How did Pat Sajak get through the early days of “Wheel of Fortune”?
He had some help from a particular type of alcoholic beverage.
The popular game show host of 30 years admitted on “Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable,” which airs on ESPN2, that he was sometimes drunk while doing the show during its “boring” days.
“Yes,” Sajak said with a laugh, when asked if he was ever intoxicated during the show. “When I first started, and was much younger and could tolerate those things.
“We had a different show then, you didn’t win money, you won fake money, with which you could buy cheesy prizes.”
“Wheel of Fortune” started in 1981 as a daytime game show before the syndicated version arrived in 1983.
Sajak explained that the winner of “fake money” would spin a turn table around and then pick the prize they wanted.
“It was the most boring two minutes in television,” he admitted.
The former newscaster and his letter turning partner, Vanna White, would go to a local Burbank spot called Los Arcos during a dinner break and slam back some margaritas.
“They serve great margaritas,” he said, adding, “Vanna and I would go across and have two or three or six.”
He continued: “And then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet.”
Sajak said the average number of delicious drinks was “quatro.”
“I had a great time,” he added, “I had no idea if the shows were any good. No one said anything, so I guess I did ok.”
Considering he’s still around, we think Pat did just fine.
