Viewers of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune were surprised when longtime host Pat Sajak mysteriously left before the bonus round. Fans wondered what happened to Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune and speculated about the future of his 42-year tenure. “Wheel of Fortune,” created by Merv Griffin, has been running since January 1975 and is hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White. Sajak had already hinted at a possible exit at the end of season 40, while Vanna expressed her desire to continue hosting alongside him.
Their on-screen partnership has become iconic, making it hard for fans to imagine anyone else in their roles. On the April 26 episode, Sajak gave up hosting in the bonus round, and the show’s announcer Jim Thornton took over the role of host. This unexpected move left fans speculating about Sajak’s absence, with some wondering if he was sick or fired. However, it became clear it was a planned move when contestant Sarah expressed her admiration for Jim Thornton at the start of the show. Jim responded to her praise jokingly, setting up his unexpected hosting gig later. When the show returned for the bonus round after a commercial break, Sajak was still absent, and Jim Thornton continued to host. Although Sarah couldn’t solve the bonus puzzle, she won an additional $40,000 and had the opportunity to meet Jim.
Sajak appeared briefly during the credits at the end of the episode and jokingly asked Vanna if he had missed anything. The details surrounding Pat Sajak’s absence from this particular episode remain unreleased. Some viewers speculated that it may have been an opportunity for Jim Thornton to show off his hosting skills as a potential replacement for Sajak in the future. With a possible departure of Sajak at the end of Season 40, Jim Thornton may have more opportunities to host episodes of Wheel of Fortune. Currently, the show continues to air weekdays at 7:30 pm on ABC, and fans are eagerly awaiting further updates on the future of the popular game show and its hosts.
