12-05-2025
Ryan Seacrest talks ‘Wheel of Fortune' future, honors Pat Sajak and Vanna White: ‘This show means something to people'
Ryan Seacrest wants his Emmy for hosting Wheel of Fortune and he's not afraid to ask for it.
Six months after taking the reins from Pat Sajak, who spent over four decades behind the wheel from 1981 to 2024, Seacrest sat down with TV Academy members at the game show's iconic Sony Pictures Studios lot to discuss the future of the iconic game show.
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"You have memories of your grandparents watching this show," Seacrest said. "Everybody who's here, and certainly every contestant who comes on, has a story to tell about when they first saw Wheel of Fortune. I remember having to mow lawns and bag grass — because you got paid extra to bag it — to buy a Zenith TV. My mom wouldn't let us watch TV at dinner time, so I bought the Zenith TV with the ears, put it on the butcher block in the kitchen, and that's when I began to watch Wheel of Fortune with my family while we had dinner."
"This show means something to people," he continued. "It means something to families. I have fun with the job, but I take that responsibility very seriously."
Following the discussion, Vanna White surprised attendees as she walked out in one of her signature gowns and asked, "Should we play a game?" Holding Seacrest's arm, she looked at him and said, "This is an incredible man. I am so happy to be working with you. We've known each other for over 20 years, but we've worked together over a year now — and it's such an honor. You make it so easy and you're doing such a great job. I adore you and enjoy working with you."
After a couple of impromptu rounds with three lucky guest players, Seacrest and White invited everyone to join them for a cocktail and an up-close look at the famous wheel and letter board. The dynamic duo also stuck around for well over two hours, taking photos and chatting one-on-one with each person in attendance.
In its 50th anniversary season, Wheel of Fortune still ranks No. 1 in its time slot across most of the country and reaches 22 million viewers each week. Seacrest took over hosting duties for Sajak on Sept. 9, 2024, but conversations about the transition began years prior. Sajak's letter-turning cohost White decided to remain on the show with Seacrest after working with Sajak since 1982.
"When you look at what Pat and Vanna have built over the years — they are your friends! They're your companions. You feel like you know them," Seacrest said. "What they built being in peoples' living room every night is such a special thing." To fill Sajak's iconic shoes, Seacrest watched the duo tape their shows for a year, closely studying the rules and what made the game show work so well. Six months before he started, producers gave Seacrest a small wheel he could travel with that allowed him to play in hotel conference rooms with random guests. "I wanted to come on day one as if I knew what I was doing," he said.
Seacrest also revealed his relationship with the show's creator, Merv Griffin (who died in 2007), started 31 years ago. "When I was 19, I auditioned to host a game show called Click for kids on Saturday mornings," he said. "I got the job, and Merv was the first person to teach me the mindset of game. It was a different game — but the mindset of game and how to interact with contestants. He told me the story of how he created Wheel of Fortune on an airplane — it's basically Hangman — and that's why it's worked forever. It's a very simple game."
"When I was working for Merv, he let me come and sit in meetings about Wheel of Fortune at the Beverly Hilton Hotel," he continued. "I had no idea I would eventually be sitting here. Merv is the one that taught me to be as focused on the business show business as the performance, which is why I produced a lot at the beginning of my career. He wasn't just the guy that was on camera, he was a force behind it. I found that so fascinating. He was so charming. He could get anybody to say yes to anything."
When asked how his hosting gigs on American Idol and Live With Kelly and Ryan helped prepare him, Seacrest shared, "With American Idol, I have a chance to really connect with contestants and their families. I get to meet them early on. I'm interested in where they've come from. That's something that is part of this show. The one thing I forget about Wheel — that I'm often reminded of by our producer — I think we're live. I'm like, 'We have to start in one minute! What's going on?' And sometimes they're like, 'If anything happens we can fix it,' and I'm like, 'We can fix it?' I forget we're on tape. I like to not stop ever and try to do this as fast as possible."
"Live With Kelly and Ryan was interesting because we would show up and we didn't discuss anything we were going to talk about beforehand," he continued. "You really get comfortable on national television just sitting and telling stories."
The new Wheel host also revealed that his chemistry with White came naturally because they've been friends for over 20 years. "We first met through Merv Griffin and we sat together at Merv's funeral as well," he said. "We have remained friends over the years. When I first got the job, I tracked her down at a golf course and said, 'I want to make this as seamless for you as possible.' This crew is a well-oiled machine. You don't want to be the guy that slows things down. I wanted her, also, to feel comfortable. She has been a tremendous supporter and dear friend through all of this."
Seacrest describes White as "very casual" in real life — far different from her glamorous persona on TV — and recounted how she hand-made him a quilt that he has in his home. "She's just a lovely person," he shared. "Have you ever met someone famous and they let you down? Shout their name! No — but you see her, you know she's a treasure, and when you meet her she's even better."
"Wheel of Fortune is simple, it's never changed, and will always be a protected safe space for anybody to watch," he said about why the show has resonated with viewers for so long. "We're never going to have an uncomfortable puzzle. We're never going to have an uncomfortable conversation about something you've got to explain to your kids. This is a safe place for fun and it will always be that way. I think that's special."
Wheel of Fortune has won seven Daytime Emmys, including Best Game Show in 2011. Last year, the show won its first Primetime Emmy for host Pat Sajak in his final year.
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