WHEEL of Fortune’s Vanna White appeared to have no control in the Season 40 premiere, fans slammed on Monday, calling the game show ridiculous.

The once-iconic puzzle board has been replaced.

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Wheel of Fortune Season 40 premiered on Monday night and fans slammed it as ‘ridiculous’

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They claimed Vanna White has ‘no control’ of the letters anymoreCredit: ABC
Wheel of Fortune fans got to see what some have called a jarring new puzzle board finally get taken for a spin during the September 12th premiere.

First, the show offered a glamorous cold open with Vanna, 65, and Pat, 74, against a black backdrop.

“Season 40 starts now” a glistening Vanna said – they then got right into the game.

Pat proclaimed, “We have an XL wedge, double the chance for you to win a million dollars… let’s do our first toss-up!”

The first clue began to spell out “Forty seasons on television” without Vanna in a gorgeous silver dress even touching the pieces.

One player, Rasheim, unfortunately, guessed “Funny seasons on television” but that isn’t why fans were furious.

It was because the puzzle board, which hasn’t been updated in nearly two decades, got a makeover – it now features the same technology that powers the NASA Mars Rover.

Previously, Vanna manually turned the letter pieces of the board, and since 1997, has touched the edges of individual monitors.

Fans spotted that now, all she has to do is gesture toward the screen, and the letters change from the control room.

During another clue, which was looking for “The Incredible Hulk,” Vanna touched an “H” with a finger and then pressed harder with her hand and it finally turned.

It awkwardly didn’t appear like she actually did anything, fans said.

Left contestant Adriana did win $24K and the bonus round of $45K instantly solving “Hiding In Plain Sight.”

She seemed thrilled hugging Pat, but viewers not so much.

‘WORSE THAN EXPECTED’

One YouTube user wrote under a clip of the episode: “I miss when Vanna would touch the letters on screens.”

Another roared: “It is even more ridiculous than before to have Vanna turn on the letters.

“She used to flip them, then press a button, now they most likely turn on the letter when they see her touching it.”

“It can be all done backstage. When the Disney characters were on, they didn’t even pretend to touch the board.”

“Wow” a third simply commented.

‘DON’T WORRY’

Ahead of tonight’s season premiere, WoF tried to get ahead of this backlash after they debuted the bizarre new board.

Alongside Pat’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, 25, and announcer Jim Thorton, Pat, Vanna and the gang pretended to be struggling on set having switched roles.

The clip was coyly captioned: “Places, everyone! Wait, something seems different…”

“I’m still your host,” Pat then assured at the end.

“I’m still at the puzzle board,” Vanna added in a beautiful floral number.

Announcer Jim Thorton then stated: “We’re all where we should be.”

‘CHEAP & ODD’

Instead of 52 individual monitors, the new board is now one giant flat-screen TV with a single monitor that uses laser beams and an LED display, according to BuzzerBlog.

The outlet’s Corey Anotado went on a tour of Sony Pictures Studios where he leaked that the old puzzle board was missing and “in storage.”

He also confirmed that the new board has a “grid of invisible lasers in front of it.”

BuzzerBlog tweeted: “Am I alone in thinking it looks … cheap? Having a flat screen with no depth and or activity feels odd. It could be just this photo. But it just feels a bit odd and cold.”

“First thought is that they don’t have the font quite right and it looks JUST a little too much like a fan game,” another fan wrote.

“It might look better on TV but this looks like a photo op backdrop,” a third said.

BIGGEST CHANGE IN 2 DECADES

Pat and Vanna celebrated their first letterboard change in 1997.

They announced then that (as many may remember growing up watching) instead of White turning the letters herself, it would be digital, requiring only a press.

While explaining the then-huge change to viewers, the host ad-libbed a controversial comment.

“This is the last night of this puzzle board. You will no longer be turning letters,” Pat said, referencing his co-host.

“The new board… it’s heat-activated if you will,” he continued, before making the side comment, “And if anyone can heat up a board, you can.”

As Pat tried to go on, poor Vanna appeared to force out an uncomfortable laugh.

Wheel of Fortune debuted in 1975 and airs after Jeopardy! on weeknights – Pat joined the show in 1981 while Vanna was cast in 1982.

Both shows were created by Merv Griffin, the gameshow great also composed the Jeopardy! music.

The dynamic duo will at least be on the air for another two years as they have signed on to continue hosting through the 2024 season.

Starting on Monday night, Season 40 of WoF will air every weeknight on ABC.

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Wheel of Fortune fans lamented Vanna White’s new high-tech LED-screen puzzle board [seen here] is controlled ‘backstage’Credit: CBS

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Back in 1997 it went from turn to press, but hasn’t otherwise changed sinceCredit: Getty

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Adriana was thrilled with her $45K bonus and $69K overall but fans couldn’t get past the ‘pretend’ boardCredit: ABC