Pat Sajak lines up his first post–“Wheel of Fortune” gig in play that inspired “Columbo”

The 1962 mystery-thriller "Prescription: Murder" was adapted into the pilot of the NBC detective drama.

Pat Sajak — whose final episode as the host of Wheel of Fortune airs Friday — has already booked his next gig.

Sajak is set to reunite with his longtime friend and KHON-TV Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore for a stage production of Prescription: Murder. Rob Duval will direct the play, originally penned by William Link and Richard Levinson, who later adapted the plot into the pilot episode of NBC's hit detective series Columbo. The show, which ran for 10 seasons, followed a Los Angeles homicide detective who used a humble approach and keen eye to solve complex crimes.

Sajak and Moore will star opposite each other at downtown Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre from July 31 to Aug. 10, 2025. They’ll be joined by Moore’s son, Bryce, along with Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan, and Aiko Chinen.

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Related: Watch Vanna White pay tribute to Pat Sajak ahead of his final Wheel of Fortune episode: 'I love you, Pat'

Prescription: Murder marks the ninth time that Sajak and Moore have shared the stage. They first joined forces in 1993 for Moore’s original play Prophecy and Honor, with their later productions including The Odd Couple in 2001, The Honeymooners in 2004, The Boys in Autumn in 2010, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway in 2014, Dial M for Murder in 2018 and, most recently, 2023’s The Sunshine Boys.

Like many of those prior projects, Prescription: Murder will serve as a fundraiser for the non-profit Hawaii Theatre.

Back in June 2023, Sajak announced that he would retire from Wheel of Fortune at the end of its 41st season, marking the end of an era for the beloved game show. He has served as host since its nighttime debut in 1983 and previously emceed the daytime edition as well, from 1981 to 1989.

During his tenure alongside Vanna White (who will continue with the show), Sajak won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding game show host three times, with 19 total nominations. Ryan Seacrest is set to take over as host this fall.

Ahead of his 2023 return to the stage for The Sunshine Boys, Sajak told KHON that ending his run on Wheel of Fortune was “celebratory mixed with melancholy.”

He explained, “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I’ve known that this was coming, and I talked about it with good friends and Joe and my family. So I’ve had time to get used to the idea. It’s not like I woke up the other day and said, ‘You know, it’s over.’ So there’s that. But it’s mixed emotions sure.”

Related: Watch Pat Sajak zing a Wheel of Fortune contestant during his final week as host

As for fortune plans, he added, “I’m realistic enough to know the people aren’t gonna be banging my door down. But I’ll take projects if they come. But I suspect most of my time will be whittling on the front porch, but I don’t know how to whittle and I don’t have a front porch so that’ll be a challenge.”

Tickets to Prescription: Murder are currently on sale.

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