Pat Sajak is taking one final spin (for real this time) on Wheel of Fortune and it’s shaping up to be a letter-perfect victory lap.
It will be Sajak’s last-ever time hosting. The season premiere is Monday, October 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu.
As wheel watchers are well aware, Sajak has already been replaced by Ryan Seacrest as the host of the syndicated game show. He’s coming back for just the spin-off to fulfill his contract. Celebrity guests compete weekly for $1 million (for a charity of their choosing).
EW got the first glimpse of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’s new season on Thursday, October 3. The trailer sees Sajak declare: “Get ready for an all-new season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” while standing side-by-side with his longtime counterpart Vanna White. The iconic puzzle-presenter dazzles in a silvery gown with a bold, sheer V-neck design, and they look thrilled to be reunited. The special was taped at the revamped WoF set, and they can be seen walking out of the new sliding-door entrance. “Big names, big laughs, and big wins for charity,” White promises.
Spliced in are shots of the celebrity contestants, and there’s some serious star power in store. Quite a few of the contestants are TV favorites, many of whom fans may recall from the Dunder Mifflin, Scranton branch.
The guests include Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper, and Oscar Nuñez of The Office, Josh Gad, Justin Long, and Rachael Harris of New Girl, as well as Sam Richardson, Randall Park, and Matt Walsh of Veep. There’s also Tiffany Haddish and Regina Hall of Girls Trip, plus Joe Manganiello, Katharine McPhee, Andrew Rannells, Pete Holmes, and Cameron Brink. The rest are to be announced.
Longtime fans were initially puzzled by the news that Sajak was returning, since he very much retired from the nightly show. After 41 years, Sajak’s emotional last episode as the host of WoF aired on June 7, 2024. Sajak handed off hosting duties to Seacrest – just not for the celebrity edition. He’s tied to one more season of Celebrity WoF, which is why fans will get one more dose of classic Sajak snark.
Since his retirement, Pat won the 2024 Emmy for Best Game Show Host, while Ryan could certainly be doing worse in his shoes. He’s held ratings steady and then some; raking in the strongest week in five years for the Season 42 debut.
Wheel of Fortune has been on the air since 1975, while Celebrity Wheel of Fortune – compared to Celebrity Jeopardy! – is relatievely new. The special has only been airing since 2021. While Celebrity WoF doesn’t pack as many painful fails as the nightly show, an all-timer ensued last season thanks to NFL player Rashad Jennings and the incorrect guess Puentin Tarrantino.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Season Premiere, Monday, October 14, 8/7c, ABC
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