1024x575.jpg) ](https://www.advocate-online.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-shining_-1024x575.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/18 "2023-06-13T14:37:05Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Nobody captured the essence of peppy blandness quite as well as Pat Sajak. Much like Trebek, the replacement needs to have just the right level of smugness when someone guesses the wrong letter on a puzzle they should already be able to solve. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/19 "2023-06-13T14:58:24Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Much like Trebek, the replacement needs to have just the right level of smugness when someone guesses the wrong letter on a puzzle they should already be able to solve. So, not Kuni from “Wheel of Fish.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qileP4bAzek/hqdefault.jpg ""Stupid!" from UHF") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qileP4bAzek) ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/20 "2023-06-13T15:15:32Z")
I’m often impressed by his quick wit - he may be tougher to replace than Alex was because of that. I hope the replacement process isn’t a repeat of the Jeopardy gong-show. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401.md?page=2)