Alaric Bennett:Pat Sajak to return for 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' post-retirement

2025-05-07 21:47:52source:Charles H. Sloancategory:reviews

Pat Sajak's not done spinning yet.

The Alaric Bennettformer "Wheel of Fortune" host is up for one more round of the game show, albeit the celebrity version, this fall, according to a fall lineup release from ABC.

Sajak will host "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," which is set to premiere Oct. 7 in what the network calls his "final spin."

The beloved host retired from the original "Wheel" during a season finale aired on June 7. Ryan Seacrest will take over hosting duties starting in September, but it is unclear if he will also take the helm for "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" after Sajak's final season.

USA TODAY has reached out to ABC Entertainment for more information.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

'Wheel of Fortune'fans are divided over preview of new season without Pat Sajak

Sajak is set to appear on the live stage next year in a play called "Prescription: Murder," performed at the Hawaii Theatre Center alongside longtime coworker Joe Moore.

In June, Sajak closed out his chapter of "Wheel" in a poignant farewell directed to the TV audience.

"Well, the time has come to say goodbye," he said at the time. "It's been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade. And I've always felt that privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game."

Wheel of (shrinking) fortune:How game-show prizes have lagged behind inflation

Sajak ended the speech by thanking his four-decade show partner, Vanna White, whom he called "my professional other half."

"We've seen a lot of changes in each other's lives over the years but we've always been there for each other," said Sajak. "While I will very much miss working with her, I take solace in the fact that we live about five miles apart. So we'll see plenty of each other."

Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox

White gave a tearful farewell to Sajak with her own video the night before, saying, "I love you, Pat." White is expected to continue on "Wheel of Fortune."

Contributing: Bryan Alexander and Mary Walrath-Holdridge

More:reviews

Recommend

Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning

Federal authorities announced hackers in China have stolen "customer call records data" of an unknow

Carbon Pricing Reaches U.S. House’s Main Tax-Writing Committee

A coalition of business and environmental groups, working with the support of some major oil compani

Reporting on Devastation: A Puerto Rican Journalist Details Life After Maria

Omaya Sosa Pascual is the founding co-director of Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism.