Pat Sajak's daughter got the best tutorial from Vanna White

Pat Sajak had an emergency surgery to fix a blocked intestine back in November of 2019. While he was recovering, Vanna White filled in as host of Wheel of Fortune. Meanwhile, Pat's daughter, Maggie Sajak, took over the letter-turning duties for Vanna.

We recently sat down with Maggie, who has since become the social correspondent of the show, to talk all things Wheel of Fortune.

While Vanna's job may not look very difficult, Maggie explained it's not as easy as Vanna makes it look. Maggie needed a little coaching from the letter-turning pro, so Vanna came over to their house the night before their first taping to show Maggie how it's done. "She gave me a little tutorial, like on our refrigerator, of how to press the letters and how hard to press them and all of that," Maggie said, before adding, "She was so gracious in teaching me, and you know, she had a big job to do that week too, filling in for my dad. So it was a new experience for both of us, and I'm really glad we were able to do that together."

Maggie said that her dad was really proud of the job she and Vanna did taking over the show, and that it made a really difficult situation a little better. "He was really glad that it was something that we could kind of keep it in the family because it was a crazy time. I mean, you know, he had this emergency that happened and so there was a lot going on, so to kind of be able to simplify it and keep it all rolling. I think he was really thankful for that."

Video Transcript

KYLIE MAR: I know that you grew up, obviously, as Pat Sajak's daughter. You grew up on the set of "Wheel of Fortune." He even brought you onto the show when you were a baby. What were some of your coolest or most favorite moments from early on, on set?

MAGGIE SAJAK: So you mentioned, when I was one year old, I walked out on set. I was pretty early in my walking process, and I came out onto the stage.

PAT SAJAK: Come on, kid. Come on, kid. How you doing, kiddo?

MAGGIE SAJAK: [INAUDIBLE].

PAT SAJAK: Exactly. What did you say? I didn't hear that part. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. She's speaking baby. You can't quite understand it.

KYLIE MAR: Maggie Sajak has been around a "Wheel of Fortune" set her whole life. And now, she's joined her dad as the social correspondent of the show. So Maggie sat down with us to talk about all things "Wheel of Fortune."

MAGGIE SAJAK: There were so many fun moments when I was growing up. But one that I really loved, my brother and I pretended to be Pat and Vanna during a close. And we were, I don't know, I think I was four and he was eight. It was very cute. We had our little formal outfits on. But there are a lot of great memories in the show.

MAGGIE SAJAK: So Patrick, did daddy give you any advice, how to do a close tonight?

PATRICK SAJAK: Well he did say one thing, don't be funnier than he is.

[LAUGHTER]

KYLIE MAR: You did mention the week when Vanna filled in for Pat, when he was in surgery, and then you filled in for Vanna. What kind of advice did they give you ahead of the first show?

MAGGIE SAJAK: So Vanna actually came over to our house the night before we were going to tape. And she was like, OK, so you just walk along the puzzle board. And she showed-- she gave me a little tutorial on our refrigerator of how to press the letters, and how hard to press, and all of that. So she was so gracious in teaching me. And she had a big job to do that week, too, filling in for my dad. So it was a new experience for both of us. And I'm really glad we were able to do that together.

KYLIE MAR: What did your dad say, when it was decided that you would take over for Vanna, and Vanna would be filling for him? What was his reaction?

MAGGIE SAJAK: I mean, he was really glad that it was something that we could keep it in the family, because it was a crazy time. I mean, he had this emergency that happened, and so there was a lot going on. So to just be able to simplify it and keep it all rolling, I think he was really thankful for that. And he was so proud of the job that Vanna did. And he was proud of me. And so I think it was a fun experience for all of us, making the best out of a tough situation.

KYLIE MAR: Do you guys like carpool to work every day?

MAGGIE SAJAK: We do carpool, yes. Yeah, sometimes my mom will drive. It's a family affair. It's really fun to be with my parents on set, and yeah, it's pretty funny. But we do, we usually carpool.