LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the first time in nearly 8,000 episodes, “Wheel of Fortune” did not open with a greeting from longtime host Pat Sajak.

Ryan Seacrest stepped into Sajak’s shoes after his 41-year stint as host of the famed game show, joining co-host and letter-twister Vanna White. Seacrest, a well-known television and radio host known for hosting “American Idol,” New Year’s Eve programming and a long-running radio show, made his debut as the series’ new host Monday night.

“I still can’t believe how lucky I am to be here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you, and of course my dear friend Vanna White,” Seacrest said as he opened the show. “Thank you for the warm welcome.”

In a brief opening monologue before gameplay began, Seacrest acknowledged Sajak’s impact as host and his retirement at the end of the 41st season. Sajak won his fourth Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for his final season on Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmys.

“Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is a dream job. I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it with my family in Atlanta, and I know how special it is that ‘Wheel’ has been in your living rooms for 40 years,” he said. “I’m just so grateful to have been invited. I also know I have some really big shoes to fill, so let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune.’”

In his first episode, Seacrest brought an energetic spirit and his classic good-natured nature. In a departure from his predecessor, he didn’t use cue cards to talk to contestants Corina, Terry and Cindy about their backgrounds.

In addition to the obvious change that saw Seacrest take over from Sajak, the season 42 premiere also saw some aesthetic tweaks.

The colorful wheel and iconic puzzle board remain largely the same, though White did upgrade to a motion sensor board in 2022 to celebrate its 40th season. The podium has been updated, now featuring gold wheels and spokes in a more modern, sleek design.

Seacrest asked White how she found the new stage during the signature jokes the host and letter-twirler share to close the show. White said there was “a lot of light, a lot of action,” and Seacrest joked that he hoped it would continue to work during his first week.

Seacrest told The Associated Press in a recent interview that “the size of the set was quite impressive” when he first stepped onto the set.

The filming schedules are still as fast-paced as ever. Seacrest says that while it can be busy filming multiple episodes a day, it helps with his busy schedule with other hosting duties.

Many of the show’s familiar elements remain exactly as they were when Sajak left the series. White still wears a formal dress, Seacrest wears a suit and tie like Sajak did, the familiar sound effects and “devices” the contestants use to perform are the same. The culture behind the scenes also seems to have remained as brilliant as the 30-minute episodes.

“I’m also impressed by how close-knit the family is that works on ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ the production team that puts it together. It’s a lot of people,” Seacrest said in an interview at an event with White to promote the new season. “They really are a family and they have a lot of respect for everyone, what they do on the show, and that’s special.”

White added that a staff member who started on the show when she was 18 now has children graduating from college. “We’ve been together a long time,” she said.

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Producer Liam McEwan contributed to this report.