Ryan Seacrest Is Finally Stepping Out of Pat Sajak’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Shadow

Wheel of Fortune has been through a handful of hosts, and while fans took some time to warm up to the newest host, he’s quickly winning viewers over. Wheel of Fortune first premiered in 1975. The popular game show was created by Merv Griffin, who also created the iconic game show Jeopardy!. Chuck Woolery was the first host of the game show but left in 1981. After he left the show, Pat Sajak became the new host and, together with Vanna White, the pair created an iconic duo and became the longest-running game show hosts.

However, after being on air for 41 years, Pat decided it was time to focus on other pursuits and spend more time with his family. On June 7, 2023, he appeared on the series for the last time. Now, about a year after Pat left the show, there’s a new host on the horizon: Ryan Seacrest. Of course, change isn’t always easy, but the new host is certainly doing all that he can to leave his mark while still preserving the energy of the game show.

Ryan Seacrest Honors Pat Sajak and the Show’s legacy

Ryan is earning the respect of fans and viewers, largely in part because he’s a respectful person himself. The new Wheel of Fortune host often has a positive air about himself and does his best to present everything in a positive light, especially towards contestants. However, his respect goes far beyond his interactions with contestants. Ryan had eased the minds of long-term fans by acknowledging Pat’s legacy within the game show. He also expressed gratitude for following in Pat’s footsteps. On top of that, many new hosts often try to change the show in some way.

For instance, when Conan O’brien took over for Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, he brought his quirky, offbeat humor, which ultimately rubbed fans the wrong way. However, Ryan has stayed true to the Wheel of Fortune roots. He’s maintained the classic tone and format and embraced a lighthearted nature to reel in viewers and contestants. Overall, Ryan has done an amazing job making sure veteran viewers still felt like they were watching the same beloved game show.

Ryan Is Experienced and Welcomes a Younger Audience

50-year-old Ryan has a lot of experience in the media industry. He started as the host of American Idol in 2002 and became the host of Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve in 2005. He had his own show, Live With Kelly and Ryan, for about six years. He’s also hosted red carpet events and several radio shows like American Top 40. As a result, the years of experience made the transition effortless and flawless. Ryan was able to warm up the fans and viewers by using his decades’ worth of experience.

His knowledge seeped through his hosting skills but wasn’t too overpowering. Ryan seems to have a good balance of being entertaining and positive, but also firm and polite when it comes to some decisions. However, his hosting skills aren’t the only qualities to gloat about. Since Ryan is almost 30 years younger than Pat, and has dedicated younger audiences from his other shows, the new host now entices newer and younger viewers to watch the long-term game show, ensuring its longevity.

Overall, Ryan was the perfect addition to Wheel of Fortune. Between his charismatic and adaptable personality, Ryan seems to have it all. His decades’ worth of experience is also simply unmatched. He is certainly comparable to Pat in that aspect. Additionally, his visible skills on the show aren’t the only perk of his experience. Since he’s well-versed in the radio and TV industry, he’s full of problem-solving techniques and ingenuitive ideas that could help the series flourish. In the end, there’s no denying that Ryan is a well-rounded host and will continue the legacy Pat has left behind. New episodes of Wheel of Fortune Season 42 air nightly on ABC. You can also stream the show on YouTube TV in the U.S.