Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS

Behind-the-Scenes: What's Really Going on at 'Wheel of Fortune' as New Host Ryan Seacrest Ditches Pat Sajak's Traditions in 'Pretty Big' Shake-Up

Composite photo of Ryan Seacrest.
Source: MEGA

Ryan Seacrest has brought major changes to the Wheel of Fortune set.

Aug. 29 2024, Published 1:00 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Ryan Seacrest has turned the Wheel of Fortune set upside down.

Sources claim Seacrest has ditched former host Pat Sajak's traditions and laid-back style just one month into the new gig, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

Article continues below advertisement
ryan seacrest cooking up celeb chef gig food empire
Source: MEGA

Seacrest was tapped to take over Wheel of Fortune upon Pat Sajak's retirement.

Seacrest, 49, was tapped to be the next host of the popular gameshow after Sajak, 77, announced his retirement after an astonishing 42 seasons.

The 49-year-old began filming for the upcoming season last month – and insiders claim he wasted no time making the show his own.

Article continues below advertisement
wheel of fortune host pat sajak disappointed coworkers didnt plan goodbye party
Source: MEGA

Sources said Seacrest has ditched Sajak's "low-key version" of the game show.

Article continues below advertisement

Sources said: "Ryan is simply not doing the low-key version of the show that Pat did.

"He's brought every bit of his 'hype-beast' morning radio and New Year's Eve energy to the production of his first episodes. It's a pretty big shift and an obvious grab for a younger generation of viewers than Pat had."

While Seacrest is making the show his own, he also took time to pay tribute to his predecessor for his "dedication, charm, and wit" when Sajak's final episode aired.

Article continues below advertisement
pat sajak wheel of fortune retirement bizarre behavior
Source: MEGA

Seacrest paid tribute to Sajak and co-host Vanna White before he took over.

Article continues below advertisement

He also expressed gratitude to Sajak's longtime co-host Vanna White.

Seacrest told Sajak: "Your partnership with Vanna has been nothing short of iconic – and together, you've created countless wonderful memories for viewers."

"You’ve set the standard for hosts everywhere and this marks the end of an era."

MORE ON:
Wheel Of Fortune

DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.

Article continues below advertisement

As for what fans can expect when Seacrest's episodes debut in mid-September, insiders claim viewers will notice the stark changes right off the bat.

One source said: "The game and rules are the same – and Ryan is good at putting the focus on that – but he's also incredibly quick on his feet and, amazingly, is a master of memorization and doesn't rely on the teleprompter remotely as much as Pat did."

"He's totally capable of fun and uplifting improvisation, with the banter with the contestants."

Article continues below advertisement
ryan seacrest cooking up celeb chef gig food empire
Source: MEGA

Sources said it's clear Seacrest "really prepared" for his new gig.

Article continues below advertisement

The insider continued: "God knows how many old episodes of Wheel he watched, but he really prepared for this gig. But remember, Ryan has been training himself for these kinds of jobs since he was a teenager, and he has decades of experience interviewing regular people from his American Idol run."

Producers are apparently also thrilled with the fresh vibes Seacrest has brought to the set.

A source said: "The choice of putting him on Wheel was an inspired one and the bosses at Sony TV are beyond excited to see the fan response to the updated show when they start rolling out the new episodes."

Article continues below advertisement

While Wheel bosses are impressed with the new direction the show is taking under Seacrest, other sources claim the changes have made White feel like a "third-wheel".

An insider said: "It's not that she doesn't like Ryan, but her chemistry with Pat was just much more natural. With Ryan, it feels forced and she doesn't want that to come across to loyal viewers – and producers fear the audience will notice it as well."

Article continues below advertisement

Have a tip? Send it to us! Email RadarOnline.com at tips@radaronline.com.

More From Radar Online

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.