Pat Sajak says: Don’t brag about this skill.
“Wheel of Fortune” host Sajak was up to his old tricks recently when he teased a contestant who revealed that he was an expert at playing “Simon Says.”
“People like to brag about their skills,” Sajak, 77, began in a clip that was uploaded to the show’s TikTok account. “I’m not sure I would brag about this when you’re an expert at doing ‘Simon Says.’ ”
Despite the comment, contestant Joel Crandall took it in stride and said that the talent actually “comes in handy.”
“You just get in a spot where somebody needs to fill space for a little bit of time,” he explained.
“You know something about that,” he added, prompting Sajak to look startled and look around as if there was someone else the man could be talking to.
“And then you just have to do something to be able to keep things going,” he concluded.
A surprised Sajak replied: “Simon says: ‘What does he mean by that?’ ”
The game show host’s response prompted the live studio audience to erupt into a fit of laughter before he added: “I got it, actually.”
Crandall ultimately failed to reach the show’s bonus round after placing second with a whopping grand total of $21,640.
Sajak’s hilarious interaction with Crandall led to reactions from fans.
“Joel was hilarious,” one fan giggled.
“It was a great show tonight,” gushed a second fan.
“Pat seems like he is enjoying and making the most of his final year,” a third fan stated, before adding: “It is nice to watch.”
Sajak, who began his tenure on “Wheel” in 1981, is set to retire from the ABC show at the end of its current season. He announced his retirement in June 2023.
“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he tweeted at the time. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”
It was later announced that Sajak would be replaced by “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest, 49, said in a statement. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”
“Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease,” he added. “I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]