Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak Hands Off Hosting Duties to Successor Ryan Seacrest in New Promo — Watch
Before Ryan Seacrest officially takes over as Wheel of Fortune host this fall, he’s getting a tour of the place from outgoing emcee Pat Sajak.
Sajak, along with Wheel letter-turner Vanna White, show Seacrest around and officially hand off duties in a new promo for the long-running game show. In the video above, Seacrest calls Wheel‘s set “impressive,” and Sajak tells him, “You’re never going to find a better job, and you’re never going to find a better co-host.”
Seacrest, whose first episode airs in September 2024, is the third host in Wheel history. Sajak was second, taking over for Chuck Woolery in 1981 and logging more than four decades in the role.
Sajak’s final Wheel of Fortune aired on June 7. At the end of the episode, Sajak thanked the audience, the crew and White for his long run with the show. He did not mention Seacrest, however. (Read a full recap.)
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement when he first announced as Sajak’s replacement in June 2023. “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 every night and feel right at home with them. Pat, I love the way 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.”
Press PLAY on the video above and then hit the comments: Are you looking forward to Seacrest’s debut on Wheel of Fortune?
Meh… I still say Levar Burton would’ve been a better host.
The Burton fans are very vocal, I’ll give them that.
He was not good when he hosted Jeopardy. Too dour and lifeless, he’d be a poor choice for Wheel.
Fifth, since Pat left the daytime show and was followed there by Rolf Benirschke, and then by Bob Goen.
This story has nothing to do with the daytime show that ended long ago. This is about the syndicated show which Sajak just finished hosting.
If we’re just talking about the syndicated show, then the story is still wrong. Chuck Woolery never hosted the syndicated show; Pat was the first host and Ryan will be second.
I am always reminded me of The Simpsons episode in the Comic Book Store at times like this. Google “Magic xylophone Simpsons” if you’re unaware.
They should have given job to Maggie why does it always have to be a guy
Did she want it?
I’d have been fine with Maggie replacing Vanna. She and Ryan would draw in younger viewers.
Seacrest is not the show’s third host. Rolf Benirschke succeeded Sajak on the daytime show, and was replaced by Bob Goen for the rest of the run.
Two different shows. The daytime one you’re referencing no longer exists. The syndicated edition is the one Sajak hosted and the one mentioned in this story.
If you’re going to try and be pedantic, at least be right.
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Wheel of Fortune is wheel of Fortune. Does it really matter what time of day it airs. I think the point is the show has had other host. Although Pat is and has been the best, sorry Chuck, others have hosted in one form or another.
Will miss you Pat!!!
The daytime show and syndicated show were literally two different shows. Unless you want to call Hawaii 50 and the Hawaii 50 reboot the same show also.
It’s tiring seeing Ryan in all of these shows. They really should’ve gone with someone else. We get it, he’s a workaholic but why not give someone else an opportunity when there are others with talent.
I still resent the quickness of the new host selection for Wheel of Fortune and Sony’s non-willingness to consider others, especially a woman, for the WoF hosting job. Not only am I concerned about how long Ryan Seacrest will last in that hosting gig, I also don’t know how good of a pairing Vanna White will make with Ryan Seacrest.
And (I swear this is out of curiosity) how good or bad would a male letter-activator on Wheel of Fortune sound or turn out if the show actually does get a female host?
You seem rather obsessed with the gender identity of each host or co-host. How about just seeing them all as people?
I’m just not sure how good of a choice Ryan Seacrest will be. If he does depart after a few years (mainly due to his ultra-busy schedule), just experiment with a female host (the male letter activator would be a “maybe” at best).
The only ladies I’d be OK with hosting Wheel are Leah Remini or Brooke Burns.
Terrible mistake for wheel