Pat Sajak calls it quits after 2023-24 season

[Jeremy Nelson]

One of the points buried in the press release is that Pat is staying on as a consultant for the next three years. Considering how cavalier he's seemed towards hosting the show and his investment in it, this feels like a play to ensure that Maggie is part of the show's succession plans.

[BillCullen1]

Just to clarify:

Chuck *IS* available. Amirite? 

Ha ha ha. I see Mark Walberg or Bob Goen getting a phone call before 82-year-old Chuck Woolery. I think Maggie would be a good replacement for Vanna and Jim keeps his announcing job.

If I was Todd Newton's agent, I'd be calling the producers.

[JohnXXVII]

It's surprising! I thought Pat could have gone for a few more years.

I wonder if Pat consulted with Vanna at all, or if she is fuming? Since it took her until noon the next day to tweet about it, maybe he didn't. And her tweet is slightly lacking, no? Since she didn't announce they were leaving together, I'd be really surprised if she goes now.

As for Vanna being the host, I don't know. The 3 weeks she did years ago, she was really robotic, only moving the game along, cracking maybe 1 joke in the entire 3 weeks. Maybe if she practiced, and they got her some joke writers, it could be a possibility. Maybe if they are paying Pat to be a consulting producer, he could feed her some material or give her game show host lessons.

[Clay Zambo]

Vanna doesn't have 41 years of practice, but I wouldn't rule her out. She is, after all, part of the family.

But for sake of argument, say it's *not* Vanna. You know who I think would be charming as heck? Buzzy Cohen.

[SuperSweeper]

I like Maggie quite a bit - she does very well in her role on social media, IMHO; but I find her very wooden on air. I was hoping she would have loosened up when she was on Celebrity Wheel, but she didn't seem to be much more relaxed. Since she just graduated from law school, I wonder if her time with the show is limited, anyways, since I don't know if she would want to try to juggle a day job with her Wheel role.

I would be fine with either Wheel Live host getting the job, based on what I've heard from others. I've seen Mark host Price Live twice, and he was very, very good.

[Stackertosh]

Theres rumors that Ryan Secrest is interested


https://tvline.com/news/wheel-of-fortune-ryan-seacrest-replacing-pat-sajak-host-1234999477/

[Matt Ottinger]

Seacrest...IN?

[jjman920]

Vanna doesn't have 41 years of practice, but I wouldn't rule her out. She is, after all, part of the family.

Vanna's not someone who's good at being spontaneous. Which I don't mean as an insult because she is a very kind, generous and warm person. She's really good at sticking to a script in public, but that's about it. Look at her interviews, she's given the same set of answers to the same set of questions for the last twenty years. Yes, her 2019 hosting shouldn't be held against her because it was last minute, but she's just too nervous going outside her comfort zone, something she'd admit. I think she would refuse if they seriously offered her the host role.

This is not a surprise. Pat gave an interview within the last year or so saying that the end was coming sooner than later. I can see him wanting to give Sony the chance to get things right instead of them ending up in the same situation Jeopardy ended up in. While Vanna has stated for years (in one of her stock answers) that she'll go when he does, I'm also not surprised she hasn't issued statement saying she'll join him. She has plenty of time to mull over her options. I could definitely see Sony wanting her to stay on an additional season to break in the new guy.

While I'd have no problem with either WOFLive host getting the job or Seacrest, I wonder how much consideration will be made for a comedian given the executive producer's previous gig producing @midnight.

[Stackertosh]

Vanna doesn't have 41 years of practice, but I wouldn't rule her out. She is, after all, part of the family.

Vanna's not someone who's good at being spontaneous. Which I don't mean as an insult because she is a very kind, generous and warm person. She's really good at sticking to a script in public, but that's about it. Look at her interviews, she's given the same set of answers to the same set of questions for the last twenty years. Yes, her 2019 hosting shouldn't be held against her because it was last minute, but she's just too nervous going outside her comfort zone, something she'd admit. I think she would refuse if they seriously offered her the host role.

This is not a surprise. Pat gave an interview within the last year or so saying that the end was coming sooner than later. I can see him wanting to give Sony the chance to get things right instead of them ending up in the same situation Jeopardy ended up in. While Vanna has stated for years (in one of her stock answers) that she'll go when he does, I'm also not surprised she hasn't issued statement saying she'll join him. She has plenty of time to mull over her options. I could definitely see Sony wanting her to stay on an additional season to break in the new guy.

While I'd have no problem with either WOFLive host getting the job or Seacrest, I wonder how much consideration will be made for a comedian given the executive producer's previous gig producing @midnight.

Vanna was just stiff as a surfboard and cue card dependent when she guests hosted the show, and it was awkward not having a letter toucher for the board. I don't really know anything about Maggie i just don't think it should go to Pat daughter since she works for the show.

I'll be happy with either Mark or Clay from the live show they have the experience already.

Thats what I'm wondering too if a comedian takes over or someone with a big name. This brings back memories of TPIR and they were naming everyone that was in the lead for the hosting job and it ended up being Drew Carey someone out on the left field.

[steveleb]

Read my blog from Wednesday.

Www.leblanguage.net

Call me Nuts…I know many do..and perhaps I’m a touch tongue in cheek

But for any of you who really knew Pat and know the priorities of those in charge of Sony nowadays I don’t think I’m all that far off from a viable option.

And if Sony thinks getting Whoopi or equivalent to do an audition once Pat leaves that might add a tenth of a rating point no matter how much heat they got for the Jeopardy process trust me they’ll avoid making the final call as long as possible.

No one said those actually in charge are geniuses, least of all moi.

[MSTieScott]

[inflammatory language omitted]

A reminder:

You know how it's generally frowned upon to bring up subjects like politics and religion at the dinner table? The same goes here. If a touchy subject is germane to the conversation, members are welcome to discuss it in an evenhanded, tactful manner. But gratuitous, provocative, or otherwise unnecessary references to contentious topics will not be tolerated.

Whether Sajak's political views were germane to this conversation is up for debate (I'm leaning toward "probably not"), but your posts were unquestionably provocative. Please refrain from gratuitous name-calling.

[Joe Mello]

One of the points buried in the press release is that Pat is staying on as a consultant for the next three years.

I've been wondering if his role of Consulting Producer has been actually one with responsibilities or is just an extra title.

[BillCullen1]

Seacrest is a known name with hosting experience, which is to his advantage. Other names I've seen who are interested are Stephen A Smith and Whoopi Goldberg. Not sure how serious Whoopi is about this, since she's on The View every day.

I'm not a Vanna hater, but even on the computer and game system versions of WOF, she comes across as wooden on her hosting skills.

[Neumms]

I've been wondering if his role of Consulting Producer has been actually one with responsibilities or is just an extra title.

Me, too. Seems like a waste of money. It’s the kind of thing a business does if they’re pushing someone out the door or needing to keep them quiet about something.

[Neumms]

Other names I've seen who are interested are Stephen A Smith and Whoopi Goldberg.

I’m also interested, and I bet Rich Fields is, too. Fact is, it‘s a cake job for a bunch of dough. Having seen Rolf Benirschke, we know it takes skill, but the perception would be that it doesn’t.

With a year’s notice, I’m sure they’ll simply announce their choice, but I’d love to see them do public auditions how Jeopardy did. Temp hosts didn’t screw that up, it’s that Sony chose a pig. It’d be a hoot to watch Stephen A. host for a night—only one night, for God’s sake.