LOS ANGELES — For the first time in nearly 8,000 episodes, “Wheel of Fortune” did not open with a hello from longtime host Pat Sajak.
Ryan Seacrest stepped into Sajak’s shoes after his 41-year tenure as host of the famed game show, along with co-host and letter-turner Vanna White. Seacrest, a well-known television and radio host known for hosting “American Idol,” New Year’s Eve programming and a long-running radio show, debuted Monday night as the series’ new host.
“I still can’t believe I’m here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you, and of course my good friend Vanna White,” Seacrest said as he opened the show. “Thank you for the very warm welcome.”
In a brief opening monologue before gameplay began, Seacrest acknowledged Sajak’s impact as host and his retirement at the end of the 41st season. Sajak won his fourth Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for his final season Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmys.
“Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is a dream job. “I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching with my family in Atlanta, and I know how special it is that ‘Wheel’ has been in your living rooms for 40 years,” he said. “I’m so grateful to have been invited. I also know I have some really big shoes to fill, so let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune’.”
In his first episode, Seacrest brought an energetic spirit and his classic good-humored character. Unlike his predecessor, he did not use cue cards to talk to participants Corina, Terry and Cindy about their backgrounds.
Besides the obvious change with Seacrest taking over from Sajak, the 42nd season premiere also featured some aesthetic tweaks.
The colorful wheel and iconic puzzle board remain largely the same, although White was upgraded to a motion sensor board in 2022 to celebrate the 40th season. The stage has been renovated and now features gold wheels and spokes in a more modern, sleek design.
Seacrest asked White how she liked the new stage during the signature banter the host and letter turner share to close the show. White said there was “a lot of light, a lot of action,” and Seacrest joked that he hoped it would continue to work for the first week.
Seacrest told The Associated Press in a recent interview that “the scale of the set was quite impressive” for him when he first stepped on set.
The recording schedule is still as fast-paced as ever, with Seacrest saying that while it can be busy recording multiple episodes in a day, this is convenient for his busy schedule with other hosting duties.
Many of the show’s familiar elements remain exactly as they were when Sajak left the series. White still wears a formal dress, Seacrest wore a suit and tie like Sajak did, the recognizable sound effects and ‘devices’ that participants use to perform are the same. The culture behind the scenes also seems to have remained just as brilliant as the 30-minute episodes.
“I’m also impressed with how close-knit the family is that works on ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ the production team that puts it together. It’s a lot of people,” Seacrest said in an interview at an event where White was promoting the new season. “They really are a family and they have a lot of respect for everyone, for what they do on the show, and that’s special.”
White added that a staff member who started on the show at age 18 now has children graduating. “We’ve been together for a long time,” she said.
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Producer Liam McEwan contributed to this report.
