Ryan Seacrest is taking the wheel. “Wheel of Fortune,” that is.
The ubiquitous host, who departed from “Live with Kelly and Ryan” earlier this year, is set to be the new host of the popular syndicated game show, Sony Pictures Television announced Tuesday. He’ll also serve as a consulting producer on the show, which awards prizes for solving Hangman-style word puzzles.
Seacrest expressed his excitement in a lengthy statement shared to Instagram. He said he is humbled to step into the shoes of “legendary” longtime host Pat Sajak, who is retiring next summer.
“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,” Seacrest wrote. “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.”
He added that one of his first jobs was hosting a game show called “Click” for Merv Griffin, who also created “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!,” and called the appointment “a full circle moment.”
“I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White,” he said.
White remains under contract to continue at “Wheel” for at least another year, but has yet to sign a new deal.
Sajak, 76, announced this month he’ll step down after next season, the show’s 41st. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”
Sony moved quickly to replace him, attempting to avoid the lengthy process of filling the big shoes of “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who died in 2020. After a series of guest hosts tried out for that role, Trebek was briefly replaced by the show’s producer, Mike Richards, who resigned amid controversy. Former champ Ken Kennings and actress Mayim Bialik now host versions of the quiz show.
Both “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!” are among the most popular shows on TV, averaging 8 million-plus viewers on local stations, usually in the early evenings. Both shows also air celebrity editions in primetime on ABC.
In recent years, Sajak said he wasn’t keen to help find his replacement. “I have no interest in that,” Sajak told USA TODAY in 2019. “It’s not my show, I don’t run it, I’m not producing it. I don’t own it. I’m just a working stiff here. I’m sure they will pick someone just fine, but I’ve never given that a moment’s thought.”
Contributing: Charles Trepany, Erin Jensen
