Vanna White and Pat Sajak spent some quality time together in the days before Ryan Seacrest’s first spin as the host of “Wheel of Fortune.”
The famous TV duo were spotted on a cozy lunch date Tuesday, September 3 at California Pizza Kitchen in Encino, Calif. The local was convenient for the former “Wheel of Fortune” host, 77, as he lives nearby with his wife, Lesly Brown. The TV personality and the former model have been married for 35 years.
Sajak and White, 67, were all smiles and seemed in great spirits on their lunch outing.
White wore a beautiful flowing pink dress paired with silver sandals, while Sajak opted for a blue shirt, Chino-style pants, blue canvas shoes, and shades.
At one point, the TV icons huddled together and appeared to be looking at something on White’s cell phone.
The pair have seldom been photographed together out and about, despite their longtime working friendship. White joined “Wheel of Fortune” in 1982, just one year after Sajak kicked it off.
Sajak and White have reportedly stayed on good terms since Sajak announced his departure from “Wheel of Fortune” after 4 decades at the helm.
He announced he would be leaving in June 2023. His last show was on June 7, 2024, after 41 seasons over 8,000 episodes. White will continue on Season 42.
Ryan Seacrest, 49, took over for Sajak after his departure. The first episode hosted by Seacrest aired Monday.
After landing the gig, Seacrest said he was “truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak” in a June 2023 statement posted to social media shortly after Sajak announced his retirement.
“I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna [White] on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them,” he added.
In February 2023, the former “American Idol” host announced he was leaving his gig as co-host of “Live with Kelly and Ryan” after six years on the show. He taped his final episode in April of that year.
After it was announced that Seacrest would replace Sajak, White said she was “very scared” about her on-camera chemistry with the multi-hyphenate host.
“I’ve known Ryan for probably 20 years,” White said in a September 1 interview. “But in the past couple of months, we’ve done some traveling together for the show, and we got to know each other a little better, too. So, I think our chemistry is good.”
“I had no idea what to expect, when I’m used to one person for so long,” she added, referring to Sajak.
“I was very scared,” she confessed. “But he’s doing a great job.”
Though Sajak has exited “Wheel of Fortune” as host, he signed a three-year deal to work as a consultant on the show. He will also host the “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” spinoff, which will return on October 14.