Season 5 ratings in: Did Pat Sajak leave Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on a high?

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Season 5, which starred Pat Sajak and Vanna White, had a solid viewership but fell short of previous seasons' excitement. Throughout its 10-episode run, the primetime series averaged about 3.24 million viewers, which was marginally down from Season 4's 3.58 million, but still manageable given the schedule's delay caused by football broadcasts.

While the May 28 show had a peak viewership of 3.205 million, which was 20% more than the previous week, the June 10 finale had the season's lowest viewership. This uneven performance begs the question: Were Sajak's last appearances obscured by intense competition and changing viewing patterns, or did they strike a deep chord?

In his sentimental parting speech on June 10, 2025, Sajak said goodbye to both the show and its viewers. While maintaining Pat's legacy on primetime, ABC renewed Celebrity Wheel for Season 6, now hosted by Ryan Seacrest, even though it didn't reach any new heights.

Examining Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Season 5’s numbers

With Pat Sajak returning to host for the final time after nearly 40 years in primetime, Season 5 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune carried additional emotional weight. Anticipation was great because his final episodes were filled with heartfelt moments and star-studded participants. However, how did the ratings compare?

To determine if Sajak's departure actually ended with a bang or quietly, let's examine viewership and audience reaction:

Viewership trends and comparisons

The average number of viewers at the end of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune season 5 was 3.24 million — a slight decrease from the average of 3.58 million for Season 4. Although not significant, the decline is noteworthy considering the increase in interest in Sajak's exit.

One of just two episodes to reach the 3-million mark, the most-watched episode, which aired on May 28, attracted 3.205 million viewers, a solid 20% increase over its predecessor.

Ironically, the season's lowest rating went to the final episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which included Sajak's emotional goodbye. Nielsen attributes the decline to changes in scheduling brought on by the football overruns, which interfered with the typical Wednesday night time slot.

The viewership of other episodes ranged from 2.29 million to 2.71 million, supporting the theory that other influences might have affected how the finale was received.

Legacy, reception, and moving forward

Both emotionally and critically, Pat's reappearance on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune struck a chord. Many fans were thrilled to see his signature wit once again, and the responses were extremely favorable. Even though the show didn't break any records, it got renewed for season 6, and Vanna White continued to host the show alongside Ryan Seacrest. The sentiment is still the same: Sajak's farewell was more about gracefully preserving a legacy than it was about getting big ratings, and the industry noticed.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Season 5 of Pat Sajak certainly paid its due — although viewership may have declined, the show's emotional impact and legacy-building were evident, and it left the series in a strong position for its upcoming phase.

Trending

Watch the final episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Season 5 on Hulu.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback