OFFICIAL: Ryan Seacrest named new host of Wheel of Fortune

Well that was quick.

Not the biggest fan of this choice, but at least we know he's competent, easily the safe choice. At least they avoided the shitshow that happened when Alex Trebek passed.

Well, at least Sony made a decision well in advance. Seacrest is personable, and being 49 when he begins, can host for 30 years if he wants.

Not my first choice (Jim Thornton), but okay by me. Wondering if Pat delayed his announcement until they were almost ready to announce new host. 2 weeks to search, negotiate and announce the new host seems really fast to me. And did Pat have any say since he’s producer this year?

I don't know that I had long enough to get a perfect name in mind; Seacrest is fine enough though and a damn sight better than some of the others mentioned in the conversation (to this day I cannot stomach a complete episode of Harvey Feud).

I forget exactly how long Vanna has remaining on her current contract, but I have to wonder if she's going to pull a Stafford and basically give us a year or two of bridge before she too makes the transition (possibly to Maggie though there's also been rumor articles musing that the position could be axed entirely).

Awe, I was looking forward to the months of speculation on who would take Pat's place after next season.

In all seriousness, Ryan Seacrest is a good, safe choice. I believe he'll do well in the role. It was best for Wheel to name someone as soon as they could to avoid what happened with Jeopardy and their hosting situation after Alex died.

I do wonder since they made the decision already and there's a full season to come plus another season of Celebrity Wheel, is it possible that Ryan does a bit of guest hosting this coming season? It would let him get his feet wet and ease the transition until he takes over full time in season 42.

I knew they’d choose Ryan Seacrest! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌👏👏👏👏

Like many others have said, Ryan represents the inoffensive, safe choice. He's based out of LA, has decades of experience in show business, is a well-known name on screen and behind the microphone, is attractive enough to be plastered all over the slot machines, and—most importantly for those who deeply care about the show—has the hosting chops under his belt in a shifting landscape that has all but abandoned the profession. The average viewer won't stop watching, and the game show fan community by and large seems to approve of the decision. Personally, I think he is a great choice and would not be surprised if he was on the shortlist for a while, long before Pat mulled retirement. Ryan also has the benefit of shadowing Pat for a full season and learning the intricacies of the game from the master himself.

One point I haven't seen mentioned yet is Disney's impact in the process. As the "Big Four" network whose affiliates picked up the rights in the majority of markets, as well as the one whose O&Os carry the show, ABC has an underhanded influence in the selection. It was recognized by the LA Times as a known stakeholder with leverage in the extended search for Alex Trebek's successor(s) on Jeopardy! last season:



For the better part of a decade, Ryan has maintained an association with Disney as co-host of Live! (ABC produces the show and Disney-ABC Domestic Television syndicates it) and returning to Idol after its cancellation on Fox. ABC and Sony have the comfort of a known entity taking up the mantle, and are doubly happy to not have opted to take the route of a drawn-out, controversy-ridden process.

The New York Times published an article today about game shows and the current state of broadcast TV, obviously mentioning Ryan’s appointment as Sajak’s successor.

www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/business/media/tv-game-shows-thrive.html

In the article, the author states that Ryan signed a deal with Sony to host the show into the early 2030’s, likely taking the show close to or hitting its 50th anniversary. ABC O&O’s signed a deal this past winter to carry Wheel and Jeopardy through 2028.

I'm sure the segment glossed over his bland hosting and executive producing of The Million Second Quiz.