Pat Sajak steps down, yet "Wheel of Fortune" must maintain its rhythm.
Merv Griffin, the creator of both shows, became extremely rich from their success on TV stations all over the country, especially during prime time hours. However, these two game shows were popular for different reasons.
"Jeopardy!" was known for its intelligence, and viewers may have been able to answer some of the questions, but not as well as the contestants. Trebek became famous for his wit and elegant demeanor, making it seem like he knew every answer or question, even if that wasn't always the case.
"Wheel of Fortune," on the other hand, captured the audience's attention because of its simplicity. A lot of people believed that they were smarter than the contestants, and found enjoyment from teasing them. Sajak played along with this by hosting the show with a slightly condescending tone. He often pointed out when the contestants made mistakes or struggled with puzzles.
Sajak had been working as a TV weatherman in Los Angeles when Griffin hired him to replace Chuck Woolery as the host of "Wheel of Fortune" in 1981.
After a brief stint as a host for a late-night program on CBS, "The Pat Sajak Show," he returned to hosting "Wheel of Fortune," which remained a successful and well-loved show.
Both "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" were owned by the family-run company, King World, which controlled these shows and many others. CBS bought King World for $2.5 billion in 2000, and Griffin's company is now under Sony Pictures.
Sajak will be replaced by Ryan Seacrest, who has a similar friendly and approachable personality to another game show legend, Dick Clark. Meanwhile, Vanna White, the long-time co-host, continues to be a part of the show, providing some sense of continuity beyond just the game itself.
In 2023, CBS renewed both "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" for five more years, lasting up to the 2027-28 TV season, maintaining their partnership with ABC stations in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Despite the challenges faced by the TV industry, "Wheel" continues to attract over 8 million viewers every week, ranking only after "Jeopardy!" among syndicated shows. Though linear TV is seeing decreased viewership, this ranking is not likely to change with or without Sajak's presence on the show.
Despite the changing landscape of television, Sajak's tenure on the show resulted in being a part of many people's lives, something that he found gratifying. While it's unclear if we'll see another similar run in the future, for now, the success of these shows remains unparalleled.
In a video posted by Maggie Sajak, Pat Sajak said, "It became part of people's lives, and that's been awfully gratifying."
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The departure of Pat Sajak from "Wheel of Fortune" does not necessarily affect the show's entertainment value, as it has always been appreciated for its simplicity and the opportunity for viewers to feel smarter than the contestants.
With Sajak stepping down, the show continues to uphold its tradition of entertainment, drawing in over 8 million viewers every week, making it one of the most popular syndicated shows on television.
