Iconic “Wheel of Fortune” Host Pat Sajak delivered a heartfelt farewell to his viewers in a video posted on social media hours before his last episode was scheduled to air on Friday.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” Sajak, who has hosted the show for 41 years, says in the video.
Sajak says he had a responsibility to keep the show family-friendly and free from politics and social issues:
“And, I’ve always felt that the privilege came with a responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun – no social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope - just a game.”
“But, gradually, it became more than that,” Sajak says, expressing gratitude that “Wheel” is now “a place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together, along with friends and neighbors and entire generations.”
Sadly, the show has, indeed, “become more than that.”
Pat Sajak is signing off. https://t.co/30ldJIWuYh pic.twitter.com/X4A5sn7XQN
— New York Post (@nypost) June 7, 2024
It’s now a not-so-family-friendly place, where openly gay contestants express pride in their deviancy and others announce they’re donating their winnings to transgender activism. So, tragically, it may well be time for the family-friendly host to take leave of the show before it goes full-blown Disney.
Still, Sajak says he’s honored to have brought so much educational, wholesome entertainment to so many viewers for so long.
So long, Pat. God bless.
Video Transcript:
“Well, the time has come to say “Goodbye.” I have a few ‘Thanks’ and acknowledgements before I go - and, I want to start with all of you watching out there.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade.
“And, I’ve always felt that the privilege came with a responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun – no social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope - just a game.
“But, gradually, it became more than that: a place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together, along with friends and neighbors and entire generations.
“What an honor to have played even a small part in all that.
“Thank you for allowing me into your lives.”