Watching Pat Sajak and Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune is a tradition. A national past-time. An iconic staple of evening TV. Pat hosts the show, Vanna shows us the letters as they get called, and that's how it goes.
Unless you were watching this week.
“The Wheel of Fortune taping on Thursday was canceled because host Pat Sajak underwent successful emergency surgery to correct a blocked intestine,” tweeted the Wheel Of Fortune Twitter. "He is resting comfortably and looking forward to getting back to work."
Vanna took over as host for Pat Sajak with only "a 30-minute rehearsal" of hosting the game, she said she was "very nervous," adding, "I’m very green, let’s put it that way. I think for listening to Pat for 37 years, I understood the game and how he hosted it."
"But I did it! I did 15! I was on for three weeks of shows," she revealed, the first of which aired on Monday, December 9th.
“I was so worried, and it was so strange being on the set without him. I’ve never been on the set without him in 37 years, but the staff and crew were so supportive and made me so comfortable and helped me in every way."
"The staff and crew were so supportive and made me so comfortable and helped me in every way."
"I had a few minor mistakes, but nothing that affected the game," she said, referring to misreading the wheel as pointing to 'Bankrupt' rather than the $500 it was pointing to.
"She’s getting her moment, Vanna coming in clutch, goodbye letter flipping! Shake off the nerves girl, you got this," one Twitter user wrote.
Of course, they probably didn't realize she'd only had a half-hour of rehearsal before she had to go out there — anyone would be awkward!
Unfortunately for them, Vanna will be hosting for the next three weeks worth of episodes, so it'll be a while.
Vanna did a pretty good job, considering her super stressful circumstances, and it's admirable that she was even up for trying with such little notice! I'm sure Pat is proud of her work.
While Pat is already back to filming, some people thought Vanna deserved more time in the spotlight — and who knows? Maybe someday she'll get it!
