NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ new hire Ryan Seacrest has recently revealed his plans for the popular game show after Pat Sajak’s retirement in an exclusive interview with ‘Today’ host Willie Geist.
On Sunday, September 24, 2023, ‘Today Sunday with Willie Giest’ welcomed Seacrest, who will be taking longtime ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Sajak’s place as the new host of the game show in Fall 2024.
During the interview, Seacrest also talked about the ABC game show letter-turner Vanna White’s extended contract.
What are Ryan Seacrest's plans for ‘Wheel of Fortune’?
Ryan Seacrest said, “My version will be the version that is. The game works. All you want to do is walk in and say, 'Good evening,' grab your devices, and 'Here’s the first puzzle.'”
This came after Pat Sajak announced his retirement from the long-running game show in June.
While talking about Sajak’s departure, Seacrest said it truly marked the end of an era.
He exclaimed, “Pat Sajak is an icon in this business, and he’s made (Wheel of Fortune) so comfortable for everybody to watch. I’m like a kid so excited about just seeing the set, you know, to walk out on that set."
Seacrest expressed uncertainty about Vanna White's return during the interview, as her status on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ was uncertain with her contract ending in the current season, which Sajak had announced as his final one.
However, it was only during Seacrest's conversation with Geist that he discovered White had indeed renewed her contract for the show.
He said in excitement, “This is such great news. I’ve been very excited to work with her but now that it’s official I can say, congratulations Vanna I can’t wait."
"I am a huge Vanna White fan. We’ve known each other for a very long time,” he concluded.
Ryan Seacrest roller coaster career
Ryan Seacrest's career has evolved significantly since his early aspiration to become a host.
At just 10 years old, he would emulate the renowned DJ and actor Casey Kasem, who was a prominent figure in the '70s and '80s radio scene.
He revealed, “In Atlanta where I grew up, the biggest stars were the DJs and so I was just fascinated by that world.”
Seacrest embarked on his journey as a presenter at the age of 19 when he relocated to Los Angeles.
However, his breakthrough in Hollywood came with the premiere of the first season of ‘American Idol’ in 2002.
Hosting this amateur singing competition not only propelled Seacrest to stardom but also opened doors to various exciting opportunities.
These included roles such as handling red carpet events, morning television, and even taking on the role of an executive producer for the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians' franchise.
As Seacrest looked back on his remarkable career journey, he described it as a dream come true. He expressed a strong determination to continue at his current energetic pace, emphasizing that slowing down is not on his agenda.
He said, "It’s everything I always wanted. The pace actually fuels my energy. If I were to do one thing once a week, I’d be terrible."
