“And now, together for the first time, here are the stars of our show: Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White.” With that line from the announcer, “Wheel of Fortune” opened its 42nd season on Monday, September 9, 2024, with a new host on stage for the first time in four decades.
The pair walked out from behind a set of lit-up doors, a new addition to the set. White welcomed Seacrest, who has hosted “American Idol” for two decades. The three contestants jumped and clapped.
Then Seacrest turned to the camera. “Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is a dream job,” he said. “I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it in Atlanta with my family.” He added: “I also know I’ve got some very big shoes to fill. So, let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune.’”
Some early puzzles fit the night, including “Opening night” and “There’s a first time for everything.” The winner, Terry Watson, was visibly disappointed after missing out on an extra $40,000 in the bonus round. Seacrest patted him on the back. “You’ve got over $25,000 in cash and prizes and great trips,” he told him. “Thank you for being here on my first night.”
Months of practice
Seacrest told USA Today he rehearsed for months with mock games and contestants. He went through hundreds of old episodes, watched White and Pat Sajak on set, asked both for advice, read the rule book and made flashcards. The show’s executive producer even had a miniature wheel built so he could practice on the road, Variety reported.
The real one gave him trouble. “The full-size wheel is harder to operate than it looks,” he told Variety. “It’s heavy. I almost fell over trying to spin it.”
White, who has turned letters on the show since 1983, said the preparation was his own doing. “He spent hours and hours and hours rehearsing,” she said. “Really, I had nothing to do with that.” Seacrest remembered it differently. White started calling him every morning a year ago, he said.
Sajak steps aside
Seacrest was named host in June 2023, shortly after Sajak announced he would step down. Sajak said goodbye to the show on June 7 after 43 years. Days before the debut, he won his fourth Emmy for outstanding game show host, his first in 26 years, People reported. At 77, Sajak still has one more season of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” starting Oct. 7, and Deadline reported he will stay on as a consultant for three years.
“No one can beat Pat Sajak,” Seacrest told USA Today. “I can’t be Pat, I can be me.” His plan for the show, he told “Good Morning America,” came down to three words: “don’t make any changes.”
At the end of the episode, White asked how he felt. “I feel like we did one,” Seacrest said. “We got one under our belt. Really a fun night.”
Sources
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ has a new host — how did Ryan Seacrest do?
- Ryan Seacrest putting his spin on 'Wheel of Fortune' with Vanna White starting Monday
- Ryan Seacrest makes 'Wheel of Fortune' host debut, kicks off new era with Vanna White
