Whoopi Goldberg's Bold Bid to Take Over as Host of 'Wheel of Fortune'

Whoopi Goldberg is eager to take over as host of Wheel of Fortune when Pat Sajak leaves next year. The 67-year-old Sister Act star expressed her interest in the job during a recent episode of The View, stating that she believes it would be a lot of fun.

Joy Behar, the cohost, also agreed with Goldberg and added that she would like to be a part of the show's next chapter too. She joked about taking turns with Sara Haines to be the new Vanna White. Sajak, who recently announced his departure from Wheel of Fortune, made this declaration just a day before.

"I have made the decision that the upcoming 41st season, beginning in September, will be my final season," said the Daytime Emmy winner in a statement to Bloomberg News on Monday, June 12. He expressed gratitude for the wonderful experiences he had during his time on the show, and promised to share more details in the coming months. However, prior to this official announcement, Sajak had already hinted at his departure during a September 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, where he expressed his honor at having been welcomed into people's homes for so long.

He humorously added that he might not outlast the show's cancellation. Despite most television shows ending by this point, Sajak confidently quipped that the show will not die anytime soon. Since its premiere in 1975 with Chuck Woolery as host, Sajak has been the face of Wheel of Fortune for the past 40 years, taking over the job in 1981.

Upon hearing the news of Sajak's departure from the show, his trusted cohost White, 66, expressed her support for his decision on social media.

"It's hard to believe that 41 seasons later, we're still going strong with @WheelofFotune," said the author of Vanna Speaks on Twitter, quoting Sajak's original announcement tweet. "I feel incredibly grateful to have shared the stage with you all these years, and I look forward to many more to come. Here's to you, @patsajak!" Over the course of almost four decades, White and the A-Team alum have developed a deep connection. "We've been working together for nearly 38 years, and he's like a brother to me," shared the Vanna's Choice cofounder in a 2021 interview with ET. "He always makes me laugh, and our connection is so strong that we could even finish each other's sentences if we wanted to. That's how well we know each other."

During a talk at the Paley Center for Media in New York City in 2017, Sajak expressed his admiration for White, stating that he couldn't imagine hosting the show with anyone else. As for who will fill Sajak's shoes after he departs, it's currently unknown, but Ken Jennings recently joked on The View that he's hoping the transition will go smoother for Wheel of Fortune than it did for Jeopardy.

Pat Sajak's 40-year tenure as the host of Wheel of Fortune has earned him legendary status, with Jennings jokingly remarking that no one has controlled inflation quite like Sajak. In contrast, Jeopardy has experienced its own succession crisis. As for Sajak's eventual departure, there are rumors that Ryan Seacrest may be in talks to take his place, although it remains to be seen who will ultimately succeed Sajak.