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‘Wheel of Fortune’: Pat Sajak Revealed Why Show Doesn’t Spin ‘Bankrupt’ on Final Spin

Back in 2011, WCCO-TV’s Jason DeRusha had the opportunity to help “Wheel of Fortune” fans get their questions answered by the one and only Pat Sajak. In his piece, the journalist gets the final say from the beloved host on everything from “how many shows do you shoot in a day?” to one of the biggest question marks in the game show’s history: “Why don’t you spin ‘Bankrupt’ or ‘Lose a Turn’ when you do the final spin?”

Look no further, as we’ve pulled the answer to that exact conundrum right here.

“It’s interesting. I get that question a lot,” Sajak said at the time. “I’m surprised people notice or care that much about it. But, in fact, I do hit it quite often.”

Wait, so “Wheel of Fortune” does spin both Bankrupt and Lose a Turn on final spins?

“It happens,” he Sajak confirms. “But, then again, it’s not exactly entertainment, so we edit it out.”

Well there we have it. Turns out there’s always a chance contestants will hit either of these much-maligned tiles during their last hurrah. We just don’t see it. How fortunate for them.

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Mysteries Solved

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(Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

As for that first question mentioned within, a’la “How many shows do you shoot in a day?”, Pat Sajak had an answer there, too.

“Usually six,” the host clarified. “We can crank them out pretty quickly.”

Sajak continues that a “typical day” sees the cast, and crew begin at noon. Then, by six o’clock, they’ll have completed six shows with two completely different audiences.

“We’re pretty efficient,” the host added, which isn’t surprising to hear. The show began all the way back in 1983, predating even Alex Trebek’s tenure on “Jeopardy!” the following year (1984).

“We shoot 35 times a year, 35 days a year, but it’s stretched out over nine months,” Sajak also revealed to WCCO-TV. “It’s not exactly the most grueling schedule you’ve ever heard about.”

Sounds like it! Nice work if you can get it, right? And that’s the ticket for Sajak. The man has been hosting “Wheel of Fortune” for a whopping 38 years now. Honestly, it’d have to be down to a science by now – or Sajak and the irreplaceable Vanna White would’ve left long ago, surely.

For Pat Sajak’s part, he became the longest-running host of a game show with his 2018-2019 season of “Wheel of Fortune.” It marked his 36th go-round with the show. And they’ve been going just as strong ever since.