CELEBRITY Wheel of Fortune fans are wishing Pat Sajak ‘never retired’ after he made a triumphant comeback to the show on tonight’s premiere.
Season 5 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune treated fans to one more dose of beloved host Pat, 78, after he retired and left the franchise, resulting in Ryan Seacrest taking over the role.
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Hollywood heavyweights Tiffany Haddish, Joe Manganiello, and Matt Walsh competed on tonight’s episode alongside longtime star Vanna White and Pat for his final spin.
Airing of the celebrity-based special was delayed – which is why it’s just now being released despite Ryan, 50, already taking over the gig during the normal Wheel of Fortune season.
On Wednesday night’s episode, Pat and Vanna, 68, walked out arm-in-arm as the longtime host admitted he might be rusty since it had “been awhile” since he was last on the famous stage.
“I was supposed to be a contestant on the show before they decided I wasn’t funny enough and brought me back to host,” he joked.
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The show kicked off with the celebrities giving hilarious interview segments – which included Joe ultimately offering to “adopt” Tiffany.
Tiffany then revealed she is a beekeeper after Matt talked about raising chickens – leading them to agree to exchange “her honey for his eggs.”
A baffled Pat appeared stunned by the conversation and quipped it felt like he “took the place of Jerry Springer” rather than the wholesome game show.
Pat’s humor appeared to strike viewers – many who gushed they “missed” the longtime host and wish he still was on the show.
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“Man Pat is sharper than ever! He never should have retired he’s still got it,” one viewer wrote.
“I love Ryan as host but I won’t lie, tonight is really making me miss Pat. No one does it like him,” another said.
“Pat is hilarious, I miss his humor and the ease he brings,” a fan praised.
“Was channel surfing tonight and saw Pat was hosting tonight. Tuned in just for him, didn’t know he was going to be on again. That was a nice surprise,” a viewer stated.
One more gushed: “There’s something quite comforting about seeing Pat back at the Wheel.”
American Idol host Ryan joined the Wheel of Fortune universe last Summer, and his first episode aired on September 9, 2024.
He briefly guest appeared on the show the season prior as Pat passed on the baton to the Hollywood icon after 43 years of hosting the series.
While many viewers have praised the job Ryan has done, others have been more critical and miss the former host.
The ratings have reflected the divide, as The U.S. Sun previously reported that viewership has dropped since Ryan took over the role, despite ratings initially being sky-high when he first started.
Wheel of Fortune’s big changes
The game show has undergone a major transformation now that Ryan Seacrest has taken over hosting duties for Pat Sajak.
-Ryan and Vanna White now host on a brand-new set, featuring a blue-toned stage, a green screen and art-deco wheel design.
-Ryan and Vanna make their big entrance from behind new sliding, brightly lit doors.
-Vanna turns – or now, touches – a modern, digital puzzle board controlled by lasers.
-Ryan brings a new hosting style, and has ditched Pat’s signature cue cards.
-The prizes have also been upgraded, and now include tickets to NFL games, and tickets to A-list concerts.
In addition to overall ratings being lower, the show has also been outnumbered by its sister show, Jeopardy!
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Magic Mike star Joe, comedy icon Tiffany and funnyman Matt were the first trio of celebrities to compete on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’s season 5.
Each star had hoped to advance in the tournament with hopes of earning $1 million for the charity of their choice.
Joe played for UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Matt chose Open Book while Tiffany competed for her own She Ready Foundation.
Other A-listers who will compete later this season include Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper, Justin Long, Regina Hall, Katharine McPhee, Randall Park and Andrew Rannells.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune airs on Wednesdays at 8pm EST on ABC and is available to stream the following day on Hulu.
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