Whoopi Goldberg says she wants to host 'Wheel of Fortune' after Pat Sajak announces retirement

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By Asiya Ali

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Whoopi Goldberg has apparently thrown herself into the running as the new host of Wheel of Fortune after Pat Sajak announced his retirement.

The 76-year-old TV personality - who has been hosting Wheel of Fortune since 1981 - shared in a statement on social media that he will retire from the game show after 41 seasons.

He wrote on Twitter that he will step away from the production after the end of his forthcoming season in September, adding: "It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)."

It seems like there's a slot open for whoever will host the popular show which is why the 67-year-old EGOT winner staked her claim on Tuesday’s (June 13) episode of The View.

Check out what Goldberg had to say:

During a panel segment on her daily round table show, Alyssa Farah Griffin said: "Another legendary game show host, Pat Sajak, just announced that he's going to be retiring from Wheel of Fortune at the end of next season," to which Goldberg can be heard saying: "I want that job."

Griffin then asked Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings: "What's your reaction to the news? And any ideas on who should replace him?" and he said that he's optimistic that "Wheel's got an envelope that says what to do when" the host leaves following Jeopardy's "own succession crisis".

Co-host Joy Behar then chimed in and said: "Whoopi wants that job," and then Sister Act star - who is no stranger to game shows as she was a producer on the 1998 revival of Hollywood Squares - exclaimed once again: "I want that job. I think it would be lots of fun."

Behar quipped that she could step in for the tenured co-host Vanna White with Sara Haines so they could take "turns walking back and forth, pointing to the letters".

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Sajak shared in a statement on social media that he will retire from the game show after 41 seasons. Credit: Doug Benc / Getty

Sajak has consistently hosted Wheel of Fortune and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune since the Ronald Reagan presidency, fronting the daytime edition from 1981 to 1989 and then taking on nighttime duties in 1983.

The show has birthed some hilarious moments such as viewers being flabbergasted at how long it took contestants to guess the correct answer or competitors missing out on a $1 million prize after the "worst flub in recent memory".

Sajak isn’t leaving Wheel of Fortune just yet as the host will see through until season 41, which will premiere in the early fall. Also, Suzanne Prete, the EVP of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, revealed in a statement to Variety that he will still serve as a consultant on the series for the next three years.

"As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season," Prete said.

"We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season," she added.

Featured image credit: Michael Loccisano / Getty

Whoopi Goldberg says she wants to host 'Wheel of Fortune' after Pat Sajak announces retirement

vt-author-image

By Asiya Ali

Article saved!Article saved!

Whoopi Goldberg has apparently thrown herself into the running as the new host of Wheel of Fortune after Pat Sajak announced his retirement.

The 76-year-old TV personality - who has been hosting Wheel of Fortune since 1981 - shared in a statement on social media that he will retire from the game show after 41 seasons.

He wrote on Twitter that he will step away from the production after the end of his forthcoming season in September, adding: "It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)."

It seems like there's a slot open for whoever will host the popular show which is why the 67-year-old EGOT winner staked her claim on Tuesday’s (June 13) episode of The View.

Check out what Goldberg had to say:

During a panel segment on her daily round table show, Alyssa Farah Griffin said: "Another legendary game show host, Pat Sajak, just announced that he's going to be retiring from Wheel of Fortune at the end of next season," to which Goldberg can be heard saying: "I want that job."

Griffin then asked Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings: "What's your reaction to the news? And any ideas on who should replace him?" and he said that he's optimistic that "Wheel's got an envelope that says what to do when" the host leaves following Jeopardy's "own succession crisis".

Co-host Joy Behar then chimed in and said: "Whoopi wants that job," and then Sister Act star - who is no stranger to game shows as she was a producer on the 1998 revival of Hollywood Squares - exclaimed once again: "I want that job. I think it would be lots of fun."

Behar quipped that she could step in for the tenured co-host Vanna White with Sara Haines so they could take "turns walking back and forth, pointing to the letters".

wp-image-1263216072 size-full
Sajak shared in a statement on social media that he will retire from the game show after 41 seasons. Credit: Doug Benc / Getty

Sajak has consistently hosted Wheel of Fortune and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune since the Ronald Reagan presidency, fronting the daytime edition from 1981 to 1989 and then taking on nighttime duties in 1983.

The show has birthed some hilarious moments such as viewers being flabbergasted at how long it took contestants to guess the correct answer or competitors missing out on a $1 million prize after the "worst flub in recent memory".

Sajak isn’t leaving Wheel of Fortune just yet as the host will see through until season 41, which will premiere in the early fall. Also, Suzanne Prete, the EVP of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, revealed in a statement to Variety that he will still serve as a consultant on the series for the next three years.

"As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season," Prete said.

"We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season," she added.

Featured image credit: Michael Loccisano / Getty