Pat Sajak

Game Show Host

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In the two-hour solo portion of his interview, Pat Sajak discusses growing up in Chicago and his early interest in broadcasting, and shares his experiences serving in the armed forces radio in Vietnam. He speaks of his local television work in the 1970s for WSM in Nashville and KNBC in Los Angeles and details the early history of the show for which he's best known: Wheel of Fortune. Sajak describes working with show creator Merv Griffin, the casting of "letter turner" Vanna White, and the fame that he and Vanna have experienced. He also discusses his foray into the talk show genre as host of The Pat Sajak Show.

In the fifteen-minute joint portion of their interview, Pat Sajak and Vanna White discuss the atmosphere on the set of Wheel of Fortune and marvel at the show's longevity. They recount their first time meeting each other, describe working with producer Harry Friedman, and touch on how the opening of the show has changed over time. They also offer personal anecdotes about each other. Barrie Nedler conducted the interviews on October 10, 2007 in Culver City, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"We became in this strange way part of people's lives, almost their lifecycle. It was dinner time, they played 'Wheel' - we just became part of the atmosphere. It's kind of like the sunset: you might not go out and watch it every night, but it's nice to know it's out there. We're a comfort to people, and it would seem odd if we weren't there even if they're not watching us every day. I don't know how that happened and how we became part of that, but it's a wonderful spot to be in."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Pat Sajak on thinking Vanna White was a terrible choice for Wheel of Fortune

01:53

Pat Sajak on how Wheel of Fortune became part of people's lives

01:59

Pat Sajak on great advice from a friend about pacing for television

00:53

Pat Sajak on hosting game shows - it goes against the performer's instinct because the game and the players are the stars, not you

01:52

Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune fans

02:00

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on changing his last name; on being guest DJ on The Dick Biondi Show

On his time at Columbia College in Chicago; on doing armed forces radio during the Vietnam War

On getting into television for WSN Nashville doing station breaks, weather and news; On moving to KNBC Los Angeles to do the weather; on getting the chance to host Wheel of Fortune

Chapter 2

On the night-time syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune; on Vanna White's popularity; on celebrity

On the early days of Wheel of Fortune; on the daytime and evening versions of Wheel of Fortune; on favorite fan encounters

On the announcers of Wheel of Fortune; on appearing as himself on television shows

On taking Wheel of Fortune on the road to New York City

Chapter 3

On hosting The Sunday Show; on hosting his own late night talk show, The Pat Sajak Show

On his first Emmy win for Wheel of Fortune; on swapping hosting duties with Alex Trebek; on hosting Pat Sajak Weekend

On filling in as host on Larry King Live; on Merv Griffin; on production on Wheel of Fortune

On memorable moments on Wheel of Fortune; on the new computerized puzzle board

Chapter 4

On technical glitches with the Wheel of Fortune puzzle board; on his role on Wheel of Fortune; on taking the show on the road

On college week; On Celebrity Week and changes to Wheel of Fortune over the years

On the popularity of Wheel of Fortune in the 1990s and 2000s; on pop culture references to him; on career advice he's been given

On forming his own production company; on his hobbies; on the longevity of Wheel of Fortune; on advice to aspiring hosts and how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 5

START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH PAT SAJAK AND VANNA WHITE: Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the atmosphere on the set of Wheel of Fortune

Pat Sajak and Vanna White on favorite stories about each other

Shows

A-Team, The

Pat Sajak on playing himself on The A-Team and other television shows

02:28

Jeopardy!

Pat Sajak on swapping hosting duties with Jeopardy !'s Alex Trebek

02:31

Larry King Live

Pat Sajak on filling in as host on Larry King Live

00:55

Pat Sajak Show, The

Pat Sajak on hosting his own late night talk show, The Pat Sajak Show

08:57

Sunday Show, The

Pat Sajak on hosting The Sunday Show

02:49

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The

Pat Sajak on possibly guest hosting for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

03:04

Wheel of Fortune

Pat Sajak on doing the weather for KNBC Los Angeles and impressing Merv Griffin and offering Sajak Wheel of Fortune

05:27

Pat Sajak on the night-time syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune

28:39

Pat Sajak on the perception of a game show host and how it affected his try at being a late night host

02:58

Pat Sajak on swapping hosting duties with Jeopardy !'s Alex Trebek

02:31

Pat Sajak on production of and memorable moments on Wheel of Fortune

04:06

Pat Sajak on the puzzle board; on traveling with the show and College and Celebrity Week; on changes to the game

23:31

Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the atmosphere on the set of Wheel of Fortune

13:19

Topics

Emmy Awards

Pat Sajak on winning his first Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host

01:47

Fame and Celebrity

Pat Sajak on worrying about the "celebrity" part of the business

03:45

Quiz Show Scandals

Pat Sajak on the Quiz Show Scandals

00:24

Vietnam War

Pat Sajak on developing his style as a host in the armed forces radio

04:35

Professions

Game Show Host

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Pat Sajak on hosting game shows - it goes against the performer's instinct because the game and the players are the stars, not you

01:52

Pat Sajak on advice for aspiring hosts

01:39

Hosts

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Pat Sajak on wanting to be in entertainment

00:32

Pat Sajak on developing his style as a host in the armed forces radio

00:54

Pat Sajak on the perception of a game show host and how it affected his try at being a late night host

02:58

Genres

Game Shows

Pat Sajak on doing the weather for KNBC Los Angeles and impressing Merv Griffin and offering Sajak Wheel of Fortune

05:27

Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

28:39

Pat Sajak on production of and memorable moments on Wheel of Fortune

04:06

Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune

23:31

Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the atmosphere on the set of Wheel of Fortune

13:19

People

Alex Trebek

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Pat Sajak on swapping hosting duties with Jeopardy!'s Alex Trebek

02:31

Brandon Tartikoff

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Pat Sajak on telling Brandon Tartikoff he didn't want to appear on The A-Team

01:11

Charlie O'Donnell

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Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune announcer Charlie O' Donnell

02:06

Fred de Cordova

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Pat Sajak on possibly guest hosting for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

01:53

Harry Friedman

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Pat Sajak on the new computerized puzzle board on Wheel of Fortune - producer Harry Friedman's idea

01:17

Pat Sajak and Vanna White on working with producer Harry Friedman

02:20

Hy Averback

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Pat Sajak on how Hy Averback suggested that Jack Paar write to Pat Sajak

00:37

Jack Clark

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Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune announcer Jack Clark

02:06

Jack Paar

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Pat Sajak on interviewing his childhood idol, Jack Paar

03:02

Jimmy Stewart

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Pat Sajak on the amazing line Jimmy Stewart said to him when they met

00:30

Merv Griffin

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Pat Sajak on doing the weather for KNBC Los Angeles and impressing Merv Griffin and offering Sajak Wheel of Fortune

05:27

Pat Sajak on working with Merv Griffin and hiring Vanna White

02:47

Pat Sajak on Merv Griffin and the night-time version of Wheel of Fortune

02:14

Pat Sajak on Merv Griffin selling Wheel of Fortune and their relationship towards the end of Griffin's life

04:10

Susan Stafford

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Pat Sajak on working with Susan Stafford, Vanna White's predecessor

00:46

Vanna White

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Pat Sajak on Vanna White

02:47

Pat Sajak on the balance of celebrity that he and Vanna White have

00:45

Pat Sajak on the chemistry between him and Vanna White

01:31

Pat Sajak on a favorite Vanna White story

04:44