Why Ryan Seacrest’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Premiere Divided Viewers

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Ryan Seacrest, who replaced Pat Sajak as the host of “Wheel of Fortune,” made his highly anticipated debut on Monday, but it has left fans split.

While many praised the 49-year-old for his smooth transition into the role, others were surprised by the absence of any reference to his predecessor during his premiere.

The decision not to acknowledge Pat Sajak’s iconic four-decade run sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with some viewers expressing disappointment over Ryan Seacrest’s hosting debut.

Ryan Seacrest Makes His Debut As New ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Host

“Wheel of Fortune” kicked off its 42nd season Monday night, and things are already shaking up. The flashy new set wasn’t the only thing fans had to adjust to. The biggest change? The new host.

Ryan Seacrest made his grand debut, but the show’s longtime frontman, Pat Sajak, was nowhere to be mentioned.

The new era began with announcer Jim Thornton hyping up the crowd: “And now together for the first time, here are the stars of our show, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!” But the glaring absence of any shoutout to Sajak left fans feeling all kinds of ways.

What Did Ryan Seacrest Say (And Not Say)?

“I am your host, Ryan Seacrest. I still can’t believe my luck of being here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you,” the 49-year-old said after stepping out on stage. “And, of course, my good friend, Vanna White.”

“Thank you for the very warm welcome,” he continued. “Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is a dream job. I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it 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.”

“And I’m just so grateful to be invited in. I also know I’ve got some very big shoes to fill,” Seacrest said, referring to Pat Sajak’s hosting duties, though he never actually said his name. “So, let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune.’”

Social Media Reacts To Ryan Seacrest Hosting Duties

Viewers were quick to notice that Seacrest made no mention of longtime host Pat Sajak during the episode, sparking debate among fans. As the “American Idol” host steps into the iconic role, some felt the lack of acknowledgment was a missed opportunity to honor Sajak’s 40-year legacy on the show.

“Ryan Seacrest is off to a rocky start on ‘Wheel of Fortune,'” one user said. “Not a single mention of the ICON Pat Sajak?!

“Ryan Seacrest was perhaps the worst possible choice to replace Pat Sajak lmao,” another expressed. “It’s 3 minutes into his very first episode and I hate it.”

Other Fans Support Ryan Seacrest After Seeing His ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Debut

It wasn’t all bad, though. Others believe Ryan’s hosting style is to establish a new era for the game show.

“First impression of Ryan Seacrest hosting ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ (aside from a great new set and enhanced production) is that he’s doing it without notecards,” one fan said, supporting the new host. “That takes a ton of skill and confidence, and also shows a lot of personal character in learning the game, and the contestants.”

“I’m so glad he’s there. Breath of fresh air,” another wrote.

“I just watched 10 seconds of Ryan Seacrest hosting the opening toss-up of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and… He’s going to be outstanding,” a third expressed. “Nothing negative. He’s going to slide into that role effortlessly.”

Ryan Seacrest Named The New Host Of ‘Wheel Of Fortune’

Seacrest actually filmed his first episode of “Wheel of Fortune” back in July, giving fans a sneak peek of his big moment on Instagram. In a behind-the-scenes video, Seacrest shared his excitement about stepping into the iconic role, showing off his first day on set with Vanna White by his side.

“I’m still spinning with excitement!” he wrote in the caption. “I’m so excited, my heart’s pounding,” he said in the video. “The wheel may be smaller than you think — as am I,” he joked spinning the wheel for the first time. “I could not sleep last night, I was so excited. I slept okay, but still very excited for the alarm to go off.”

New episodes of “Wheel of Fortune” air weeknights on ABC.