January 26th, 2012
10:19 AM ET
Pat Sajak's hosted 'Wheel of Fortune' drunkNot being entirely sober is certainly one way to raise the stakes on "Wheel of Fortune." It turns out the game show's longtime host Pat Sajak, who's been with the show since 1981, would sometimes head out for drinks with Vanna White while on a break from taping. As he explained in a recent interview on "Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable," when he first started - "and was much younger and could tolerate those things," Sajak said - the show was somewhat of a snooze. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nct34hSkIPQ]
"We had a different show then. You didn't win money, you won fake money with which you could buy cheesy prizes. A turntable would go around, and housewives from Teaneck would say, 'Ah, for $100, I'll have the lamp...' It was the most boring two minutes in television." All of those prizes allowed for "endless time between shows. Our dinner breaks would be two-and-a-half hours long while they drove in new cars and boats and gazebos and stuff." Rather than just hang around, Sajak and Vanna White would head over to a spot called Los Arcos in Burbank, where they served "great margaritas," the 65-year-old host recalled. "Vanna and I would go across [the street] and have two, or three or six. And then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet," he admitted. "The average number of drinks was 'cuatro.'" So has anyone ever spotted a suspiciously giggly or slurring Sajak in any old "Wheel of Fortune" clips? As Sajak says, "They're really good tapes to get ahold of."
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I just assumed he was always drunk.
How could anybody watch Wheel of Fortune sober?
My mom was on the wheel in the 80s she said pat bought the whole studio audience pizza and pop...sounds like a drunk move to me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYDFutp5ZxE
That interview was great!
I usually have to be drunk to enjoy the show, so I can understand he would have to be drunk to be able to tolerate being on it.
And just why do we care about this story...really!
I totally agree that Vanna has a major "gum" issue and it is pretty nasty! They should have at least retouched the photo to get rid of the gums!!
I want too be on wheel of fortune.
I dont see a problem with him being drunk. I was drunk when i watched it
Who could blame him?
"That's the only way to do that show!" (Nathan Lane on 'The View')
Duh, did anyone ever watch the show? I mean the guy had to say Vanna White was beautiful every night.
This has got to be the most stupid article I have ever read CNN!! Good Lord....the guy was making a joke or maybe not, but so what.....who hasn't got out for drinks after work or even at lunch....give me a break people....no harm done here. They're still hosting this show after 20+ and some comments on here are so stupid and ignorant.
So what ? Hosting Wheel Of Fortune is not exactly rocket science. I'd have been buzzed too if I had that job.
Really...it's not like he was flying a plane...
No surprise here....but also not surprised if Vanna let Pat buy a "T' And "A" somewhere along the line. lol! Pat graduated from the Gene Rayburn school of MC's, and Gene never met a Martini he didn't like (or devour).
If I had to host that show I'd get plastered too.
How entirely nonsurprsing! I'd like to buy a Vowel, make it a Double!
I was once on a game show hosted by Wink Martindale. It was on May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) and I was part of the last taping. Let me tell you, by the time Wink hit the stage he had not only been celebrating awhile but was geared up to start the next revolution! Made the show a whole lot entertaining, I'll say that!
How does Sajak beat Alex Trebek and Jeopardy for favorite game show? It's so inane, at least Jeopardy has some merit. Pat is too much the '70's-80's host to be interesting or attractive.
You would need a few drinks doing that show will all the idiot contestants LOL.
SNL, time to jump on this one. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune! If Trebek can suck it, so can Sajak.
What I don't understand is how could he get loaded and then watch that wheel go around, and around, and around, and around. I'd be puking my guts up. Can I buy a trashcan? Whoops!
Saying he was hammered while hosting a lightweight game show is not exactly the same as being hammered while performing neurosurgery. Pat Sajak is basically a used car salesman who got lucky. Good for him.
The average number of drinks was 'cuatro.'
Genius.
Ironically I could only watch it when I was drunk.
I always said, they must test people to see who was smart enough to go on Jeapardy. The ones who scored high, got on Jeapardy the contestants that scored the lowest went on Wheel of Fortune. Boy they had some stupid contestants on that show.
Not to be "that guy" but it's jeopardy. Or were you just trying to be funny because Wheel of Fortune is about spelling out words?
Yes, I do recall one such program, where Sajak & Vanna were CLEARLY bombed.
Some idiot put a reflecting pool on the set, and Sajak pushed Vanna into it.
As she was wearing a white relatively sheer dress, this was an interesting view indeed.
Frankly, if I hosted that show (which is the greatest bore in the history of mankind) I would be loaded – in more ways than one – at every taping.
Sajak earns what, $5 million a year for this crap?
I know Vanna earned a million or so......
The headline is all wrong! It should have been "Drunk behind the wheel" !
This is news?? Why do we care, is this important.? Good for Pat and Vanna....have one for me.
Thye should be FIRED in the spot NOW! . I can't believe this two still on the job...people going to work drunk ? if you do you get fired! period! of course if you are a celebritie you don"t I never saw that booring show I never will. shame on both of them.is a say "God give bread to the ones without teeth" how true it is! this people got rich and don't appreciate that they have a job while we the regular people still looking for a job .
Big deal. i watch it drunk
I'm betting the home audience was often times drunk too.
now i like pat and vanna even more!!
I am not surprise Pat hosted Wheel of Fortune drunk. I would think that would be the only way to host such a show.
This was so many years ago, who cares?
How long ago was it, exactly, when the Wheel use to have prize showcases?
I forgot how hilarious Pat Sajak is! I am 30 years old and I used to watch the show with my grandma every Friday night.
I can understand why Vanna would need to drink. The pressures of her demanding job must be enormous.
She had to drink to stand being around Sajak for 30 minutes.
Not only is Pat the nicest man you'll ever meet but he's also the most interesting man in the world. His mind goes a mile a minute and he has an encyclopedic memory that just blows you away. There's one miserably boring Angelina Jolie celebrity after another and then there's Pat Sajak.
I remember watching those shows during summer break from grade school. I didn't like how the contestants had to buy stuff on that large turntable either.
I would have to be drunk to watch these simpletons on this show for the simple-minded. They are also unattractive...strange picks for TV. When I learned that they are both Republicans I was really glad that I had never tuned in.
Go hold your "we are the 99%" sign up and shut up.
If I hosted that show, I would have done cocaine. Who can blame him?
and he's got that money to keep that cocaine coming. weeks on end – no sleep...but one white nose.
How freaking awesome! Cool points to both of them! And no, judgmental little commentators...I'm far from being an alcoholic. Lol
The host of this show needs to stop laughing. His laugh is awfully annoying and it interrupts what Pat has to say! Do us all a favor and learn how to laugh to yourself and keep it relatively quiet. It's not that difficult.
yeah he was annoying. i thought the same
Reblogged this on Billy Moses.
I enjoyed that interview...he was very funny!
For YEARS, I would head to Smoky Joe's Cafe for a "liquid lunch" before heading back to work.
I always wanted hear anyone on Wheel of Fortune, say..Pat.., I'd like to make a vowel movement..
i swear, i only watch this show while drinking and smoking crack myself.
In the '70s when I was living in Santa Barbara, Pat Sajack was the weatherman on an LA TV station. He had more of a chance to demonstrate his wry wit in a five-minute segment than in thirty years on WOF. I'd have to be drunk to host that mindless pap for three decades.
I would have been more surprised if the headline read: "Pat Sajak hosted 'Wheel of Fortune' sober!"
What do you expect from the son of a 20th century immigrant? Heck....the Poles and the Russians and the Czechs walk around drunk all the time anyway!
MATCH GAME rules! Love that show. Still.
So fun to see a young perky 50 something Betty White.
Did Pat and Vanna have more than lunch? Life is short. Unless they were hurting somebody else, I hope so.
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"Housewives from Teaneck"? What an arrogant b-tard! And Vanna looks like a freak in that photo. What a sad pair.
Ive watched it drunk so... its only fair
You know it's bad when he screams at someone for not having enough money to vuy a bowel.
Drunk is when you puke and dry heave all over the wheel. I would hardly call feeling a little tipsy being drunk. The Margareta's musta been the kinda watery restuarant-type Margareta's.
I'd be drunk as hell all the time if I had to host that asinine show.
Sounds like the network is trying to get Pat and Vanna off the show and are grasping at straws.
Who cares whether they have a few drinks during a break or even slur their speech. If the network had a problem with it, they should have confronted both of them way before now. Sounds like a little bit of back stabbing is going on.
@Dawn, lol..from the little I've seen of it, you are correct. I bet they make a lot of money thou just for being bored. There is nothing worse than having a boring job even if the pay is great. The day goes by so slow. I would want to drink too.
>"Our dinner breaks would be two-and-a-half hours long while they drove in new cars and boats and gazebos and stuff.""
lulz. Friends don't let friends gazebo drunk.
I would bet I probably watched it drunk at least a couple times. We are even.
No shock really. We all know that early in her career Vanna tried desperately to get into Playboy and used to party at the mansion, including engaging in drunken adult escapades.
Vanna did a photo shoot for Playboy. Not very revealing, a couple of bare butt shots. Not bad though. Of course, she was much younger then. Probably has an old saggy wrinkly butt now.
Well of course he was, game show hosting is hardly rocket science, or anything else that requires even rudimentary motor skills or brain power.
Who cares? Why is this news?
yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good for him I wish I had that kind of job
The few times I have happened across that show Pat looks bored out of his mind. And Vanna? She doesn't even turn the letters anymore. Her entire function is to walk across a stage and touch a lit-up block.
Think bout it, how many game shows r still on tv, i know there are alot, via gameshow network, but really, when growing up, what is still on the air? new hosts or original? i count maybe 4 on one hand! sad how we view whats entertainment and whats a fad.
Well, you watched that show drunk. It would be elitist of him to stay sober.
so what's he trying to hawk..................making this public just makes him look pathetic.....we didnt need to know this
Too much tooth to gum ratio? That's a matter of opinion. Vanna white still being smokin hot? Now that's just fact.
Lots of people are wasted at work. Not news, its cnn.
I dont care for Sajak, and lets not forget his quickly failed late night talk show. Chuck Woolery was much better when he had the wheel.
Hey.....that smile of VW's......makes us remember that cowboy song.
"Buffalo gums woncha come out tonight? Come out t'night? Come out t'night?"
Wouldn't that be 'Quatro?'
unstead of a vowel... would like to buy another round of drinks ...
Awesome. Why not have a little fun at work? I think the whole thing is completely necessary.
Who cares Vanna was (and still is) hot 🙂
It doesn't surprise me to read that Pat and vanna did the show drunk.....Most of us would have to be drunk to watch that ridiculous show.......Vanna used to be hot back in the day. Gums or not, I wouldn't have kicked her outta bed for eating Doritos....Alas time has not been good to Poor Vanna. She has not weathered well and could use another coat of paint!
He should write a book about it...called, "Drunk at the Wheel."
Why would they even say that now? I can't believe that we are a country of silent drunks. Regarding their looks or gum lines, who cares. Grow up and get a life. We drink too much and talk to much crap. LOL.
i got news for you... it's the most boring 30 minutes in telivision .. you better have a few more Pat
I have watched the show drunk, does that count??
Who are these people that ask "why is this news"? They are reading the Entertaiment Page...duh! If I had to watch this show, I would get drunk!
Hi Anastasia! Long time no see!
I'll take that 5 speed gazebo please! "Our dinner breaks would be two-and-a-half hours long while they drove in new cars and boats and gazebos and stuff."
Haha! Well he certainly was reserved drunk. You could not tell that much maybe a little. Now that we know need to go back and look at old clips.
Oh man! Too bad we couldn't of had a drunken melt down back then. "Wanna buy a vowel...I got ur vowel pal..." Pat grabs crotch. "Vvvvanna you slow movin bitc*..."
Anybody remember Howard Cosell getting so drunk on Moday Night Football than he puked on Don Merideth's boots?
They would make one ugly child.
lmao <3 for Pat and Vanna. Best to you both... I hope you had fun with the buzz while taping.. I know I would of.. 😉
Nice to see somebody being honest. Who cares if he had some drinks over lunch? That used to be the norm until the Politically Correct crew took over. Frankly, I agree with him–I remember watching it back when they said stuff like "Pat, for $100, I'll take that radio," and it bored me to tears.
He's got to be drunk to do it, I've got to be drunk to watch it.
Wow, how refreshingly honest. No denials, no fingerprinting, no dodging the question, no tiger blood. I love it. I would love to watch those tapes, I bet they were having some genuine "fun" back then. Ahhhhh the good ole days.
Cant anyone see that Ryan Seacrest is a humanoid clone of pat sajak. the resemblence is.. .
I have to say about Vanna. . .Give credit to the network for keeping her on as she ages disgracefully. Aging beauties get scrapheaped in Hollywood. but WOF has kept her on, despite every 20 year old Girls Gone Wild refugee outside the NBC studio ready to show their tatas to get a sweet job like Vanna's
WHEEL OF FUC*ING
put the square peg in the round hole and you win another free margareta !!!!!!!!! whoopppeeeeee !!!!!!
CNN.com lost credibility long ago by using overly provocative headlines. This is just another example. Sajak was using hyperbole as a joke to poke fun at his own show in those days.
I'd have to be drunk to watch that crap.
no doubt lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3eY94Gu0k
I thought WoF went off the air 20 years ago. I'll have to tune in again.
i'd be drunk cuz it's fun
Kinda dumb to bring it up while you're still hosting the show.
So Sajak has hosted Wheel of Fortune while drunk. Big freaking deal. The only way his audience can watch his show is while drunk.
Gummy smiles look like horse's mouth with all the teeth hanging out. Like the mouth is mis-sized too large or something. Looks effed up, like they were taping the show.
Pat Sajak is funny. Is this how Vanna White looks now?
Wow, Pat Sajak is starting to look like a television evangelist in his elder years!
Heh...and thought the days of the "alcoholic dinner break" went out with the end of "Match Game". Do yourself a favor and try to find Thursday/Friday episodes (filmed after the break) from the mid 70s. That's when the really crazy stuff happened.
I just pooped my pants
LOL, so did I.
So instead of vowels, you're guessing Bowels?
lol Andy...lol
Pat you vana keep up good work, we watch your show ever nite, you show help a lot of people, dont pay any attion to some of the coments some people are stupid (OK)
Wow. Who really cares about him having a drink while taping. As long as he doesn't interfere with the contestants winning money. He really doesn't even have to be there.
I would get drunk to do that show, too. Mind numbing idiocy. Any show that requires that you spin a wheel of any kind is for morons, which explains its popularity.
You have obviously never seen WHEEL OF FISH!!!
Wow, I suddenly like Pat and Vanna so much better now! : D
Is it just me, or is Pat's head disproportionately big for the rest of his body? Kinda like perching an egg on top of a pencil.
Who's the idiot that wrote this and spelled "quatro" with a c???
That "idiot" spelled it right. Here is a lesson for you: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/languages/spanish/Numbers.shtml
Vanna=Yum!!! Time in my cave with that I would like to spend!!!
Haha I am laughing at all you cause your post are stupid and that girl who said mads mothers againt drunk spelling were you drinking that's the dumbest comment on here you should remove that post and give your head a shake
Wouldn't you?
The only reason I can think of that he would admit to working drunk is that he has a book coming out and is desperate for publicity. Why else would you admit to something like this? What a disgrace.
Pat deserves to be drunk after 25+ years!
Cheers!
I am contemplating writing this message drunk. It is very important you know this to avoid any life and death decision while reading.
Most people have gone to work drunk or snuck out at lunch and had a few. This is not news except for the fact that they drank margaritas. Everyone knows margaritas suck and they should have been throwing back Bombay sapphire martinis. Then we would have seen Vanna fall through the letters as she was trying to spin them around, swaggering this way and that.
Even Family Guy has spoofed the old format of "Wheel" prizes where Peter wins on the show and is in the process of choosing his prizes, which ended up being maid service for a week!
wow – he's a funny guy with some personality. Who knew?
I still like the show, didn't know he or she were drinking, seems very irresponsbile, for their positions. I would
not brag about this if I was him! What there to be proud of? I guess they have a few years left, whatever
products they are using to keep them looking good is working!
nice in that case i admire his skills
What else did they do together.
Understandable given the banality of the show.
newt = a low life form frequenting cold, damp, dark places surrounded by rocks while avoiding sunlight.
Vanna had to walk to turn the letters. Now if she was drunk that would have been a hoot watching her stagger to the letters.
I would have imagined him walking funny and talking slurry after six drinks. They should host parody videos.
i'd have to be drunk to watch this show😜
Wow, that's really weird because I've WATCHED it drunk!
Sajak makes millions and probably deserves to drink during the breaks, My God that show is so boring, I don't blame him at all. And I think he is a super nice guy. Give him a break, after all he has to look at Vanna White. That calls for heavy drinking.
What's the big deal about going to work drunk? I do it all the time!
EEEEEKKK!!! Vanna White's teeth!! I used to think she was pretty.
And all these years it thought it was my drinking that made the show more entertaining.
Pat Sajak is a "real" guy. he lives near me on the Easter shore of MD. Probably one of the most decent "Hollywood" types alive.
I like Pat a lot – and I can't say as I blame him too much. Can we also assume Vanna was also slightly hammered as well?
Amazing how much BS white people get away with
I'm drunk right now...
I just gotta know.... did Pat tap Vanna?
So what? It's not illegal to be intoxicated, and he wasn't operating heavy machinery.
If he was able to be drunk and have a good time, then god bless him.
I remember one show where Pat kissed Vanna squarely on the lips. I bet both were quite tipsy then!
how proud he must be of himself...drunk at work.
That's good, I had Vanna spred eagle over the kitchen table with my vowel where the sun don't shine. How bout that
hahahaha..between wombat and bob's comment, i cant stop laughing... thanks, needed that good one!
If Pat and Vanna had a child it would look like Chucky.
is Vanna wearin dentures? if so, she still looks good.
Getting hammered with Vanna on the bosses dime. Why not?
The biggest blunder of Pat Sajak's career was when someone offered him the advice that his wit and off the cuff humor should be put on a talk show.
Hope he fired the guy that gave him that advice.
Hey I can't blame him. I'd want to be hammered too if that was my job. Just imagine how freaking boring it would be after oh, about your first week. Watching idiots spin the wheel unable to solve the puzzle..........wow even thinking about it makes me want to start drinking.
I would get bombed too having to listen to people freakin scream out a letter when Pat is standin right besdie them.
Increasingly, CNN.com posts misleading headlines, such as the one on the home page leading to this story. Pat hosts WOF drunk! Then you find out that was a basically different show way back when the earth's crust cooled. Congratulations, CNN.com. You have officially sunk to the lows of the National Enquirer.
I really hate celebrities who make way to much money for what they do gripe about their job. "Watching people poorer than me choose out a cheesy $100.00 lamp was the most boring two minutes of my life"...waa, waa, waa.
I imagine a two minute conversation with a game show host would not be that tantalizing either.
Phrase: I like to drink Margueritas.
You just won 25K
Ttthaaattt issss a real, a realll, goood loooking boat riggght theere. Hold on a sec, a sec, BARFF (right into the wheel).
So, he hosted the show drunk. So, what? Better that than driving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOz1kAQKY_Y He is the most decent guy around, I must say.
This guy looked 60 when he was 30. He looks 70 now. He's reverse aging.
W_eel _f F_rtu_e S_cks!!
I'd like to solve the puzzle: Wheel of Fortune Socks
Mr. Sajak...you were a snooze too..
I would have been more surprised if he said he hosted that show sober. That would be tough to do.
Their lame repetative formula takes you back to the WORST game shows of the '50s. The laughs are canned and the contestants apple pie obnoxious.Couldn't get drunk enough to watch that entire snoozefest.I'd still wouldn't turn down dumping a load of vowels on their milf !
Go pick on something else this show is and has been great for years.......Pick on something worth your time like why our politicans refuse to listen to over 80 of America and give illegal aliens amnesty and rest assured it is in fact amnesty not any kind of act. They will have done in TWICE and yes there will be a THIRD time also because they refuse to make E-Verify mandatory nationwide.
I must say, that Pat Sajak is the greatest host ever
Shame on Pat Sajak, Vanna White, the producers and everyone else associated with Wheel of Fortune. Being drunk is nothing to brag about. Innocent people get killed every day because of drunk drivers. I am disappointed with Pat Sajak and not sure I will watch Wheel of Fortune again.
I'm sure Susan has lots of friends and is real fun to hang out with......
I wonder if Pat tapped Susan?
Maybe Vanna joined them.
OH good god. Get over yourself. YOU are exactly what is wrong with this country.
Susan is really Sarah Palin.
I thought he was a retard.Now that explains it.
Humorous candor. Gotta love it.
In the picture, Pat looks like he is lit-up again. Vanna's dentures are nasty. She looks like Martha Rae.
LOL
I can see how some people would feel that it's in poor taste but considering the man wasn't operating a machine or on a person - no harm, no foul... Vanna on the other hand, was operating those large, heavy, rotating letters. As a kid I remember her struggling with those from time to time. Now I can't help but wonder if those were margarita tapings...
That show was for the lowest of the low. Did they get caluses on their hands from all the clapping? But I don't blame the guy from drinking. Dealing with the white trash who were on the show, and entertaining those who watched it.
Why is this news? Because it draws plenty of suckers to comment on it..... troll-bait
why yes i have seen him a lil giggly on a few shows and knew he was drunk. I was like why is he laughing so much or so hard, ain't nothing that funny.
Sajak also reported that everything seemed to be spinning.
The headlines today are a hoot. Pat Sajak Does Show Drunk, ABBA Releases New Song
I'd guess that Richard Dawson was drunk all of the time on Family Feud.
It only goes to show how anal America has become since the religious right gained power. when I was young that is how adults acted and we were fine. Somehow drinking has become bad in the eyes of many at the same time morals continue to plummet. The two are not connected. Alcohol has been used as an excuse for bad behavior but is never given credit for the good it does.
You do realize that priests drink at every Mass, right? As for morals being connected to drinking, I've never been to a frat party involving alcohol where the guys were acting like gentlemen.
I'm heartbroken... What is this world coming to? Is nothing sacred?
The Wheel of Boredom is one of my favorite shows, but isn't Vanna getting too old to be hittin the vowels?
"People Who Annoy You"
n_ggers!
Hilarious! I would do exactly the same. No harm; No foul. I used to watch this show when I was younger and agree – those stupid prizes were boring. Happy they made the show much more exciting – makes me want to see if I can get on this show to win some $$ or at least several drinks with Pat & Vanna!!!
Getting smashed and banging Vannah White, what a life.
Who frigin cares!
If you've ever watched wheel of fortune, then you know there's not enough liquor in the universe to tolerate it day after day.
I KNEW it! That's awesome. I'd do the same thing, Pat.
Can you blame him? How else was he supposed to make such drivel even remotely interesting?
Eww, Vanna White is so nasty now... Are those dentures?
Awesome.
Twas a woman who drove me to drink. I never had the decency to write and thank her ~ WC Fields
I thought he was always drunk.
How else could he do that day after day after day....
He should join the crew of the Today Show. I believe they are drunk pretty much every morning.
That's ok, Pat. I'm usually drunk when I watch.
Actually, I miss the old format, but it did suck in that you had to choose among the products on display. And I can see how it would suck from a production standpoint, having to set up all of those prizes on the turntable.
You would have to be drunk to host the show.
There's a dozen times I thought he was drunk. If he had hurled on the wheel, I'd say there was a problem but it's no big deal. It's not like he said or did anything wrong. So what.
So What? Have you ever seen the Gong Show?
My harmonica solo was awesome, and I still haven't forgiven you!
and Richard Dawson hosted Family Feud with his lips...............
I was actually pretending to be drunk most of the time on my show. It was hard work!
Let's hope neither one of them gets colon cancer. They'd have to buy a bowel!
I'll be here all week. Try the veal.
He is truly a funny guy!! Drunk or sober...who cares?? He does a great job of entertaining the bored masses every night. Thanks, Pat.
"the show was somewhat of a snooze." Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I can't imagine even *watching* it without drinking heavily let alone standing up there listening to room temperature iQ people unable to guess even the simnpest puzzles day after day after day..
I miss game shows that actually required you to think.
There's one of those that comes on either immediately before or immediately after WoF, depending on where you live.
1. Anyone who has seen WoF already knew this.
2. If I had to host that show, I'd be drunk too.
3. Who cares? It's not like he was flying a plane or operating heavy machinery.
I've often wondered about that. That explains why the time I watched, 3 of the puzzles were
"I love you man"
"Hey you're starting to look pretty good", and
"What the ***'s the matter with you, *******?! I didn't push ***ing push you, dont ****ing touch me, I'll ****ing take your ****ing *** outside and ****ing beat it into the ****ing ground, ****sucker."
That last one was tough to solve.
Nice post. Thank you for the genuine laugh.
The prize thing was really stupid back in the day. And they were ugly too!
If I could do my job after a few margaritas I totally would!
I used to love the show when they would pick the prizes. I was always like I'd get this or that and it was awesome if the person that was actually winning the prizes was on my wavelength. I don't know what Pat's talking about 🙂
My mom was a contestant on the show and she said he was a rude jerk but Vanna was wonderful down to earth lady.
Holy crap... since 1981?!?! 30 years of hosting that would drive anyone to drink.
Isn't getting hammered a REQUIREMENT for hosting a game show?
well, considering even W could've hosted that show & Vanna could've been replaced w/a trained seal (including clapping) this is a surprise because?
Friends don't let friends get behind the wheel drunk.
I'm crushed. My life is ruined. Whatever.
that's awesome!
He should think about becoming a pilot.
great, what a role-model for our kids and society! "if you're bored go out drinking" isn't the motto to teach people. Pat and Vanna must be ready to retire or they wouldn't be telling us this kind of stuff
And just when did you decide that Pat Sajak and Vanna White would be role models for your kids. Get a life Becca and maybe you won't go around all sourpuss all the time... and oh yeah, while you're up... get me a sandwich.
And we need to know this why???
Ironically, I've watched the show drunk once or twice. We had a drinking game in college where the word "spin" was a drink, "buy a vowel" was two drinks (unless there were three or more vowels and then it was three drinks) and solving the puzzle first was three drinks for everyone else. I was content to think that I was hearing a slur due to my inebriation. I'm glad to know that I was apparently NOT as hammered as I thought I was.
So, he's just saying that he was drunk behind the wheel. Tsk tsk...
Old shows? How about now??? We have a favorite game while watching the show – it's called "Did Pat Just Say That?"
Whoa. Shocking revelation.
You can effortlessly play hangman drunk.
Is cnn trying to bore us to death?
No, but until Gingrich and Romney say something worthy of the news, this is all we've got. Now, back to "Wheel".
SO WHAT? As if that gig requires sobriety.
We have laws against being drunk at the WHEEL!
To do that show, for that long, I'd have to drink heavily too!
I had chicken for dinner last night.
i like turtles
cinnamon makes me smile
I also like asparagus.
Lol. I don't blame him. That show sucks
I couldn't imagine doing that job sober.
Makes sense – the only way I would watch Wheel Of Fortune is if I was drunk.
If I were the host of that show, I'd be looking for the bottom of the bottle too.
I have watched Wheel of Fortune drunk. I, too, prefer it that way.
Margaritas with Vanna? They wouldn't have to pay me......
I don't know about anybody else, but that's a job I would ONLY do drunk.
I had the pleasure of waiting on Vanna White back early 90's in Aspen and out of all the gorgeous stars I served she was kindest and most human.
Who cares? He wasn't doing neurosurgery, he was hosting a game show. I'd be drunk too.
The question really is...How does he do that show sober?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
They should start doing that again, maybe the show will get more interesting, or atleast Vanna will.
Shame on you Pat! Don't get drunk and spell!*
*Sponsored by MADS – Mothers Against Drunk Spelling
As long as he's not driving. It harkens back to a time when you could have a drink with a co-worker. Now the co-worker would turn you in to get a leg up.
Even as a kid i always suspected pat and vanna were hittin it backstage!
Understandable. Sitting down and having Margeritas with Vanna was defiinately quality time. My understanding is he stood by her when the network wanted to change to a younger Vanna type. Too often we hear how personalties like Pat and Vanna detest each other off stage. It appears these two were great friends. Now the real skinny on Alex Trebek.
As much as I can give you on Alex – he's a nice guy who, despite his serious demeanor, does hava a mischievous streak about him. He can get a bit testy. There was one exchange during my taping between him and the stage manager, John Lauderdale, where you could tell he was not happy with what was going on. And he's actually pretty handy. During one of the commercial breaks, when the audience was talking to him, he said that he enjoyed rebuilding the heads for his landscaping sprinklers. Figure this guy makes a truckload of money to host a game show, and he took time to learn how to fix something like that.
When I was on the show (taped in October 2003), in my intro I mentioned I was married and moving into a new house next week, and his response was "Great, glad to hear everything is coming to an end for you". True Story. 🙂
Think thtS funy??? I wastn as think is yuo drunnk i was!
Too funny!
That is absolutely hilarious......hope all is still well.....
Yeah... I agree with the others... having drinks with Vanna would have been fun. Now watch the scandal-rags run with this and claim that they would get hammered and then get down-and-dirty between shows... just wait!
Funny, they look like an evangelical pastor couple
that IS funny...
Can you blame him? I don't know how he does that job sober even now. The only difference between him and a carnival game operator is that his prizes are better.
that and the whole making serious bank for 1 days work thing..
That's cool... I watched it stoned.
Outstanding. Same here. I never answered (or noticed) the puzzles. For some reason I just kept staring at Vanna.
the show is a total yawner.
I'm more surprised he ever hosted it sober.
That explains EVERYTHING.
And, on a side note, what I wouldn't do to have cuatro margaritas with Vanna White....
Did Alex Trebek host drunk ever? That would be an interesting story.
I don't think that would be possible.
I don't know if he's ever done so while hosting Jeopardy, but I've seen clips of the last episode of his old show "High Rollers" where Alex and his co-host appeared to be seriously hammered.
No. SORRY.
If Alex hosted "Jeopardy!" drunk, it got by me...I was a contestant on the show three years ago, and he seemed perfectly sober..
I wish he had been. I was on Jeopardy 10 years ago and he was boooring. Didn't talk to us contestants at all, and was unfunny at trying to be funny to the audience. The production team was awesome...and not drunk either 😉
@Susan, I think he isn't allowed to talk to the contestants between tapings. It has something to do with creating the opportunity for feeding questions or answers ahead-of-time.
haha. I love it.
ANYONE can host Wheel of Fortune drunk.
Someone should have told him, alcohol and vowels don't mix.
Nice one!!
Did you know that he was a chopper gunner in the Vietnam War? Always thought that was pretty awesome.
Actually, he was a DJ for Armed Forces Radio starting in 1968, which makes sense as he was a radio newsman and teen DJ before that.
Somebody clear this up – was he laying down machine gun fire, or mad beats, in Vietnam??
According to Wikipedia, "In 1968, Sajak joined the U.S. Army, and was sent to Vietnam, where he served as a disk jockey on Armed Forces Radio."
Nothing can compare to The Match Game. They made no bones about being drunk, stoned or both. Too funny.
I love that he's admitting this. He's so cool. Pat Sajak for President!
It was also common for the celebrities on Match Game to tape the while show drunk. Richard Dawson was known to drink as he hated the show but was bound by his contract.
Oh, yeah, they were all COMPLETELY HAMMERED. The host would be treating z-list celebs like Jo Ann Pflug and Brett Somers as though they were the toast of Hollywood (rather than merely toasted); then Charles Nelson Reilly would say something ribald about the 1975 Pittsburg Steelers' offensive line. Total scream.
The Match Game is my guilty secret. I love that the Game Show Network airs reruns. Too, too funny.....
Ah, so that's why I find the old 70s Match Game episodes so endearing!
That's what this generation needs more of, more booze in the workplace!
LOL!!! You are absolutely right... Even as a kid I always wondered what was wrong with the celebrities of Match Game !! And Richard Dawson, I think was drunk on every show!!
I think you're referring to Hollywood Squares, not the match game. But I'm not too surprised. Those guys sounded like they were looped about half the time.
@Phil in KC Hollywood Squares might have done it too.
I know that several people involved with Match Game have reported that the cast was often drunk. They also drank and smoked cigarettes while the show was taping. Richard Dawson was often so drunk that the crew would play backgammon with him between tapings to keep him awake.
i dont care what anyone says. America was a lot more fun when being drunk was social acceptable and funny
Actually Richard Dawson was one of the few celebrities that DIDN'T drink on "Match Game" – he always mentioned on the show that he didn't drink, but as for the others, their lunches were legendary. The reason Richard was angry towards the end was that he was taping seven episodes of "Family Feud" every week (five daytime and two nighttime), plus six "Match Game" episodes every week (five daytime and one "PM") – on top of that, his ego was starting to get the best of him, and by the time the Star Wheel came along, he took it as a slap in the face to his dominance to him being picked by the contestants all the time, and wanted off the show as soon as possible. He later apologized for his actions on the last episode of "Family Feud" from 1985, and he gave a great tribute to Mark Goodson on that farce known as the GSN Game Show Awards in 2009.
Oh, Bananna !!! er, Vanna...
Vanna, can I hit your bowels?
That blond displays some very nice gums when she smiles.
I wondered if he nailed Vanna at lunch. Pretty sweet way to make a living.
Anyone remember the famous KFC epsiode where the prizes were buckets of KFC chicken instead of money?
was that african american week ?
Hey Michelle, weren't you just blabbering about healthy school menus? Come on now, stick to the game plan. Get away from the KFC bucket and maybe that butt will shrink up a bit.
simply rude – you're so wrong, and it feels so good
I've always thought that Pat Sajak seemed to be the most honest and personable host.
Especially when he is intoxicated
I always lnew he was a lesbean. Plus now hearing he is a gay lesbean also. Kinda makes you think. . . . .
Are YOU drunk?
What?
Nancy, I find your remark extremely idiotic.
What is this lesbean you speak of? Some sort of fancy new organic legume? Sounds tasty!
LOL!!!
what's a les bean?
Hey nancy – just read your comment – TOTALLY agree with you. I always knew he was a lesbean – and now we are finding out that he is a gay lesbean. I also heard that Vanna White is a Toyota. Did you know? Now if that doesn't make you think I don't know what does. Nancy just keep your head up don't let the lesbean's get to you. Take that from someone who has been working in the feild of lesbeans for quite some time.
Does it make you think hard enough to learn how to spell?
Nancy the Cyntia Nixon gay story is one over from here. I think you missed your mark.
Hey Nancy, let's get drunk!
I knew a Les Bean. Nice guy.
Les bean = French for "The Bean".
Derp.
LOL Max, I am crying laughing...that is too funny
Why in the hell is this news?!
Was Pat less able to perform his job?
He was drinking before being a hosting a TV game show. His job is to entertain. WHO CARES?
Settle down Beavis. This is meant to be taken the way Pat Sajak told it-a funny story. Everyone understands wanting to be drunk hosting a game show. Alex Trebek did it for years.
Settled down Beavis ..... or should it be Butt Head... first of all it is on a entertainment website – get that entertainment. And if you don't think it is news then why the HELL did you read it and why the HELL are you commenting on it?
It ISN'T news but you read it, didn't you? That's the whole point. Throw jello at a wall and see how much sticks.
Settle down Beavis.... that is all...
Golly Scott – relax. Have a Margarita
@becky-LasVegas:
It helps to spray-glue the wall first :-p
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you with me being bothered that this is considered "news."
@Becky
I agree. I'm just so used to seeing fake-outrage stories and the headline reads like it's a scandal—which, in my opinion, it isn't. It's not even a story, let alone "news." It should be a given. Hell, I would be tying one on too if I was Pat.
@Spuds and hoohah
I'm wondering if you two are capable of on original thought. Thanks for your redundant input though. 😉
It's entertainment news on an entertainment part of CNN. Should such articles be on the front page? Maybe not, but that's independent of the article.
Scotty, you do understand that there is more than one kind of news story, right?
Then why read the article?
@theresalwaysone – Yes. You do realize that there's also more than one opinion on those stories, right?
yes, there is more than one opinion. and everybody's opinion was that yours was stupid and unnecessary...and they were making it known.
Oh Scott, you should know by now that CNN has expanded way beyond news. It's not news, it's hysterical!! I needed a laugh break in the middle of my workday and I got it.
@i2h – Hahaha! Yeah, I guess you're right. Everyone *is, in fact,* equal 10 people or so.
Scott! Holy crapola man! Compared to all the dribble about the economy, and war, and Sikhs, and headless bodies, and IED's, and all the rest of that crap... I HAVE to tell you to get your head out of the crap pile and smell the roses once in a while. LOOK AROUND! Knowing if Vanna wrapped those long lovely legs around Pat Sajaks neck is REAL NEWS to me and quite the diversion! OF COURSE this is news.... it's the only news that actually is .... well.... news!
if your going to complain. how about the fact that there are GAMES on cnn's website. thats far more offensive than this article
uuuuuuh...Pat Sajak rules, right Beavis?
Scott, you are reading the ENTERTAINMENT section.
Good lord...didn't you notice that you're in the entertainment section of CNN? What do you want, fear-stoking artlcles about boogymen terrorists in every section of the news. Grow a brain cell.
This is the ENTERTAINMENT news section. Do try to pay attention.
Wonder if they ever got enough that he got to give Vanna a spin
Totally picturing an english bull trying to mount a great dane
man, I sure hope so!
I'd love to buy a vowel
Seriously? Not everyone is a pig.
Wonder if ol Pat ever B'd his L on those T's....
Again.... I gotta know.... Do ya think Pat tapped Vanna? I still want to tap her.
Naw. Vanna would reportedly kick his a** if he tried.
At least he's honest. Kudos to that. I'd probably wanna get smashed after all the over-enunciated puzzle solving.
Heck...the only way to watch that show is....drunk..... *burp*
I have often wondered about that, now I know.
HATE WHEN GUMS SHOW............TOTALLY DISGUSTING.........
And just how do you expect someone with gums showing to correct that issue? Have some kind of plastic surgery that makes you look like a mannequin? People aren't perfect, deal with it.
LOL at Shawn!
She does have a gummy smile. It doesn't require plastic surgery. It's a very very minor procedure to make the tooth appear longer. It's done as nonchalantly as coloring one's hair. It's for esthetic purposes and because it needs to be done in the majority of cases.
I grew up watching that show and I remember them having those tacky prizes.But I never realized how unattractive Pat and Vanna are. Maybe because I stopped watching long before big screens and Hi-Def.
Yes, you now know and so do all of us. We are all so much better now for finally knowing the truth! Thank God & thank you CNN.
Been keeping you up late at night huh????
OK! Once again! Did Pat bang Vanna, or, did Vanna bang Pat?
communist television should be removed
What's wrong, Shawn? Embarassed of your horsemouth?
Vanna = Skeletor
lisa
'She does have a gummy smile. It doesn't require plastic surgery. It's a very very minor procedure to make the tooth appear longer. It's done as nonchalantly as coloring one's hair. It's for esthetic purposes and because it needs to be done in the majority of cases.'
Nonsense. While the procedure is real it is not 'very very minor' and comparing it to coloring your hair is just silly.
If I had to host such a mindless waste of airtime I would be drunk ALL of the time.
I agree with ladydi' the dentures shows were much more entertaining.
They're both looking pretty rough. Emphasis on rough, not on pretty.
Yep.. that gummy smile sure is hurting her career. She better fix that...
Shawn is wise.
who cares
Well now there's something to be proud. Good job, Pat! Isn't alcohol cool?
You people have too much time on your hands. Please do something constructive as the world has many problems and there are a lot more intresting things in show business to write about other than this !!!
I have seen girls with wayyyyyyyy gummier smiles. Tooth to gum ratio 1:3
I remember the show back then with the prizes one bought, any left over monies was put on a gift certificate. I have not watched the show since then as it was and still seems rather boring.
totally! I cant watch the show unless i'm drunk. Makes sense.
She does have a gummy smile. It doesn't require plastic surgery. It's a very very minor procedure to make the tooth appear longer. It's done as nonchalantly as coloring one's hair. It's for esthetic purposes and because it needs to be done in the majority of cases.
^^^ This is exactly what's wrong with our country. We've got way bigger problems then worrying about what anyone's teeth look like.
Some people perform better for a camera by being a bit tipsy. Alcohol is a sedative which calms the mind and relaxes the nerves. That is also why it's not generally good for driving.
Even with her gums "fixed" Vanna hit the wall years ago.
Party on Pat, u have earned alittle kickin back time!
Radio host on meth hosting his show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=M5WptAhv6rY
I can tell you this Thor. One person who didn't bang Vanna was Merv!!