Ryan Seacrest Replaces Pat Sajak As Wheel Of Fortune Host

Ryan Seacrest will replace Pat Sajak as the new host of Wheel Of Fortune, according to an announcement from Seacrest on Twitter. And some fans of the game show felt baffled by the decision.

Ryan’s new gig comes just after he left the TV morning show Live With Kelly And Ryan. And he supposedly exited that show because of his overwhelming workload, such as American Idol.

However, whatever the reasons, fans of Wheel Of Fortune need to prepare for Sajak’s exit and Seacrest’s entrance. And because Vanna White reportedly wanted the promotion, fans also can look forward to observing her interaction with Ryan. Find out all the details below.

Ryan Seacrest Steps Into Pat Sajak’s Wheel Of Fortune Gig

Pat Sajak stunned fans when he announced he would leave Wheel Of Fortune. And suspense grew as rumors swirled about who would replace him. For instance, letter-turner Vanna White reportedly hoped to shift to Pat’s hosting gig.

But after two weeks of speculation, Ryan Seacrest won the job. And his decision to throw his hat into the Wheel Of Fortune hosting competition comes after his departure from the TV morning show Live With Kelly and Ryan, noted Yahoo.

In a statement about his new job, Seacrest shared, “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.” But Ryan also addressed Sajak directly in his announcement. 

And Seacrest made a point of praising the man he will replace. “Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition,” said Ryan. But he also offered a look at his resume. And Seacrest shared, “Many people probably don’t know this. But one of my first jobs was hosting a little game show called Click for Merv Griffin 25 years ago.”

Wheel of Fortune pic.twitter.com/pQeTpWsPx7

— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) June 27, 2023

Ryan Seacrest Praises Vanna White

After sharing his appreciation for the opportunity, the American Idol host took time to appreciate the woman who will become his colleague on Wheel Of Fortune. And Seacrest gushed, “I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.” He also described getting the gig as “truly a full circle moment for me. And I’m grateful to Sony for the opportunity.”

However, some Hollywood insiders had recommended that Wheel Of Fortune try out different guest hosts before making a choice. For instance,  J. Chris Newberg, who has produced game shows including The Chase and Beat Shazam, recommended rotating a “bunch of celebs till they see who clicks and is liked most by the audience. Likability is key in game show.” But Newberg also opined that ending the pairing of White and Sajak marked the “end of an era.”

Tell us what you think. How do you feel about Ryan Seacrest becoming the new Wheel Of Fortune host? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more TV news.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com