June 7, 2024 Recap (Pat's Final Bow)

now that i've seen the episode, i gotta ask: outside of CWOF, when was the last 3 round game?

The opening montage started off with, I believe, many people would know about Pat's first show (Daytime) in 1981. I have been thinking what kind of clip would appear on his last episode and that clip from 1981 could only be that one candidate.

With only 30 minutes and Pat's final messages to everyone, the round was indeed shortened. The last time I saw a 3-round structure was in the late 90's (Las Vegas show? or Hawaii show?). Interesting to see a Mystery Round played in the first round, an eye-opener.

Pat's doing the final spin because of a shortened gameplay? Yes! I believe that was the first time since early 2000's that he landed on a non-cash wedge. Well, it's not his show, so why not just give everyone the money and move on to the next round.

It's fascinating to see the last Mystery Wedge flip, the last Wheel prize being picked up and won, the last $10,000 TTU sweep and also the BR being won in a big way under Pat's tenure. That's the way to end Pat's final show!

To be honest, during the TTU, I cried. After the BR, I cried again. After Pat said "Goodbye", I burst into tears. 

I'm from Singapore, and our television station has been airing Wheel since 1991 (with a few years being skipped). My grandfather got me into this show in the mid or late-90s. From looking at the colorful carnival wheel spinning around, to learning the alphabets and to knowing the different words and phrases and to solving puzzles quicker than the in-studio contestants. This show is definitely one of the best places to learn English and like what Pat mentioned in his final speech "(The half-hour show) is a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics...". Even with some gameplay changes over the seasons introduced, every episode would always begin with introducing Pat and Vanna, playing the game and end with a closing chat. The processes may seem repetitive but I'm sure all Wheel watchers have no issues with watching the same beginning and the same ending every single night. 

When the show was skipped for a few years, it didn't stop me from doing internet searches of how the show have been doing over the years (From the introduction of the LED set to the Prize Puzzles to the Wild Card) and searching for clips of the shows that I never got to see on television. Now, with all the classic episodes available on The Video Vault and Pluto, I can continue to watch "new episodes" online.

If Season 41 is airing in Singapore, I will have to mark my calendars for the Pat's final week. Before that, I'm hoping for the last week of shows to be on the summer reruns again. Hopefully, we would be able to hear the full closing theme on the final episode. The closing credits wasn't enough!

Thank you, Pat, for giving me those 20+ years of wonderful memories. It's always a pleasure watching you. Here's wishing Pat a happy retirement and all the best.

Bye, Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune. You will be missed after more than 40 years on air. Ken Jennings on Jeopardy will stick around for several years after the host Mayim Bialik left in late 2023. Ryan Seacrest is going on air on Wheel of Fortune on September 9, 2024, and Vanna will stick around.

What a finale.

The flashback, first Toss-Up, and Prize Puzzle trip were a sweet nod to Pat’s retirement. I particularly appreciated Pat’s bonus for everyone; even if it cost us a round, it contributed to a five-figure match.

Speaking of the contestants, Adrienne’s Triple Toss-Up sweep (I would’ve flubbed the first one with WRITING) and Bonus Round win were the cherry on top. I’m surprised THING showed up in every episode’s category list.

But if I wasn’t ready for Vanna’s speech, I was completely unprepared for Pat’s.

My rating: 8
Weekly rating: 7

Gameplay-wise, Pat’s farewell week turned out nice. This whole season was… well, interesting.

Well, Pat, it’s been an absolute pleasure watching you on my TV for half of your 40-plus years as host. Thank you so much for entertaining us for decades, and we will miss you dearly. 🥹

(By the way, beautiful poem, Prizes!)

I am age 57.  I am old enough to remember watching the daytime version of Jeopardy! with Art Fleming as host back in the early 1970s.

The cancellation of that show led way to Wheel of Fortune starting on Monday, January 6th 1975.  I had just turned 8 years old less than three weeks prior to that first program.

I remember with great fondness Chuck Woolery as the host, Susan Stafford as the letter turner and Charlie O' Donnell as the original announcer.

Our family having just gotten our first COLOR television set a year before, seeing the spectacle that was that wheel in such vibrant colors really was fascinating to me.

It was a show I remember watching with my grandmother, my mom, my cousins, as well as my own son.  As Pat has said about the show, it is multi-generational.

Jeopardy's original cancellation made way for Wheel of Fortune and Chuck Woolery.  Chuck's departure on Christmas Day 1981 made way for Pat Sajak, and the rest is history.

To think what has happened since Pat first took over the show way back in late December 1981.

Just three months prior to Pat's first NBC show, Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice.

Pope John Paul the 2nd had only been pope for 3 years.

Ronald Reagan was still in his first year of his first term as 40th President of the United States.

Earlier in 1981 the first successful manned Space Shuttle flight took place.

Bob Barker and Price is Right was in it's 10th season on CBS and Bob still had dark hair.

On August 1st of that year, MTV debuted across the nation on cable, back when the M actually stood for Music.

ESPN was only 2 years old at the time.  Dwight Clark's infamous "The Catch" in the NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys happened less than 2 weeks after Pat's first show.

So amazing just how many things have changed, some for better, some others not, so amazing how many people and shows have come and gone during that incredibly long span of time.

I only wish that Pat's final speech would have included a thank you to Merv Griffin, even though Merv passed away so long ago too.

Thanks for the Memories Pat, and best wishes to Ryan.  He will never be able to replace you, only succeed you.

End of an Era.

November 27, 1998, last show of Family Week from Las Vegas.

Different structure and intensive Pat's good-bye. I'm sad...