IT’S HER TURN
Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie, joins ‘Wheel of Fortune’ social media team
‘WHEEL of Fortune” is becoming a family business for Pat Sajak. The longtime game show host’s daughter Maggie is joining the show’s digital team as a social correspondent, according to Variety.
The 26-year-old will be shooting behind-the-scenes clips and interviews with the show’s staff and contestants as well as sharing them on the show’s Website and social media channels.
Both Sajak, 74, and letter-turner Vanna White, 64, had their contracts extended through the 20232024 TV season. The iconic pair have been with the show since its inception in 1983.
“Wheel of Fortune” will return for its 39th season Sept. 13. Sajak is also coming on as a consulting producer.
The news comes just a week after the news that controversial “Jeopardy!” executive producer Mike Richards was fired from the popular game show.
It’s not Maggie’s first rodeo on “Wheel of Fortune.” In January 2020, when Sajak was recovering from surgery, White took over as host to fill in for Pat while Maggie stepped into White’s shoes as a letter-turner.
According to the show’s website, Maggie visited the game show’s set when she was a child. The aspiring country music artist graduated from Princeton and completed a postgrad program at Columbia. She’s also a law student.
Maggie shared a snap of herself at the Sony Pictures studio lot on social media, writing: “Looking ahead to one week from now and the premiere of SEASON 39 of @wheeloffortune!!!”
In other news, Sajak will also no longer do the “Final Spin” of the game. A contestant will be in control of the wheel and will spin it to determine the amount each letter is worth during the speed round.
“If you think about it, by doing the ‘Final Spin’ I, as host, had an impact on the outcome of the game and that has always bothered me because it just didn’t feel right,” Sajak said.
“With this change, only the contestants determine the outcome of the game and the host does not impose themself in any way.” “Wheel” airs at 7:30 p.m. on Ch. 7.
“Looking ahead to one week from now and the premiere of SEASON 39 of @WheelofFortune”
— Maggie Sajak @MaggieSajak