# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/41 "2023-06-14T18:44:38Z")
I once heard him on something of a shock-jock radio show about a decade ago, where he was the call-in guest, and he was actually _funny_. I was completely surprised; I kind of thought he’d be a sort of Ned Flanders type based on _Wheel_, and the shock jocks would basically try (and succeed) to get a rise out of him. Instead, he came in and floored them with a bunch of jokes and commentary that was all _just_ this side of getting the FCC called on them. They didn’t expect that, and neither did I. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/42 "2023-06-14T18:54:38Z")
Whoopi wants in. > **[Whoopi Goldberg wants 'Wheel of Fortune' host job after Pat Sajak retires](https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/other/whoopi-goldberg-wants-wheel-of-fortune-host-job-after-pat-sajak-retires/ar-AA1cx1no)** > > Whoopi Goldberg is no stranger to game shows after appearing on "Hollywood Squares" for five years. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/43 "2023-06-14T20:14:39Z")
When Sajak was on Letterman, he talked about his DJ gig. The station was headed by an old officer who knew nothing about running a broadcasting operation (Lettermans response: “Yeah. That never happens at NBC.”). The Old Man wanted the troops to be happy and ordered that a lot of Christmas music should be played all year long. Everyone else knew this was a Bad Idea and to get around it, they’d play the normal rock songs but introduce them like Christmas music. “From Ol Saint Nick himself, here’s Tears of a Clown!” The Old Man was so clueless he figured it was Rock n roll Christmas tunes. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/44 "2023-06-14T21:51:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Do they film in big blocks, then, like 20-24 straight days? I wonder how often they have to come in. On Jeopardy, and I assume Wheel which is taped right next door, they did a week’s worth of shows in a day, and taped two days a week. I’d guess they’d need more time for editing and writing questions and stuff. If you watch Wheel you can tell that they edit things like wheel spins down for time. > [@Cardigan](#): > > This deserves a thread of explanation. When I watched, and I’ve watched back the the Fleming days, you shout out the answers and dream about doing it in real life. Once you’ve done it that part of the thrill is gone. I didn’t win but I did fine. The fantasy still kind of exists for me when watching Wheel, which I am also good at. It also settles the question of how well you can do under the pressure of the studio. The only thing I worried about was tripping when walking up on the stage. ---
**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 14, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/45 "2023-06-14T21:59:11Z")
So if you are a candidate who wins five games of _Jeopardy_, does this mean in real life those episodes were all taped over a day or two? You change clothes but might play five different games on the same day? To state the obvious, _Wheel_ has different contestants each “day”. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/46 "2023-06-15T00:56:36Z")
I’m impressed that Wheel of Fortune travels and shoots in different cities. Trips to Hawaii must be a nice perk for Pat and Vana. The hosts have been filming Celebrity Wheel. Doubling their work. Pat and Vana don’t seem to mind. I’ll miss Pat. He’s been a part of my life since college. ---
**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 15, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/47 "2023-06-15T01:10:22Z")
I would like to see an episode with Pat, Vanna, and whoever will be the permanent host for \*Jeopardy!" as the three contestants. Of course, they would be competing for their designated charities. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/48 "2023-06-15T14:11:02Z")
I may be being whooshed, but they did something like that 6 weeks ago - Vanna, Mayim, & Ken were the contestants. Vanna was terrible - more than once she guessed letters that had already been guessed, at least one time a letter that was actually in the puzzle. Mayim did pretty well but seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and Ken started slow but by the end was correctly guessing puzzles with only 2 or 3 letters revealed. ---
**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 15, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/49 "2023-06-15T16:47:29Z")
So, there is a news report of Ryan Seacrest being considered for the job, so you’re wrong! ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/50 "2023-06-15T17:40:20Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > So if you are a candidate who wins five games of _Jeopardy_, does this mean in real life those episodes were all taped over a day or two? You change clothes but might play five different games on the same day? Yes. They tell you to bring several changes of clothes. I was on _Jeopardy_ in 2018; at that time, _Jeopardy_ filmed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and _Wheel_ on Thursday and Friday. In fact, the morning after my _Jeopardy_ filming day, when I was in the hotel lobby waiting for the Uber to take me to the airport, I saw the group of _Wheel_ contestants who were waiting to be picked up by the van that would take them to the studio. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/51 "2023-06-15T20:44:17Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > So if you are a candidate who wins five games of _Jeopardy_, does this mean in real life those episodes were all taped over a day or two? You change clothes but might play five different games on the same day? To state the obvious, _Wheel_ has different contestants each “day”. Yup. You are told to bring a change. On my show someone won for the fifth time, he had been on one show the day before and four my day. I suppose you’d have to leave and come back next week if you won on Tuesday (the shows taped Monday and Tuesday), but I suppose you’d have won enough not to care. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/52 "2023-06-15T20:47:53Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > In fact, the morning after my _Jeopardy_ filming day, when I was in the hotel lobby waiting for the Uber to take me to the airport, I saw the group of _Wheel_ contestants who were waiting to be picked up by the van that would take them to the studio. My show was back in 1997, and they did not mention any hotels or vans. I rented a car and stayed with friends who lived near Malibu. Given the large number of guests with contestants that they showed when they used to show the audience, I had always thought that Wheel paid for contestant travel. A New Yorker article on the writer being a contestant said not so. Definitely not so on Jeopardy. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/53 "2023-06-15T21:39:41Z")
Vanna kinda gracefully crossed the stage like an actress/ dancer. I just imagine Mayim clomping back and forth for a half hour. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/54 "2023-06-15T22:38:51Z")
If they can’t get him, maybe A Ryan Seacrest Type? ---
**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 16, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/55 "2023-06-16T01:33:04Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I may be being whooshed, but they did something like that 6 weeks ago - Vanna, Mayim, & Ken were the contestants. I don’t have cable TV and, AFAIK, even if I did, neither _Wheel of Fortune_ nor \*Jeopardy!" would be available here. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/56 "2023-06-16T01:55:27Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > My show was back in 1997, and they did not mention any hotels or vans. I rented a car and stayed with friends who lived near Malibu. These days, there are a couple of hotels which are right across the street from each other, and have a discount rate for contestants. A van comes to pick you up and take you to the studio between 7 and 7:30 in the morning. You don’t have to stay at one of those hotels, but those are the only hotels that the van comes to. So if you stay somewhere else, you have to get to the studio by yourself. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/57 "2023-06-16T21:57:12Z")
You know, this seems like a perfect show to switch to an AI host and whatever Vanna is. If James Earl Jones can sell his voice for future stuff, Pat can sell his image and voice for the sake of the show. Lots of stuff to train the AI on. People might notice an AI Pat but as long as they don’t make the AI Vanna too lifelike, no one will notice. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/58 "2023-06-17T01:40:37Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > You know, this seems like a perfect show to switch to an AI host and whatever Vanna is. You don’t need Vanna really. Once upon a time she turned letters, but it has been digital for a long time. She recently revealed after one episode that are doesn’t even touch the letters; she just puts a hand close enough to cross a laser which triggers it to change to a letter. Just have the screens change remotely from some producer or crew member. As for host, make the Wheel talk from an AI. Then the Wheel of Fortune is also the host. ---
**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 17, 2023, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/59 "2023-06-17T01:59:26Z")
Only if you program it to make snarky comments! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401/60 "2023-06-17T02:19:09Z")
But of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-sajak-to-retire/985401.md?page=4)