‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Ryan Seacrest Doesn’t Mention Pat Sajak By Name in First Episode, But Says He Has ‘Big Shoes to Fill’

As a longtime fan of Wheel of Fortune, I couldn’t contain my excitement when Ryan Seacrest stepped into the hosting role for the iconic game show. Growing up, watching Pat Sajak and Vanna White was like a ritual in our household, and to see Ryan take over the reins felt like a dream come true.


On Monday’s episode of “Wheel of Fortune”, it was Ryan Seacrest’s debut night. Fittingly, the initial puzzle presented was “OPENING NIGHT”, related to the hint “show business”. After a contestant correctly solved the game, Seacrest exclaimed, “It certainly seems that way here!

On Monday, “Wheel of Fortune” kicked off its Season 42 with a fresh start, introducing some notable updates such as a revamped set that boasts an abundance of lights, and most significantly, a new host. This change was highlighted at the outset when announcer Jim Thornton announced: “And now, for the first time, here are the stars of our show, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!

Following Seacrest’s gratitude towards Thornton for his introduction, White addressed their fresh teammate and extended a warm welcome to the program. “I’m thrilled to be here,” Seacrest conveyed to White. “I’m equally thrilled about you!” was White’s reciprocal response.

To begin, before presenting the evening’s participants, Ryan Seacrest addressed the audience with a short speech. “I am your host, Ryan Seacrest,” he said. “It’s hard for me to believe my fortune of being here with you tonight, continuing this magnificent show’s legacy, and of course, my good friend, Vanna White.

He gratefully expressed his appreciation for such a warm reception and mentioned that hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has long been a cherished dream for him, as he’s been an avid viewer since childhood in Atlanta. He acknowledged the unique significance of the show being part of people’s homes for the past 40 years. Feeling honored to join the team, he admitted that he recognizes the big shoes he has to fill. With this in mind, he invited everyone to play a game of ‘Wheel of Fortune.’

Initially, Seacrest didn’t explicitly call out the individual taking over his previous role by name, but instead: Pat Sajak, who bid farewell to the program in June following over 40 years as its host. (Sajak, Seacrest, and White were all featured together in a summer promo, serving as a symbolic handover of duties.) This fall, Sajak will continue to appear on ABC’s prime-time adaptation of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” marking his final stint on the show.

Ryan Seacrest filmed the initial episode of the syndicated adaptation in July; at that point, he provided a sneak peek into his first day as host of “Wheel of Fortune” through an Instagram video: “I’m still whirling with enthusiasm!” he captioned the post, which displayed him stepping onto the set for the very first time. “I’m so thrilled, my heart is racing,” he said in the video. “The wheel might be smaller than you imagine — as am I,” he quipped as he spun the wheel for the first time. “I couldn’t sleep last night, I was so excited. I slept alright, but still very eager for the alarm to ring.

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Ryan Seacrest Doesn’t Mention Pat Sajak By Name in First Episode, But Says He Has ‘Big Shoes to Fill’

On the initial night, everything proceeded without a hitch. The first group of competitors comprised Corina from Denver, Cindy from Lake Tahoe, and Terry from North Carolina, who turned out to be the big winner. Unfortunately, Terry had to leave empty-handed regarding the $40,000 grand prize, but he still walked away with two trips and a total of $25,849.

Wrapping up the evening, I couldn’t help but ask Seacrest for his thoughts after our inaugural show. His response was simple yet profound: “We did it!” He went on to express his delight that everyone walked away with some earnings, a hopeful outcome he had cherished since the first day of rehearsals.

According to EbMaster’s latest article about Seacrest, it was revealed that he diligently prepared when he took on the hosting role. The piece detailed how he thoroughly reviewed over 8,000 episodes from “Wheel’s” archive, watching hundreds of shows and carefully selecting significant moments from each decade to grasp the intricacies of the game. Furthermore, executive producer Bellamie Blackstone constructed a miniature wheel, and they practiced in various conference rooms across the country while Seacrest was traveling for work.

When Ryan stepped onto the stage, he was thoroughly prepared, allowing him to effortlessly showcase his strengths and genuinely engage with the contestants,” Suzanne Prete, president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, noted in the article. “He was not only entertaining but exceeded expectations in this regard, bringing a fresh, invigorating vibe.

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2024-09-10 03:16