In theEmmy celebration, 'Wheel of Fortune' wrap-up host, Pat Sajak, secures an accolade.
After retiring as the long-standing host of the popular ABC game show in June following over 4 decades of service, Pat became the winner of an Emmy for exceptional game show host during the Creative Arts Emmys event on Saturday.
He triumphed over Steve Harvey for "Celebrity Feud," Ken Jennings for "Jeopardy!", Keke Palmer for "Password", and Jane Lynch for "Weakest Link". Sadly, Pat was unable to attend the ceremony to accept the award.
The last time Pat received recognition from the Television Academy for his hosting duties on "Wheel" was back in 1998, when he received a Daytime Emmy award. Previously, he had won Daytime Emmys in 1993 and 1997, and was also honored with a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Over his career, he has received a total of 25 nominations.
The category for outstanding game show host was shifted from the Daytime Emmys to the Primetime Emmys in 2023. Keke Palmer took home the award last year for her work on "Password".
Pat made his hosting debut on "Wheel" in 1981 and ended his run in June. He co-hosted the show alongside Vanna White since 1982, with the duo also hosting "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" spinoff.
White will continue on the show for another two years, sharing hosting duties with her new co-host Ryan Seacrest, who is stepping into Pat's role. Seacrest's first episode as the new host of "Wheel" will air on Monday.
"It's been an incredible honor to be welcomed into millions of homes every night, year after year, decade after decade," Pat expressed during his final episode, which aired on June 7.
Pat further added that he had always felt that the responsibility that came with such a role was to ensure that the daily half-hour remained a secure space for family entertainment, devoid of any social issues, politics, or embarrassment.
Pat announced his retirement plans in June 2023 on channel X, expressing that his time on the beloved game show had been "an exhilarating journey".
Despite his retirement, Pat's exceptional hosting skills continued to be recognized, as he won an Emmy for outstanding game show host in the Primetime Emmys category in 2023, even though he was unable to attend the ceremony. After his retirement, family entertainment continued to thrive on "Wheel of Fortune," with Pat's co-host Vanna White continuing her role for another two years, sharing hosting duties with the new host, Ryan Seacrest.
