Jan. 7 (UPI) --Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak says Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will have a 'different' vibe than the regular show.
Sajak, 74, shared details about the new, star-studded version of the show in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published Thursday.
Pat Sajak's Children
As many people are still reeling after the death of iconic JEOPARDY! Host Alex Trebek, Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak took a moment to celebrate the legacy and pay tribute to his late friend.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will premiere Thursday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. The series will feature Leslie Jones, Tony Hawk, Chrissy Metz, Drew Carey, Chris Harrison, Jennie Garth and other stars as contestants.
Sajak said Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will be played the same as the regular game but have a different vibe.
'We've jazzed up the set a bit, made it look a little more prime-timey, whatever that means. And it's going to be a different kind of vibe,' Sajak shared.
The legendary “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek sadly passed away on Sunday at the age of 80 following a long battle with pancreatic cancer. In the wake of his passing, “Wheel Of Fortune” stars Pat Sajak and Vanna White have spoken out to pay tribute to him. The game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel Of Fortune” have. Wheel of Fortune ’s Pat Sajak and Vanna White honored Alex Trebek after his death. Alex Trebek Dead: Stars Pay Tribute to 'Jeopardy' Host Sajak, 74, took to Twitter on Sunday, November 8, to. Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak had been game show royalty for decades. Trebek first took the podium on quiz show Jeopardy in 1984 (via USA Today), while Pat Sajak first spun the big wheel on Wheel of Fortune in 1981 (via History).
'We want [the contestants] to play a good, solid game, but we're mainly there to have fun. It'll be a little lighter in attitude,' he added.
Sajak said the Celebrity version was a long time coming but that the timing seemed right 'because of what's going on in the world.'
'Wheel of Fortune is kind of a sign of normalcy for people; they were very glad to have us back on the air. So this seemed like a good time to expand into primetime a little bit, at least one time, and extend that normalcy,' he said.
Pat Sajak Hosted Jeopardy
Thursday's episode will feature Jones, Hawk and Chandra Wilson. ABC shared a teaser for the episode Wednesday that shows Hawk about to solve a puzzle.
Really, @tonyhawk?! Don't miss a moment of #CelebrityWheelOfFortune starting TOMORROW at 8|7c! pic.twitter.com/7tZQW1uqOW— ABC (@ABCNetwork) January 6, 2021
Wheel of Fortuneresumed production in July after shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show's 38th season premiered in September.
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Ken Jennings shares Alex Trebek's 'Jeopardy!' hosting adviceEmily Simpson shares doubts about Braunwyn Windham-Burke's sobrietyCrystal Hefner says she nearly died during cosmetic surgeryWhat to watch next: Sign up for UPI's Streaming newsletterAs many people are still reeling after the death of iconic JEOPARDY! host Alex Trebek, Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak took a moment to celebrate the legacy and pay tribute to his late friend, echoing the many sentiments that dominated social media feeds in the wake of the news. Sajak and Trebek's friendship goes back many years, and the two had hosted their respected and iconic game shows for decades. Sajak echoed the words of those such as Ken Jennings, who praised Trebek for his class and dignity and the respect he showed to everyone he encountered during his tenure as host of JEOPARDY!
There aren’t many television shows that attracted the dedicated support that Jeopardy! has had during this run. Check out what Sajak had to say about Trebek down below:
Alex Trebek’s courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him. A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day.
— Pat Sajak (@patsajak) November 8, 2020“Alex Trebek’s courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him. A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day,” The Wheel of Fortune host wrote on Twitter.
People had been asking what Trebek had planned for his final episode. He talked about it in a recent interview. The Jeopardy! host had clearly given the notion some thought since last year.
0comments“It’ll be a significant moment for me,” Trebek elaborated. “But I’ve kind of, in my mind, rehearsed it already, and what I would do on that day is tell the director, ‘Time the showdown to leave me 30 seconds at the end. That’s all I want.’ And I will say my goodbyes and I will tell people, ‘Don’t ask me who’s going to replace me because I have no say whatsoever. But I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me...then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success. And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”
Wheel Of Fortune Host Pat Sajak
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