Pat Sajak has announced his retirement. In his emotional farewell speech, Sajak expressed his gratitude for the “incredible privilege” of being invited into viewers’ homes for decades.
“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,” Sajak said.
Sajak went on to reflect on how the show became more than just a game, becoming 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.”
The long-time host also expressed his appreciation for the show’s staff and crew, as well as his co-host Vanna White, whom he described as “as sweet and unassuming as she seems.”
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In his parting words, Sajak simply stated, “That’s it. Thank you all so very much and goodbye.”
Wheel of Fortune fans will continue to see Sajak on their screens for the next few months as the show airs summer reruns, but his official retirement marks the end of an era for the iconic game show.
