‘It’s been a great 40 years’: Pat Sajak’s final episode as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host airs Friday

Pat Sajak says he is at peace with the conclusion of his run as host of “Wheel of Fortune.” (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Pat Sajak is sharing his thoughts about retiring from “Wheel of Fortune” before his final episode as host airs this week.

ABC News reports that Sajak, 77, reflected on his 41 seasons and more than 8,000 episodes as the man behind the longtime game show in a recent interview with his daughter Maggie Sajak.

Pat Sajak reportedly said he was at peace with the conclusion of his run on the show and that he is enjoying the final week.

Last year, he announced that the show’s 41st season would be his last.

“This was announced a long time ago, almost a year ago. So, I’ve had time to sort of get used to it,” ABC quoted Pat Sajak as saying in the interview. “It’s been a little bit wistful and all that, but I’m enjoying it and taking it all in and reflecting on the great run.”

Pat Sajak has hosted “Wheel of Fortune” for more than four decades alongside his famed TV partner Vanna White, who joined the show in 1982.

“Wheel of Fortune” has become one of the most successful game shows in history, according to The Associated Press.

Ryan Seacrest is expected to take over as host while Pat Sajak will serve as a consultant on the show for three years after his retirement.

Pat Sajak said he was grateful for the success of the show while being able to connect with fans over the years.

The 77-year-old also said that he could probably continue his role as host but there are other things he would like to focus on.

“I’d rather leave a couple years too early than a couple of years too late,” Pat Sajak shared. “It’s been a great 40 years, and I’m looking forward to whatever’s ahead.”

Pat Sajak’s final episode hosting “Wheel of Fortune” will air on Friday as season 41 wraps up.

Fundraiser earns more than $220K to help 90-year-old veteran retire from grocery store

A successful GoFundMe campaign has helped raise more than $200,000 to help Dillon McCormick retire at 90 years old. (Karen Swensen | GoFundMe)

New Orleans

Thousands of dollars have been raised to help an Air Force veteran retire.

Louisiana resident Karen Swensen recently shared a video of 90-year-old Dillon McCormick working out in the heat at an area Winn-Dixie store.

“How old am I? Just made 90 in November,” McCormick can be heard telling Swensen in the video.

According to Swensen, she spotted McCormick working at the grocery store in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit on Memorial Day, grabbing carts in the parking lot.

“I watched a 90-year-old United States Air Force veteran collect and push shopping carts at a Metairie, Louisiana, grocery store,” she shared. “Back and forth, back and forth, stacking cart after cart, sometimes more than twenty at a time.”

Swensen said he even got help collecting some of the carts from a few customers who frequently shop at the store.

The former news reporter shared that McCormick found himself still working at 90 years old because he needed the money to help cover his expenses.

“Mr. McCormick is working to eat, he said. He needs $2500/month to live and says he only gets $1,100 from Social Security. So, he must push carts in triple-digit heat to make ends meet,” she wrote while sharing her video.

Swensen said McCormick had the “kindest smile” and the “greatest attitude” even while working for hours outside in the heat.

“He pushes carts for hours. I met regular shoppers who say they see him doing this “all the time,”' she said.

Swensen shared her video while starting a GoFundMe for McCormick in hopes of helping raise money for him to retire.

“Mr. McCormick was born in 1933, making him a part of the Silent Generation. Please, America, let us be his voice. We can do this,” she wrote. “No donation is too small. If we could raise even enough for him to retire for a year, it’s something. Thank you!”

Swensen said the fundraising effort paid off with thousands of dollars being donated within just a few hours.

“Thank you to all who donated to Mr. McCormick’s fund. Together, we raised more than $220,000 in 24 hours, enough for him to retire!” Swensen shared in an update on Tuesday.

She said McCormick will no longer have to push shopping carts in the heat to put food on his table.

As of Thursday, the GoFundMe account had nearly $230,000 in donations.

Swensen said she is going to start the process of transferring the funds to McCormick.

“What a delightful day awaits for him! God bless all of you and God bless our veterans,” she shared.

Animal rescue takes in dog looking for forever home after owners return her for being ‘boring’

Honey the husky was reportedly surrendered for being too boring by her new owners. (Rescue Me Tampa - Shelter Dogs)

Tampa, Fla.

A pup in Florida is still looking for a forever home even after being adopted during a recent adoption event.

According to Rescue Me Tampa – Shelter Dogs, a mega adoption event was held earlier this month in Orange County that helped many dogs find their new families, including Honey the husky – or so the team thought.

Honey was adopted by a family but found herself being quickly returned to the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center after her new owners said she “didn’t have much of a personality” and that she was “boring.”

The shelter team said Honey has since been taken in by Husky Life Rescue while she again waits to find her new home.

“This girl needs a home,” Rescue Me Tampa shared. “Honey is very quiet and calm and sure sounds perfect to us.”

The team said Honey is 10 years old, weighs about 42 pounds and has shown good temperament around children.

More information about the rescue and Honey’s availability can be found online.

Man catches record-breaking 95-pound flathead catfish

Oklahoma officials said Bradly Courtright caught a 95-pound flathead catfish at the Pine Creek Reservoir. (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation)

McCurtain County, Okla.

Officials in Oklahoma say a man recently caught a massive, record-breaking flathead catfish.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Bradly Courtright caught a 95-pound flathead catfish on a trotline at the Pine Creek Reservoir.

State officials said it was the largest flathead ever caught at Pine Creek and nearly 20 pounds larger than the rod-and-reel record.

However, Courtright’s catch was about 11 pounds short of the unrestricted division record set in 1977 at the Wister Reservoir.

‘Seinfeld’ star Michael Richards reveals prostate cancer battle

Michael Richards poses at the premiere of the Netflix film "Unfrosted" at the Egyptian Theatre, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Actor Michael Richards revealed a health scare that he says could have ended his life a few years ago.

Richards, 74, shared with People that he underwent surgery to remove his prostate after being diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in 2018.

“I thought, ‘Well, this is my time. I’m ready to go,’” People quoted Richards. “But then my son came to mind just a few seconds later and I heard myself saying, “I’ve got a 9-year-old and I’d like to be around for him.’”

In his upcoming memoir “Entrances and Exits” he writes about coming face-to-face with his mortality.

“It had to be contained quickly,” he said “I had to go for the full surgery. If I hadn’t, I probably would have been dead in about eight months.”

Richards, best known for playing Cosmo Kramer on the hit series “Seinfeld,” has mostly stayed out of the spotlight in recent years.

But said he has been keeping journals about his life experiences and wanted to share them in his memoir.

“I had over 40 journals I’d kept over the years and wanted to do a full review of my life,” he shared. “I’m turning 75, so maybe wanting to do that is something that comes with being my age. I wanted to connect with feelings and memory.”

Richards is said to be currently living a quiet life as husband to actress Beth Skipp and father to their son Antonio.

“Entrances and Exits” will be available at stores on June 4.