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Major Shakeup Spells Sad News For Wheel of Fortune and Pat Sajak Fans

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Wheel of Fortune and Pat Sajak fans have been dealt a devastating blow about the celebrity version of the game show. Read on to find out what’s going on with Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

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When Does Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Come Back?

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune was set to premiere on October 14, but sadly, the date has been pushed back considerably. The show will now air beginning mid-season — and it’s all due to football.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will now premiere in 2025, according to an October 11 press release from ABC. “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Press Your Luck and ABC News’ Scamanda will premiere in 2025,” ABC said in a press release shared with TVLine. ABC is adding “six Monday Night Football simulcasts to its previously announced schedule,” forcing the network to bump Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

The statement explained: “ABC is a destination for marquee NFL programming including, as part of our new deal, Super Bowl 61 (February 2027), the first of two. The decision to add more simulcast games was made in conjunction with the NFL and is just for the 2024-25 season. This schedule leans into the cross-promotional opportunities maximizing the reach of NFL programming across the Disney ecosystem. ESPN has already aired four exclusive games during 2024 season and will have three additional exclusive games, with two in November and one in December. There are 25 Games on ESPN’s 2024 NFL Schedule.”

The statement added: “Furthermore, this move will give the ABC game shows Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Press Your Luck a more consistent, weekly run in midseason when there are less preemptions (i.e. football, 2024 election).”

So far, there’s no firm date set for the premiere of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Some of the episodes have already been filmed since it was expected to air in October 2024.

In June, Sajak announced he was leaving his hosting job at Wheel of Fortune but fans were thrilled that he would be on hand to give his final spin on the celebrity version. Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties for Sajak beginning with Season 42 of the original game show.

The Celebrity Wheel of Fortune trailer, which was shared earlier this month on the show’s Instagram, has now been removed. In the video, Sajak, standing alongside Vanna White, said, “Get ready for an all-new season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.” She noted, “Big names, big laughs, and big wins for charity.”

The post’s caption promised: “The stars are coming out for Pat’s final spin! See you October 14 for the season premiere of #CelebrityWheelOfFortune.”

Among the stars competing for $1 million to go to the charity of their choosing are: Rainn Wilson, Ellie Kemper, and Oscar Nuñez from The Office, Josh Gad, Justin Long, and Rachael Harris, who appeared on New Girl, and Veep stars Sam Richardson, Randall Park, and Matt Walsh. Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Joe Manganiello, Katharine McPhee, Andrew Rannells, Pete Holmes, and Cameron Brink are also set to appear.

For more on primetime shows, check out our photo gallery on the best nighttime shows ranked.

Vanna White’s Final Spin

She’s settled into a delightful era of senioritis on Wheel of Fortune. America isn’t ready to let go.

Vanna White.

Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images

For a moment there, it seemed like the Vanna White story was going to end ugly. The 67-year-old presenter is the final standard-bearer of America’s game-show golden age—a TV generation that has been largely cleaned out by Bob Barker’s death, Pat Sajak’s departure, and the protracted succession battle for the Throne of Trebek. Left behind is an ersatz fleet of programming that, while the fault of nobody in particular, is a little cold to the touch. The ideal game show viewing experience should evoke memories of running a fever in your childhood bedroom at high noon, watching bleary-eyed as a trio of panelists guesstimate the retail cost of a vacuum cleaner. But Drew Carey is never going to become synonymous with The Price Is Right, and the selection of Ryan Seacrest for the Wheel of Fortune podium seemed specifically designed to lock the brand in institutional decline. (Ken Jennings, now on Jeopardy!, is a different, more complicated subject.) That makes Vanna White the last icon standing—a holdover from a glitzier time—and in the twilight of her career, she is asserting her own value more than ever.

In 2023, with Sajak headed for the exit and her own contract nearing its conclusion at Sony, reports surfaced that the once and future vowel merchant had not received a raise on her $3 million annual salary in 18 years. That’s a far cry from the $15 million Sajak was reportedly taking home, so White headed into negotiations for her next contract with the intention of leveling the playing field.

In the end, Wheel of Fortune blinked. White will be around for at least the next year after inking a contract extension lasting until 2026, with provisions that include the pay raise she coveted.

When the show returned last September with Seacrest as host, there were rumors of backstage tension between the new on-air pair. If that’s true, you can’t really tell. In fact, you could say that Vanna had gracefully embraced her senioritis era. The woman never held the heftiest job in show business; she touches letters, she maintains a vast wardrobe of sparkling floor-length dresses, she flashes telegenic grimaces to contestants who brick out on a consonant. (She has blithely joked about this fact herself for years: “I can’t say that it is a hard job, because it’s not,” she said in 2018.) But her relationship with Sajak—the subject of loosely sourced romantic intrigue for decades, and perhaps the show’s primary cultural draw—is no longer a daily performance. So it seems like a mostly checked-out Vanna is here to cash a few more checks while kindling a fine wooden chemistry with Seacrest for a couple of seasons before disappearing into the middle distance of a glorious Malibu sunset. The easiest job in broadcasting has somehow gotten even easier.

The day of her departure is surely coming sooner than later. Over the last several seasons of Wheel of Fortune, Maggie Sajak—the 29-year-old daughter of the venerable game show host—has been not-so-subtly groomed as a potential heir to White when she decides to hang up her heels. Maggie stepped onto the set in 2020 while her father was recovering from surgery in order to take on some hosting duties, and, more portentously, to touch some of those letters herself. (Today, Maggie serves as the show’s “social media correspondent,” which is a makework gig for old-money Hollywood nepo babies if I’ve ever heard one.) A furtive continuity plan for an aging superstar tends to be the stuff of relentless tabloid titillation, but Vanna herself has gestured toward this inevitability. Shortly after locking in the terms of her new deal, White conceded to E! that Maggie could make for a “good replacement” at the board. And in a pointed, Substance-tinged Instagram post last August, Maggie—who uncannily resembles a younger, blonder Vanna—swapped gowns with Wheel of Fortune’s matriarch and beckoned the commenters to guess which dainty number belonged to who. It was both an enormous body flex and, for longtime fans, a reminder that the sharks are circling.

Is Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune an odd thing to mourn? The comments on Reddit and Instagram that brace for the emotional impact of her retirement can seem a little absurd. But beyond childhood nostalgia, an older generation remembers Vanna the breakout star, and more importantly, Vanna the sex symbol. She was a woman worthy of a bestselling (if content-light) memoir; whose teased bangs appeared on a promenade of checkout-aisle magazine covers across the country throughout the 1980s. (“Vanna White—Her Seduction of America,” announced a headline in a 1989 issue of TV Guide, alongside an image of the host looking—it needs to be said—stunning in a pair of Princess Diana jeans.) Her stardom seemed to summon an unhealthy fusion of rage, thirst, and envy in the American ferment. The press dubbed it “Vannamania,” and it centered on an anxiety that endures to this day: How does a woman who reveals letters for a living achieve such a galactic level of fame? Does she deserve it? Must she, and the rest of girlhood, be brought to heel?

“Why did she become a role model for young women?” opined a flabbergasted Chicago Tribune in 1992. “Many of whom evidently aspired to a career in pointing and smiling?”

That question is downright myopic by modern standards, and not just for the blatant sexism. We have all become inundated by beautiful people through the locus of vertical video in 2024, and each of them reflexively understands that their own hotness is grounds enough for fame and fortune: the body-rolling yoga girls, the flexing Chads, the gorgeous couples on permanent vacation, Hawk Tuah, bounties of sponcon and discount codes—in some ways, it all comes back to Vanna White, who never apologized for earning so much by doing so little. In that sense, she’s a trailblazer.

In 2025, if anyone wishes to Be Like Vanna, you must exploit angles outside of network television. In a time of Addison Rae and Alix Earle, it is hard to imagine a socialite being forged on a game show set ever again. (If Maggie Sajak ever truly wants to eclipse her forebearer, she might need to learn the “Renegade” dance.) But as the only star left on the circuit, White is giving us one final gift as she prepares her exit. Her retirement and succession plan, whenever it comes to be, may very well be the last interesting story to surface on a game show. At the very least it will be far more compelling than whoever steps in for Steve Harvey on Family Feud. The saga will surely culminate with a few months of juicy speculation, and one tearful finale—a great exaltation of Vannamania before Seacrest shepherds the show to its funeral. She was always the most interesting person in the room, without anyone ever knowing why. That’s show business, baby.

 

Jimmy Fallon Apologizes To ‘The Tonight Show’ Staff After Bombshell Report

Jimmy Fallon Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images

Jimmy Fallon has offered a mea culpa to his staff after a report highlighted a “pretty glum atmosphere” at The Tonight Show over the years.

Deadline understands that Fallon spoke to staff this afternoon after Rolling Stone published an article that called the NBC show a “toxic workplace”.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. I never set out to create that type of atmosphere at the show. I think sometimes I’m working with the best of the best, you guys are the top of the game,” he told staff according to someone on the call.

He admitted to have done “embarrassing” things in the past. “I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive for everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people. I just wanted to… say I miss you guys.”

The article called Fallon “erratic” at work and suggested that he was “inebriated” and hungover during working hours, with seven former employees saying that their mental health was impacted by working on The Tonight Show.

The claims, which Rolling Stone spoke to 50 former and current employees for, highlighted the number of showrunners that The Tonight Show went through including Josh Lieb, Jim Bell, Gavin Purcell and Jamie Granet-Bederman.

Sources close to The Tonight Show told Deadline that new showrunner Chris Miller has improved the culture of the show and most of these claims are years old.

Miller is understood to have sent an email to staff earlier today. He said that he was “lucky” and “proud” to work with this staff. “I don’t believe what is written is reflective of the overall culture of our extraordinary team,” he wrote. “The place described in the article is not the place I know. It does not capture the positive and inclusive environment that I believe we have created together.”

NBC also reacted in a statement earlier today. “We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority,” a network spokesperson said in a statement. “As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues; those have been investigated and action has been taken where appropriate. As is always the case, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so that we may address them accordingly.”

‘Jeopardy!’ Player Reacts to Ken Jennings’ Frustrating Ruling That Cost Him Game

Jeopardy, Inc!

Jeopardy! contestant Mehal Shah is still trying to get over the sting of that devastating loss on Thurdsay’s (January 30) Tournament of Champions, where a controversial syllable ruling cost him a spot in the semifinals.

In the episode, which saw Shah take on Tennessee political organizer Will Stewart and Ohio-based systems administrator Ryan Manton, the software engineer from Seattle, Washington had a chance to win the episode despite trailing with $7,400 to Stewart’s $14,900 and Manton’s $14,400.

That’s because he was the only one who knew the answer to the Final Jeopardy clue, which read, “After Camillagate, a fire at Windsor Castle & marriage problems in her family, Queen Elizabeth II dubbed 1992 this.”

The correct answer was “annus horribilis,” and with Shah wagering $7,001, it would have won him the episode, as both Manton (who wagered $501) and Stewart (who wagered his whole $14,900) answered incorrectly. However, Shah misspelled his answer, writing, “What is an Annus Horriblis?

Because of the missing ‘i’ removing a syllable from the answer, host Ken Jennings ruled the response as incorrect, therefore ending Shah’s dreams and sending Manton through to the semifinals.

Following the episode, Shah took to the Jeopardy! Reddit forum, where he opened up about the heartbreaking loss. While the ruling was obviously devastating, Shah said he didn’t disagree with the show’s decision.

“The show was 100% right to rule the way they did. Anyone who think otherwise can explain to me why the “Mimi Dolphins” would be an acceptable FJ response to the clue ‘It’s Mehal’s least favorite football team,’” he wrote.

Shah added that Jennings came up to him after the episode finished filming and told him “delivering rulings like that is the least favorite part of his job,” adding, “I believe him.”

“My heart broke pretty hard when he explained why I was ruled incorrect though, and I’m not proud that I appeared frustrated,” he continued. “I wasn’t mad at the judges at all, even though my face may look frustrated.”

He added, “In the post game chat, I remarked that I had a ruling go in my favor in [Champions Wildcard] Semis that was arguably the difference in the game there – Polyharmonic was worth a swing of $4000.”

Shah shared that he “felt pretty bad going back into the Green Room, but having my fellow competitors there, particularly my fellow Wildcards Drew and Will really made a difference.”

Even though Shah’s Jeopardy! journey has come to an end, he spoke highly of his experience, telling fans, “What a long, strange journey it’s been for me. I’m so glad to have met my fellow competitors and the excellent Jeopardy staff. Even though I’m leaving in defeat, I feel like I accomplished most of my Jeopardy related goals that I made before I went on the first time.”

“So ends this wonderful side quest,” he concluded. “As I rejoin my main plotline, I bring wonderful memories, new allies, a $60 Delcom Buzzer that I will loan to anyone in Seattle who gets the call, and a greater appreciation of the wider world. I wish you all a happy postseason – may all your Daily Doubles be true.”

Jeopardy!, Weeknights, check local listings

Ousted Norah O’Donnell clings to Washington office amid shock shake-up, fueling media frenzy and outrage

Former CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell, 51, has refused to leave her Washington, D.C., office following a sudden shake-up at the network. The decision came after the network announced plans to relocate the show back to New York. Sources say the change has sparked turmoil and uncertainty within the organization.

Office Stand and Network Shake-Up

O’Donnell assumed the role of anchor in 2019 and quickly became a household name. Her polished delivery and in-depth reporting earned her high regard among viewers and peers. However, the network’s decision to move operations triggered an unexpected reaction.

Rather than vacate her elegant Washington office, she has chosen to remain. Insiders report that her reluctance to leave the space is unusual and has caused a stir behind the scenes.

The office, described by insiders as resembling a palace, remains fully equipped with personal boxes and memorabilia. Staff members note that the boxes sit untouched, as if preserving the remnants of a cherished past. One CBS insider commented, “She acts like it never happened.” The controversial refusal to vacate the office is the most contentious part of the story. Critics argue that her behavior disrupts the planned transition and may signal deeper issues within the network’s leadership.

Fan Reactions and Industry Impact

Viewers and industry analysts have reacted strongly to the news. Many loyal fans express disappointment and concern. They fear that the shake-up might lead to further instability at the network. Moreover, some question whether her actions reflect a broader unwillingness to adapt to change. Transitioning from a long-held position to a new era can be challenging for any public figure.

In addition, media experts believe that this incident may affect the network’s public image.

They note that the controversy could overshadow other news stories if not managed correctly. Furthermore, some commentators suggest that the situation reveals tensions between legacy talent and corporate restructuring. They argue that the network might face challenges in regaining public trust if the issue persists.

Despite the heated reactions, a few supporters defend O’Donnell. They claim that her stance reflects loyalty and personal integrity. These supporters insist that she deserves a graceful exit and that her dedication to the newsroom should be honored. Nevertheless, the controversy remains a subject of intense debate among industry watchers.

Transitioning to the future, the network now faces the task of balancing operational efficiency with respect for its veteran staff. Executives have yet to comment publicly on the matter. However, the network’s planned move to New York signals a desire to refresh its approach and possibly bring in new talent. In the interim, O’Donnell’s continued presence in her Washington office casts a shadow over the transition.

In conclusion, Norah O’Donnell’s decision to remain in her Washington office highlights a clash between tradition and change at CBS Evening News. The situation underscores the challenges that arise during major organizational shifts.

As discussions intensify among fans, colleagues, and industry analysts, the network must navigate these turbulent waters carefully. O’Donnell’s controversial stance, particularly her refusal to accept the new reality, will likely be remembered as a defining moment during this shake-up. The coming days may reveal further developments in this unfolding story, which has already ignited a media storm and raised questions about the network’s future direction.

‘Price is Right’ contestant and her mother end up on the floor while celebrating in wild TV moment

Screenshots showing the contestant and her mother on “The Price is Right.” (Cover image source: Instagram | @therealpriceisright)

Antics of contestants on “The Price is Right” are one of the things that make the show entertaining and relatable, but sometimes their joy can be too much for the host and audience alike. In a rare moment on the show, another person from the audience came down to celebrate with the contestant and they both collapsed to the floor together in front of model Alexis Gaube, who seemed helpless and baffled.

The contestant in question was a woman named Alexandria and she had made it to the final round of the show, which was Showcase Showdown. Her opponent was bidding for a trip to the Seychelles and a car, and the price she guessed was $5,793 less than the actual value of both prizes. This gave Alexandria a chance to seal the deal if she could guess the price of a hot tub and the trip.
Screenshot showing the moment Alexandria realised that she had won Showcase. (Image credit: Instagram | @therealpriceisright)
But unlike a lot of other contestants, she had help. Her mother was in the studio and she was determined to help her daughter out. With her guidance, Alexandria guessed $22,500 as the price of both the trip and the hot tub, and that was only $164 away from the actual price of both prizes.

The rules of the game state that if a contestant guesses an amount within $250 of the actual price of the items, they win both showcases, including the car.

Alexandria rushed over to the location of the car and her mother also made her way onto the stage and hugged her. In their excitement, they fell to the floor while the rest of the people on stage didn’t know what to do as per TV Shows Ace.

“The Price is Right” audience has always been quite helpful to the competitors for decades now. Even when Bob Barker was the host, the people behind the camera never shied away from helping a contestant win big. A contestant named Brenda experienced this nature of the audience as well.

She was playing the Any Number game to win the prize. In this game, there are three rows. The first row had four digits that represented the price of the car. The second row had three digits that represented the price of the teddy bears.

The third row also had three digits that represented a certain amount of cash in a piggy bank. The numbers available were 0 to 9 and no digit repeated itself.

The contestant had to guess a number that appeared in its corresponding box.

The first object with its price revealed was to be awarded to the player. Before guessing every single digit, Brenda turned to the audience for help.

It took some time and the situation turned tense, but she ultimately revealed the price of the car first thanks to the people in the studio and got what she had wanted the most..

Price Is Right viewers in shock as unusual mishap occurs during live airing of show

The Price is Right is known for being a slick show that runs without a hitch, but there have been a few times when things have gone wrong – including once when a prize got totally smashed

The Price is Right, hosted by Drew Carey, is known for its seamless operation.

Price Is Right’s Drew Carey was shocked at a mishap (Image: (Image: CBS))

However, a rare blunder occurred during an episode aired on January 24th, 2017 that left everyone in shock. The mishap happened when a massive prize – an espresso machine, a thermal programmable coffee maker, and a coffee bean grinder by Cuisinart – was brought onto the stage on a flatbed pulled by a small-scale train engine.

As the shaky table holding the prizes was revealed by announcer George Gray, the contestants began guessing the price of the package. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the studio as the entire prize fell and shattered into pieces.

The unexpected incident prompted gasps from the live audience and a nervous laugh from Carey, who humorously announced that the Price Train would be out of commission for a while.

Drew made a joke after the mishap (Image:CBS via Getty Images)

In the comments section of a YouTube video capturing the moment, fans couldn’t help but chuckle. One viewer quipped: “The guy changing his bid to one dollar was the crowning touch. But I do have to give them credit for not even trying to edit the mishap out.”

Another fan chimed in with praise: “That guy who said ‘one dollar’ is the best person on that show this year,” while another laughed: “Buddy killed it with the ‘1 dollar’ line,” reports the Express US.

Someone else noted the smooth handling of the situation: “They handled that situation perfectly. It was awkward, or cringey or uncomfortable. Well done Drew and the $1 dollar guy lmao.”

Another comment highlighted the efficiency of the crew: “I just think it’s awesome that they have the crew so quickly ready to go to clean it up. Really goes to show you how much work and effort goes on behind the scenes people aren’t even aware of.”

The humor continued with another user joking: “Dude transitioned from retail to thrift store pricing in a heartbeat,” and yet another praised the behind-the-scenes team: “The tech crews on these shows are professionals, as are the writers and directors. They deserve our support during the strike.”

In a surprising revelation, this wasn’t the first on-air mishap for the game show. Price Is Right model Rachel Reynolds once accidentally drove a car into a wall during an episode.

Host Drew Carey was chatting with a contestant named Cameron when it was announced he’d be vying for a brand-new Ford Mustang, which was meant to be driven on stage and parked by one of the models. Rachel didn’t hit the brakes in time, sending the car careening across the stage and into a makeshift wall for the show. The vehicle appeared unscathed, but the wall was wrecked.

“I’m so sorry Cameron,” she apologized, her face flushing with embarrassment. Carey checked on Rachel, who was more worried about the car’s condition than her own.

“I think the car’s still okay,” she remarked. The veteran host reassured Cameron that he would get an undamaged, new car if he won.

“This is going to be a damaged, used car. We’ll get you a brand new one,” he promised.

 

 

‘Wheel of Fortune’ player reveals how Ryan Seacrest truly is when cameras are off: “He makes you…”

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune | (Cover image source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Pat Sajak was mostly loved and at times criticized by “Wheel of Fortune” fans, but he was a familiar face who they were comfortable with. Ever since Ryan Seacrest took over the hosting duties of “Wheel Of Fortune,”  he has naturally been compared to the iconic Sajak who led the show for decades. While most like the new host’s charm and personality on the show, die-hard fans of Sajak often feel he falls short. Recently, a player who shared the stage with Seacrest on the show shared some insight into how the host is in real life.
Screenshot showing Ryan Seacrest alongside contestant Cody Munger (Image source: YouTube/Wheel Of Fortune)
In a Reddit thread called “The new guy,” on the show’s unofficial forum, fans of “Wheel Of Fortune” discussed Ryan’s performance as the new host.

Further, lauding the host’s looks, one Redditor, u/Aggravating-Body-721 wrote, “He dresses nice, is personable & engaging with all the contestants & their families. I like the new guy!” In the replies to the comment, Cody Munger who appeared on the show’s “Big Tournament Championship” last year, chimed in to share his insight. He shared his experience with Ryan off-camera and claimed that the new host has an easygoing personality which is partly responsible for his success.

“I got to play recently and when my friends/family ask me about him, I say that I get why he’s so successful,” u/CodyyeMunger wrote. He further continued that Seacrest was very fun to be around as well. “He was so nice and fun to be around. He makes you comfortable and forget that millions of people are watching you play,” he wrote.

The former contestant even attributed his success on the show to the host. “He was a big factor in all of my week having as much fun as we did,” he added. This was evident in Munger’s bonus round where Seacrest talked to him like a friend. Going into the bonus round, Munger introduced his buddies Jason and Billy. “Well, let’s hope it goes really well tonight. I’d like to meet you up on stage this time around, so don’t screw it up,” Seacrest told Munger, putting his warmth on display.
Screenshot showing Seacrest and Munger at the wheel (Image source: YouTube/Wheel Of Fortune)
Munger emerged victorious in the episode, winning the week-long BetMGM Big Winners Tournament with $27,150 in cash and a prize trip to Atlantic City. Going into the bonus round, he had a  $94,900 jackpot at stake.

The Bonus Round featured a four-word puzzle, which read, “O_T     O_    T_E    _ _ Y” after the standard letters “R, S, T, L, N, E” and Munger’s “C, D, Y, O,” were filled in. When the 10-second timer went off, Cody wasted no time to solve it by guessing, “Out of The Way.” While Vanna White immediately started clapping, it took a moment for Seacrest to register the answer. “Cody? That’s it,” Seacrest yelled after an awkward pause. The elated contestant finally threw his head back in relief.

“You got it! Congratulations,” Seacrest added as confetti was showered on the stage, and the camera showed the amount close to $100,000 that Munger had just won.

A Wheel Of Fortune Fan Asked An Innocuous Question, And Other Fans Could Not Stop Hating On Ryan Seacrest

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

Wheel of Fortune’s new era is continuing on the 2025 TV schedule, and fans are still finding it hard to get used to. After longtime host Pat Sajak retired last year, Ryan Seacrest stepped up as host, but it hasn’t been easy. On top of supposed rumors that there are troubles brewing behind the scenes, fans have not been giving Seacrest the benefit of the doubt, and after another slip-up, viewers just can’t seem to stop hating.

While Seacrest is no stranger to hosting, having hosted American Idol its entire run, his own radio show, E! News, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, just to name a few, Wheel of Fortune has been different.

It’s been on the air nearly as long as he’s been alive, and he took over for a beloved host who is one of the best game show hosts ever. Seacrest has made some fumbles already since his first episode aired in September and a recent one involved him forgetting to tell a contestant to get rid of the Wild Card after going bankrupt.

One fan asked on the WOF Reddit why Seacrest forgot to tell them to dump the card, pointing out that he’s been doing it a lot in recent episodes, comparing him to Sajak, and wondering if he’s just been too lazy to remind players.

This led to many people pointing out their gripes about Seacrest hosting, such as not reminding a player to call a letter before they solve in the last round when time is running out or the way he shows the money in the bonus round.

Pat Sajak hosted Wheel of Fortune for 41 seasons and was such a beloved one. I don’t blame fans for not getting used to Ryan Seacrest.

But he is still new, so it might still take some time for him to really understand the ins and outs of hosting Wheel. Even hosting for 41 seasons, Sajak still made a mistake here and there. On top of that, Seacrest is also busy with other projects, so he can’t put his sole focus on Wheel. Fans may just have to continue being patient as he gets his bearings.

At the very least, Sajak isn’t staying away from Wheel of Fortune permanently. He made a fun cameo in a behind-the-scenes video celebrating the show’s 50^th anniversary.

He’s also been hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune one last time before fully retiring. Seacrest will likely take over the spinoff as well, but for now, fans can still look forward to Sajak hosting it.

Whether fans will eventually get used to Seacrest and not nitpick everything he does or doesn’t do is hard to tell.

He seems to be doing just fine on Wheel of Fortune, even if there are rumors floating around about Sajak allegedly rethinking his decision to retire. As of now, there isn’t any indication that Seacrest is already thinking about stepping away, so he’s sticking around for who knows how long.

Why ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Are Criticizing Ryan Seacrest This Time

Ryan Seacrest has been hosting Wheel of Fortune since September 2024 and has received a generally positive response from viewers, barring a few critiques. But a number of fans are not happy with his recent performance, and they’re making themselves heard again.

One Wheel fan made a post on the game show’s subreddit referring to the Monday, January 27, episode with a title that asked other fans, “Why did Ryan forget to tell the player to dump the wild card after landing on bankrupt?” In the post, which was shared the same night the episode aired, the user noted that they’ve noticed the 50-year-old has been lacking as a host and even losing competitors money. “I’m not sure if he’s been forgetting too much or he’s just being lazy to remind the player,” they said.

The question ignited a discussion about Seacrest in the comments section, with viewers sharing how they feel about the host.

“I think the more annoying thing is when he doesn’t remind them to call a letter before they solve in the last round when time is running out. Lady today lost out on 1500 or so,” one viewer pointed out.

“I find Ryan to be very self-promoting about his other gigs and his other sponsorship deals in the WOF show,” shared another fan before adding, “I’m at least glad Vanna is getting to say more, but you can’t convince me that they’re actually buddies, even though he keeps commenting on it and calling her a nickname.”

Despite getting a lot of heat in the comments, there are a few who came to Seacrest’s defense. “I really enjoy how Ryan hosts the show. He’s enthusiastic and really cheers the contestants on,” admitted one viewer, while another added, “Get off of Ryan’s back. He is a delightful host. He makes Pat Sajak look like an ogre. He and Vanna are a perfect duo for Wheel. I enjoy the show now more than ever.”