{"id":1949644,"date":"2023-06-16T19:27:06","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T23:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-viewers-of-all-political-stripes-came-to-appreciate-pat-sajaks-all-american-appeal\/"},"modified":"2023-06-16T19:32:02","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T23:32:02","slug":"why-viewers-of-all-political-stripes-came-to-appreciate-pat-sajaks-all-american-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-viewers-of-all-political-stripes-came-to-appreciate-pat-sajaks-all-american-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Pat Sajak&#8217;s universal appeal transcends political boundaries."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-viewers-of-all-political-stripes-came-to-appreciate-pat-sajaks-all-american-appeal%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1949644&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Pat Sajak&#8217;s Retirement: A Legendary Host Bids Farewell<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s a six-letter verb that\u2019s also a state of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWheel of Fortune\u201d fans are reluctantly solving the puzzle following longtime host Pat Sajak\u2019s stunning announcement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The 76-year-old game show legend will \u201cRETIRE\u201d following the show\u2019s 41st season, capping more than four decades entertaining audiences with the show\u2019s signature brain teasers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Forty-one years entering America\u2019s living room on a daily basis. No scandals. No calls to replace the longtime host or attempts to cancel him for the wrong phrasing or off-screen antics. (the outrage over an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2022\/09\/18\/wheel-of-fortune-host-pat-sajak-photo-marjorie-taylor-greene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">undated photo taken with Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> gathered no real momentum)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s a stunning resume on any level, but it\u2019s even more impressive given the tenor of the times and Sajak\u2019s political leanings. He\u2019s a conservative, although rarely one to throw sharp elbows at his ideological opponents either on screen or on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Sajak&#8217;s Retirement Tweet<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWell, the time has come. I\u2019ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It\u2019s been a wonderful ride, and I\u2019ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it\u2019ll keep the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/is-whoopi-leaving-the-view-ex-comedian-expresses-interest-in-hosting-iconic-tv-show\/\" title=\"Is Whoopi departing 'The View'? Former comedian wants to host famous TV show.\">clickbait sites busy<\/a>!)\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Well, the time has come. I\u2019ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It\u2019s been a wonderful ride, and I\u2019ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it\u2019ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Pat Sajak (@PatOnWheel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PatOnWheel\/status\/1668392962534043648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 12, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Those lucky enough to follow Sajak on Twitter (he has a robust 375K following) know the Emmy winner\u2019s sardonic wit is a key reason for his success. He made self-deferential humor his calling card, using social media to make Right-leaning comments even Rachel Maddow might find funny.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He could summon hot-button issues and deploy them with just enough edge to make his thoughts known, sans anger. Sarcasm often doesn\u2019t translate well to social media, but that never stopped Sajak from making his point.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHaving trouble <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">finding information about Prince Harry<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and his wife (Meghan, I think). Any sources you might suggest?\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pat-sajak-fires-one-question-regarding-prince-harry-meghan-markle\/\" title=\"Pat Sajak Fires One Question Regarding Prince Harry, Meghan Markle\">trouble finding information<\/a> about Prince Harry and his wife (Meghan, I think). Any sources you might suggest?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Pat Sajak (@patsajak) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/patsajak\/status\/1612831630888165377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 10, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNext time something happens in this country<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that I don\u2019t like, I\u2019m moving to Mexico. Nice people, good weather and I can avoid all the celebrities who keep saying they\u2019re moving to Canada.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Next time something happens in this country that I don\u2019t like, I\u2019m moving to Mexico. Nice people, good weather and I can avoid all the celebrities who keep saying they\u2019re moving to Canada.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Pat Sajak (@patsajak) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/patsajak\/status\/1520402836340813825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 30, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Viewers saw his warm, reassuring presence as a rare port in a culture war storm. Many aren\u2019t aware of his political leanings, and he kept that up by staying true to his apolitical mien when the \u201cWheel\u201d cameras clicked on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At its peak, \u201cWheel of Fortune\u201d drew <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/06\/12\/arts\/television\/pat-sajak-retire-wheel-of-fortune.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">more than 40 million daily viewers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a sum no longer possible given the splintered TV landscape. The show\u2019s nine million daily viewers, though, remains a staggering figure for a veteran showcase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He\u2019s taking a step back on his own terms, and at a time when his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-viewers-of-all-political-stripes-came-to-appreciate-pat-sajaks-all-american-appeal\/\" title=\"Pat Sajak's universal appeal transcends political boundaries.\">game show bona fides remain rock solid<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fellow host Alex Trebek\u2019s decades-long career as the host of \u201cJeopardy\u201d came to an end following his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/review-jordan-b-petersons-beyond-order-12-more-rules-for-life\/\" title=\"Review: Jordan B. Peterson\u2019s \u2018Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life\u2019\">terminal cancer diagnosis<\/a>. Trebek and Sajak have plenty in common. They both made viewers feel at ease for years, embraced their shows\u2019 simple pleasures and respected audiences for being so loyal despite the countless competition found on the modern TV landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s why news that Whoopi Goldberg is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kristv.com\/whoopi-goldberg-says-she-wants-to-be-new-wheel-of-fortune-host\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">angling to replace Sajak<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> feels \u2026 wrong. Goldberg, best known of late for co-hosting TV\u2019s most mean-spirited chat-fest, \u201cThe View,\u201d would swiftly divide the show\u2019s faithful audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A far better choice may be in the mix already. Ryan Seacrest is reportedly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/ryan-seacrest-in-talks-to-replace-pat-sajak-on-wheel-of-fortune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in talks to take the game show baton<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from Sajak. Like his predecessor, Seacrest isn\u2019t a political flame thrower, and he understands how to unite viewers from both red and blue states.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chances are he won\u2019t match Sajak, who perfected his role and became an institution at a time when fewer stars are able, or even willing, to fulfill that role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many stars today aggressively embrace their political leanings, using every bully pulpit possible to spread them far and wide. That\u2019s no crime, but it does alienate large swathes of the audience depending on the ideological party in question.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not Sajak.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, he\u2019s quietly been the chairman of the Board of Trustees at Hillsdale College, where traditional values thrive. And he\u2019s served as an external director at Eagle Publishing. You\u2019d never know it watching him cheer on contestants or gently tease those who, on occasion, allow a brain cramp to stop them from solving the puzzle du jour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not everyone is feting Sajak\u2019s retirement. A bitter piece by The New Republic slammed Sajak as a \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/post\/173587\/pat-sajak-wheel-of-fortune-right-wing-host\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">die-hard Right-wing host<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201d even though he never brought his politics onto the \u201cWheel of Fortune\u201d stage. It\u2019s a primer in \u201cguilt-by-association\u201d personal attacks, balanced out by the equally far-Left Vice. That outlet <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/mv53x8\/pat-sajaks-crazy-right-wing-tweets-are-weirdly-admirable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">tried and mostly failed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to publish a hit piece on him a while ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201c\u2026some of Sajak\u2019s tweets actually come off as pretty sharp and even kind of plugged in to the culture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Others brought up a rare tone-deaf tweet he issued, and later retracted, calling global warming alarmists \u201cunpatriotic racists.\u201d It\u2019s possible it was part of a larger comic tweet thread given how it clashes with his steady public persona.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">And, to be fair, the average liberal celebrity hurls far worse at Red State denizens on a daily basis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sajak hinted at his recent retirement news last year, understanding even beloved institutions have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fiction-in-the-blood\/\" title=\"FICTION: In The Blood\">limited shelf life<\/a>. His comments suggested both why he\u2019s endured for so long and why <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.etonline.com\/pat-sajak-says-end-is-near-on-him-hosting-wheel-of-fortune-after-40-years-exclusive-190962\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">viewers of all political stripes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> came to appreciate his all-American appeal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201c\u2026 It\u2019s an honor to have been in people\u2019s living rooms for that long. People\u00a0were out there welcoming us. We\u2019re happy and proud.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It\u2019s a downright conservative message in 2023, though it was something everyone could cheer had he said it during his first few years with the show.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here\u2019s betting even progressive \u201cWheel of Fortune\u201d fans will miss both him and that attitude when he hangs up his game show mic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hollywoodintoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HollywoodInToto.com<\/a>.\u00a0He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News\u2019 Big Hollywood. Follow him at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HollywoodInToto?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@HollywoodInToto<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s a six-letter verb and a state of mind. &#8220;Wheel of Fortune&#8221; fans reluctantly solve the puzzle as host Pat Sajak announces retirement. After entertaining audiences for over four decades with brain teasers, the 76-year-old game show legend will retire at the end of the show&#8217;s 41st season. Forty-one years captivating America.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":279,"featured_media":1949645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[7584,8941,9719,3753,28905,28906,8325],"class_list":["post-1949644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire","tag-appeal","tag-boundaries","tag-pat","tag-political","tag-sajaks","tag-transcends","tag-universal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/279"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1949644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1949645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1949644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1949644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1949644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}