Ryan Seacrest has officially taken over as host of Wheel of FortuneLast night was Seacrest’s debut as host alongside Vanna White, after the former co-host of Live! with Kelly and Ryan took over from Pat Sajak after 41 seasons.
The episode began with the announcer saying, “And now, for the first time, here are the stars of our show together, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!” Seacrest stood arm in arm with White as she welcomed him to the show. He told her, “I’m so excited to be here with you,” adding, “Let’s have fun!”
After taking his place on the set, which was being remodeled for the new season, Seacrest addressed the audience and said, “Thank you for the warm welcome. Wheel of Fortune is a dream job. I have been a fan of this show since I was a child and watched it with my family in Atlanta, and I know how special it is that wheel has been in your living rooms for 40 years. I am so grateful to have been invited. I also know that I have big shoes to fill.”
Sajak said goodbye to Wheel of Fortune in June during his final episode of the show. “Well, it’s time to say goodbye,” Sajak told the audience. “I have a few more thanks and acknowledgements before I go. And I want to start with all of you out there watching. It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade. And I’ve always felt that with that privilege comes the responsibility to make that daily half hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues. No politics. Nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game. But little by little, it became more than that.”
The 77-year-old Sajak began his career as a presenter Wheel of Fortune in 1981. In June 2023, he announced on social media that the game show’s then-upcoming 41st season would be his last. “It’s been a wonderful journey, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Thank you all,” he said at the time.
Soon after the announcement of Sajak’s resignation from wheelIt was announced that Seacrest would take over as host of the show, with White staying on at least until the 2025–26 season to reveal letters.
“I am truly honored to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement at the time. “I can say along with the rest of America that it has been a privilege and a pure joy to have Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile and feel at home every night. Pat, I love the way you always celebrated the contestants and made the viewers at home feel good. I look forward to learning all I can from you during this transition.”
