Pat Sajak Returns to Host WHEEL OF FORTUNE for One Night This Year
By Movieguide® Contributor
Former WHEEL OF FORTUNE host Pat Sajak is about to make his return to the legendary game show — but in a different format than fans are used to.
TV Insider confirmed that “A special episode of CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE will air on Monday, December 2 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC in primetime. The spinoff’s upcoming season marks Sajak’s last-ever time hosting.”
READ MORE: HERE’S HOW PAT SAJAK IS RETURNING TO WHEEL OF FORTUNE
The show sees “Celebrity contestants spin to win for charity on this special holiday episode with Chance the Rapper (SocialWorks), Dionne Warwick (North Jersey Community Research Initiative) and Lil Jon (Open Paths Counseling Center).”
Sajak and his long-time WHEEL OF FORTUNE co-host, Vanna White, will reunite for the episode.
However, this episode is a “one-off, with the rest of Sajak’s last CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE season airing in 2025.”
CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE was recently pushed back to the New Year.
“Just days before its expected October 14, 2024 premiere, ABC shared that the Sajak-hosted show was being delayed to prioritize MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, which would air on the network as well as sister station ESPN through the rest of the year,” TV Insider reported.
“The reason for this is likely that the whole season of CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE was already taped, including a Christmas episode, and it would have been strange to air that in 2025 since that would entail a Holiday theme after the Holiday season,” the outlet added. “So, the Holiday episode will show December 2, and the rest of CELEBRITY WHEEL OF FORTUNE’S new season will still air in 2025.”
Sajak retired from WHEEL OF FORTUNE earlier this year after hosting the show for 43 years.
“Sajak was replaced by Ryan Seacrest, who seems to be taking some heat from the fans as he struggles to step into the retired host’s shadow. Although he has been able to score a ratings high, fans are still divided because of his “awkward” on-air stage habits and technical blunders,” Daily Express reported.
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