It's official: Ryan Seacrest will be the new host of Wheel of Fortune.
Just two weeks after Pat Sajak announced his plans to retire from the game show after 41 years, it was revealed that Ryan will take over the role after the 2023-2024 season. Sharing a headshot of the American Idol host, Wheel of Fortune's Instagram posted words of excitement over the him succeeding one of the most iconic hosts in game show history.
"It’s official!" read the caption on June 27. "Starting in 2024 @ryanseacrest will take the stage as the new host of Wheel of Fortune. We're so excited - Welcome Ryan!"
Since Ryan was reportedly the frontrunner to step in for Pat once he exited Wheel of Fortune, there were many folks who weren't totally surprised by the news. Without missing a beat, folks took to the comments section to congratulate him on his latest job in Hollywood.
"Congrats to Ryan, wishing him the best in the role!" one person wrote on Instagram. "He is the best option! Good choice!" another added. "I'm not surprised at all. He's truly the best!" a different viewer agreed.
Still, others expressed that they were hoping for someone different. "Oh we love Ryan but dang not Wheel too… we needed someone new here. It’s not that type of vibe on Wheel!" someone else chimed in.
As far as Ryan feels about the news, he went on Instagram to share a heartfelt note on the subject. As he explained, he feels honored to work alongside future co-star Vanna White and cement his role on such an iconic TV program.
"I'm truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak," he wrote. "I can say, along with the rest of America, that it's been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile and feel right at home with them."
He continued: "Pat, I love that you've always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition."
"Many people probably don’t know this but one of my first jobs was hosting a little game show called 'Click' for Merv Griffin 25 years ago, so this is a truly full circle moment for me and I'm grateful to Sony for the opportunity. I can't wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White," he concluded.
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
