Wheel of Fortune fans threaten to boycott show if ‘boring’ Ryan Seacrest replaces beloved Pat Sajak after retirement

WHEEL of Fortune fans have spun into a fierce debate over Ryan Seacrest being a reported frontrunner as Pat Sajak’s replacement.

Internet users argued that the American Idol host is “too boring” to match Pat’s effortless energy.

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Wheel of Fortune fans claimed they ‘would not watch’ if Ryan Seacrest replaced Pat Sajak in June 2024Credit: Getty

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‘All I want is someone who can run the game efficiently and wants the job because they love the game, not the paycheck’ someone accusedCredit: Getty
Multiple celebrities have already expressed interest in taking Pat’s place after he announced on Monday that he’ll be retiring at the end of next season.

The View’s Whoopi Goldberg expressed interest on-air, as has former Live! With Kelly and Ryan host Ryan, Bloomberg reported.

“Some sources say he’s the frontrunner. Others say he is just one of many interested,” a reporter tweeted.

Kelly’s new Live! counterpart and husband Mark Conseulos also told The U.S. Sun: “I think [Ryan] would be great and that’s a great job for him.”

“Several eyes” have turned to Ryan immediately, other sources said.

‘HE DOESN’T LOVE THE GAME’

On Reddit, fans were not all set on having Ryan become the new Wheel of Fortune host and felt there are more interesting options on the board.

Someone titled a thread: “Ryan Seacrest possibly next host. I will choose not to watch that. End of an era.”

Someone else replied: “I thought maybe they were setting Maggie [Sajak] up to be the next host?”

A third person defended: “I’m alone here, but I don’t mind Seacrest. Guy works his a** off and can own the room. What more do you want?”

To which a fourth wrote: “All I want is someone who can run the game efficiently and wants the job because they love the game, not because they’re drawn to the paycheck or fame that comes with it.”

A fifth agreed: “Yeah…that would kill it for me too.”

A sixth wrote: “I find Seacrest boring and a little weird (there’s nothing interesting about him for me), but he wouldn’t be a bad host.”

A seventh wrote: “Ugh, no thank you” and a seventh wrote: “He’s just so boring.”

Other fans offered up names like RuPaul (who has done Celebrity Wheel), Elizabeth Banks (host of Press Your Luck) and Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander in the thread.

HEAD-SPINNING ANNOUNCEMENT

On June 12, 2023, Pat dropped his unexpected announcement he’d be retiring from Wheel of Fortune at the end of next season.

Pat began hosting in 1981 and has done so for 40 seasons with Vanna White, 66.

He tweeted out the news from his personal account the Monday after the season finale of Season 40 aired the Friday before.

The TV stalwart tweeted: “Well, the time has come. 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.”

No successor to Pat has been named as of yet.

Vanna quote-tweeted Pat’s announcement and wrote: “When we started Wheel of Fortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later?”

“I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you, @patsajak!”

Maggie Sajak, 27, one of Pat’s two children who currently serves as social media correspondent – tweeted: “It’s so much fun working with my dad…and we’re looking forward to even more fun in Season 41.”

Vanna’s contract is up in 2024, meanwhile, and is reportedly fearing for her job as co-host and has no interest in retiring.

‘MIXED EMOTIONS’

Pat sat down with Honolulu-based Fox affiliate KHON while donning a Hawaiian shirt, currently away from his mainstay of California, on Wednesday.

He said in his first interview since his announcement: “Yeah, it’s a celebratory mixed with melancholy and all that.

“But I’ve known for the last year or so that this date was coming.

“And I talked about it with good friends. I’ve had time to get used to the idea it’s not like I woke up the other day and said, ‘you know, I’ll go.’”

But it’s mixed emotions sure.”

“I’m realistic enough to know that at my age people are not going to be banging down the door with projects.

But if something came along that I found interesting or challenging or fun I’d certainly look at it.

“But I suspect most of my time will be spent whittling on the front porch but I don’t know how to whittle and I dont have a front porch so that will be a challenge,” he added in a classic Pat-style quip.

Sony’s VP of game shows Suzanne Prete said in a statement per Variety that Pat will stay involved for the following three years as “show consultant.”

So theoretically Pat will have a say in what happens.

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‘Some sources say he’s the frontrunner. Others say he is just one of many interested,’ a reporter claimed about Ryan SeacrestCredit: ABC

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Pat Sajak who revealed he has ‘mixed emotions’ about his news – will stay on as a show consultant for the following three years and will probably have a sayCredit: BRProud.com