Pat Sajak Announces He’s ‘Looking At Other Projects’ After Retirement

Do Pat Sajak still has an on-air role in the works in light of his retirement Wheel of Fortune? The game show legend joked about it in an unexpected social media post on Saturday (Nov. 9), sharing what he had in mind for his big comeback.

Sajak, who hosted WoF For 43 years, officially retired in the spring, making way for Ryan Seacrestwho now hosts the program in addition Vanna White. His farewell episode to stellar ratings aired on June 7, 2024. As the newfound free time sank in, Sajak rattled off a hilarious list of “other projects” he was considering now that he’s “quitting the show.”

“Since I stopped doing the show I have been looking at other projects,” the since-deleted X message read. “Top prospects include a detective drama, ‘Barnaby Jones Jr.,’ and a cooking competition, ‘The Grated Cheese Challenge.’ I was thinking about a celebrity podcast until I found out there were already a few.

Sajak’s post seemed like just a joke since the TV shows he listed are fictional (and bizarre). However, it’s fun to imagine him hosting a cooking show, leading a detective series, or venturing into the admittedly busy podcast space if he so chooses.

In the meantime, Sajak can be done hosting syndicates Wheelbut he is not retiring from show business altogether. In June, Variety reported that Sajak signed a deal to return next summer to the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu, Hawaii, to star in a play with his longtime collaborator there, Joe Moore. The duo takes part in a new version of the 1962 play Recipe: murderwhich runs from July 31, 2025 to August 10, 2025.

Sajak will star in the play as Roy Flemming, a psychiatrist who creates an alibi to kill his wife; Moore will be Lt. Playing Columbo, the detective who plays a game of cat and mouse with Flemming. (The plot in front Recipe: murder previously clicked on the small screen Columbus‘s pilot.)

Plus, WoF Fans who miss Sajak will also get a dose of holiday cheer in the near future. A special episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune titled “Special Holiday Episode” airs Monday, December 2 at 8pm ET on ABC in primetime.

The participants for the Holiday Special are Chance the Rapper (who plays for SocialWorks), legendary singer Dionne Warwick (playing for the North Jersey Community Research Initiative), and Lil Jon (plays for Open Paths Counseling Center). Sajak and the iconic White will serve as co-hosts.

The episode will be a one-off, along with the rest of Sajak’s latest Celebrity Wheel of Fortune season airs in 2025. The upcoming season of the spinoff will mark Sajak’s final time as host. Seacrest has, of course, replaced Sajak as host of the syndicated game show for season 42. He returns for just now the spin-off to fulfill his contract in one final spin. Celebrity guests compete for $1 million (for a charity of their choice).

What do you think of the concept of Pat Sajak hosting a cooking show, playing a TV detective or creating a podcast? Let us know in the comments below!