Vanna White Confesses She Was ‘Very Scared’ About Ryan Seacrest Hosting Wheel of Fortune
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Vanna White admitted she was initially nervous about Ryan Seacrest taking over Pat Sajak’s role as host of Wheel of Fortune. She has since changed her tune, but confessed she was “very scared” at the start.
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White and Sajak had been a legendary team for decades on Wheel of Fortune but now Ryan Seacrest is taking on the hosting task. Can he deliver as well as Sajak when the new season premieres on Monday, September 9?
During an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, White explained how she had concerns about her chemistry with Seacrest. “I’ve known Ryan for probably 20 years, but in the past couple of months we’ve done some traveling together for the show and we got to know each other a little better too, so I think our chemistry is good,” she said.
The letter-turner asked interviewer Luke Burbank for his opinion about the pair’s chemistry. “I mean, it looked like you’d been doing this forever together,” he said. “Were you nervous about that element, the chemistry — because there’s no accounting for that, right?”
“That’s so true,” White responded. “I had no idea what to expect when I’m used to one person for so long. I was very scared, but he’s doing a great job.”
More: Pat Sajak’s Salary on Wheel of Fortune Revealed
Seacrest is clearly thrilled to have the hosting gig and is committed to delivering an experience that will satisfy longtime fans.
“This is such an incredible, special franchise. It’s more than a TV show. It is something that means something to people,” he explained. “And when I found out that this was an opportunity for me, there’s no thought to this. It was like, ‘Absolutely. Let’s figure it out, and let’s get started.'”
The American Idol host also reflected on how Wheel’s creator, Merv Griffin, described the show to him. “‘The beauty of Wheel of Fortune is it’s the kind of show you can sit in front of the TV or have on in the background, and play along, or yell at a contestant if they’re not getting it, and you’ve got it before them.’ I mean, that’s what the show is,” Seacrest said.
Seacrest first shared the news of his new hosting gig in an Instagram statement on June 27, 2023. “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them,” he wrote.
He noted, “Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition.”
Excitement is building over the new Wheel with Seacrest, as seen by some of the comments on his September 2 Instagram post hyping the new season. “Ryan, I went to a few of the tapings and let me just say, you did an excellent job! Your chemistry with Vanna White is great! Look forward to the new season!,” one fan noted. Another commented, “Ryan, I am so excited!! The chemistry between you and Vanna is just incredible.”
Wheel of Fortune airs weekdays at 7 p.m. on ABC.
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