Pat Sajak’s daughter Maggie takes over as the letter toucher in her father’s absence on Wheel of Fortune as Vanna White hosts
Wheel of Fortune history was made on Monday, when longtime host Pat Sajak’s daughter Maggie filled in as the guest letter turning to kick of a week-long stint.
Maggie, 25, filled in at the letter board so Vanna White could step in and fill in as the host for Pat, 73, as he recovers from his emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in November.
White, 62, hosted the show for the first time in December, following his surgery, returning to host again all this week, with Maggie stepping in for Vanna, as Sajak explained in a brief message before Monday’s episode.
Special guest: Wheel of Fortune history was made on Monday, when longtime host Pat Sajak’s daughter Maggie filled in as the guest letter turning to kick of a week-long stint
Maggie and Vanna: Maggie, 25, filled in at the letter board so Vanna White could step in and fill in as the host for Pat, 73, as he recovers from his emergency surgery for a blocked intestine in November
Pat explains: White, 62, hosted the show for the first time in December, following his surgery, returning to host again all this week, with Maggie stepping in for Vanna, as Sajak explained in a brief message before Monday’s episode
‘This is a little complicated so pay attention,’ Pat Sajak began. ‘I was back from my surgery last week and had a wonderful time on the show and I’m not gonna be here this week.’
He added that his absence is not due to a relapse, but rather, ‘the technicalities of the taping order and all that.’
He concluded by stating that all week, fans will get to see Vanna, ‘do her Pat impression, and we have a special letter toucher so pay attention.’
Complicated: ‘This is a little complicated so pay attention,’ Pat Sajak began. ‘I was back from my surgery last week and had a wonderful time on the show and I’m not gonna be here this week’
White then entered the iconic game show set, hinting she could, ‘host the show better with a Sajak’ as she introduced Maggie Sajak as the guest letter toucher.
After Maggie gave Vanna a hug, she then gave an update on her father, saying he’s, ‘doing well.’
‘From the perspective of his daughter, it was a scary experience, I’m not gonna lie, but he’s doing great and he’s so excited to be back next week,’ Maggie said.
Guest: White then entered the iconic game show set, hinting she could, ‘host the show better with a Sajak’ as she introduced Maggie Sajak as the guest letter toucher
Update: After Maggie gave Vanna a hug, she then gave an update on her father, saying he’s, ‘doing well’
At the end of the show, Maggie and Vanna showed a clip of Maggie’s first appearance on the show, back in 1996, just after turning one year old.
Maggie joked that hopefully she is, ‘a little more eloquent than last time’ she was on the show, as Vanna assured her she was doing great.
Pat Sajak teased this special appearance in early December, as he explained his schedule in a tweet, though he didn’t reveal the ‘special guest’ was his daughter.
Wheel debut: Later in the show, Maggie and Vanna showed a clip of Maggie’s first appearance on the show, back in 1996 when she was just one year old
‘It’s a bit confusing, but here’s the deal: Vanna will be hosting this coming week and the next. Then two weeks of shows I taped before my surgery,’ he began.
‘Then Vanna again the week of Jan. 6 with a special guest at the puzzle board. Then the planets will realign, and it’s back to normal,’ he concluded.
After Monday’s episode, Sajak tweeted out another supportive message stating, ‘Another nice job by @TheVannaWhite filling in this week on Wheel. I like the new puzzle person, too.’
Tweet: Pat Sajak teased this special appearance in early December, as he explained his schedule in a tweet, though he didn’t reveal the ‘special guest’ was his daughter
Back to normal: ‘Then Vanna again the week of Jan. 6 with a special guest at the puzzle board. Then the planets will realign, and it’s back to normal,’ he concluded
Support: After Monday’s episode, Sajak tweeted out another supportive message stating, ‘Another nice job by @TheVannaWhite filling in this week on Wheel. I like the new puzzle person, too.’
Sajak had surgery for a blocked intestine in November, but he revealed just days later that the surgery was a success and, ‘the worst had passed.’
‘I’m so grateful for all the good wishes during my recent illness,’ the Chicago native wrote, later alluding to co-host Vanna White handling hosting duties amid his recovery.
‘Happy to say that the worst has passed, and I’ll be out of the hospital in a day of two, then back to work (unless @TheVannaWhite has completely taken over!).’
Surgery: Sajak had surgery for a blocked intestine in November, but he revealed just days later that the surgery was a success and, ‘the worst had passed’
Grateful: ‘I’m so grateful for all the good wishes during my recent illness,’ the Chicago native wrote, later alluding to co-host Vanna White handling hosting duties amid his recovery
Take over: ‘Happy to say that the worst has passed, and I’ll be out of the hospital in a day of two, then back to work (unless @TheVannaWhite has completely taken over!)’