---OK, everyone.

I'm thinking of a word.

It's seven letters and has three vowels.

Could it be the word 'goodbye'? Sorry, I had to do it because Pat Sajak.

.

.

CHANG: The longtime host of 'Wheel of Fortune' is retiring after more than 40 years.

In an interview with his daughter, Maggie, he said he never expected to keep the job forever.

PAT SAJAK: My goal was not to do the job until I, you know, keeled over on it.

I've always said I'd rather leave a couple of years too early than a couple of years too late.

CHANG: Tonight is Sajak's last episode, and NPR's Eric Deggans has written all about this for our website.

He is here in the studio at NPR West to talk all about it.

So great to have you here, Eric.

CHANG: All right.

So tell me what you think is so special and unique about Pat Sajak as a game show host.

DEGGANS: As I noted in the story I did for npr.

org, he was part of this generation of old-school game show hosts from decades ago who seemed almost designed to be inoffensive, affable, and slightly witty.

Think about former 'Price Is Right' host Bob Barker.

DEGGANS: Once upon a time, there were a lot of these guys on TV.

They were telegenic, usually former radio hosts or local TV personalities.

In fact, Pat Sajak was a weatherman at KNBC here in Los Angeles when 'Wheel of Fortune' creator Merv Griffin called him in 1981 about possibly taking over the show.

These guys, and they were almost always middle-aged white guys, were there to explain the rules to contestants and the audience, keep the players in check, and keep the game moving along, all of which Sajak managed quite well for more than four decades and more than 8,000 episodes.

CHANG: Eight thousand episodes.

What do you think was the secret behind that longevity? Why was this show so incredibly popular for so long?DEGGANS: I think there were a few reasons.

It's tough to resist a good word puzzle.

Wordle fans know that.

The game itself is essentially a televised version of the old hangman game.

Many years ago, 'Wheel of Fortune' was paired with 'Jeopardy!' on TV stations across the country.

So you got 'Jeopardy!', this tough quiz show that can intimidate viewers, and then 'Wheel of Fortune' comes along with these simpler word puzzles.

DEGGANS: Sajak was also paired with former model Vanna White, who reveals the letters in the puzzles, and they have this chemistry.

They come off like a genial, married couple.

White posted a farewell message to Sajak on the show's YouTube page, where she got a little bit emotional.

Let's listen to it.

VANNA WHITE: What an incredible and unforgettable journey we've had.

And I've enjoyed every minute of it with you.

DEGGANS: Yeah.

Now, Vanna White's going to keep working on the show.

She's going to join 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest, who will succeed Sajak in September.

CHANG: Let me ask you, Eric, because there are all these other new game shows on TV now, and I'm curious, do you think the model for game show hosts is changing?DEGGANS: Yeah.

It seems like most contemporary game shows feature hosts who are already famous as performers somewhere else, whether it's comic Steve Harvey on 'Family Feud' or even current 'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings, who was a champion on the show before he took over from Alex Trebek.

Networks are afraid viewers won't watch, especially newer game shows, if they aren't hosted by somebody who's already a star because there's so much competition on TV these days.

But shows like 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' have been around for so long that the format is really the star.

So as long as Seacrest stays out of the way and keeps things moving, I think he's going to be just fine.

---I hope this helps! Let me know if you need anything else.