After 43 years and ‘a wonderful ride,’ Pat Sajak, the longstanding host of ‘America’s Game’ Wheel of Fortune, has recently announced his departure from the program. The forthcoming 41st season of the Merv Griffin-produced game show, which will premiere in September 2023, will feature Sajak’s final appearance as the show’s host. He is now a Guinness World Record holder for the longest career of a game-show host.
More than 7,000 episodes of Wheel of Fortune had been recorded and broadcast till 2019 alone, making it the nation’s longest-running syndicated game show. In addition, the show has gained a global fanbase thanks to 60 adaptations in various languages. Needless to say, Wheel of Fortune had a humble start just like any other production coming from a new creator. But Griffin, along with the talented hosts has successfully brought the Wheel of Fortune to the top of the charts. Here is where it all started!
The Wheel of Fortune is older than we think
When the show was first greenlit by NBC, Merv Griffin was suggested by the NBC staff to add a shopping component to the game to drive participants as well as viewers. Back then, each player decided which items they would play for instead of the cash prizes. Merv Griffin conceived Wheel of Fortune using inspiration from Hangman and a pilot episode titled Shopper’s Bazaar was officially premiered on January 6, 1975.
The first Wheel of Fortune was a daytime network television program that aired on NBC from Jan. 6, 1975, through June 30, 1989. Later, it was broadcast on CBS from July 17, 1989, through Jan. 11, 1991. The show then returned to NBC on January 14, 1991, but ended again on September 20, 1991, after 8 months. The current incarnation of the series made its debut on September 19, 1983, and ran side-by-side with the daytime version from 1983 to 1991. It is currently broadcast in nightly syndication.
Tune in to the 41st season of Wheel of Fortune this September 2023!
Published: Jun 12, 2023 09:38 pm