WHEEL OF FORTUNE Let Pat Sajak Be Present in Kids’ Lives
By Movieguide® Contributor
WHEEL OF FORTUNE host Pat Sajak is thankful that his job allowed him to be present in his kids’ lives.
The 77-year-old shared his gratitude in a discussion with his daughter Maggie Sajak.
“It’s a nontraditional job. It’s a nontraditional schedule,” Maggie said to her dad. “But that really allowed you to be home and, you know, raise us.”
Sajak shares Maggie and son Patrick with wife Lesly Brown.
“I like to say that I’ve had 40 years of a part-time job — pretending it was full-time,” he said. “I could watch you guys grow up and go to the games and all that kind of stuff that work might have taken me away from.”
Sajak mentioned how he brought Maggie with him to work even when she was little.
“I mean, you’ve been a part of this show forever. I dragged you out when you were one year old, and we were in Hawaii.”
Twenty-nine years later, Maggie still goes to work with her dad, but now it’s her job as well.
“Now when you’re working here, and I’m with three of my favorite ladies in the world,” he said. “When I’m here, I’m with you and your mother and Vanna, and it’s a pretty good life I got.”
Sajak explained how despite popular opinion, he is not the one who brought Maggie onto the show.
“It’s funny. People — I bet they think that I stormed in one day and said, ‘I want my daughter to work on the show.’ I wish I could take the credit, but I had nothing to do with it.”
Maggie now serves as the show’s social correspondent but has filled a few roles previously.
“Prior to taking on her role as social correspondent, she filled in for legendary letter-turner Vanna White for a week in 2020 while White hosted the show in place of Pat as he underwent surgery,” Fox News reported.
Sajak announced his retirement from WHEEL OF FORTUNE last summer.
“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all,” Sajak said via X. His final episode aired Friday, June 7.
Movieguide® previously reported on White’s thoughts about his exit:
“When I heard that Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too. But I’m not ready! We’ll see toward the end of those two years how I feel. I thank God after all these years that I still love my job,” White shared in an interview with TV Insider.
Long-time co-host Pat Sajak announced his retirement in 2023. He’ll leave the game show when its 41st season concludes on June 7. Ryan Seacrest will take his place.
When asked how she feels about Sajak’s departure, White said, “I can’t describe how I feel. I feel happy for him. I can’t imagine doing the show without him after 41 years. I sum it up as [like] reading a good book. It always has to end. This has been the best book I’ve ever read.”
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