# Vanna White steps in to host Wheel of Fortune after Pat Sajak's surgery.aj **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194 "2019-11-09T00:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/21 "2019-11-11T14:11:38Z")
I suspect Vanna could do the job in her sleep. I mean, I wish Pat all the best but I doubt standards will slip with Vanna hosting. Might even be a step up. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/22 "2019-11-11T14:18:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So who will they have standing next to the puzzle and pointing at it? I don’t think [Carol Merrill](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Merrill)’s schedule is that full these days. She could probably manage it. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/23 "2019-11-11T14:45:56Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I don’t think [Carol Merrill](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Merrill)’s schedule is that full these days. She could probably manage it. If they’re going to have a woman host, then they need a hunky guy turning letters. Either in a tux, or maybe dressed and acting like[this guy](https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IMHx/aamco-transmissions-dancing-tenant). ---
**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:** [November 11, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/24 "2019-11-11T14:56:32Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > If they’re going to have a woman host, then they need a hunky guy turning letters. Either in a tux, or maybe dressed and acting like[this guy](https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IMHx/aamco-transmissions-dancing-tenant). For what they pay, I’d even turn the letters wearing a speedo. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/25 "2019-11-11T15:07:47Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I don’t think [Carol Merrill](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Merrill)’s schedule is that full these days. She could probably manage it. This is somewhat off-topic, but I once heard that Merrill had a term for the hand gestures that she made while showing off some product on _Let’s Make a Deal_, but I can’t remember what it was. Does that ring a bell with anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/26 "2019-11-11T15:54:48Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > If they’re going to have a woman host, then they need a hunky guy turning letters. Either in a tux, or maybe dressed and acting like[this guy](https://www.ispot.tv/ad/IMHx/aamco-transmissions-dancing-tenant). I realize that the overlap between people who watch the US _Wheel of Fortune_ and UK _8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown_ is very, very small, but I bet “[Fabio](https://www.instagram.com/fabiocatscountdown/?hl=en)” would come turn letters for Vanna. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/27 "2019-11-11T16:58:32Z")
This is a perfect opportunity for \*Wheel \*to bring in celebrity guest letter turners. In addition to _Jeopardy_, Sony Pictures Television also appears to have deals with Dr. Oz, Queen Latifah, and who knows who else. Bring in a star to plug their project, they work a half-day, everybody wins. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/28 "2019-11-12T04:07:45Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I’m waiting for a contestant to have a Freudian slip and ask to buy a bowel. I’m sure someone has and it got edited out. You think Pat never hits a bankrupt when he gives the wheel a final spin? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/29 "2019-11-12T04:52:22Z")
In terms of effort invested versus money earned, Vanna’s got to have the most lucrative job in the history of time. Do you think they tell her the answers to the puzzles before the show begins? Has she ever had a stressful day at work? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/30 "2019-11-12T10:26:58Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > This is a perfect opportunity for \*Wheel \*to bring in celebrity guest letter turners. In addition to _Jeopardy_, Sony Pictures Television also appears to have deals with Dr. Oz, Queen Latifah, and who knows who else. Bring in a star to plug their project, they work a half-day, everybody wins. That’s quite a good idea. But now I want to see Terry Crews doing it. Because that would be _awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/31 "2019-11-12T13:56:53Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > That’s quite a good idea. But now I want to see Terry Crews doing it. Because that would be _awesome_. He sucked noogie hosting _ **Who Wants to be a Millionaire?** _ I couldn’t stand him. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/32 "2019-11-12T14:57:36Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > This is a perfect opportunity for \*Wheel \*to bring in celebrity guest letter turners. In addition to _Jeopardy_, Sony Pictures Television also appears to have deals with Dr. Oz, Queen Latifah, and who knows who else. Bring in a star to plug their project, they work a half-day, everybody wins. Let’s not forget that there is real money on the line. I’ve always thought that hosting a game show is probably a lot tougher than it looks; you have to be pleasant and personable, but also manage the game, watch for violations of the rules, and be scrupulously fair. If it looks easy, remember that the only people we ever see do it are really good. I’m sure that revealing the letters on the puzzle isn’t as hard as running the game, but if I was a contestant, had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win tens of thousands of dollars, I wouldn’t want one of the hosts to be someone the producers brought in on a lark. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/33 "2019-11-12T15:40:14Z")
> [@](#): > > I suspect Vanna could do the job in her sleep. I mean, I wish Pat all the best but I doubt standards will slip with Vanna hosting. Might even be a step up. I will be watching when she is running the game, but I have serious doubts she will be better than Sajak. He is really quite good making people feel at ease and tossing off funny quips. I realize humor is subjective, but I’ve always found him to be funny. I do wish Vanna the best, though. Both her and Pat seem like nice people who actually like each other. > [@](#): > > I’ve always thought that hosting a game show is probably a lot tougher than it looks; you have to be pleasant and personable, but also manage the game, watch for violations of the rules, and be scrupulously fair. If it looks easy, remember that the only people we ever see do it are really good. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/34 "2019-11-12T15:44:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I give Vanna White credit. There was a period back in the late eighties when it looked like she might become a major star. A lot of people in the same position would have quit their job turning letters on a game show. White didn’t; she kept working her “day job” while she took advantage of the opportunities her increased popularity offered. > > As it turned out, White never made it to the next level. But unlike most people in the same situation, she didn’t disappear. She still had a job - which I guess at this point has been a career - on Wheel of Fortune. Her and Pat Sajak both explored advancing/diversifying their careers while keeping their WOF jobs. He had a talk show for about 16 months in 1989 and 1990. His Wiki page indicates that he has substituted for Larry King and Regis Philbin over the years, too. Of course, working only four days a month in your main job made it easy for Vanna and Pat to try other things while keeping their gravy train game show jobs. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/35 "2019-11-12T16:18:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’ve always thought that hosting a game show is probably a lot tougher than it looks; you have to be pleasant and personable, but also manage the game, watch for violations of the rules, and be scrupulously fair. If it looks easy, remember that the only people we ever see do it are really good. If you ever saw Louie Anderson hosting _Family Feud_, that ought to be all the proof you need that not just anyone can do that job! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/36 "2019-11-12T16:42:35Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > He sucked noogie hosting _ **Who Wants to be a Millionaire?** _ I couldn’t stand him. Oh he’d be a terrible host. But turning letters? That’d be fun. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/37 "2019-11-12T16:50:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Let’s not forget that there is real money on the line. I’ve always thought that hosting a game show is probably a lot tougher than it looks; you have to be pleasant and personable, but also manage the game, watch for violations of the rules, and be scrupulously fair. If it looks easy, remember that the only people we ever see do it are really good. Does Pat really do anything though? It seems like he’s always reacting to what’s actually happening. Like whether a letter is up on the board is controlled by the production crew. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/38 "2019-11-12T17:08:03Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I’m sure someone has and it got edited out. You think Pat never hits a bankrupt when he gives the wheel a final spin? I haven’t watched the show in a decade or two, but they, at least sometimes, [used to show him landing on non-dollar amounts and respinning.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUnpZXTobFg). ETA: Yep, one of the comments, at least, says the last time they showed Pat spin a bankrupt or lose a turn was in 1998. I definitely do remember them every once in a while from my childhood, though. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/39 "2019-11-12T17:51:23Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Oh he’d be a terrible host. But turning letters? That’d be fun. Can he do it in an evening gown? I could see him doing that 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194/40 "2019-11-12T19:45:39Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > So they tape five plus four shows in a week? Or did you mean to say five shows every day of the week? 😕 I did mean to say five shows every day of the week, but I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate, it may have been six shows a day, for four days. Whatever, the cast and crew were not working every day and in fact had a lot of time off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vanna-white-steps-in-to-host-wheel-of-fortune-after-pat-sajaks-surgery-aj/843194.md?page=3)