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Ryan Seacrest’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Debut Nears; New Host Reveals All

Vaseline September 10, 2024

LOS ANGELES − “Wheel of Fortune” fans tuning in Monday for Ryan Seacrest’s long-awaited debut as host (check local schedules) will see some big changes in the 42nd season of the still-iconic game show.

During a taping last month, the studio audience went wild in front of a brand new set, adorned with gold laminate and 264 dazzling LED screens.

“It’s like remodeling your house after 40 years,” says famed letter spinner and “Wheel” co-host Vanna White, sitting next to host Ryan Seacrest in the show’s dressing room before their first taping.. “You still feel at home, but it has been modernized a bit.”

“We’re still trying to figure out where the outlets are,” Seacrest adds with a laugh. He’s joking, of course. Because the boyishly coiffed and deadly quick-witted “American Idol” host, 49, really is the big change at “Wheel.” Seacrest replaces Pat Sajak, 77, who retired in June after 41 years and more than 8,000 episodes on the Hangman-inspired TV game show.

How was it without Pat Sajak? Ryan Seacrest Debuts as ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host With Vanna White at His Side

Fear not, die-hard fans: Seacrest promises a limit on modifications. He’s not trying to reinvent “Wheel of Fortune.”

“Nothing has to change. Just me standing there with my voice and my mannerisms, that’s different enough,” says Seacrest, who has spent months practicing hosting mock games and contestants. “I want the audience to feel like this is the right thing to do. I want (the show) to be something that’s not shocking, that’s seamless.”

Vanna White is a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ regular, with new foam under her heels

Consoling points of consistency have been carried over from the Sajak era: The multicolored wheel spun by the three contestants remains unchanged after 20 years, still making that distinctive clicking sound as the steel pins on the outside hit the rubber flapper. The puzzles won’t change. Jim Thornton with the golden pipe remains the “Wheel” announcer. And buying a vowel costs the same. “It’s been $250 for 42 years,” White says proudly.

The famed co-host, who signed a two-year contract extension in 2023 following Sajak’s retirement announcement, remains the ultimate fashionably dressed conduit into the new era. Sajak and White have been close friends since the former Miss Georgia nervously auditioned for “Wheel” in 1982 and rose to global stardom by elegantly unveiling the puzzle board letters.

“It was a tough decision to make when I heard Pat was leaving. It was like, ‘Gosh, we’ve been together for 40 years. Should I go with him?'” White says. “But then I thought, I’m not ready to leave. I’m not ready to retire.”

White stayed on board and got a raise and a modest performance upgrade at work: a few inches of foam padding discreetly placed under the puzzle board she walks on while activating correctly guessed letters. “I think they just wanted to make it easier for me to do all that walking in five-inch heels,” she says.

The relationship between the incoming Seacrest and White has had a similarly professionally soft landing. The banter between the two, in smiling conversations onstage and off, is effortless. It’s like they’ve been doing this forever. Seacrest and White even have a cute backstage moment before every episode.

“We do a dental check,” Seacrest says. “It’s a final look, honestly. Because if there’s something in our teeth, I’m responsible for her. She’s responsible for me.”

Sajak and White entered arm in arm from the side stage; Seacrest and White now make a grand entrance behind the brilliantly lit sliding doors at center stage before heading to their respective “Wheel” stations.

“We come through a big show door,” Seacrest says. “It’s a fun entrance for us.”

How does Ryan Seacrest find time for ‘Wheel of Fortune’?

If there’s one question that still lingers among “Wheel” fans, it’s how many appearances Seacrest will make. Sajak, who hosted the failed CBS talk show “The Pat Sajak Show” in 1989-90, is synonymous with “Wheel” and holds a Guinness Book record for hosting the same show.

Seacrest has a notoriously packed schedule, even by hard-charging Hollywood standards. He hosts the daily IHeart Radio show “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” and the weekly “American Top 40” show (taking over from the legendary Casey Kasem). He’ll ring in 2025 by hosting his 20th edition of ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” (taking over from the legendary Dick Clark) before gearing up to host Season 23 of the network’s “American Idol” in February.

Seacrest says the new job doesn’t rob him of sleep, despite the “well-oiled machine” of “Wheel,” with its strategically filmed episodes (six a day, four times a month) and notoriously insane scheduling.

“You can see my schedule out to 2026, and if you want to know when I’m working out, I can tell you,” Seacrest says. “This show allows me to do a lot of different things because of the way they put it together in the (scheduling) puzzle. But there’s never a dull moment.”

The “Wheel” host has signed a multi-year contract and is “committed,” but won’t speculate on how long he’ll stay.

“I hope the audience feels the same way,” he says. “But this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

And if there are still loyal Sajak followers who don’t fully support the new “Wheel” host, Seacrest asks if he can at least get a chance to spin that wheel.

“Nobody can beat Pat Sajak. He’s a legend and an icon. I can’t be Pat, I can be myself. And I can hopefully make it as fun and seamless as possible. That’s all I can hope for.”