Given how long Sajak and White have worked together, many viewers have wondered over the years whether or not the pair was ever romantically involved. It’s a question that White finally answered. Here’s a brief history of the hosts’ time on the show and their unique relationship.
Joining ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Pat Sajak joined Wheel of Fortune in December of 1981. A year later, Vanna White was also made part of the cast. She made it to the final round of casting over more than 200 other women who hoped to become the future letter flipper. Ultimately, White won out over Summer Bartholomew and Vicki McCarty, the other top choices for the role of hostess.
After testing each of the women on real episodes of the show, the producer decided that White was the one who activated the letters best of all the candidates. She quickly became very popular among viewers, particularly young adults. Many of her fans were interested in her dazzling show wardrobe. The phenomenon, known as “Vannamania,” swept through the United States, earning the new star numerous additional jobs outside of Wheel of Fortune.
Nearly 40 years together
For the next 40 years, White and Sajak would work intimately together as host and hostess of Wheel of Fortune. While they generally stuck to the same roles throughout this time, there were a few instances where they would swap, most notably in November 1996 when Sajak had laryngitis.
Despite their many years together, in 2020 Sajak admitted that he initially didn’t want White to be cast as the hostess. He said, “Not that she wasn’t lovely and wonderful and personable and all that. But she was the most nervous, by far, of any of them.”
White obviously proved him wrong and has done a wonderful job. It helped that the pair seems to have such incredible chemistry together. It’s this very chemistry which has caused many fans to question just what kind of relationship White and Sajak had outside of filming.
Friends or more?
It is well known that White and Sajak get along well – extremely well, in fact. According to White herself, they rarely disagree on anything except whether ketchup should be put on a hot dog. Yet despite their closeness, White has emphasized that they really are just best friends and there is nothing romantic going on between them. The closest the two have come to being involved was when they played a prank on their audience.
“Years and years ago, we did an April Fool’s joke,” White recalled. “I don’t know that we said we were married, but we said something about being together, and we received toasters…” Sajak added later that it took years for people to stop sending the “married couple” Crockpots.
So although the renowned Wheel of Fortune stars have been together, in a work sense, for longer than most couples, they are not, and have never been, in a romantic relationship.
Nearly 20 years without a raise?
Soon after Sajak announced his retirement, fans were stunned to learn that Vanna White has not gotten a pay raise in 18 years. This surprising revelation comes from Puck reporter Matthew Belloni, who says that White, 66, has hired an aggressive lawyer to negotiate a raise as her current deal concludes at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Puck’s report states that White currently earns $3 million annually, while Sajak earns five times more than that. While some argue that Sajak is the host while White is a co-host responsible only for revealing letters on the board, Puck asserts that White engages in significantly more publicity for the show than Sajak. Sony, the show’s production company, declined to comment on Puck’s findings.
Whoopi Goldberg from The View expressed interest in taking over Sajak’s role, and several other notable names, including Ryan Seacrest and Sajak’s daughter Maggie, were mentioned as potential candidates.
Seacrest was named the new host of ‘Wheel’
The New York Times and other media outlets reported on June 27 that Ryan Seacrest will take over as the host of Wheel of Fortune. The news comes just two weeks after Sajak’s announcement. Seacrest, 48, is a talk show veteran himself, having hosted and produced many other programs including American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”
Seacrest will also act as a consulting producer on the show.
We Might Already Know the Next Actor Who Will Play James Bond
As time passes and individuals undergo transformations, a constant query that persists is “Who shall assume the mantle of James Bond?” Since Daniel Craig expressed his intention to step away from the iconic role, this question has occupied the thoughts of many. Speculation runs rampant as people wager on the successor, and as the moment of decision draws near, rumors grow increasingly pronounced. Apparently, a 32-year-old British actor is poised to grace the screen in this highly coveted portrayal.
There are a few hints.
Actors who are usually considered for the role of James Bond are under the age of 40.
The producer Michael G Wilson explains, “Bond isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. It works for a 30-something. Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience.” Besides, so far, it can’t be a woman either.
We can cast off some actors.
Numerous actors were proposed by fans as potential contenders to portray the next James Bond. Idris Elba emerged as the favored candidate, igniting fervent speculation among his supporters. However, ultimately, the actor himself dismissed the rumors.
On the other hand, Richard Madden, despite his talent, has not been taken into serious consideration for the role. As for Tom Hardy, his Oscar-nominated status and substantial fame exclude him from contention. The producers clarify their position, stating, “Our preference for the next 007 lies with younger, taller individuals who are less renowned.”
Aaron Taylor-Johnson will most likely replace Daniel Craig.
Aaron did a screen test for the role in September and producers loved him. They called him “one of the front-runners.” What’s more, an anonymous source stated that Aaron Taylor-Johnson will be the next Bond, and that a “mini-trailer with his participation is going to be released soon to announce him as the new actor.”
He already starred in the famous scene.
During the month of December, Aaron took part in the filming of a renowned scene, an integral part of the long-standing franchise depicting the secret agent. The impact of Aaron’s portrayal in this particular scene resonated strongly with the producers, who now contemplate extending an offer to him. The executives of the brand expressed their admiration, stating, “The decision-makers were genuinely impressed by his exceptional ability to infuse intensity into his performances, coupled with his impressive repertoire of action films.”
The actor addressed the rumors.
Aaron was asked about the rumors, but he managed to answer very vaguely without giving any hints or denying anything.
He said, “It’s flattering. You can have something really positive written about you, but you can also have something really negative that can circulate. You just want to stay in your lane, stay grounded, stay around the people that you love and love you back, and stay in that world. Because the moment you start believing the things people say about you, you’ve lost it.”
The part of James Bond is just as memorable as the parts of the Bond girls that captivate us every time. And this is exactly what movies want to do and sometimes actors create magic completely unplanned.
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