Vanna White paid an emotional tribute to Pat Sajak, her co-host for greater than 40 years. Before his last episode As host of “Wheel of Fortune”,
On Thursday’s episode of the beloved recreation present, White honored Sajak’s work and friendship with a video that includes clips and pictures tracing their collaboration from the Eighties to the current.
“As this chapter of our lives involves a detailed, I do know you’ll nonetheless be shut. You might be like a brother to me and I think about you a real lifelong buddy that I’ll at all times adore,” she mentioned. “I like you, Pat.”
White mentioned that though their long-term enterprise collaboration was vital to her — noting that he made her really feel “very snug and assured” when she began — she mentioned their private friendship meant way more than that.
“As a lot as we loved it in entrance of the digicam, these reminiscences, milestones and life occasions we shared with our households, outdoors of the studio, are my favourite,” she mentioned, holding again tears. “We watched our kids develop collectively, traveled all around the world, and ate lots of of meals collectively. We laughed, we cried, and we celebrated.”
Probably the most iconic duos on tv
After the pre-recorded video ended, Sajak and White shared an onstage hug.
Sajak and White have been one in every of tv’s hottest duos since they started engaged on “Wheel of Fortune” collectively in 1982, when the present first aired in syndication. Sajak and White are among the many longest-serving hosts of any tv program within the recreation present class. They appeared collectively in additional than 8,000 episodes, with Sajak main the contestants by way of the sport and White flipping letters on a puzzle board.
Sajak introduced final 12 months He will retire as a host After the 2023-24 season of the favored recreation present. “It has been an ideal experience,” he mentioned on the time. white he said on social media After saying his departure, he mentioned, “Once we began @WheelofFortune, who would have thought we might nonetheless be there 41 seasons later?”
White prolonged her contract in September by way of the 2025-2026 season and can help Sajak’s substitute, Ryan Seacrest, throughout his first two seasons on the helm.
When Seacrest was introduced as Sajak’s successor, Seacrest mentioned in an announcement that he was “really humbled” to take over.
“I can say, together with the remainder of America, that it has been a privilege and pure pleasure to look at Pat and Vanna on our tv screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile each evening and feeling proper at house with them.” He mentioned.
The ultimate episode of Sajak will likely be aired on Friday.
(Tags for translation) Wheel of Fortune