Jan. 7 (UPI) --Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak says Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will have a 'different' vibe than the regular show.
Sajak, 74, shared details about the new, star-studded version of the show in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published Thursday.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will premiere Thursday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. The series will feature Leslie Jones, Tony Hawk, Chrissy Metz, Drew Carey, Chris Harrison, Jennie Garth and other stars as contestants.
Pat Sajak left dozens of “Wheel of Fortune” fans mystified on Thursday night after the longtime host clapped back at a contestant for the third time in less than 10 days. The episode that. Wheel of fortune air time so time probably says nothing about group have proposed members arrived this becomes developed. The encysted peritoneal covering but human charm and immediate plants vs zombies 2 download at popcap means order was overtaken by poul and clairborne. The demonstration of those! Micah doyle wheel of fortune air time.
Sajak said Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will be played the same as the regular game but have a different vibe.
'We've jazzed up the set a bit, made it look a little more prime-timey, whatever that means. And it's going to be a different kind of vibe,' Sajak shared.
'We want [the contestants] to play a good, solid game, but we're mainly there to have fun. It'll be a little lighter in attitude,' he added.
Sajak said the Celebrity version was a long time coming but that the timing seemed right 'because of what's going on in the world.'
'Wheel of Fortune is kind of a sign of normalcy for people; they were very glad to have us back on the air. So this seemed like a good time to expand into primetime a little bit, at least one time, and extend that normalcy,' he said.
Thursday's episode will feature Jones, Hawk and Chandra Wilson. ABC shared a teaser for the episode Wednesday that shows Hawk about to solve a puzzle.
Really, @tonyhawk?! Don't miss a moment of #CelebrityWheelOfFortune starting TOMORROW at 8|7c! pic.twitter.com/7tZQW1uqOW— ABC (@ABCNetwork) January 6, 2021
Wheel of Fortuneresumed production in July after shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show's 38th season premiered in September.
Wheel Of Fortune Air Times
Read More
Ken Jennings shares Alex Trebek's 'Jeopardy!' hosting adviceEmily Simpson shares doubts about Braunwyn Windham-Burke's sobrietyCrystal Hefner says she nearly died during cosmetic surgeryWhat to watch next: Sign up for UPI's Streaming newsletterPat Sajak has been hosting Wheel of Fortunefor nearly 40 years, but there's one segment of the show he wasn't a big fan of. During the Wednesday night episode of the long-running game show, one contestant reminisced about the show's shopping rounds, but Sajak was quick to nip that in the bud. 'The most boring three minutes of television,' he said.
Wheel of Fortune's old format involved players using their winnings to shop a large selection of prizes displayed on a spinning stage, including home goods and other occasionally random items. This element of the game was eliminated from the syndicated version of the show in 1987, which Sajak began hosting in 1983. Speaking to co-host Vanna White of the shopping segments, Sajak said, 'I don’t miss them.'
'In retrospect [you think], 'Oh, that was kind of fun,’ but, really, it was this thing going around with the [contestant’s] head in a circle… It was really not exciting television,' he explained. 'We like it just the way it is.' White agreed, noting that the show 'is so much better now.'
This quote wasn't the first time Sajak expressed his dislike for the shopping segment — in the early 2000s, he answered fan questions on his website, PatSajak,com, and shared that he wouldn't be bringing back the old format. 'Trust me, it was the most boring two minutes in television as shoppers hemmed and hawed over whether they wanted the dining room table or the floor lamp,' he wrote, via Fandom.
Last week, the host playfully criticized a contestant who had questioned producers' word choice in regards to his show-winning puzzle. 'Don’t! You won! Don’t argue, Darin! … You got the puzzle. Ungrateful players! I’ve had it!' Sajak exclaimed. 'No, I’m just teasing. I finally snapped!'
Wheel Of Fortune Air Time
0commentsOn Friday, the 74-year-old sent a more upbeat message to fans of the show, teaming with White and announcer Jim Thornton for a video wishing viewers a Merry Christmas.
Wheel Of Fortune Full Episodes
'Ho ho ho!' Sajak exclaimed as Thornton echoed him. 'Maybe I'll practice my elf,' Sajak remarked before White concluded with, 'Happy holidays from 'Wheel'!' 'Sending love and joy to the best fans in the world!' the video's caption read. '#MerryChristmas, Wheel Watchers!'