Ryan Seacrest may lose ‘Wheel of Fortune’ gig despite good ratings as viewers ‘still want’ Pat Sajak

Ryan Seacrest may lose ‘Wheel of Fortune’ gig despite good ratings as viewers 'still want' Pat Sajak

 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: It’s just been a few weeks since Ryan Seacrest took on hosting duties at ‘Wheel of Fortune’ after Pat Sajak retired, but rumors have already begun that the new host could be fired soon despite having good ratings.

Seacrest took the charge from Sajak, who hosted the game show from 1981 until his retirement in June 2024, on September 9.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Ryan Seacrest attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards atRyan Seacrest began hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ on September 9 (Getty Images)

Ryan Seacrest called ‘Wheel of Fortune’ hosting gig ‘a dream job’

At the time, the 49-year-old television presenter said, as per Deadline, “Hosting Wheel of Fortune is a dream job. 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,” he added.
Pat Sajak hosted ‘Wheel of Fortune’ for years until his June retirement (Getty Images)
Though Sajak will reportedly serve as a consultant on the iconic show for the next three years, rival game show bosses are eager to make him an offer that would probably badly affect ‘Wheel of Fortune’.

Pat Sajak’s ‘massive international following’ might cost Ryan Seacrest his job

A tipster revealed, as reported by The Sun, “The elephant in the room here is that Pat is healthy, sharp, and still has this massive international following.

“People love having him in their living rooms every night over dinner, and that hasn’t really changed just because he’s left behind ‘Wheel.’”

“Pat is very aware that he could walk into CBS or NBC and have his pick of primetime game shows to host. Everybody in the executive class knows him and everybody likes him,” they stated.

The mole continued, “But Sony has made the decision to put him in a pair of ‘golden handcuffs’ via his consultancy that prevents him from going across the street and working for the competition.

“Of course, Pat lingering around also has the added benefit of keeping Ryan in line and focused on maintaining the show’s decades of ratings success. A serious slip in the numbers could prompt a panic that puts Pat back in the hosting seat.”

It’s not just that, another reason behind Seacrest’s possible ousting is his 77-year-old predecessor winning Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Award.

The insider shared, “It’s a sign that people still want Pat on TV, big time.”
Ryan Seacrest speaks onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2023 on December 31, 2022 in New York City.Ryan Seacrest has been under pressure to keep his job (Getty Images)
“Even with the press around his departure from the show, nobody at Sony really saw that coming and it has to put even more pressure on Ryan not to screw up this assignment!” the source explained.

Netizens accuse Ryan Seacrest of not connecting to the contestants

Amid this, people online have also shared not-so-good reviews about Seacrest’s new hosting gig.

An X user tweeted, “I just turned on Wheel of Fortune while waiting for the Jets game and my God does @RyanSeacrest stink as the new host.  He’s trying wayyy too hard to be Pat Sajak. His tone, demeanor, pose are cringe-like and super stiff. It’s coming across as acting, like he’s in the Sims. Be yourself dude, own the role, it’s not Jennings with super serious Jeopardy. Trying to emulate Sajak’s ‘small talk’ comes across as stiffness. Anyway, go Jets.”

 

Another user wrote, “Pat would always remind the contestants if they look under the $10,000 they could lose their $1 million wedge. Ryan needs to do this too… @WheelofFortune.”

“Wheel of Fortune without Pat Sajak is a really weird experience,” the third user stated.

The fourth one said, “Ryan Seacrest hosting Wheel of Fortune just isn’t right.”

A person on Reddit commented, “I feel like Ryan kind of acted like if you asked a robot to act like a game show host lol Pat was so real and authentic, idk if I got that tonight.”
(Reddit)(Reddit)
 
(Reddit)(Reddit)
“Everything thing seemed very fast-paced and rushed. I don’t like the new set, nothing cozy or aesthetic about it. Ryan didn’t seem to naturally connect to the contestants at all, seemed very forced. It was the first show, so yeah, there’s that. But my first impression was just not great. I wish they would have had guest hosts like Jeopardy! did and then choose the host(s),” another person added.

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