Christmas got here early for “Wheel of Fortune” viewers who missed Pat Sajak.
Six months after retiring as host, Sajak, 78, returned to his outdated job for a particular vacation episode of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” that aired Monday.
“Apparently I’m back on TV tonight. I guess I’d better shave and shower. @celebritywof @ABCNetwork,” Sajak wrote on X (previously Twitter) earlier than the episode.
He reunited with longtime letter-turner Vanna White, who has been working facet by facet with new host Ryan Seacrest since Sajak’s departure.
Sajak and White, 67, walked out onstage collectively for the primary time since June in a behind-the-scenes clip shared by the present’s social media correspondent and Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak.
“It’s showtime!!!👏,” Maggie captioned the video.
Lil Jon, Dionne Warwick and Probability the Rapper have been the superstar contestants who competed on Monday’s episode.
Probability, 31, received the sport and took house $63,800 for his charity, SocialWorks.
Lil Jon, 53, and Warwick, 83, every earned $30,000 for his or her respective charities, Open Paths Counseling Middle and North Jersey Group Analysis Initiative.
“WOF” followers replied to Sajak’s tweet with thrilled reactions to his large return.
“Im so glad your back tonight pat i missed you on wheel i wish you came back and hosted regular wheel as well it doesnt feel the same with Ryan Seacrest hosting it,” one fan wrote.
One other mentioned, “Welcome back sir! You gave us a holiday present for viewers tonight.”
“Awesome! Looking forward to it! Wheel of Fortune isn’t the same without you!” a 3rd viewer replied.
Another person tweeted, “This was so much fun tonight. I like Ryan but thrilled to see Pat back & great guests. Lil John was very fun & Dionne is a legend & Chance was an absolute delight.”
Sajak prerecorded the “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” vacation episode, in addition to a number of others that can air in 2025.
Season 5 of the sport present was set to premiere in October, however ABC pushed it to make room for “Monday Night Football.”
Sajak bade farewell to “Wheel of Fortune” on June 7 after internet hosting contestants for greater than 8,000 episodes throughout 41 seasons.
“Well, the time has come to say goodbye,” Sajak mentioned on air throughout his ultimate episode.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” Sajak continued, including that he was pleased with making the present “a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game.”
He was changed by Seacrest, 49, who started his new gig as host on Sep. 9.
Seacrest didn’t point out Sajak when he opened the episode, though he did confer with having large sneakers to fill.
