Can New WHEEL OF FORTUNE Host Fill Pat Sajak’s Shoes?
By Movieguide® Contributor
As Ryan Seacrest settles into his new WHEEL OF FORTUNE hosting duties, experts are weighing in on what will help him succeed.
“Many people are asking, ‘Can he pull it off? Will he tank it? Will he turn off audiences?’” brand expert Eric Schiffer told Fox News. “Ryan has a sixth sense of how to make adjustments, and the adjustment here is toning down the energy until he builds audience trust. Then, I believe he can use some of the techniques mastered on IDOL to increase engagement and grow the audience.”
Schiffer noted that WHEEL OF FORTUNE is more “passive compared to AMERICAN IDOL,” adding, “I think Ryan’s challenge will be building enough trust in the early stages to where he can bring in all of his magic to grow the brand and to grow the audience without losing legacy fans, and that’s going to come with trust and him being comfortable. The star remains the game itself.”
“As long as the game and the players of the game are the central focus, it should continue to do fine. I think Ryan can then continue to grow it,” he said. “He’s really built a consistently growing empire with smart moves and understanding his brand, and finding ways to extend it. I believe this will be another jewel on the crown.”
Seacrest just hosted his very first episode, where he acknowledged how important the role of host is.
“Hosting WHEEL OF FORTUNE is a dream job,” he said during the episode. “I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid, watching in Atlanta with my family, and I know how special it is that WHEEL has been in your living rooms for the past 40 years. I’m just so grateful to be invited in. I also know I’ve got some very big shoes to fill.”
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Vanna White admitted she was “scared” to see what the show would look like without longtime host Pat Sajak.
“I think our chemistry is good,” White said of working with Seacrest. “I had no idea what to expect when I’m used to one person for so long. I was very scared, but he’s doing a great job.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Seacrest’s excitement for his new gig:
Ryan Seacrest just filmed his first WHEEL OF FORTUNE episode since taking the role as host after Pat Sajak’s retirement.
“A glimpse of my first day at @wheeloffortune, and I’m still spinning with excitement!” he captioned an Instagram video of him entering the set for the first time.
“My heart’s pounding. I’m so excited,” he says in the video.
“There’s the wheel…The wheel’s maybe smaller than you think — as am I,” he joked upon seeing the famous wheel. “I could not sleep last night; I was so excited. I slept okay, but still very excited for the alarm to go off.”
He then stood next to a cardboard cutout of Pat Sajak. “Who’s taller?” he said. “He is… shocker,” he smiled while pointing to Sajak.
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