‘Wistful’ Pat Sajak reveals his plans after ‘Wheel of Fortune’ retirement

nypost.com:

“Wheel of Fortune” for the last 40 years in a new interview with “Good Morning America.”Sajak, 77, sat down with his daughter Maggie Sajak, the game show’s social correspondent, ahead of his final episode as host on Friday, June 7. “It’s surprisingly OK,” Pat said about his time on the show coming to an end so soon.“This was announced a long time ago, almost a year ago,” he noted. “So I’ve had time to sort of get used to it.

And it’s been a little bit wistful and all that, but I’m enjoying it and taking it all in and reflecting on the great run.”Pat, who started hosting “Wheel of Fortune” in 1981, acknowledged that the show is more than just any other television program.“We became part of the popular culture.

And more importantly, we became part of people’s lives,” he said. “And that’s been awfully gratifying.”The Emmy winner announced he was stepping down as host of the show in June of last year.Ryan Seacrest will take over when the ABC series returns for a new season in the fall.Pat told his daughter that he stands by his decision to leave after more than four decades.“I’ve always said to you, you’ve heard me say this dozens of times, ‘I’d rather leave a couple years too early than a couple of years too late.’ Could I still do it?

Yeah, I think I could for a while,” Pat told Maggie, 29. “There’s also some other things in life that we’d like to do. I’m enjoying this last year.