Ryan Seacrest Is Taking Over Wheel Of Fortune From Pat Sajak?
A new report says Ryan Seacrest is in the running to replace Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune.
Pat Sajak is finally calling it quits after 41 seasons of Wheel of Fortune, but the show must go on. Shortly after announcing that the next season would be his last before he retires, many fans have been wondering who might replace the long-time host. According to Fox News, his replacement might be Ryan Seacrest.
Ryan Seacrest’s perpetually cheery hosting style would be a suitable replacement for the affable Pat Sajak, so he could be a fairly good fit for the game show. Seacrest recently ended his co-hosting tenure at the Live with Kelly and Ryan show, which would help free up some of his schedule for the gig. Seacrest also moved back to Los Angeles recently, which is perfect considering Wheel of Fortune films at Sony Picture Studios in Culver City.
Seacrest is best known for his work as the host of American Idol and his hosting and co-hosting gigs for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest can also be heard frequently on his radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a contract he renewed out to 2025. While his radio gig will likely take up some of his time still, it seems possible that Wheel of Fortune could fit into his schedule as well.
Ryan Seacrest isn’t the only name that has been thrown out as a potential replacement for Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune. Fans have also suggested Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak. Maggie Sajak is the social media correspondent for the show and has subbed for Vanna White to turn letters on occasion. As for Vanna White, she has yet to announce if she’ll be retiring alongside Sajak, but she did wish the long-time host well on social media.
But perhaps the most obvious replacement that would know the show better than Ryan Seacrest is Vanna White herself. White has even subbed for Sajak on Wheel of Fortune before when he underwent surgery, so she already has some experience with it. And there’s also the fact that White has been there since the beginning alongside Sajak.
It’s possible that Vanna White even has first dibs on the hosting gig before Seacrest, but it’s also possible that White isn’t interested in taking it on. Not to mention the fact that White may want to retire from Wheel of Fortune herself in the coming years, while she would no doubt be a great replacement, it wouldn’t be surprising if she didn’t want to host the show.
Whether Ryan Seacrest, Vanna White, or someone else takes on the Wheel of Fortune hosting gig, it will probably be less contentious than when fellow gameshow Jeopardy! had to replace the late Trebek. While hosting Wheel of Fortune still takes skill and charm, the host of Jeopardy! can affect the pace of the show, and fans often get onto hosts for mistakes. The stakes of Wheel are much lower, comparatively.
For now, Sony Group Corp has some time to decide if Ryan Seacrest is the right fit to replace Pat Sajak. Fans will get to see Sajak make one last victory lap with the upcoming season of Wheel of Fortune. You can catch these new episodes when they air in September.
