Ryan Seacrest is now in his early groove of being the Wheel of Fortune host after taking over for Pat Sajak, and that’s continued on the 2026 TV schedule. Sajak, meanwhile, is enjoying his retirement after being one of the best game show hosts for several decades. It’s been two years since he said goodbye to WOF and one year since he said goodbye to Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, and he shared a fun family update.

When it was announced that Sajak would be retiring from Wheel of Fortune, it was unknown just what he had planned to do next. While he has since returned to Wheel following his official retirement to do one more season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and to film some fun promo last year, Sajak has mostly been keeping things on the down-low. He did, however, recently take to social media to give fans an update, but I’m not sure he’s being entirely truthful:

I may have never been to Montana, but I’m pretty sure the state doesn’t have access to the ocean, and there doesn’t seem to be any cows nearby. Of course, this could be a part of Montana that no one knows about, but I’d bet everything that Sajak is actually somewhere a lot more tropical and is just pretending that he’s settled down in Montana. Considering all of the tropical vacations that are given away on Wheel of Fortune, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sajak decided to see what they’re all about.

Since Sajak seems to be doing pretty well in “Montana,” it can be expected that this retirement is permanent. There were some wild rumors running around that Sajak doing one more season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune made him rethink leaving the original series. However, that turned out to be just rumors. Seacrest and Vanna White are getting along well, even after it seemed like there was trouble behind the scenes.

At one point, though, it looked like White would be joining Sajak in retirement. It took a while for her to renew her contract with Wheel of Fortune, as there were a lot of back and forth and negotiations, as she tried to get a higher salary. She also knew it would be hard to move forward without her partner in crime, but things are going just fine now.

Whether or not Sajak will continue to update fans on his retirement is unclear, but it would be fun to see what he’s up to in Montana or wherever the heck he is. And to see if he’s able to keep up this hilarious act. If fans are missing him on Wheel of Fortune, older episodes are streaming via Hulu subscription and/or Disney+ subscription, because this definitely just makes me miss him.

It’s been more than a year since Pat Sajak’s said farewell to fans for his final Wheel of Fortune episode (not counting the Celebrity-infused spinoff), with Ryan Seacrest sliding in to take his place last fall. The latter has come a long way in less than a year, but it’s safe to assume there are some viewers who still haven’t quite grown accustomed to anyone other than Sajak heading up one of the best game shows of all time, and want him back.

While it’s certainly possible that the longtime WoF host could return in small doses down the line, it’s more likely that his interactions with contestants are a thing of the past. If that is indeed the case, one fan’s Reddit post could serve as a quasi-totem reminding others of what Pat Sajak was actually like on the set, as shared by some of the hopefuls who were there.

Though Sajak has earned some ire over the years for his off-screen politics, as well as his on-screen snarkiness in later years — remember when he called a contestant’s severed-toe anecdote the most pointless story ever? — I’m happy that the stories shared here represented the kind of Wheel of Fortune experience one would hope to have. Take this guy, who rival-bonded with Pat over a love of hockey.

• Pat was great with us on my taping day. He was cracking jokes during breaks with others. As for me personally, definitely had a fun time chatting hockey with me. We taped in 2016 and after round 1 he tells me, “I’m more of a Capitals fan but, can’t forgive the Sharks after what they did to my Kings in round 1.” I went sorry! 😂 When I won round 2, he was “is that (teal) shirt in honor of the Sharks? Yes of course.” As I’m headed to the bonus round he’s all “alright Mr. Teal, you did it… he’s going to the bonus round and I’ll go with him, even if he is a Sharks fan.”. . . As the credits rolled, we talked about how the Sharks lost to the penguins for a bit, then I turn to Vanna for a hug as you never get to meet a celebrity crush IRL, and as it ends Pat goes, “Will you two get a room??” 😂 He was fantastic and wish him well. - @puckguy14

Nobody could pull off a light-hearted ribbing like Par Sajak, even if some of that ribbing sounded a bit more curmudgeonly in later years. (He's 78 now.) I dare say his Chicago roots were showing when he called the player "Mr. Teal."

Meanwhile, another former contestant shared an interesting experience that TV viewers weren't fully privy to. The poster's comment started off saying immediately after declaring they wanted to solve the puzzle, they realized their initial guess wasn't going to be correct, which led to a moment of panic.

• I froze up and didn't say anything for like 5 seconds. Pat said "you can change your mind if you would like to spin." I did not realize that, exhaled, spun, and figured it out a letter or two later. This exchange was cut from the taping when it aired. Between puzzles I went up to him and said a very sincere "thank you" and he shook my hand and said it was no problem, that I was well within the rules to change my mind and spin. He said "if you had even said 'Buh...' and began saying the first syllable, you would have been forced to solve, but you didn't do that, you didn't make a sound. You were totally fine." Even if you know the rules well and read through them carefully before your taping (as I certainly did), you can definitely have a deer-in-headlights moment. Pat does great helping things along but not overstepping, a perfect host. - @Salzano14

Even though I'm sure I've seen a moment play out like that in the past, I don't know if I could say with confidence that I knew a contestant could change their mind after saying an intention to solve the puzzle. Definitely good to know, though. For what? I'm not sure.

Here's another compliment-filled reply that points out Pat's penchant for sharing good feedback with those who entered the game with skills intact.

• Pat was very nice. Before the bonus round, he said I was a really good player, that he was impressed with my gameplay, and he specifically called out one thing I did. Then, when we started filming the round, he said I was a really good player, that he was impressed with my gameplay, and he specifically called out one thing I did. Haha. But seriously, nice experience. He also made jokes between front-game rounds and was enjoyable. (You know, politics aside. We were there to play a game and make money!) - @micahwhite

Even if these personal stories don't represent the entirety of all past Wheel of Fortune players, it's just generally a great sign that they're all so positive, considering Reddit threads have a tendency to skew negative and hateful on a whim. This fan achieved the ultimate dream of having both Sajak and the late, great Alex Trebek as hosts.

• Kind, professional, extremely good at his job. He made a couple digs at me that were extremely lighthearted and fun, and I responded in kind, and we had a fun time with it. Both him and Vanna did the little fly-by "hey, just saying hi" in their street clothes in the early morning when everyone is taking their tour of the actual stage, which was really nice. Also had the privilege of appearing on Jeopardy! during Trebek's reign, and similarly, good times. Felt like a nice bucket list item to tick apparances with both of them as a contestant. - @disillusioned

Pat Sajak even got some love from a guy who wasn't ever a contestant, and just attended some of the tapings.

• I’m not a former contestant, but I did go to two separate tapings, about 10 years apart. At both, during commercials, he would interact with the audience and he was hilarious and friendly. - @BayouGuy25

Will Ryan Seacrest spark these kinds of kind reactions whenever players are reflecting after his own retirement? WIll Reddit still exist then? Will all our thoughts be logged by robots? Ahem.

Wheel of Fortune will soon be hitting its first big break on the 2025 TV schedule, as Ryan Seacrest's first official season comes to a close, also earning more positivity than negativity by way of online reactions, even if criticisms are definitely out there.

As the new era of Wheel of Fortune continues on the 2025 TV schedule, some fans are still finding it hard to get used to the new host. Pat Sajak stepped down last year, with Ryan Seacrest stepping up, and many were quick to share their opinions on Seacrest taking over. It also doesn’t help that he’s made some frequent mistakes, and people keep comparing him to Sajak. While it seemed like the takeover was going well, fans still have one complaint months after his first episode premiered. Although others actually love it.

A Lot Of People Really Hate The Intros Change

A thread on the Wheel of Fortune subreddit pointed out that intros have been longer since the American Idol host joined, saying that it’s about 6-7 minutes now. Seacrest speaks to the contestants longer than Sajak did, getting more information about their lives and families and what made them want to do the show. It's one of the many complaints about Wheel fans have, and for a fair reason. A lot of people couldn’t care less about the intros, and even compared it to how fellow long-running game show Jeopardy! does things:

• The main reason I record the show—so I can fast forward through all the intros. So boring. I watch to solve puzzles, not hear about your collection of cow pies or how many kids you have with “J” names. -MarshmallowRhubarb
• It does feel like they're giving the contestants considerably more time for their introductions this season. -jjc927
• I thought they seemed longer now too. I rarely listened to the contestant entros before and definitely not now. -patricknkelly
• Definitely longer now, approaching Jeopardy level of nonsense spewed about each contestant. I just showed my fiance a Pat episode from 2007 to show him how quick they used to be haha -Dazzaa533

If it’s one thing that Wheel of Fortune fans can agree on, it’s the fact that some of the changes that have been made since Sajak left haven’t been for the better. Since people mostly watch Wheel for the puzzles and seeing how much money the contestants end up taking home, it makes sense that a lot of them don’t really care about the intros. But that’s not to say they’re all like that.

But A Few People Welcome It

Some fans actually like the longer intros, agreeing that they enjoy learning more about the contestants and seeing them get excited to talk about their lives and families. It’s also the fact that you are seeing these contestants for a half hour and maybe even rooting for someone. Knowing what they’re all about and who they are can sometimes make the episode worth it, as Takora06 shared:

Obviously, there is only so much time for each episode, so it’s not surprising that people would rather just skip through to the game rather than hear each contestant talk about themselves for a couple of minutes. But it does make things fun when you learn who’s competing and why, and then seeing their family at the end if they make it to the bonus puzzle. In the end, WOF fans have strong opinions.

It's been hard for people to get used to Seacrest after Sajak retired, especially since he hosted for decades. It was expected that some things would change, but that doesn’t mean that people have to like it. Whether more changes will come next season is unknown, so fans will just have to tune in later this year and see. In the meantime, check your local listings to see when and where you can watch new episodes of Wheel of Fortune.

It was nearly 11 months ago that Pat Sajak — one of the best game show hosts of all time — bid an emotional farewell to Wheel of Fortune after four decades as its leader. Now we’re about to get him back — albeit temporarily. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is set to premiere on the 2025 TV schedule with a fifth season that was taped before Sajak’s retirement. As we prepare to see him share the stage with Vanna White again, the famed letter-turner recalled what new host Ryan Seacrest did to make her feel good about the transition.

As tough as it was for all the Wheel Watchers to see Pat Sajak retire as Wheel of Fortune’s host, think about how Vanna White felt losing her partner after so many years. White has said she knew it would be hard to work with someone else, but she said Ryan Seacrest made the changeover really easy, telling TV Insider:

I love that Ryan Seacrest was able to provide that reassurance for Vanna White, showing through his actions and his words that he understood the responsibility of following Pat Sajak and how much Wheel of Fortune means to fans, and he wasn’t trying to come in and blow up the sturdy foundation that had been laid for him.

He provided the same assurance to fans, saying that his version of Wheel of Fortune would be the same that Pat Sajak was leaving. With Sony choosing Pat Sajak’s replacement so far in advance — and picking someone with so much hosting experience — the powers that be really set the crew and audience alike up for a smooth transition, and when Ryan Seacrest made his debut in 2024, fans took to him surprisingly quickly. (He does have his haters though.)

It’s going to be interesting to see Pat Sajak back in his rightful place on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Fans will be able to easily compare the two hosts’ styles, with Ryan Seacrest continuing to lead the daily syndicated show while Sajak shows up in primetime Wednesdays on ABC.

Viewers are also likely to feel quite nostalgic seeing the former host reunite with Vanna White (despite the fact that she still sees Pat Sajak outside of the show). I know Kelly Ripa isn’t the only one of us that used to think they were married! All in all, I think it’s going to be a special season that fans will cherish, even while returning to Ryan Seacrest’s regularly scheduled programming.

Don’t miss Pat Sajak’s big return (and for-real last hurrah) on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Season 5, which premieres at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 30, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Fans of Wheel of Fortune seem to be settling nicely into the Ryan Seacrest era of one of the best game shows of all time. While he’ll likely never have the same rapport with co-host Vanna White that Pat Sajak had for four decades, it’s been cute to hear about the little pranks Seacrest pulls on White and the nicknames they give each other. Staying on the show wasn’t an easy decision, though, the letter-turner revealed, opening up about her thought process.

Vanna White knows it’s been an adjustment — for both her and the Wheel watchers — to see someone new in the hosting position, and she has admitted that she considered retiring alongside Pat Sajak. As new episodes continue on the 2025 TV schedule, White spoke candidly with the Holding Kourt podcast about how she came to the decision to return, saying:

Although Vanna White previously said that the rumors that surrounded her contract negotiations were blown out of proportion, here she seemed to acknowledge that there’s always some drama, and maybe she and Sony really weren’t on the same page. However, not only did everything work out with her new contract, but with the new host. White continued:

It’s great to hear that Vanna White is happy with her decision to stick around, and that she approves of the job Pat Sajak’s replacement has been doing. Fans were quick to compliment Ryan Seacrest after his Wheel of Fortune debut, and I think having White still there was a big part of his being accepted so quickly.

Wheel of Fortune fans will have one more chance to see Pat Sajak — one of the best game show hosts ever — in action, when Celebrity Wheel of Fortune premieres at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 30. This season of famous faces spinning the big wheel taped last year before Sajak’s retirement, so be sure to tune in to see him and Vanna White together one last time.

Not everyone gets to have the privilege (or otherwise) of working with the same person for four whole decades, but Vanna White shared that hallmark with her former Wheel of Fortune cohort Pat Sajak, who retired from hosting the syndicated show in 2024. Thankfully, she’s handled replacement host Ryan Seacrest’s arrival in with aplomb, but she knows some fans weren’t happy, and some still haven’t fully adjusted to a show without Sajak.

But he’s not entirely gone from either her life or from viewers’ televisions. (He’ll still be back for Celebrity WoF Season 3, assuming that lands on the 2025 TV schedule at some point.) She even addressed their most recent meet-up while appearing as a guest on the Elvis Duran Show. Here’s how she put it:

For the most part, Pat Sajak has stayed out of the spotlight in the time since he officially called it quits and delivered his emotional final episode address to viewers. But after seeing each other on a regular basis for so many years, with White confirming they are still filming 6 episodes a day for the current season's cycle, it would almost be weird and unsettling if White and Sajak went for an extended period without crossing paths. (Though maybe not, since the total amount of annual days filming is around 34.)

I also say all that as someone who has barely kept in touch with the vast majority of my former coworkers, and if there was a round where the category was "What Are You Doing?" and the finished puzzle was "Avoiding Communication With People I Used To See All The Time," I would probably solve it pretty quickly. But those kinships were definitely more short-lived than Vanna's Wheel of Fortune career.

It's unclear where exactly White touched base with Sajak again, but it's good to hear that he's looking well. Fans were quite worried about the longtime host when he had to have an emergency surgery in 2019, with a handful of other potentially worrisome moments cropping up in the years after.

Vanna White Answers A Question I've Always Wondered About

By and large, Vanna White has always come across as one of the nicest and least judgmental people on TV, not that she constantly has the opportunity to speak her mind while presenting on Wheel. But she further proved that distinction to be true when one of the radio show's co-hosts asked how she managed to avoid laughing at contestants when they make all-time horrible guesses. Without a lick of sardonic irony on her face, she answered with:

She's a better person than most of us, I think. There are probably some people out there who would laugh so hard at a wrong guess that they'd lose their job on the spot and have to be escorted out.

Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights in syndication, with Ryan Seacrest still waiting for somebody to win that $1 million prize.

Wheel of Fortune is continuing its new era on the 2025 TV schedule, and I think it's safe to say a lot of us are still adjusting to this new normal. After longtime host Pat Sajak officially retired from one of the best game shows in history last year, Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties starting in September. Sajak, meanwhile, has actually been doing one more season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune before officially stepping away, and now, he’s popping by his old stomping grounds in an unexpected way.

In a new video posted by Wheel of Fortune, Seacrest gave viewers a set tour, introducing the crew behind the scenes who make it all possible. After showing off the production team and art designers, the new host made his way back to set, that's when we saw Sajak chowing down on a sandwich. And it couldn’t have been a better surprise cameo:

Of course, I always hoped to see Sajak back on set, I just never thought it would be so soon and in this silly way.

I always thought if he came back it would be formally and on the actual show. However, this fun cameo was perfect, and it made my day. It just shows that Wheel of Fortune is home, and he still feels as comfortable as ever on set, whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera. Also, his cameo was quite casual, making me wonder just how many times he’s popped by since his final episode.

Coincidentally, the fun cameo comes not long after it was reported that Pat Sajak could be thinking about making a permanent comeback to Wheel of Fortune. A source told Radar Online that Sajak was allegedly thinking about returning as host after hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune one last time. Nothing is certain, though, especially since it hasn’t even been a year since his retirement and Seacrest is doing very well in the role now. However, what is clear is the show still means a lot to him, and he means a lot to the show.

Meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest is continuing to host Wheel of Fortune, and even though he’s had a bumpy start between reported troubles behind the scenes and on-air flubs, he seems to be doing swell. It’s not easy taking over for a beloved host, so it’s not surprising that it’s taken some time to get used to. However, he's finding his footing, and it's very fun to see him interact with the contestants, Vanna White and even Pat Sajak in the case of this video.

Considering Wheel of Fortune is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, there are likely more surprises to come that include Sajak. Fans will just have to wait and see on that front though. In the meantime, they can always catch Sajak on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and in reruns of Wheel of Fortune while Seacrest continues to host new episodes of the tentpole game show.

As we begin to work through the 2025 TV schedule, it’s worth noting that this year will mark the first full calendar year that sees Ryan Seacrest as the host of Wheel of Fortune. Following Pat Sajak’s retirement, the American Idol host took his spot at the wheel to help contestants guess phrases and win money. However, now that fans are getting used to him leading the show, there’s a wild rumor running around that the old host might want the job back.

Apparently, following Sajak’s small stint on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in the fall (which happened after his retirement from the tentpole show), he’s eager to return to his old gig. Obviously, this is just a rumor and there’s no confirmation that the former host wants to take over the job Ryan Seacrest currently holds. However, according to a source who spoke to Radar Online, he is starting to think about returning to the wheel, as they alleged:

The story went on to allege that the long-time WOF host “never wanted to leave” the show. While Sajak himself told GMA that he was “surprisingly OK” with his retirement and that he would “rather leave a couple years too early than a couple of years too late,” this source claimed that he now wants to return to the game show, saying:

Please note, as far as we know, and according to Sajak himself, he was ready to leave the game show. He also noted in the GMA interview that he had plenty of time to reflect on and process his tenure on the show and get ready for retirement because his departure was announced so far in advance.

However, Radar Online’s report claims that he’s not ready to let go of the wheel yet, and alleges that “he’ll be waiting in the wings to take over,” because he apparently does not think Seacrest will stick around:

The source went on to claim that Seacrest does not like this and thinks Sajak is “being a sore loser.” They continued to claim that the former host does not stand a chance of getting his old job back, explaining that the WOF’s current ratings are “great” (which is true), the new host is being paid well and he gets along with Vanna White.

However, the source also claimed that there are fans who want Sajak to return. They also alleged that the former host is “counting on” that, saying:

Notably, the passing of the torch from Sajak to Seacrest has gone well. The former Live with Kelly and Ryan host has been enthusiastic about the milestones he’ll hit and his future on the program, and he’s been open about the advice Sajak and White have given him.

While fans have had critiques for Seacrest’s hosting, they’ve come to like him and many are now used to him leading the series with White.

So, as far as we know, there are no changes in sight for Wheel of Fortune. Seacrest and White will continue hosting while Sajak enjoys retirement. However, if anything else surrounding this rumor breaks, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

After taking over Wheel of Fortune hosting duties in September following Pat Sajak's retirement, Ryan Seacrest has mostly been coasting on a wave of positive vibes and reactions. (This season's new set design took a bigger hit than he did.) Of course, not all that glitters is forever gold, and some fans have pinpointed a specific nitpick about Seacrest's approach that I agree should be curbed.

When it comes to fan criticisms, Seacrest has been dinged for making a mistake or two, and his timing is a tad delayed when it comes to responding to contestants' letter guesses. But what's now confusing certain viewers is the way the American Idol host reveals the $40,000 Bonus Round prize inside the envelope. As one fan put it on Reddit:

For those unaware, Ryan Seacrest is the kind of host who tends to portray everything in as positive a light as can be. And so it's somewhat understandable that part of his schtick is playing up the hype surrounding the Bonus Round envelope and the alluring prizes that could be inside. And by all means, $40,000 is an excitingly large payday for a puzzle-solver.

But as it's pointed out in comments there and among the game show's YouTube comments, the $40,000 prize is actually the least lucrative prize on the mini-wheel. As such, Seacrest has been called out for being too performative when building anticipation before flipping the envelope around to show the amount.

Check out the latest example of the $40,000 shuffle, as I'll call it for the moment, which is the episode that sparked the comment above.

Since Seacrest has been fairly polite about constestants' awful guesses during his time on the show so far, I won't spend too much time on this here, but it's a little weird, right? It's akin to a parent trying to convince a skeptical child that the snack they've been given instead of ice cream is just as good.

The Reddit comments tackle the key elements that make Seacrest's delivery so odd in those moments, from the lead-up implying a far bigger prize to the fact that he doesn't seem to ever reveal the $40k total himself.

• Agreed... The Mrs. and I commented on that last night. He presents it like it's something more than the minimum prize amount! One of these days, the contestant is going to react disappointedly. - @intheslipstream1
• He also contorts his body awkwardly and bounces aroind to just flip the card open. Then says 'it was this much' as if he can't say the amount. Kind of weird. - @jrclarke413
• I don't get the "It was this much." There has to be a reason that the producers don't want him to say it, but I can't imagine why (except a nefarious and illegal editing of what the amount was, which makes no sense). - @texan-yankee

I think that's also the part that baffles me the most. "It was this much" makes it sound like there's nothing printed on the envelope card, and the prize total was added in post-production. "This is what you won, the amount of money you see before you, and that which I hold in my hand."

It stands to reason that Ryan Seacrest will completely lose his shit if he ever gets to give away $1 million on Wheel, which hasn't happened in a non-Celebrity WoF game since 2014. But it's still early in his run yet.

Trending publicly isn’t for the faint of heart, especially these days. The reasons why, as we all know, can be for anything, good, bad, or somewhere in between. So, when Pat Sajak, the former host of Wheel of Fortune, one of the best game shows of all time, saw he was trending online, he added a fun and cheeky response to the mix while enjoying the World Series.

If you’ve been keeping up with the World Series as it airs 2024 TV Schedule, you may have caught the 78-year-old sitting behind home plate last night during Game 5 rooting for the Dodgers. Many people did, in fact, take note of the game show icon, and he ended up trending because of it.

So, after the retired Wheel of Fortune host saw he was trending, he shared this amusing post on his X (Twitter) account, reassuring himself all was okay:

The retiree still has his finger on the pulse, and I think we can all sigh a collective breath of relief while laughing over this hilarious response.

For context, Sajak was trending because a lot of viewers noticed that he was at Game 5 of the World Series sitting behind home plate. When fans spotted him, they took to social media to excitedly point it out, as you can see below:

• I was watching the game and I jumped up..."There's Pat Sajak!!" - J Mac
• we’re happy to see you at the game - Howard Weiss
• Glad your doing well Pat! Hope you’re enjoying the game!! - sportsfan
• I'm watching you, Pat!! Nice seats in - Laurie

I can understand their excitement. He was on television most weekdays for decades, so not watching him on the daily has been an adjustment. However, it was lovely to see him enjoying his retirement and the Dodgers.

Sajak passed the Wheel of Fortune torch to Ryan Seacrest after the 41st season to spend more time with his family.

Seacrest started this fall and, he’s been doing well picking up where Sajak left off. As the show has continued, he has gotten even better at the job, and with the former American Idol host enjoying his newest gig, the classic hit doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Before Sajak left his post, both he and his longtime co-star, Vanna White, shared some helpful advice with Seacrest to bring Wheel of Fortune into its next life. And ahead of his final show, Sajak shared his thoughts and reflections on retirement and what he hoped the future may hold for him. Watching the World Series behind home plate, and trending because of it, isn’t a bad place to be at all in his first fall post Wheel of Fortune.

Hopefully, the show continues toward success sans Sajak. I think that it will since it is a pillar of network television, game show royalty, and Vanna White is still around. As for Sajak, I hope he’s enjoying retirement, the Dodgers win and his trending status.

If you’d like to watch the newest season of Wheel of Fortune with Ryan Seacrest, check your local listings for programming information. For those wanting to watch Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, you can stream it with a Hulu Subscription.

All of the anticipation surrounding Wheel of Fortune’s change of command is now over, as a full week of Ryan Seacrest-hosted episodes has aired on the 2024 TV schedule. Initial reactions to Seacrest’s debut were positive (though many fans didn’t take so kindly to the set changes), and I’d imagine the new host is breathing a big sigh of relief at that. However, it might not have turned out so well had Seacrest made the joke about Pat Sajak that a source alleged he was considering.

Ryan Seacrest officially took over as host of one of the best game shows on September 9, becoming Wheel of Fortune’s second host following Pat Sajak’s 41 years. There were a lot of words of mutual respect exchanged between the two ahead of the handover, with Sajak offering Seacrest advice, but on the night of the Season 42 premiere, the longtime host was not mentioned by name. A source for the Daily Mail alleges Seacrest had thought about including a joke. According to the insider:

OK, I'm taking this with a huge grain of salt, but if it is true that Ryan Seacrest considered making a Pat Sajak joke by using his famous “Seacrest out” signoff, I am really glad that he decided against it. I can kind of see the humor in it, but I guarantee that Wheel watchers would not have taken it as fun wordplay and would have seen it as disrespectful to one of the greatest game show hosts to ever live.

People have had strong opinions about Ryan Seacrest since he was announced as Pat Sajak’s successor, and think what you will about him, but he’s definitely not stupid. If he really did consider saying, “Sajak out,” on his first night hosting Wheel of Fortune, I have to imagine he nixed the idea pretty quickly, knowing that the loyal fanbase was already apprehensive about such a big change.

Some fans were a little put off by the fact that Ryan Seacrest didn’t mention Pat Sajak by name, but there was so much respect shown between the two in the passing of the guard that I was personally OK with the show moving forward without one last Sajak mention. As the source said:

Ahead of Pat Sajak’s retirement, Vanna White shared emotional memories of their decades working together, and the host bid his own touching farewell. I think that was the perfect way to go out, and I liked Ryan Seacrest’s short and to-the-point introduction, as he opened the September 9 episode by saying:

That’s definitely more sincere than “Sajak out.” Check your local listings to see when to catch Wheel of Fortune in your area, and surprise! Pat Sajak will actually be back on your screens for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune at 8 p.m. ET Monday, October 14, on ABC. Those episodes were filmed in the midst of Sajak’s final season before he retired.

When most people take on a new job, they don’t need to worry about millions of people’s eyeballs watching from the first day onward, but such is life for new Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest, who is taking over for the retired icon Pat Sajak when the new season hits the upcoming Fall TV schedule. It’s been a long time coming, but his debut is fast approaching, and he’s opened up about his excitement and the slice of wisdom he immediately received from Sajak and Vanna White.

Seacrest appeared on Good Morning America opposite White, who’d previously talked about being nervous to have a new co-host after 40+ years, and addressed that even though he’s got the moves down and has started filming, the sense of glee has yet to fade. In his words:

To be sure, Ryan Seacrest has has huge hosting gigs throughout his career, with American Idol and the yearly New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special being two of the most prominent. Now, however, he’ll somehow become cemented as even more of a household name at the front of one of the best game shows of all time.

And for all the glitz and glory that comes along with such a lauded TV position, it’s kind of surprising that the first pleasure Pat Sajak talked about was meeting and potentially changing the lives of a handful of new people on a daily basis. Not technically 100% true, since Wheel of Fortune is like most game shows in that a week’s worth of episodes are filmed in a single day, but the sentiment still tracks.

For a lot of those contestants, appearing on the show will be a lifelong memory they’ll never stop talking about, so it’s actually quite sweet to hear that particular slice of joy being discussed right from the jump. Now, can I also picture Sajak and White then telling Seacrest about all the on-set secrets and life-hacks they’ve picked up over the years? Absolutely. But first and foremost, it’s about the wheel-watching contestants.

Ryan Seacrest said he'd been prepping for months for his Wheel gig, telling this to ABC News' Ginger Zee:

Will we ever get to a point when Vanna White steps down from her longtime role so that the show’s former newest recruit Maggie Sajak can take over turning the letters, so to speak? That’s what the rumor mill has spread around as of late, and while it could certainly come true in the near to distant future, Vanna’s not going anywhere just yet, so expect to be jealous over some gorgeous one-time dresses and looks for at least a couple more seasons.

Wheel of Fortune Season 42 will finally arrive in syndication on Monday, September 9, so be sure to check your local listings to see where it’s playing in your area. And don’t forget about Pat Sajak’s actual swan song hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune kicks off on Monday, October 7, at 8:00 p.m.

Family Feud is undoubtedly among the best game shows of all time, but in its current era, I’m tuning in to see Steve Harvey and his hilarious interactions with the contestants as much as I am for the game itself. The most recent episode of Celebrity Family Feud pitted Robin Thicke against Anthony Anderson to win money for charity, and Harvey was certainly set up for an ego boost when one question asked about TV hosts people had romantic fantasies about. His reaction was, of course, A+, but we have got to talk about some of the other answers.

It does seem like a no-brainer that when Steve Harvey asked: “Admit it — What TV host, past or present, have you had romantic fantasies about?,” someone would name the Family Feud host, and Team Robin member Ava did not disappoint. Neither did Harvey’s immediate response to the answer, as they had this exchange:

• Steve Harvey: Watch yourself right there. Watch yourself. How old are you, Ava?
• Ava: I’m sorry! 24.
• Steve Harvey: Oh God no. Please don’t be up there.
  

However, Steve Harvey was actually the No. 1 answer, and I’ve got to say — in my humble opinion — he didn’t have much competition. Robin Thicke’s friends and family went on to strike out immediately with guesses of Pat Sajak, Alan Thicke and Nick Cannon.

Robin Thicke naming his colleague from The Masked Singer I get, because with the number of Cannon children running around, there are apparently a lot of people having romantic fantasies about him. I even love how they honored Robin’s father, Alan Thicke, who passed away in 2016. Pat Sajak? Sure, he’s not a bad-looking fellow by any means, but I’ve personally never gotten all hot and bothered when he suggests players “give the wheel a spin.”

Anthony Anderson’s team was able to bring home the steal by guessing the No. 2 answer — Jimmy Fallon. Really? Is Jimmy Fallon the best we can do there? I love Fever Pitch probably more than most, but I never considered the talk show host to be on the level of romantic fantasy. No shade, though, to each his own. The rest of the list included some of the best game show hosts of days gone by — Alex Trebek (that sexy, mustachioed silver fox), Bob Barker and Regis Philbin. You can check out the full clip below:

I'm going to have to assume the 100 people surveyed were just trying to think of any male TV host they could think of, rather than tapping into their actual fantasies.

That wasn’t the first time a Family Feud question set Steve Harvey up to be flattered. In a 2023 celebrity episode, he asked the contestants which female celebrities they’d set him up with if he weren’t married. Let’s just say his reactions to the Beyoncé and Oprah responses are worth checking out for yourself.

When it comes to fantasizing about TV hosts, maybe I was wrong for thinking more Ryan Seacrest than Donny Osmond, but hey, it bought us another classic Steve Harvey reaction, and that’s at least part of the reason we’re all here, right? You can see new episodes of Celebrity Family Feud at 9 p.m. ET Tuesdays on ABC, and check out what other premieres are coming soon with our 2024 TV schedule.

The timing of TV tapings can often be a weird thing to reckon with when it comes to avoiding big plot spoilers, or in the case of some reality TV shows, avoiding real-life updates that hint at couple break-ups, contestant eliminations and more. In the case of Wheel of Fortune and Pat Sajak, the filming and airing schedule for the flagship series means that fans of the all-time great game show who already accepted the host’s retirement announced in 2023, will be watching him back in that familiar role for a new season of Celebrity Family Feud.

Bizarrely enough, Pat Sajak’s final Wheel of Fortune episode (which drew some pretty major ratings) will no longer serve as his actual last episode, at least not to TV viewers. ABC announced its 2024 Fall TV lineup, which not only cemented a premiere date for the fifth season of Wheel’s star-infused spinoff, but also confirmed that Sajak’s swan song is still yet to come, even if it was filmed before his official farewell message to fans. Gotta love TV magic, or whatever this would be called.

Viewers can look forward to seeing Sajak stepping it up one last time when Celebrity Wheel of Fortune returns in October, with ABC calling it his “final spin.” But will that truly be the end, or will we then learn about a previously unannounced animated WoF spinoff that Sajak will return for anew? Probably not, since an animated game show is a terrible idea, but still.

At this point, it’s still unclear when exactly Sajak’s high-profile replacement, TV hosting stalwart Ryan Seacrest, will be taking over. That said, we do know Season 42 is set to premiere this fall, and we do know that some viewers can’t wait for it, while others will be perfectly happy to have a Seacrest-fronted Wheel of Fortune miss them on all counts. The recent videos promoting the new episodes have been tied largely to Seacrest and Vanna White being goofy, without an overarching sense of how he’ll be during gameplay itself.

Check out one of the Sajak-free videos below for an idea of what to expect.

For any game show fans wondering, we won’t be able to enjoy the usual nightly lineup of Wheel and Jeopardy! together, at least not outside of the syndicated versions. Celebrity Jeopardy! won’t be returning to ABC until the network’s midseason schedule, where it will likely be paired up with the final season of The Conners.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will kick off its fifth season on ABC on Monday, October 7, at 8:00 p.m., with episodes available to stream the next day with a Hulu subscription. Head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are on the way soon.

Now that Pat Sajak has officially retired from Wheel of Fortune, the long-running game show is set to enter a new era. Part of that will see Ryan Seacrest stepping in to take the reins as host. All the while, after long negotiations following Sajak’s initial announcement, Vanna White will be returning to the series after successfully landing a new Wheel contract. However, things may not be so smooth with Seacrest.

What's Allegedly Happening On Set Between Vanna White And Ryan Seacrest?

Not long after Pat Sajak’s retirement announcement, it was revealed that Ryan Seacrest would take over for him. Fans shared their thoughts on Seacrest replacing Sajak, and they weren't too thrilled with the prospect. Now, insiders are claiming that Vanna White allegedly hasn’t been pleased with the American Idol host's approach to the work thus far. A source spoke to RadarOnline about the supposed situation, saying:

While Ryan Seacrest is obviously is no stranger to hosting gigs, Wheel of Fortune is a different kind of bast. Not only is he on a show that’s been on the air since 1975 and  beloved by so many, but he now has to work with a co-host who's been with the program for decades and has her own professional process. Vanna White and her longtime co-host had natural chemistry. And, per this source, the creatives behind the show are afraid that viewers won't see a spark between Seacrest and White:

That being said, even though the new season hasn’t even aired yet, producers allegedly aren't taking the possibility of firing the new off the table just yet. He has a multi-year contract, but “the brass” would purportedly let him go before getting rid of Vanna White. The insider asserts that that's because the producers “know fans tune in to see Vanna even more than the host!” It's also noted that the creative team have also made other alterations to accommodate the former Live with Kelly and Ryan host like adjusting the sets due to the new host's height. If all of this is true, it would mark yet another hurdle for White to contend with after her contract negotiations.

Vanna White Received A Raise After Drama Surrounding Her Contract

After Pat Sajak was announced to retire, many were wondering where his on-air partner stood as the other face of Wheel of Fortune. The 67-year-old letter turner quickly lawyered up in order to negotiate a new contract. It was reported that she and Sony couldn't agree, as she wanted more than double her then-current salary. It was then later revealed she allegedly wanted a salary comparable to Sajak’s, which was a lot more than hers. 

Eventually, after a long back and forth that took a few months, Vanna White finally landed a new contract that included a “substantial pay increase.” It was also previously reported that she was upset that producers didn’t give her a chance to take over for Mr. Sajak. As for her own potential successor, fans have had Maggie Sajak, Pat's daughter, in mind to replace White when she eventually retires or possibly steps into Pat's shoes. That's all, of course, pure speculation. 

As promos for Wheel ramp up, one has to wonder just what lies ahead for this new chapter in the illustrious game show's history. We can't say for sure whether there's any true strife between the show's two main personalities right now. However, if there is anything like that brewing behind the scenes, one would hope that everything is resolved sooner rather than later. 

Be sure to check your local listings so you'll know when to catch the new episodes of Wheel of Fortune when they debut amid the 2024 TV schedule.

Anytime a great game show host steps down from their role, it’s always hard to enter a new era, especially when the program is considered one of the best game shows. We saw that when Alex Trebek retired from Jeopardy, and now we’re witnessing it again after Pat Sajak said so long to Wheel of Fortune, and Ryan Seacrest prepares to say hello. Of course, there are growing pains as we move through this transition, and as the American Idol host prepares to join Vanna White, fans are not holding back their thoughts about this new age of Wheel.

While fans haven’t been holding back their thoughts since the announcement that Seacrest would be taking over for Sajak came out, things really amped up when this promotion was released:

Down in the comments of this post, viewers sure did not shy away from sharing their transparent feelings about Wheel of Fortune returning to the 2024 TV schedule with a new host. So, let’s go over some of the reactions regarding this new chapter the classic game show is just starting.

Some Fans Didn’t Hold Back Their Critical Thoughts About Ryan Seacrest

Of course, there are people who are feeling apprehensive about Ryan Seacrest taking over the show. While the fun promo showed him and Vanna White having a blast during this upcoming season of Wheel of Fortune, some people weren’t convinced by it, and they commented things like:

• You need someone who will be long term. Ryan has bounced around multiple shows. -gary__mather
• No thanks -cindylclark99
• So done lol -stefanie_joyy
• Never like Seacrest. After forty years I’m going to no longer be a wheel watcher. Maggie, Blossom anybody but seacrest. Nope not going to watch -miamichiliman
• It still won't be the same without Pat but let's see how Ryan does -humski4

I get it, change is hard. Plus, with rumors swirling around that there might be trouble between Seacrest and White already, I can understand why fans are nervous. However, other reports suggest that things between the new co-hosts are going swimmingly and the promo looked fun to me, so it makes perfect sense that there are also a lot of very excited fans.

Other Fans Couldn’t Contain Their Enthusiasm About Ryan Seacrest 

Many fans aren’t holding back on their excited thoughts either. Some are even admitting that they might have made assumptions about this new era of Wheel of Fortune too soon, for example, @twiggney wrote:

Other fans of Wheel of Fortune can’t wait to see Ryan Seacrest take the wheel, and I’m with them. As many comments pointed out, there’s a real love for Seacrest already since many have watched him host things like American Idol and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve for years and years:

• Grew up watching WOF, watch it with my kids, and now excited to see it live on even longer with Ryan!! So fun! -j9crum
• I love Ryan!!! He is going to do a fantastic job. 👏👏❤️ -jeff_lee_ranson
• I’m so ready for the new Wheel of Fortune season to come. I’m feeling hyped. I can’t wait. We will all miss Pat Sajak. 🙌❤️🔥 -ly_richierrich972015
• Gonna miss Pat, but I'm ready for Ryan! 😊 -lisainspires

All around, there are a lot of feelings surrounding Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White’s upcoming tenure on Wheel of Fortune. Pat Sajak’s final episode drew in massive numbers, and he hosted the show for over 40 years, there’s a lot of love for him and change is hard.

However, as many fans pointed out, it’s time to give Ryan Secrest a chance and get excited for new episodes of Wheel of Fortune, which will start airing on weekdays in September.

When Pat Sajak announced that he was retiring from Wheel of Fortune, it seemed like every effort was made to ensure a smooth transition. Ryan Seacrest was quickly named as Sajak's successor, and Vanna White’s contract was renegotiated to secure her role as co-host in this crucial time of transition for one of the best game shows of all time. Despite all of that, rumors have still swirled that there’s trouble behind the scenes, but what’s really going on between the new host and the iconic letter-turner?  

Vanna White Is Allegedly Struggling On Wheel Of Fortune Following Pat Sajak’s Exit 

Vanna White and Pat Sajak worked side-by-side for more than four decades, so it would be expected for the co-host to go through a mourning period of sorts, now that new Wheel of Fortune episodes have begun filming with Ryan Seacrest as the host. However, the Daily Mail reported that things are so bad, White may be looking for a way out sooner than we expected. A source said: 

Pat Sajak and Vanna White were like the peanut butter and jelly of game show hosts — Sajak even admitted he couldn’t find his mark without White — and the insider claims it’s just too hard for her to be there without him. White’s renegotiated deal secures her spot in front of the big board through 2026  Could it be true that she and Ryan Seacrest are on such different pages that that’s too long to wait? Another source says not so fast. 

Insider Refutes Claim Of Tension Between Ryan Seacrest And Vanna White 

If there is tension between Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest, you’d never know it from the American Idol host’s comments about his colleague so far. Seacrest has called her “legendary” and confirmed that White lives up to “icon” status. Indeed, a source close to the new host rejected the notion that there’s been any trouble on set, telling the New York Post: 

The Wheel of Fortune co-workers had already started filming promos together back in February — months before they said goodbye to one of the best game show hosts in history — and onlookers reported that Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White had a natural chemistry together. They reportedly got along great in between takes and happily took selfies with fans. 

Only time will tell if Vanna White is, indeed, looking for an early exit from her Wheel of Fortune gig, but for now the rumors of drama are just that. Keep an eye on the 2024 TV schedule for what’s coming up ahead of Ryan Seacrest’s debut this September. 

Pat Sajak’s reign as one of the best game show hosts is officially over, as the Wheel of Fortune mainstay retired after more than 40 years of leading contestants through the letter-guessing game. Ryan Seacrest is set to take over when new episodes hit the 2024 TV schedule this fall, and when he does, the new host is undoubtedly hoping to draw as many eyeballs as Sajak did in his final episode.

The Season 41 finale of Wheel of Fortune aired June 7 and featured Pat Sajak bidding farewell to his loyal audience and thanking viewers for allowing him into their homes for so many years. According to THR, the episode attracted 11.03 million viewers, which is the highest number the game show has seen since April 29, 2020 — when Americans were locked down due to COVID.

For the week of June 3-9, Pat Sajak’s farewell was the most-watched non-sports program on broadcast or cable TV at any time of day, coming in second only to Game 2 of the NBA Finals, which drew 12.31 million viewers on June 9.

It wasn’t just the farewell episode, either, that saw the ratings surge, but the entire last week of the host’s run on one of the best game shows of all time. Wheel of Fortune hit an 18-week high, averaging 8.5 million viewers over the final five episodes of Season 41. Each day from June 3-9, the show ranked in the top 15 out of approximately 28,000 network, cable and syndicated broadcasts.

Similar to audiences wanting to see Pat Sajak’s farewell message — and Vanna White’s sweet memories of their time together — people are likely to be just as curious about how Ryan Seacrest slides into the role for Season 42. Time will tell how the ratings compare to the ones mentioned above, but anything similar would likely give Sony some confirmation that American Idol host was the most logical choice to fill Sajak’s shoes.

It’s not lost on Ryan Seacrest how big of an ask that is, either, and he has said that he does feel the pressure. However, Drew Carey — who famously replaced another game show icon in Bob Barker on The Price Is Right — isn’t really concerned about Seacrest being able to master the gig, given his extensive background in hosting.

It also doesn’t hurt that Ryan Seacrest will have co-host Vanna White by his side, as the letter-turner signed a new contract to guarantee that she’ll be around for at least a couple more seasons. White — who, like Pat Sajak, has been on Wheel of Fortune for more than 40 years — started shooting promos with Seacrest months before Sajak’s exit, so it’ll be fun to see the chemistry they’ve developed when we finally get to see them take the stage together.

The incoming host has said his version of the game show won’t be different from the iteration that we’re used to seeing, but viewers may still notice some subtle changes. Camera angles, for instance, may have to be adjusted due to Seacrest’s height, which could be noticeable to fans who are used to a very specific look. Whatever happens, I can’t wait to see it, and come September, we’ll see how many millions of people tune in with me. 

Pat Sajak has officially signed off of Wheel of Fortune, bringing an end to his 41-year career as one of the greatest game show hosts of all time. His goodbye tour was peppered with flashbacks and memories to celebrate Sajak on his way out, culminating in an emotional tribute from Vanna White on the season’s penultimate episode and then an even more heart-wrenching farewell from the host himself on his final night. Afterward he had one last sentiment he wanted to be sure to get across, sharing just six words on social media, while his replacement Ryan Seacrest had a lot more on his mind. 

Pat Sajak’s Six-Word Address After Wheel Of Fortune Exit 

It marked the end of an era when Pat Sajak addressed the audience at the end of the June 7 episode, reflecting on what made Wheel of Fortune one of the best game shows of all time. Just in case it wasn’t clear then how privileged he felt to have been a part of it for so long, the retired host fired up his X (Twitter) account to share one last message: 

It’s not lost on Pat Sajak how significant the past four decades have been, as his final farewell speech on the show also included a huge thank you to the audience for allowing him into their homes each night to enjoy a “safe place” with no politics or social issues to argue over. Just a game that can be enjoyed by people of every age.

Now that Pat Sajak has officially retired to his crossword puzzles and a Columbo play, Ryan Seacrest picks up the reins, and he also had something to say. 

Ryan Seacrest Pays Tribute To Pat Sajak After Retirement 

Ahead of the Wheel of Fortune season that just concluded, Ryan Seacrest was announced as the choice to succeed Pat Sajak. As Sajak’s final episodes played out, Seacrest was already filming promos with Vanna White, and we’ll get to see him make his debut when the game show returns to the 2024 TV schedule in September. Before that happens, however, Seacrest had to pay tribute to the man whose large shoes he’s about to step into. He wrote on X: 

Ryan Seacrest has held several big hosting jobs before this, including American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan, but following Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune is no small feat. He admitted he feels some pressure, but ultimately he’s excited to get out there with Vanna White and give away some money — which Sajak and White agreed was the best part of their job.

Pat Sajak obviously loved his job, which allowed fans to have fun as well, and viewers followed Ryan Seacrest's lead in thanking Sajak in Twitter comments that included: 

• It’s not every person that gets to say they are loved by many generations of Americans. You sir are a national treasure. Thank YOU! – TheCriticalDri1
• Before you go Pat I would like to buy a vowel please… D_n’t G_ Congratulations, enjoy your retirement and thank you. – AskMeLaterOn
• Thank you, Pat! Enjoy retirement Pat you will be missed and will forever be etched into the books as an American icon! 🤩 – KCPayTreeIt
• This man has been on my TV since I was born. Four decades in television is an incredible achievement. Thanks for the memories, Pat. – itsthejoeshow
• I can’t believe we’ve reached Pat Sajak’s last Wheel of Fortune show. I’d like to buy a vowel. ‘E’ tor end of an era. #ThankYouPat – smFISHMAN

I couldn't agree with the above sentiments more. While it's going to be exciting to see what Ryan Seacrest brings to the show this fall, we will all certainly miss Pat Sajak. 

Nothing on TV is meant to last forever, though it’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking certain staples might break that mold. Wheel of Fortune is one of those small-screen stalwarts, with Pat Sajak holding down the fort (or the boat, per his own recent mixed metaphor) for 40+ years. That mighty reign has reached its end, however, and Sajak’s final episode features his special farewell message to longtime viewers.

Pat Sajak’s final address to Wheel’s fanbase is fairly low-key with the emotions, as the host apparently recorded it in a mostly empty studio without any audience members or contestants around, which would presumably make it easier to keep one’s feelings in check. Still, the retiring host’s gratitude is fully present, and it’s a sweet way to punctuate the past week of flashback montages and highlight reels, complete with a class act tribute from Vanna White herself.

Here’s how Sajak addressed his final (for now) Wheel of Fortune appearance (via TVLine):

It’s wild to think that Pat Sajak’s final episode comes at the end of a largely unbroken streak (save for vacations and his 2019 medical emergency) that lasted for more than 8,000 episodes. It’s possible, or even likely, that longtime viewers have seen Sajak’s face on TV more times than any other host, actor or celebrity in general. And if not for those kinds of loyal fans, the show might not have had the success it did.

Sajak also points out that Wheel of Fortune served as a place where viewers of all backgrounds and beliefs could put differences aside for enjoyment’s sake. Sajak is known to be a fairly staunch conservative behind the scenes, which has been a point of contention for certain sectors of the viewership, but Wheel itself never dipped into any such political turmoil, and was all the greater for it.

For as much as fans adore the gameplay and puzzles at the heart of Wheel of Fortune, it’s undeniable that Pat Sajak is one of the reasons why the show has remained one of the best game shows of all time for so many years. To take nothing away from Vanna’s influence, obviously. And speaking of…

Vanna White's Tribute To Pat Sajak

The day before Pat Sajak's final episode made its way into syndication, the show unveiled Vanna White's emotional tribute to her longtime co-star, which can be viewed below. (If you don't have an eye-dabbing tissue nearby, that's on you.)

White's video was unveiled after several days of looking-back interview segments featuring Sajak waxing nostalgic with his daughter Maggie Sajak, where he reflected on his retirement decision, addressed some of his favorite memories, and talked about his low-key future plans.

However, all of these were recorded prior to the recent news that Sajak will be reteaming with a former local news colleague to perform in a stage production of the Columbo tale Perscription: Murder. Fans will need to head to Hawaii to check those performances out, though.

Things will look radically different when Season 42 arrives, however, with Ryan Seacrest taking over hosting duties later this year. Until that time arrives, however, head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what the summer season holds.

The end of an era is almost upon the game show community, as Pat Sajak’s final episode hosting Wheel of Fortune airs tomorrow, June 7. As far as what he’ll be doing after his 43-year tenure hosting one of the best TV games shows of all time comes to an end, Sajak recently said that he’d be “perfectly happy” just doing crosswords and playing with his potential grandchildren. However, it’s now been revealed that the man has lined up a Columbo play as his first post-Wheel of Fortune professional gig, and I have some questions to ask upon hearing this news.

The Columbo Play Pat Sajak Is Doing

As reported by Variety, Pat Sajak is reuniting with longtime friend Joe Moore, an actor and KHON-TV newscaster in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a stage production of Prescription: Murder at the Honolulu Hawaii Theatre. The two friends, who’ve done nine previous plays together, will team back up from July 31 to August 10, 2025. Sajak will play a “brilliant psychiatrist named Roy Fleming “who hatches a plot with a perfect alibi to murder his neurotic and possessive wife,” and Moore will play Lieutenant Columbo, “the seemingly bumbling detective who engages the psychiatrist in a cat-and-mouse battle of wits right up to the play’s surprising climax.”

Prescription: Murder was written by Richard Levinson and William Link, and they adapted it from “Enough Rope,” an episode of The Chevy Mystery Show that aired in 1960, with Bert Freed playing Columbo. The play version debuted in 1962, and six years later, Levinson and Link adapted their take into the TV movie that kicked off Peter Falk’s run as the character (which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription).

Looping back to Sajak and Moore’s version of Prescription: Murder, Rob Duval is directing, and their fellow castmates include Bryce Moore (Moore’s son who also works at KHON), Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan and Aiko Chinen. Just like with the other plays Sajak and Moore have done together at the Hawaii Theatre, this production will be fundraiser for the non-profit establishment.

My Questions About This Post-Wheel Of Fortune Gig

I’ll admit that when I first read this news, I was wondering why Pat Sajak was willing to go to Hawaii and perform in a local theater production, but now knowing his past with Joe Moore, it makes complete sense. That said, I am curious how the folks at the Honolulu Hawaii Theatre settled on Prescription: Murder as the play for Sajak and Moore to do. It could just be because one of the previous plays they did together was Dial M for Murder, so they were game to jump back into the mystery genre. Frankly, I also wish it was Sajak playing Columbo instead, but I’m sure Moore will perform the role well too.

Most importantly, will anyone film this production of Prescription: Murder? I wouldn’t mind paying a little bit to see how Pat Sajak and Joe Moore did on stage together, especially if it’s part of the Hawaii Theatre’s fundraising efforts. Finally, even though this is a local stage production, is there any chance this could aid in a Columbo reboot being greenlit? Sure, the original was one of the classic 1960s TV shows that were rebooted for Gen X, but I’d be interested in seeing how a new actor would do following in Peter Falk’s footsteps and putting their spin on the title detective on the small screen.

In any case, if you’re in Honolulu during the final day of July or the start of August next year, consider checking out the Prescription: Murder play. While you’re here, don’t forget to look through the 2024 TV schedule to see what’s worth watching after you’ve seen Pat Sajak’s last Wheel of Fortune episode.

Even with all the big shows ending in 2024, arguably the biggest impending change for TV audiences will be Wheel of Fortune bidding farewell to retiring host Pat Sajak, with Ryan Seacrest set to take over those duties at a later date. Sajak’s final episode is set to air on Friday, June 7, and he reflected on that still-surprising decision in a new special interview with his daughter and WoF colleague Maggie Sajak, while also sharing what he hopes to be spending his retirement years ago.

The Sajak father and daughter sat down to look back at his 41 seasons of hosting, which took place across more than 8,000 episodes, and cemented Wheel as one of the best game shows of all time. In an interview clip that aired on ABC’s Good Morning America, the 77-year-old was asked how he’s currently doing in the lead-up to his final Wheel of Fortune episode going live. As he put it:

Though he'd faced retirement questions for years, Pat Sajak previously just danced around them, saying that day would one day come. And then in 2023, in the midst of the Hollywood strikes, he finally made it official, confirming Season 41 would be his last. And while he possibly struggled with it at times early on, almost an entire year has passed since the announcement, and nearly two months have gone by since he filmed his final episodes on April 5. So he's now in a better spot for coping and reflecting.

That said, Pat Sajak sounds like he'd be perfectly capable of jumping back into the host role if something came up, though he admitted there are other things in life that may take precedence now. In his words:

The true test will come a little later, once a little too much time has gone by, and it doesn't just feel like he's dealing with an extended hiatus between seasons. Perhaps once ABC starts heavily promoting Ryan Seacrest's Wheel of Fortune debut.

Pat Sajak apparently has a few ideas in mind for what he could take on next in a professional capacity, but if none of that comes to pass, he'll still consider himself lucky. Although his sentiment was a bit jokier, as he heavily suggested that Maggie Sajak is welcome to have kids at any point, saying:

Just like a dad to make that kind of comment about his daughter on TV in front of millions of viewers. I'm guessing like-minded comments like "Are you sleeping well? You look tired," were removed from the final cut.

Assuming we won't see Jared Leto returning as faux host in the interim, Wheel of Fortune will bow out with Pat Sajak's final episode on June 7, and will return for Season 42 later this year with Ryan Seacrest taking on the pressure of hosting and teaming up with Vanna White for the first time.

Wheel of Fortune airs in syndication, so check your local listings to see when and where it's airing in your area, and take note that Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will be back in midseason 2025. Before all that, though, head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what else is coming soon.

Pat Sajak’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune is fast approaching, with the game show’s 43-year host headed to retirement following the June 7 episode. Not only will it be the end of an era for one of the best game show hosts, it will be the end of one of TV’s greatest dynamic duos — Pat Sajak and Vanna White. After four decades, these two are so close that White has even said she considered leaving the show with him. Now that the big goodbye is actually upon us, the letter-turner had the most lovely things to say about Sajak, and boy are her words tugging at my heartstrings. 

Vanna White and Pat Sajak have been the faces of Wheel of Fortune for over 40 years. Forget TV shows or business partnerships, that’s longer than many marriages last! White said it’s hard to come up with the right words for what it will feel like to have someone different — in this case, Ryan Seacrest — leading the contestants in spinning the Big Wheel, but she found a beautiful way to explain it, telling TV Insider: 

Describing her journey alongside Pat Sajak as “the best book” she's ever read is so heart-warming, and heart-wrenching, when you consider that in every story the last page must be turned at some point. After living the entirety of their adult lives together in front of the camera, it’s obvious that Vanna White and Pat Sajak have become more like family than colleagues or co-hosts. She’s referred to him as her “TV husband,” and apparently Kelly Ripa is one of many viewers who thought she and Sajak were married in real life.

The bond is undeniable, and it doesn’t sound like there’s anything — even Pat Sajak’s retirement — that could weaken the relationship at this point. Vanna White said:

Forty years ago they never could have imagined what an institution Wheel of Fortune would become — it’s one of the best game shows of all time — and that they would be two of the most prominent people in each other’s lives, seeing the world together and appearing on TV every weeknight. They’ve undoubtedly been through a lot together, and hopefully their relationship will endure off-screen once Pat Sajak passes the baton.

Check your local listings to see how to watch Pat Sajak’s final episodes in your area, and keep an eye on the 2024 TV schedule to see when Ryan Seacrest will officially take over on Wheel of Fortune, with Vanna White in front of the Big Board, of course.

Usually, thinking too much is a bad strategy on game shows. With time restrictions and other players competing against you, being overly cautious is not the move. You have to be willing to buzz in, sometimes before you’re one hundred percent confident. Now and again, however, that over-eagerness can backfire in spectacular fashion like, for example, if you’re on Wheel Of Fortune and blurt out something extremely dirty while trying to solve the puzzle.

That’s what happened to Tavaris, a contestant earlier this week on the long-running hit game show. The category was “Phrase” and with only a few letters in place, he got a little prematurely excited, buzzed in and went with “Right In The Butt.” Apart from the first word being one letter too long, it wasn’t the worst guess in the world, but it elicited a shocked reaction from the crowd and an audible “WHAT?” from one of his fellow players. You can check out the moment, which is going mega-viral below…

Now, let’s be honest here for a second. This is not the worst Wheel Of Fortune answer we’ll even see this week. At least one out of every three episodes features a contestant guessing a phrase that’s not even remotely possible based on the letters in play. His answer technically doesn’t fit, but it’s really not that far off. That being said, anytime you add in a sexual reference or something dirty, the clip is way more likely to go viral, even if the guess isn’t that far off. For example: one time Jeopardy asked for a gardening tool that also means an immoral pleasure seeker, and Ken Jennings said “hoe” instead of “rake.” That was more than a decade ago, and the clip still trends now and again. 

Fortunately, as the history of game shows tells us, Tavaris will be off the hook in a few weeks when someone else either guesses something dirty or is hilariously off on their attempt. The latest viral game show moment is always less than a month away, and if nothing else, he’ll at least have a hilarious story for the rest of his life.

As for Wheel Of Fortune, the show is about to undergo its first significant changes in decades. Longtime host Pat Sajak will be stepping aside. Ryan Seacrest will take his place, and after some nervous contract negotiations, we now know Vanna White will stick it out and continue in her duties. I’ll miss Pat for sure, but I’m also excited for the new team and the inevitable viral moments that’ll keep coming. 

It’s going to be the end of an era soon when Pat Sajak’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune airs. It was announced last year that the longtime host would be retiring, with Ryan Seacrest taking over. While Seacrest is no stranger to hosting, Wheel is definitely a new venture for him. Not to mention the fact that he is going to be replacing Sajak, meaning he has some big shoes to fill. The Price is Right host Drew Carey knows what it’s like to replace a beloved and longtime game show host, and he has some funny and accurate advice for Seacrest.

When Carey took over for Bob Barker after his retirement in 2007, he admitted to being nervous that The Price is Right would be canceled soon after. However, 17 years later, the show is still going strong, and he doesn’t have any plans to step down. Now that another beloved game show host is retiring, it’s not surprising that Carey was asked if he had any advice for the incoming Wheel host. He gave ET a very funny yet accurate response when asked about Seacrest, and I can’t say it’s unexpected:

Carey does raise a good point. Seacrest made a career out of hosting -- he hosted American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan, New Years Rockin' Eve, his own radio show and more -- so it’s not like he’s stepping into a completely new territory. While it may still be a bit terrifying for him since hosting a game show is different than hosting a talk show or singing competition, it sounds like Carey is making sure Seacrest doesn’t have a lot to worry about. Hosting is in Seacrest’s blood, and there’s no doubt that he will do just fine.

That being said, even though Ryan Seacrest is more than qualified, it has to be nerve-wracking taking over for Pat Sajak. He is one of the best game show hosts ever, so there are some big shoes to fill. 

While Sajak’s final episode premieres next month, the series is already preparing for big changes next season. Seacrest and Vanna White have been doing some promo shoots as production reportedly has to change the set design due to Seacrest’s height. It’s going to take some time to get used to this change once Wheel of Fortune premieres next season, however, as Carey said, the American Idol host is ready for this.

As of now, a premiere date for the new season of Wheel of Fortune hasn't been announced, but hopefully, more information will come out soon. In the meantime, fans can still watch Pat Sajak’s final episodes on weekdays on the 2024 TV schedule. 

I know if I ever appeared on Wheel of Fortune (or any of the other best game shows out there), there’s a more-than-certain chance I’d make some kind of fool out of myself. However, I don’t think I would be one of those people whose completely illogical guesses make it seem like they forgot how words and language work. More specifically, I don’t think I’d make a similar move to recent hopeful Kimberly, whose baffling guess left more than a few viewers stunned over what she perceived the answer to be.

For the Wheel of Fortune episode that premiered on April 30, things were going smoothly enough for Florida native Kimberly, who racked up $7,250 for the puzzle with the theme of “Living Thing.” And she did indeed seem set to run the board with only three consonants left to choose from, and looked entirely confident like she was on the same page as everyone else who already knew the answer was “Duck-Billed Platypus.”. But then? Well, that’s when disaster struck. Or “f”isaster, perhaps. Check out the episode clip below!

Anybody watching Kimberly in that moment surely expected her to either solve the puzzle or to at least say one of the only letters that made any sense for the spaces that were available. But she had other ideas, and in no conceivable way did those ideas have an iota of potential to be correct. If only this was a case where Pat Sajak might have misheard the guess, or an instance where Wheel of Fortune arguably miscategorized a puzzle. But no, this was all on her.

While contestants will sometimes be surprised whenever Pat confirms a guess is incorrect, Kimberly wasn't in that same boat, because as soon as she said "F," seemingly the entire audience moaned sympathetically. Never a sound you want to hear on a game show.

Not that sympathy was in high supply on social media, where those who commented on the gaffe were baffled and/or angered by the missed opportunity. Here's a handful of snappy reactions.

• wheel of fortune puzzle was clearly duck-billed platypus and the lady asked for an F she’s like reverse autocorrect - @liltree
• i am so fucking glad someone tweeted this shit because i have never been more enraged watching wheel of fortune - @peasoupprincess
• These ppl on Wheel of Fortune will really run your blood pressure up😒 - @dionnesimone__

For all that fans like to drag contestants for terrible answers, I kinda like thinking about exactly where Kimberly's thought process was at when she guessed that "F." If she definitely thought that the platupus was "filled" with something, what did she think it was? Dung? Dubz? A single dunk?

And then if she didn't think that "filled" was the word there, where did she think the "F" was going? Personally, I like to think she's a huge fan of The Simpsons, and believed that the answer was "Duff-Filled Platypus." Because there's only one sponsor for beer-swilling platypi:

Wheel of Fortune airs weekdays in syndication, and we're getting closer than ever to Pat Sajak's final episode, which is currently set to air on June 7. After that, Ryan Seacrest will make WoF his next big hosting gig when he debuts alongside Vanna White for the new season.

Though it has long been one of the best game shows of all time, Wheel of Fortune isn’t always a perfectly crafted challenge, and viewers are pretty quick to speak out on social media whenever they feel the show screwed players out of money, as well as whenever contestants take ridiculous guesses. (Of course, fans get things wrong, too.) Now, WoF is being knocked for arguably miscategorizing a Bonus Round puzzle and possibly ruining one woman’s chances of winning $100,000.

What’s more, this is the second time in a single week that it’s happened. And it’s the exact same issue. Take a look at the Bonus Round video below to see what I mean.

I’m not at all surprised that Laura was unable to come up with “Gravel Walkway” as the answer to that one, since presumably no one would think of any kind of walkway when asked, “What’s a place you can go to, or just one that exists?” Even if the stipulations were specified further, “What’s a place you could go where gravel is a main component?” Stumped as shit, I'd be.

And whoever’s out there claiming they would have guessed “Gravel Walkway” correctly based just on the letters Laura had, then I guess I’d like to buy up all the ocean-front property and flying pigs you have for sale.

That sentiment was shared by several fans who chimed in on X and YouTube, amidst a larger groundswell of commenters sympathizing with the contestant and the lack of available letters. But while that can’t really be blamed on her, the “Place” categorization could certainly be blamed on the show’s creative team.

• A 'gravel walkway' is a thing, not a place. Get your shit together @WheelofFortune ! #wheeloffortune - @QueenSmashley
• Is a gravel walkway a place? #wheel #wheeloffortune - @Prezly13
• I’ve got beef with whoever makes the final puzzles on #WheelofFortune. I’d consider gravel walkway to be a ‘thing’ and not a place. The answers have been whack this week. - @nikkifhall
• “Gravel Walkway” is a thing…not a place. #horsesass #wheeloffortune - @Bogdewic
• Just a friendly reminder that #WheelOfFortune likes to add adjectives to trick their contestants in the bonus round for added difficulty.For example, GRAVEL WALKWAY on last night's show. "WALKWAY" is the place, but Gravel is the adjective that describes the place, the walkway. - @CDixieee
• That's the 2nd time in about a week they have listed the bonus puzzle as a "Place" and it's really more of a "Thing". Probably using the same puzzle for both categories. - @roxiejacobsen2060 (YouTube)

I gotta say I’m always a little confused whenever Wheel of Fortune’s YouTube and social channels share videos of unsuccessful bonus rounds. Nobody likes a bummer like that, but I guess the internet is a breeding ground for schadenfreude in all respects, since those posts tend to spark critical comments.

But even if one would give the show enough benefit of the doubt to think that a gravel walkway counts as a place, it would be a far bigger effort to extend that benefit considering just a few days prior, Wheel of Fortune's Bonus Round served up "BUMPY PATH" under the Place category. WTF, for real. Bumpy paths and gravel walkways are two sides of the same misrepresented coin.

• Who comes up with these puzzles? Since when is “Bumpy path” a place? #wheeloffortune - @ArmandfrmPhilly
• bumpy path is NOT a place #wheeloffortune - @saintannic

The only time either of those should be considered a place is something horrifying happened right in the middle of the walkway/path. "Where did the victim's face melt off of his skull? The bumpy path, you say?" But that's it.

Hopefully the show doesn't pull a Grade F hat trick by trying to use "Stubbly Avenue" or "Rocktified Roadside" as places in any future episodes. While waiting for new episodes, head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are popping up soon.

A date has been set for Pat Sajak’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune, as he prepares to step away from the big wheel after more than four decades as its host. The big goodbye will happen on June 7, marking the end of an era for one of the best TV game shows ever. It all must be getting very real for incoming host Ryan Seacrest — who was chosen to begin serving as host in Season 42 this fall — and you better believe he’s feeling the pressure of replacing the “incredible” Sajak.

Ryan Seacrest has shown nothing but enthusiasm for the upcoming gig, as he will become Wheel of Fortune’s first new full-time host since Pat Sajak’s debut in 1981 (when Seacrest, incidentally, was just 8 years old). But with that excitement comes a huge responsibility, and Seacrest understands the significance of following one of the best game show hosts of all time. He told People: 

Given how much of a relationship Pat Sajak has developed with his home viewers over the years, replacing him is certainly a tall order. However, If anyone is qualified to succeed him, it would definitely be Ryan Seacrest, who brings a ton of experience from his decades of big hosting gigs.

The American Idol host also understands how important Wheel of Fortune is to families, adding: 

Giving away money does sound like a pretty fun way to spend a workday, and in fact, that’s the part of the job that Pat Sajak and Vanna White said makes Wheel of Fortune “the best show to work on on television.” 

Lucky for Ryan Seacrest, he’ll continue to have support from the game show’s other employee of 40-plus years, as Vanna White decided not to join her “TV husband” in retirement. The famed letter-turner restructured her contract for the first time in nearly two decades, agreeing to stay with the show at least through the 2025-26 season. 

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest may not have the longevity of her and Pat Sajak’s working relationship, but things seemed to get off to a smooth start, as onlookers witnessed the pair shooting promos for Wheel of Fortune’s 42nd season, saying they had natural chemistry together. We’ll be able to see that for ourselves before we know it, but for now, check your local listings to see how to catch Sajak’s remaining episodes. Also see what premieres are coming soon by checking out our 2024 TV schedule. 

Wheel of Fortune is one of the best TV game shows of all time, where the fate of a large cash prize is determined by a spinning carnival wheel. Pat Sajak has been the game show’s host since 1981 until he recently announced the news of his retirement. While Sajak’s final episode was filmed today, audiences will be able to see it as part of their 2024 TV schedule on June 7th.

It’s gonna be hard to imagine Wheel of Fortune without its long-running host. Fans will surely be sad to see Pat Sajak go, as one contestant even went as far as to write a spoken word poem about the host’s retirement. But as Pat Sajak has hosted the Merv Griffin-created show for over four decades, I guess he feels it’s time for him to move on to a new chapter. 

If you’re curious when Sajak will say his final goodbye, Deadline reveals the end of his run will be during season 41’s finale on June 7th. However, the Daytime Emmy winner won’t be leaving the show completely, as Suzanne Prete of EVP Game Shows said Sajak will still act as the show’s consultant for the next three years. Other than Wheel of Fortune, the American TV personality has a future gig lined up continuing to be chairman of Hillsdale College. 

As we won’t be seeing Pat Sajak front and center anymore on Wheel of Fortune, he’ll be replaced by none other than Ryan Seacrest, who’s hosted shows like American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. When the news came that Seacrest would be Sajak’s successor, he said he was incredibly grateful to Sony and couldn’t wait to be part of the tradition of wheel spinning and working alongside co-host Vanna White.

It looks like Ryan Seacrest is heading into Wheel of Fortune with a positive outlook. When he first met Pat Sajak and Vanna White, they said their favorite part of being on the game show was seeing contestants win prizes every night. Something tells me Seacrest will feel the same joy too. So far, he’s only worked with White, who’s decided to extend her contract for two more years, to film the show’s promos and has loved getting to work with “an icon” like her. The one challenge that has so far is allegations of a height challenge. With the new TV host being a couple of inches shorter than Sajak, that's apparently leading to the set having to be downsized. Other than that, it looks like Seacrest’s hosting duties will be a breeze. 

It’s going to be a sad night when Pat Sajak’s final episode premieres on June 7th. But on the bright side, we still have a couple more months to cherish Sajak’s time hosting the popular game show. Make sure to catch new episodes of Wheel of Fortune on weeknights on ABC.

For much of television’s history, game shows have been an ever-evolving part of the daily viewing cycle, right up through the streaming era. From trivia competitions to guessing games to skill battles and beyond, they’re among TV’s most delectable comfort foods, and many familiar favorites having their recipes rebooted time and again. Audiences love watching both big winners and big losers, we love playing along, and who doesn’t love a great host? (Read our list of the best hosts.) To celebrate this prize-heavy genre, we’ve ranked the 30 best game shows of all-time, with certain caveats.

The round-up below is almost entirely focused on traditional 30-minute game show formats here in the U.S., largely of the syndicated variety, and without series that are geared around competitions, elimination-driven seasons, giant stunts, or anything that also slots into “reality” or “children’s TV.” We’re talking games here that feasibly anyone can play. So everyone grab your buzzers, and don’t let the clock hit zero before you reach the end.

30. Chain Reaction

Hosts:: Bill Cullen, Blake Emmons, Geoff Edwards, Dylan Lane, Mike Catherwood

Many all-ages activity books worth their salt will feature chain reaction puzzles, in which the challenge is parsing through clues to get from one word to another completely unrelated word. That concept has been brought to life quite a few times over the years, with five different iterations of Chain Reaction airing across NBC (1980), USA (1986-1991), and Game Show Network (2006-07, 2015-16, 2021-22) for a total of 12 seasons and around 1,400 episodes combined.

• Standout Element: Every version of Chain Reaction is an equally fun option for an entire family or group of friends to yell answers at.

29. The Newlywed Game

Hosts: Bob Eubanks, Jim Lange, Paul Rodriguez, Gary Kroeger, Carnie Wilson, Sherri Shepherd

The show that ushered the phrase “making whoopee” into the TV lexicon, The Newlywed Game was co-created by Howdy Doody creator E. Roger Muir, with the legendary Chuck Barris as producer, back in 1966. It’s a more enjoyable romance-driven series than The Dating Game, which debuted the previous year, with a lot of the fun coming from watching couples who so very clearly are not meant to be together. Such marital chaos is so interesting to TV viewers that there have been six different versions of The Newlywed Game, from ABC’s runs (1966-74, 1984) to the syndicated versions (1977-80, 1985-89, 1996-99) to GSN’s sole revival (2009-2013), at least so far.

• Standout Element: The couples are usually a joy to watch, but recurring host Bob Eubanks had the magnetism to keep audiences tuned in, to the point where he held hosting duties across five different versions of the show.

28. Win, Lose Or Draw

Hosts: Vicki Lawrence, Bert Convy, Robb Weller, Marc Price, Justin Willman

Essentially the TV version of the home game Pictionary — and existing long before that game’s 2022 series — Win, Lose or Draw is one of few shows where contestants’ artistic abilities are most important, although only as important as well others can guess. Several versions of the series existed in a short window, with NBC’s daytime take (1987-89) airing at the same time as the syndicated version (1987-90), which predated Disney Channel’s Teen Win, Lose or Draw (1989-92) and another youth-oriented version (2014) that dropped the “Teen” from the title. Did I mention Win, Lose or Draw was co-created by Burt Reynolds?

• Standout Element: The best artists = the worst artists, in my book, and I also always loved when there was still enough time at the end of an episode for someone in the audience to try their own hand at earning extra money.

27. @midnight

One of two Comedy Central game shows to last beyond two seasons, the joke-laden @midnight debuted in 2013 laser-focus on Internet culture, from dank memes to Yahoo Answers to The Iron Sheik’s tweets. Like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the actual competition quickly becomes irrelevant, and the point was for each episodes’ three comedian contestants to make the host and audience laugh as much as possible with a barrage of ridiculous headlines, hashtags and more. With over 600 episodes produced, and CBS’ revamped After Midnight keeping things alive, it’s a smorgasbord of comedy greats.

• Standout Element: Episodes with cast and crew from the same TV show competing against each other, from Archer to The Walking Dead to Rick and Morty.

26. Hollywood Squares

Hosts: Peter Marshall, Jon Bauman, John Davidson, Tom Bergeron

In case anyone had any reservations about whether Hollywood Squares slots more as a heady quiz show or a comedic game show, one only needs to know two things: it employs true/false questions, and Paul Lynde was a big part of it for a while. The tic-tac-toe series has seen various incarnations throughout the years, starting with its NBC run (1966-80) and into its various syndicated spans (1971-81, 1986-89, 1998-2004), as well as a few spinoffs such as Hip Hop Squares and Nashville Squares. The show’s biggest strength is indeed the lineup of nutty comedians and celebs brought in across the 5,000+ episodes, from “Weird” Al Yankovic to Vincent Price to Joan Rivers to Whoopi Goldberg to Martin Mull and many more.

• Standout Element: Arguably the most exciting Bonus Round of any version of Hollywood Squares is when the contestant chooses a car key to use on one of the on-stage vehicles, with the hopes that the key turns the vehicle on. There’s nothing like the moment when it’s successful.

25. Idiotest

Host: Ben Glieb

As much as I’d already love a reboot, Idiotest only boasts the lone four-season stretch on Game Show Network (2014-2017) with comedian Ben Gleib as its splendidly smarmy host. Rather than focusing on either general knowledge or esoteric trivia, Idiotest instead has its contestants utilizing (or not) their critical thinking skills for all manner of brain teasers and word puzzles. It’s a show where, as the name implies, people can often walk away feeling pretty dumb, and Gleib is excellent at poking plenty of good-natured fun without going too far.

• Standout Element: The puzzles are so well-crafted from season to season, with the writers putting a lot of effort into keeping things fresh, so that every single episode is automatically worth watching.

24. Remote Control

Hosts: Ken Ober, Colin Quinn

MTV’s first piece of original programming that wasn’t musically focused, Remote Control remains a singular snapshot of the era in which it aired (1987-1990), with the majority of its focus hooked to popular music videos and artists at the time, as well as other slices of pop culture. The crown jewel of Remote Control, however, was the stellar set design that resembled a messy basement, complete with La-Z-Boy recliners for the contestants that flipped backwards into the rear wall whenever someone was eliminated. With lots of celebrities appearing as both guests and contestants, the series spawned a few big names of its own, including host Ken Ober’s sidekick announcer Colin Quinn, with other segments featuring Adam Sandler and Denis Leary.

• Standout Element: The TV game board rocked, but it’s hard to deny the endless pleasure of seeing an unlucky loser being physically removed from the set to the audience singing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”

23. Lingo

Hosts: Michael Reagan, Ralph Andrews, Chuck Woolery, Bill Engvall, RuPaul Charles

A fun and quizzical mix of bingo chance and mystery words, Lingo arrived on the scene in 1987 for a one-season syndicated run, but the game show truly became a household staple during its first Game Show Network run (2002-07), with Chuck Woolery heading things up. The latter two versions —- GSN (2011) and CBS’ primetime version in 2023 — aren’t quite on the same level, as fine as they are, and it seems pretty clear that Lingo played a big part in everyone getting obsessed with Wordle for a while.

• Standout Element: It’s definitely the Wordle challenge of figuring out short words with limited chances, but there’s also a strange pleasure in watching contestants hold up their balls all wrong.

22. Win Ben Stein's Money

Hosts: Ben Stein, Jimmy Kimmel, Nancy Pimental, Sal Iacono

This Daytime Emmy-winner from Comedy Central is a solid trivia game show in and of itself, with oodles of wordplay on display. But a lot of the show’s fun comes from Ferris Bueller vet Ben Stein flipping from host to competitor midway through each episode, as he tries to thwart the remaining two contestants from winning the money in his “bank.” Stein’s dry comedy complemented well against Man Show vets Kimmel and Iacono. Fairly low stakes for a major game show — $5,000 grand prizes, with latter-day Ben Stein’s Cup episodes inviting past winners to vie for a $25,000 prize — but that’s possibly how it stayed on the air for 6 seasons and more than 700 episodes from 1997-2003.

• Standout Element: As a winking jab at Jeopardy!, the show would “punish” players who accidentally answered in the form of a question by making them wear a dunce cap until the current round ended. Gotta love a gimmick.

21. Concentration / Classic Concentration

Hosts: Hugh Downs, Jack Barry, Bob Clayton, Ed McMahon, Jack Narz, Alex Trebek

First produced in 1958 by NBC, Concentration took its inspiration from the children’s memory game, with contestants matching numbers across a board with a rebus puzzle hiding behind it. Its initial run lasted 14 years, with nearly 3,800 episodes filmed, and immediately gave way to the syndicated version (1973-1978), with the Alex Trebek-hosted iteration airing on NBC from 1987-1991. While memory games may not be the most challenging, the various prizes and ability to steal an opponent’s winnings changed things up enough.

• Standout Element: Figuring out a rebus puzzle before all of the numbers were gone yet is a good way to feel like a mild genius for part of an afternoon.

20. America Says

Host: John Michael Higgins

A quasi-fusion of Family Feud and Match Game mechanics, Game Show Network’s America Says is similarly as enjoyable and easy to get into as both of the aforementioned classics. The simple concept involves players attempting to guess the top 7 answers to a variety of survey questions, with the first letter revealed for each word, as well as its estimated length based on blank-space size. Longtime comedy vet John Michael Higgins (Best in Show, Pitch Perfect) is an easy-breezy peach of a frontman, with plenty of quips and self-deprecating roasts to keep things amusing during its five seasons (2018-2022).

• Standout Element: The consistent balance between somewhat easy answers and less obvious ones, both within the main game and during the Bonus Round.

19. Supermarket Sweep

Hosts: Bill Malone, David Ruprecht, Leslie Jones

Grocery shopping may not always sound like a grand idea, but if it was anything like Supermarket Sweep, we’d likely never stop. The consumer-focused game show first aired on ABC from 1965-1967, but many fans are no doubt most familiar with the Lifetime (1990-95) and PAX TV (2000-03) versions, for which more than 1,100 episodes were produced. ABC’s reboot (2020-21) hosted by Leslie Jones didn’t quite hit the same highs, but definitely still made me want to start running up and down grocery aisles looking for marked items for higher prize money.

• Standout Element: Game-planning one’s own Super Sweep round and comparing it to what the contestants actually do, while wondering why so many people seemed to only add giant high-price items instead of smaller goods.

18. Weakest Link

Hosts: Anne Robinson, George Gray, Jane Lynch

Based on the UK series, the American take on Weakest Link hit a few years after Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and brought a similar high-stakes approach to the quiz format, only with contestants needing to work together for bigger winnings. For those who enjoy quiz-play over dramatics, the syndicated era (2002-03) is probably more ideal than NBC’s surprisingly short-lived first interaction (2001-02) or its most current version (2020-present). As well, this show features one of the most hardcore catchprases in all of game show TV: “You are the weakest link. Goodbye.”

• Standout Element: Whenever a group of contestants was actually smart enough to know how to properly bank the biggest totals, and also managed to get the right answers.

17. You Bet Your Life

Hosts: Groucho Marx, Buddy Hackett, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno

Kicking off its 75+-year lifespan as a radio series, You Bet Your Life’s transition to TV was a huge success in large part due to its initial host Groucho Marx entering his post-Marx Brothers solo era. In fact, much of the show’s legacy is tied to its lengthy NBC run (1950-1961) with Marx cracking audiences and contestants up left and right with both his witty banter and his trademark facial stylings, with the quiz questions taking a backseat. The syndicated versions of You Bet Your Life (1980-81, 1992-93, 2021-23) similarly opted for past-their-prime comedians as hosts, though with lesser results.

• Standout Element: Groucho Marx’s no-brainer questions were fun and empathetic, but nothing beats seeing the comedy legend chatting it up with other icons such as genre writers Ray Bradbury and William Peter Blatty, boxers Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano, actors Ernie Kovacs and Jayne Mansfield, and more.

16. To Tell The Truth

Hosts: Bud Collyer, Garry Moore, Joe Garagiola, Robin Ward, Gordon Elliott, Lynn Swann, Alex Trebek, John O'Hurley, Anthony Anderson

To date, more than 4,000 episodes of To Tell the Truth have been produced since the franchise debuted on CBS (1956-68), and at least one version of the series has aired in every decade since. Which goes to show just how popular this game show was and largely still is, with Anthony Anderson hosting the most recent primetime run (2016-2022). The gameplay has remained largely the same throughout its many decades, with a set of challengers each posing as the same person while answering questions from a panel of celebrities who are trying to figure out the real deal.

• Standout Element: While To Tell the Truth deserves pop culture props for giving “The Real Slim Shady” a source for its hook, a big draw here is nearly eight decades of celebrities, such as Johnny Carson, Betty White, Nipsey Russell, Dave Coulier, and Nikki Glaser. And Anthony Anderson’s mom.

15. Name That Tune

Hosts: Red Benson, Bill Cullen, George DeWitt, Richard Hayes, Dennis James, Tom Kennedy, Jim Lange, Jane Krakowski

Though music is a common category in quiz shows, Name That Tune (not to mention its radio show influences) is on a different plane, with questions coming in the form of song snippets that contestants must bet on recognizing. Transitioning from radio to TV in 1953, where it aired on both NBC (1953-54) and CBS (1953-59), before later enjoying syndicated runs (1970-71, 1974-81, 1984-85) and its current incarnation on Fox (2021-present), whose third season featured celebrities as the contestants. That it continues getting rebooted is a sign of the format’s appeal, which certainly helped inspire Jamie Foxx’s Beat Shazam.

• Standout Element: Loudly guessing correct Rice-a-Roni prices and Ibsen plays is fun for other game shows, but it’s a special kind of pride that comes with identifying a song in three or fewer notes.

14. Card Sharks

Hosts: Jim Perry, Bob Eubanks, Bill Rafferty, Pat Bullard, Joel McHale

Card Sharks’ various mechanics largely come from other game shows, such as Family Feud’s group-surveyed questions and answers as well as Price Is Right’s higher-or-lower wagering system. But that doesn’t stop the combination of elements from being a winner, and just about everyone has cashed in. NBC launched it from 1978-81, and it later flipped to CBS (1986-89) and its first run in syndication (1986-87), followed by another (2001-02) ahead of an extended dorman phase that ended with the Joel McHale-hosted stint on ABC (2019-21). The rule changes have helped freshen things up between versions, though all the show really needs is oversized playing cards, and the rest works itself out.

• Standout Element: Card Sharks is another A+ example of Bob Eubanks’ charm, but it deserves credit for helping put future Night Court co-star and regular game show contestant Markie Post in front of TV audiences as a card dealer.

13. Cash Cab

Hosts: Ben Bailey, Beth Melewski, Adam Growe

Another one of many successful American game shows spun out of a UK format, Cash Cab is also one of the longest-running, with always genial comedian Ben Bailey driving the titular quiz-mobile for the bulk of its run across Discovery (2005-12, 2017-18) and Bravo (2019-20); though not the locational spinoff Cash Cab: Chicago or the 2024 AXS revival Cash Cab Music. The premise is simple enough, with myriad New York residents shocked to discover they’re in a traveling game show. Unlike many others in the genre, this isn’t a game show people get rich from, with pretty low-level takeaways even for the highest earners. Rather, Cash Cab boasts randomly timed rounds, depending on trip times, and one of the most hilarious forms of TV elimination: after three wrong answers, the cab stops and the contestants have to find a new ride.

• Standout Element: The final double-or-nothing round, should the riders choose to partake, is a great way to add some gambling-esque risks into the mix, since they players got a free ride out of it no matter what.

12. Match Game

Hosts: Gene Rayburn, Ross Shafer, Michael Burger, Alec Baldwin

One of the first game shows that truly thrived on the bawdy nature of double entendres, Match Game delivered easy-to-understand but not always easy to master gameplay, especially with panels featuring slightly more off-kilter panelists. Gene Rayburn and his signature mic fronted the fan-fave series for the bulk of its early runs on NBC (1962-69), CBS (1973-79), and syndicated (1975-81, 1979-82), with a plethora of familiar faces regularly filling up the panel seats, such as fellow host Richard Dawson, Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers and more. Later versions — syndicated (1998-99) and another ABC run (2016-21) — brought back a lot of the early era’s classic guests while mixing in others. Its latest iteration, hosted by Alec Baldwin, was canceled in April 2022.

• Standout Element: Many of the question scenarios and answers posed in Match Game can be groaners to say the least, but when they pair up completely in the comedy’s favor, and you get a moment like Betty White snorting with laughter, all the groans were worth it.

11. What's My Line?

Hosts: John Charles Daly, Wally Bruner, Larry Blyden

While many of the earliest episodes of What’s My Line? have been lost or destroyed, its success kept it on the air from 1950-67 on CBS, and from 1968-75 in syndication, so more than enough episodes survived to have maintained its status and legacy as a hilarious game show. The gameplay traditionally has a panel of regulars attempting to guess the occupation of the episode’s guests, with one round featuring a mystery celebrity that must be identified, with a huge number of Hollywood legends appearing such as Alfred Hitchcock, Doris Day, Lucille Ball, the Rat Pack, Fred Astaire, Ava Gardner and many more as mystery guests. (Even Salvador Dali appeared, with Random House co-founder Bennett Cerf as a longtime regular panelist.) Despite not having aired a new episode since 1975, reruns somehow don’t feel nearly as aged as one might expect, although the use of the phrase “Is it bigger than a breadbox?” will make it feel just a bit dated.

• Standout Element: The fact that the format somehow hasn’t successfully been revived in the decades since it ended, though attempts were made with Harry Anderson in 2000 (with that pilot being skipped over in place of Survivor, which is while), and with David Hasselohoff in 2008.

10. The Chase

Hosts: Brooke Burns, Sara Haines

Based on the British series of the same name, the American take on The Chase started off on GSN (2013-2015) featuring the UK version’s Mark Labbett. But it was with ABC’s primetime iteration (2021-present) that it entered the quiz format’s upper echelon, thanks to additional chasers such as Jeopardy vets Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, Brad Rutter, Buzzy Cohen, Victoria Groce and Brandon Blackwell. The individual chases are fun enough, but this is the rare series whose final round brings the contestants together as a team, which adds that much more variety to the format.

• Standout Element: Anytime contestants are able to best the chasers and pull out the win feels as earned as any game show victory possible.

9. Password

Hosts: Allen Ludden, Bert Convy, Regis Philbin, Steve Zaragoza, Keke Palmer

An absolute classic game show format that has been built upon by many other shows, as well as a few of its own spinoffs, Password featured memorable host Allen Ludden across its initial CBS run (1961-67), its shift to ABC (1971-75), and its flip to NBC as Password Plus (1979-82). The word association game featured numerous game show regulars like Richard Dawson and Vicki Lawrence in the early days, with Regis Philbin’s Million Dollar Password (2008-09) welcoming comedians such as Norm Macdonald and Chelsea Handler. The latest version for NBC, which debuted in 2022 with Jimmy Fallon as an executive producer, has featured celeb contestants such as Martin Short, Jon Cryer, Heidi Klum and more.

• Standout Element: Even with all the format tweaks over the years, the wildly easy gameplay is key to this show’s long-lasting appeal.

8. Let's Make A Deal

Hosts: Monty Hall, Bob Hilton, Billy Bush, Wayne Brady

The fast-paced and off-the-wall Let’s Make a Deal was co-created by Monty Hall, the very entertainer who served as its host for nearly 25 years across its runs on NBC (1963-68), ABC (1968-76) and its various syndicated runs that spanned on and off between 1971 and 1986. So many elements of this show have remained memorable through to the CBS iteration hosted by Wayne Brady (2009-present), from the bizarre assortment of costumes worn throughout the crowd of potential contestants to the endless number of ways the hosts attempt to get players to trade increasing amounts of money for mystery prizes hidden behind doors and boxes. The show remains unpredictable, as it’s never clear when competitors are going to successfully swap $250 for a brand new car, or when they’re going to foolishly trade out $500 for a lackluster prize like a live burro or a hundred pineapples. I’m also quite fond of the instant-gratification moments where Hall or Brady (or one of the others) will give an audience member a $100 bill if she has a mint in her purse.

• Standout Element: The game’s keep-or-trade offer took on a new life of its own within the world of probability theory as the “Monty Hall problem,” which dictates that it’s always the best bet to take the trade, at least in a game without host manipulations.

7. The $100,000 Pyramid

Hosts: Dick Clark, Bill Cullen, John Davidson, Donny Osmond, Mike Richards, Michael Strahan

No matter what dollar amount shows up in front of the titular structure, just about every version of Pyramid that pops up on TV is worth stopping on, though with Dick Clark as the GOAT host, and Michael Strahan in second place. The gameplay is so solid in this franchise that it’s pretty much stayed the same from its original $10,000 Pyramid run on CBS (1973-74) through to ABC’s ongoing $100,000 Pyramid. Contestants and celeb partners try to land 7 answers for a bevy of themed categories, culminating in bonus rounds within the instantly recognizable chair set-up in front of the giant gameboard. While this series is slightly harder to play at home with ease, since the answers appear on the bottom of the screen, the rounds are quick enough that they’re fun to watch even without doing any guessing.

• Standout Element: Few game show rounds are quite as satisfying to watch as a perfectly in-sync celebrity-partner pairing who demolish the Winner’s Circle in hardly any time.

6. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Hosts: Regis Philbin, Meredith Vieira, Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews, Chris Harrison, Jimmy Kimmel

A series that helped revitalize the primetime game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was a runaway ratings smash in the early days of its ABC run (1999-2002), which helped spark the long-running syndicated version (2002-19) and eventually the short-lived ABC revival (2020-21). A quiz show like no other — well, except for the original UK format — Millionaire gave contestants a feasible shot at winning the titular grand prize by answering just 15 questions, with a variety of lifeline options over the years to latch onto. That immense hype for the show, helped along by Regis Philbin’s enjoyably low-key hosting, wasn’t for the long-haul, but it was strong enough to make “That’s my final answer?” and “Phone a Friend” everyday phrases. This modern-day update to the $64,000 Question concept also remains notable for introducing such highly dramatized camerawork and in-studio lighting, as well as its frequent pregnant pauses that inspire contestants to offer the most delightfully banal exposition behind why they’re choosing an answer.

• Standout Element: Given that contestants are only facing their own lack of knowledge in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, it’s always ideal to see someone go the distance and earn the big prize, especially given how un-fun it can be when players lose on the fifth or sixth question, leading to another cycle of insultingly easy multiple-choice questions.

5. Family Feud

Hosts: Richard Dawson, Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O'Hurley, Steve Harvey

Family Feud has been a TV staple since 1976, with original host Richard Dawson earning quite the lippy reputation throughout his ABC run, which lapsed in 1985, and during his one-season return from 1994-95.. The game show’s formula, which hinges on surveyed answers from 100 men and women, has barely changed a bit since that time, with only ancillary ideas like the Bullseye and Bankroll rounds coming and going.

Its ongoing syndicated run, which started in 1999, has been fronted by the fan-adored comedian Steve Harvey since 2010, after past host John O’Hurley left due to an increase in sexually charged questions. (A fair complaint.) Outside of such mature material, Family Feud remains a show that just about anyone can sit down and play from home as a viewer without feeling the need to study anything first. And the introduction of the Celebrity Family Feud spinoff has only made the star-studded installments even more fun to keep up with.

• Standout Element: No host before Steve Harvey was known for highly animated reactions to contestants’ answers, but the Think Like a Man author will regularly lose all composure and decorum whenever someone’s guess skews overtly naughty or completely illogical.

4. Press Your Luck

Hosts: Peter Tomarken, Todd Newton, Elizabeth Banks

Given how often reruns aired for CBS’ Press Your Luck throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, one might have assumed its run lasted far longer than just three seasons (1983-86). But its admittedly massive 750+-episode stretch was the only show with Big Bucks until GSN’s short-lived reboot (2002-03), to be later followed by the Elizabeth Banks-fronted primetime revival on ABC (2019-present).

Though partly a quiz show, most viewers would probably agree the core part of the Press Your Luck viewing experience is watching players try to avoid going bankrupt or worse on the big board, aiming to seek out giant sums of money without landing on one of the endlessly frustrating Whammies, which are also admittedly always fun to watch. This particular game show is also somewhat infamous for contestant Michael Larson, who took home a fortune during his 1984 appearances after having memorized the board’s repeated patterns at home.

• Standout Element: The 2019 revival’s introduction of the final bonus round, in which the episode’s winner gets a solo shot at potentially winning $1,000,000, raises the stakes quite considerably, to the point where a Whammy can go from being merely annoying to literally life-altering, if the contestant has a big enough total banked.

3. Wheel Of Fortune

Hosts: Chuck Woolery, Pat Sajak, Rolf Benirschke, Bob Goen, Susan Stafford, Vanna White

One of producer Merv Griffin’s greatest creations, Wheel of Fortune is as much an American institution as most contact sports and Starbucks, with word puzzles based on the children’s game Hangman and a weighted wheel sliced into various dollar amounts. Though the long-gone daytime edition featured several hosts including Chuck Woolery, the evening version of Wheel of Fortune has always featured Pat Sajak as its frontman, and will until his retirement following Season 43. And that longevity goes a long way in cementing WoF as one of the best game shows of all time, as it implies a kind of consistency that few small-screen competitors can commit to.

Which is to say nothing of the always enjoyable gameplay, the crafty (though occasionally questionable) puzzles, and the variety of on-wheel prizes for contestants to vie for, all while avoiding the dreaded Bankrupt space. The series has spawned a plethora of commercial board games, video games, and more ways to enjoy the puzzle-solving life from one’s own couch, if without the stars of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

• Standout Element: Watching a contestant pull off a majestical solve based on a single letter is only slightly less awesome than being the one to make that superb solve. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun watching players offer up the worst guesses humanly possible.

2. The Price Is Right

Hosts: Bill Cullen, Bob Barker, Dennis James, Tom Kennedy, Doug Davidson, Drew Carey

The daytime TV staple The Price Is Right originally ran on NBC from 1956-63 before last two more seasons on ABC(1963-65) — and featured both Don Pardo and Johnny Gilbert as announcers — but it’s the 1972 revival hosted by Bob Barker that most TV viewers above a certain age will always hold as the most classic iteration. The show has produced more than 10,000 episodes across all iterations, including the New Price Is Right syndicated edition (1994-95) and the continued daytime run with Drew Carey taking over as host in 2007.

It’s a series that remains go-to programming for bored retirees and homemakers, as well as those home sick from school or work, with viewers’ valuation skills being put to the test through a variety of different games and gimmicks. (Many would agree that Plinko remains a #1 part of the show, despite being based far more on chance than more intuitive challenges.) From the iconic visual of the big wheel to crafty wagering in the Showcase Showdown, every level of The Price Is Right is gamified for players’ and viewers’ enjoyment. The phrase “closest without going over” is also a memorable takeaway from this series’ existence, though perhaps not so much as Johnny Gilbert's signature "Come on down!"

• Standout Element: While I could probably watch a game show that was wholly fixated on the big wheel, I think possibly the best thing about watching The Price is Right is how unfiltered and authentic some of the contestants’ reactions are, even before they actually win anything.

1. Jeopardy!

Hosts: Art Fleming, Alex Trebek, Mike Richards, Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings

For over 36 years, Jeopardy! and Alex Trebek went together like peanut butter and chocolate, with the oft-mustachioed host taking the reins in 1984 following prior NBC iterations (1964-75, 1978-79) fronted by Art Fleming. (As depicted in “Weird” Al Yankovic’s famed single and music video “I Lost on Jeopardy.”) It’s in part because of Trebek’s stoic and honorable run that Jeopardy!’s popularity surged over time, pulling in some of its biggest modern-day ratings during James Holzhauer’s win streak.

Though the show’s quality took a temporary dip after Trebek’s death in 2020, as producers went through a revolving door of guest hosts before giving the job to executive producer Mike Richards for a single day, the ship mostly righted itself thereafter. First with the record-breaking champ Ken Jennings sharing duties with The Big Bang Theory vet Mayim Bialik, and then with Jennings being promoted to lone host in December 2023. It’s already the greatest American quiz show, but by focusing more on tournaments centered on former champions’ returns, Jeopardy! continues thriving and evolving into an even more challenging series. And it would be easy enough to argue that the extended edition of Celebrity Jeopardy! and its six total Daily Doubles are a welcome charitable reprieve from the daily games.

• Standout Element: Though not everyone will agree on this, Jeopardy! became a far more competitive and unpredictable viewing experience once players such as Arthur Chu and James Holzhauer turned the Forrest Bounce into the new normal for incoming hopefuls, where only big wagers are welcomed.

There you have it, game show fans. Maybe in the near-to-distant future, more recent series such as Mario Lopez's Blank Slate, the Rob Lowe-hosted trivia show The Floor, or a show that hasn't even premiered yet will make the final cut. But for now, in the immortal words of Bob Barker: "Have your pets spayed or neutered."

Wheel of Fortune is prepping for new host Ryan Seacrest to take over and, with that, the long-running game show will enter a new era. When it was announced that Pat Sajak would be stepping down to retire, Seacrest expressed excitement over this "full circle" moment. Of course, he's no stranger to hosting, but WoF is a tad different from what he’s used to. And Seacrest just revealed that while preparing for his new gig, he just had to ask Sajak and Vanna White for their take on the best part about the show. 

There’s a lot that goes into a show like Wheel of Fortune, and it's because of the hard work of its creative team that it's been so beloved by viewers for decades. Of course, its two longtime hosts, unsurprisingly, get a kick out of it as well. Ryan Seacrest told Good Morning America that when he first met Pat Sajak and Vanna White, they told him what they love most about the program, and it makes complete sense:

It's definitely great watching contestants get excited after winning cash and more while they're on the show, and it's sweet that the two hosts relish that. There are those who flub easy puzzles, but it's incredibly satisfying when said participants emerge victorious. Ryan Seacrest knows what it’s like to see people win and knows how to make people feel good on air. After all, he's done this for years as the host of American Idol and through giving away prizes on Live! with Kelly and Ryan. All in all, WoF feels like a natural extension of the work Seacrest has done for years.

Other than relishing the fact that he gets to make people happy daily, the media personality shared his excitement, having been a longtime fan of the show. Wheel of Fortune has been around since 1975 and, now that Ryan Seacrest is joining that long legacy, it’s not surprising to hear that he is as excited as ever:

Although episodes with Pat Sajak are still airing and will be until at least June, Wheel of Fortune is clearly prepping for its first post-Sajak season. Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White have already began shooting promos for next season, and Seacrest praised his new colleague and her icon status. Even though the show will be different next season without Sajak, it seems to be in good hands, especially since the new host seems to understand what makes it so great.

For now, you can continue to watch Pat Sajak’s episodes air as part of the 2024 TV schedule for another few months. Although his retirement isn't addressed much on air, some contestants have already been saying their goodbyes. All the while, let's hope his successor is ready to take on the gig.

A new era of Wheel of Fortune is starting soon. The long-running game show is wasting no time in doing promos with Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest, as the radio host will be replacing Pat Sajak after he retires. Although it will be hard seeing someone else in Sajak’s shoes, the new duo were recently seen in Hawaii, reportedly shooting new promos and episodes for the upcoming season. As the prepping continues, it seems they've run into a hurdle with how the show is shot because of Seacrest’s height.

Wheel of Fortune is not Seacrest’s first hosting gig, and it’s not the first time he’s replaced someone as host. However, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easy transition. According to RadarOnline.com, the production crew have allegedly been facing the challenge of making sure the set is downsized due to its new host's height, as he is two inches shorter than Sajak.

A source alleged that the crew has had to adjust camera angles and modify the set, but “he certainly makes up for it with talent.” For reference, Ryan Seacrest is 5' 8" and Pat Sajak is 5' 10", so, even though two inches may not seem like a lot, the source says that “two inches can be crucial in the world of television.” How exactly the set will be downsized will be interesting to see, if viewers can even see it at all. Camera angles will likely be what's changed the most. 

While nothing is confirmed that this is really what is going on behind the scenes, it wouldn’t be surprising if some changes were actually happening on set. Sajak leaving is going to shift the atmosphere, so not everything is going to be the same. Wheel is going into a new era whether fans like it or not, and if some changes have to be made on set, whether on or off-camera, to help with that, then so be it. Overall, this seems like a necessary change to support the show's new host.

Luckily, there are still a few months left with Pat Sajak as host. Each season of Wheel of Fortune usually comes to an end in June, meaning Season 41 has a good chance of ending in June as well. While Wheel has been preparing to say goodbye to its longtime host, and contestants have even shared their own goodbyes, Sajak will still be on the show for a few more months of the 2024 TV schedule.

Knowing that the production crew has allegedly already started to make some adjustments behind the scenes to accommodate Ryan Seacrest is making it all the more real. It’s going to be hard to watch Wheel of Fortune without Pat Sajak, but it seems like the series is making sure next season is as great as ever.

For those who make Wheel of Fortune viewing part of their daily routine, Pat Sajak will remain firmly in his spot next to the Big Wheel for a few more months. However, in real time the game show has been preparing for his retirement since Sajak announced in June 2023 that Season 41 would be his last. Ryan Seacrest was quickly named Sajak’s successor, and months ahead of the American Idol host’s Wheel of Fortune debut, he’s already filming promos with Vanna White.

Pat Sajak and Vanna White may be the dynamic duo we’re used to on America’s favorite game show, but get ready to see a lot of the famed letter-turner beside Ryan Seacrest, as Wheel of Fortune prepares us for the new chapter. In fact, the man known for his many big hosting jobs was pictured with White in Hawaii, TMZ reports, as they’ve already begun filming for Season 42.

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest are reportedly on Waikiki Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, filming promos and episodes for the season that will premiere in September 2024 — its first without Pat Sajak. That sounds like an ideal setting for Seacrest to kick off his new venture, and it certainly seems like he was inspired by the atmosphere, as the site reports that in one promo, the new host donned snorkel gear and dove right into the water. 

That’s definitely not a move I’d expected to have seen from Pat Sajak, so we really are in a new era of Wheel of Fortune. Ryan Seacrest reportedly wore flip-flops and a Hawaiian shirt for more scenes with Vanna White that were shot at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. They seemed to have natural chemistry together, according to onlookers, who said the co-hosts got along great between takes and also happily took selfies with fans who requested them.

That’s probably great news for longtime Wheel of Fortune fans to hear, but it’s hardly surprising. Ryan Seacrest had only glowing things to say about his new colleague, calling Vanna White an “icon” after the two shot their first promos together in late 2023. 

Although Ryan Seacrest has said he’s “nervous” about following in the footsteps of Pat Sajak — and who would blame him for that? — the former Live with Kelly and Ryan host said Vanna White and Sajak have assured him that Wheel of Fortune is “probably the best show to work on on television,” due to the fact that they get to give away money.

Ryan Seacrest was actually the perfect choice to replace Pat Sajak, due to his extensive hosting experience and likely being a familiar face to Wheel fans. The fact that the show made the move to hire him so quickly after Sajak’s retirement announcement seemingly proves that they’re taking this transition very seriously, and that they’re already shooting promos likely means we’re going to have plenty of time to adjust to seeing him with Vanna White before the first episode of Season 42 makes it to broadcast.

In the meantime, though, check your local listings to see when and where to catch Pat Sajak’s final months, and keep an eye on the 2024 TV schedule for all of the upcoming premiere dates. 

Oftentimes when Wheel of Fortune viewers turn to social media to rant about something that happened during an episode, it’s to make fun of the contestants’ worst guesses or to call out another kind of gaffe. However, if fans sense any sort of unfairness toward a player or discrepancy in Pat Sajak’s handling of the rules, they will also speak out in the contestants’ defense. The latter scenario is what happened to one woman, Megan Carvale, as people insisted she answered the final puzzle correctly; however, after a closer listen, people are definitely mishearing her response. 

Wheel Of Fortune Fans Mishear Contestants Bonus Round Guess 

Megan Carvale made it to the Bonus Round of Wheel of Fortune’s January 30 episode, choosing to take on the “Living Thing” category. She got a good number of letters on the board but failed to come up with “Pink Orchid.” … Or did she? See what you think below: 

It definitely sounds like the first thing Megan says is “Pink Orchid,” but if you look at her when she’s saying it, you can see she actually says, “something Orchid.” The second word was easy enough to figure out, but she struggled with the descriptor, trying out words like “pine” and “pony” before the buzzer went off after 10 seconds. Megan did not get to take home the $40,000 she would have run in that round, which infuriated several viewers. One tweeted: 

In fact, there was tons of social media outrage, with some viewers even announcing they were boycotting the show over the perceived injustice. They wrote on X (Twitter): 

• This is an outrage. She definitely said it. She should have protested. I am protesting and never watching this show again until they give her the prize. What a shame!!!! – CotBagger
• She definitely said pink orchid at first then started saying other stuff cause the judges didn’t hear her!! They need to listen to the replay !!! Judges suck so I’m done watching game. She should get money!! Pat needs to demand replay of audio!!! – agnosticfairy
• I saw this last night and I played it back like 5 times. I’m like she said pink orchid first right?! – TranceRevolved
• She said pink orchid and then said pine orchid. She looked right at him after she said pink orchid. There's no such thing being said as something orchid. Something is two syllables and she said one syllable which is pink. – tabykatt_
• She said Pink Orchid.  I heard it too. But why didn’t she have any reaction when Pat said it? – JameViva

This last comment brings up a great point. When Pat Sajak revealed the correct answer, Megan Carvale didn’t react as if she had already said that, seemingly proving that she didn’t, in fact, say “Pink Orchid.”  

Megan Carvale Responds To Outrage Over ‘Pink Orchids’ Puzzle 

In case there are people who still believe the contestant got screwed, however, Good Morning America went straight to the source. Megan Carvale appeared on the morning show February 1 to clear up the confusion, telling viewers: 

Well there you have it. I’m sure Megan Carvale was grateful for the fans who lobbied for her to get the $40,000, but she was confirmed that she did actually say, “something.” Check your local listings to see when the game show airs in your area so you can continue to watch Pat Sajak’s final season before Ryan Seacrest takes over as Wheel of Fortune’s host later this year. Also take a look at our 2024 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming soon. 

Ever since Pat Sajak announced that he would be retiring at the end of the current season of Wheel of Fortune, questions have loomed regarding Vanna White’s future on the beloved game show. While she has signed on for the first two seasons that will see Ryan Seacrest take over hosting duties, many have speculated that Pat’s daughter Maggie Sajak could eventually be the one to replace the famed letter-turner when White does decide to step away, and a recent social media post has only strengthened that narrative. 

Fans seem to believe that a January 4 Instagram post from Maggie Sajak — who has served as Wheel of Fortune’s social media correspondent since 2021 — dropped a big hint about Vanna White’s successor. See what you think below: 

The video shows Vanna White — in full Barbiecore — walking past a similarly sequined Maggie Sajak on set, as the two exchange an enthusiastic, “Hi Barbie!” greeting, and while this all makes complete sense, given White’s choice of wardrobe, some thought it was the hint of something more. The way the two crossed paths, delivering the same greeting, prompted one fan to comment:  

Another was thinking the same thing, asking: 

It certainly seems like a possiblity that Maggie Sajak might be the one to take Vanna White’s spot in front of the big board when the letter-turner of 40-plus years does decide to retire. For one, Wheel of Fortune fans would undoubtedly love to see the Sajak name continue on the show, and secondly, Maggie’s already gotten some experience at the job. 

Maggie Sajak took Vanna White’s spot for a week in 2020, as White filled in for Pat Sajak while he was recovering from emergency surgery. Last year Maggie returned to the big board, replacing the co-host as White competed on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune alongside Jeopardy! hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik.

Vanna White’s even voiced her support for Pat Sajak’s daughter, saying in 2023 that she thinks Maggie is a “good replacement” for her if she’s unable to be there for any reason, particularly, White said, because Maggie has been around the Wheel of Fortune set for literally her entire life. 

As for when the day will come when Sony will have to make the decision about Vanna White’s replacement, nobody knows for sure. Her new contract keeps her on America’s favorite game through the 2025-26 season, so there’s still plenty of time before anyone to worry about that. Many assumed that she and Pat Sajak would go at the same time, given that they’ve been paired as a duo for the past four decades. White admitted that she thought about leaving but explained that she wasn’t ready to retire and said she still loves her job. 

Regardless of what happens in the coming years, it’s certainly fun to see Barbie girls Vanna White and Maggie Sajak interact with each other, and allow us to speculate on Maggie’s future with the game show. Check your local listings to see when to catch Pat Sajak on his final season of Wheel of Fortune and also be sure to check out our 2024 TV schedule to stay up to date on all of the upcoming premieres. 

Wheel of Fortune fans breathed a sigh of relief when Vanna White reached a deal to stay on for two more seasons. Fans were worried she might be heading out the door after longtime co-host Pat Sajak announced his retirement. At the moment, Sajak is currently in his final season on the game show. As his time winds down, the beloved letter-turner explains why she decided not to leave with him.

Of course, the TV icon’s contract talks made countless headlines, which she later said were blown out of proportion. White will continue flipping letters as incoming host Ryan Seacrest gets ready to take over next season. However, Pat Sajak leaving the show not only took fans by surprise, his co-host was shocked as well. The game show hostess revealed to Good Morning America (via X) what went through her mind after Sajak’s major announcement, saying:

It’s nice to know the co-host still loves her job more than four decades after making her debut on the iconic game show. White became the series’ second hostess in 1982 after the original hostess Susan Stafford left in October of that year. However, she still has the same vigor and stamina for the game show decades later. So, fans will continue watching White daily for a few more years.

Despite Pat Sajak leaving the game series, there’s still love between the co-hosts. White admitted loving and adoring her longtime co-host during their tenure. Working together for so long allowed the game show duo to learn each other’s intricacies, even when Sajak is upset. The co-hosts even called themselves “Ken and Barbie” during their four decades on the hangman-style show. Knowing those nicknames puts Kelly Ripa’s confusion over the game show duo’s marital status in perspective. Their friendship and gratitude extended to Ryan Seacrest as they gave him advice about hosting the show.

While Vanna White will remain on viewers’ screens for some time, that wasn’t always the case. Following Sajak’s retirement announcement, she did think about leaving Wheel of Fortune, but she reconsidered the thought after realizing she wasn’t ready to relinquish the puzzle wall. 

Check out the 2023 TV schedule so you can catch White flipping letters on Wheel of Fortune in daily syndication. You can also get the chance to say "goodbye" to Pat Sajak during his final season of the game series. Come back to CinemaBlend to get more updates on the co-host's swan song Wheel of Fortune season.

Some of the best talk show hosts have been celebrities, and vice versa, throughout the history of this celebrated medium. However, that doesn’t mean just anyone can hold the desk equally. Keep that in mind as you take in this list of famous celebs who tried to make a talk show happen, but just couldn’t hold their own.

Regis Philbin - The Regis Philbin Show - 1981 - 1982

Throughout the history of Regis Philbin's best movie appearances, as well as his career as a legendary talk show host, the man made a name for himself as someone who knew how to talk to people. But even with his resume of success bookending The Regis Philbin Show's 1981-1982 run, there was still room to learn as this short-lived endeavor proved.

Alan Thicke - Thicke Of The Night - 1983 - 1984

Could Alan Thicke have made Thicke of the Night last under more ideal circumstances? Maybe, but then again, any show that tried to take on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson kind of deserved to be put through the wringer. On the plus side, Thicke wasn’t too far off from starring in Growing Pains, where he’d show us his smile again.

Joan Rivers - The Late Show - 1986 - 1988

Joan Rivers’ “permanent guest host” status on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show was exactly why the comedy icon landed her own series, The Late Show. Directly competing with that NBC landmark in a live program for the Fox network, this albatross supposedly ended the long friendship between Rivers and Carson.

Pat Sajak - The Pat Sajak Show - 1989 - 1990

Being a game show host isn’t the same as being a talk show host. Just ask game show icon Pat Sajak, whose own attempts at crossover success with The Pat Sajak Show never landed. Low ratings took this show out of commission, with Sajak not even hosting the final episode of his own show. After which point the only gaffes Pat would witness were those made on Wheel of Fortune.

Dennis Miller - The Dennis Miller Show - 1992

Sometimes talk shows fail because of not playing to the right audience. In the case of SNL vet Dennis Miller, we would see him flourish through HBO’s Dennis Miller Live program between 1994 and 2002. However, the syndication market didn’t exactly pick up on the man’s unique vibe, which is more than likely why The Dennis Miller Show never made it out of 1992.

Chevy Chase - The Chevy Chase Show - 1993

One of the most infamous late-night flameouts of all time, The Chevy Chase Show saw the SNL comedy legend trying to compete in the late-night wars on behalf of the fledgling Fox network. Not only did Chase’s show fail, but it was the continuation of a long-standing curse that TV titan still encounters to this day.

Jon Stewart - The Jon Stewart Show - 1993 - 1995

"Cancellation should not be confused with failure." David Letterman imparted those words to Jon Stewart as The Jon Stewart Show was literally canceled the day of that very interview. An unsuccessful jump from MTV to syndication could be the major factor that was to blame, though Letterman’s words eventually rang true when Stewart went on to become The Daily Show’s longtime host in 1999. 

Charles Grodin - The Charles Grodin Show - 1995-1998

Charles Grodin’s expertise in playing a curmudgeon made him a popular guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. So one could think placing that energy behind the desk would be a recipe for success, and that’s what CNBC had hoped when debuting The Charles Grodin Show. Twenty-six episodes later, that assumption was tested, and proven false.

Keenen Ivory Wayans - The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show - 1997 - 1998

With the magnetism that propelled him to success in movies and with TV’s In Living Color, surely Keenen Ivory Wayans had the juice to turn late night on its head, right? Nope. Lasting only a few short months, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show was out like a flash. Judging by Keenen’s claims that he wasn’t really given the free reign he’d expected with the series, it’s no surprise why.

Magic Johnson - The Magic Hour - 1998

Eight weeks was all it took for NBA legend Magic Johnson to flame out on the talk show circuit. The Magic Hour was anything but, with critics clearly not digging the man’s style when it came to holding court on TV. Save for an infamous episode with one of his staunchest critics, Howard Stern, there wasn’t much enchantment to be found here.

Martin Short - The Martin Short Show - 1999 - 2000

The bad news is that certified comedy legend Martin Short didn’t last very long as the host of The Martin Short Show. However, the silver lining to be had is the fact that this short engagement in the land of talk shows did give us one of his most memorable characters, as this was the launching pad for one Jiminy Glick. 

Queen Latifah - The Queen Latifah Show - 1999 - 2001/2013 - 2015

Sometimes it all comes down to timing and ratings, both of which seemed to be the death knell for The Queen Latifah Show in its two separate incarnations. The 1999-2001 run could be seen as ahead of its time, while the 2013-2015 run saw a promising start leading to declining ratings. 

Wayne Brady - The Wayne Brady Show - 2001 - 2004

It’s still hard to believe that the charming and quick-witted Wayne Brady couldn’t make it in daytime talk. Though the Let’s Make A Deal host is doing quite well for himself now, The Wayne Brady Show was a bit of a stumbling block on his career path. Luckily, right before the show went off the air, Wayne’s infamous Chappelle's Show sketch went to air, and it gave him a win that overshadowed the whole business.

Zach Galifianakis - Late World with Zach - 2002

Zach Galifianakis’ Late World with Zach on MTV is a particularly notable example of what happens when a talent like this Hangover star lands at the wrong time. All of the ingredients were there, as MTV let Zach be Zach; but people weren’t clued into the gag just yet, because many of Galifianakis' best movies weren't out yet. By the time Between Two Ferns kicked off though, the world was ready, and a confrontational legend was born.

Caroline Rhea - The Caroline Rhea Show - 2002 - 2003

When a notable talk show host leaves, there’s always the question of who carries on their legacy of schtick. As The Rosie O’Donnell Show came to a close, Caroline Rhea’s talk show, The Caroline Rhea Show, attempted to pass that torch to the Sabrina the Teenage Witch legend. The networks, and audiences, were not exactly supportive, and after 195 episodes, it was no more.

Sharon Osbourne - The Sharon Osbourne Show - 2003 - 2004

Before Sharon Osbourne's "embarrassing" departure from The Talk, she struck it out on her own to try and parlay some of her reality TV fame into a chat show. And yet, The Sharon Osbourne Show didn't last, as the show failed to land a following, leaving Sharon to let it die a quiet, un-renewed death. 

John McEnroe - McEnroe - 2004

Tennis is a grueling sport, but talk shows can be even more of a battlefield if you’re not careful. John McEnroe learned that the hard way during a handful of months in 2004, when his series McEnroe went from a critically panned debut to a critically panned finale. Even his most dedicated fans have probably overlooked it, with a mere mention of the series prompting many exclamations of, “You can’t be serious!”

Megan Mullally - The Megan Mullally Show - 2006 - 2007

Sometimes our preconceptions get the better of us, and shows like The Megan Mullally Show suffer as a result. As audiences were taken aback by Mullally failing to be her Will & Grace character in real life, there was nowhere to go but down for this daytime talk show.

George Lopez - Lopez Tonight - 2009 - 2011

If it wasn’t for Conan O’Brien, Lopez Tonight may have had a healthy run on TBS. Though it seemed his hiring could have boosted George Lopez’s show, the only shake-up it got was being moved into a later time slot, with weakened ratings. However, this all happened with O’Brien trying to avoid any sort of bad blood along the way, with the host even paying tribute to this slain series on its final night of air.

Wanda Sykes - The Wanda Sykes Show - 2009 - 2010

Following in the footsteps of Joan Rivers’ The Late Show and Chevy Chase’s The Chevy Chase Show, Fox really wanted to make late-night happen with comedian Wanda Sykes. Unfortunately for the network, The Wanda Sykes Show was such a disappointment that it hasn’t even tried to mount another original program in that later evening block since. 

Katie Couric - Katie - 2012 - 2014

A staple of NBC’s Today, seeing Katie Couric go to daytime talk felt like a lateral move. Moving to ABC to do so was certainly the most shocking turn of it all, at least until Katie was mutually canceled by its star and overseers. What started as a good run soon fell into a slump, leaving this enterprise grounded by 2014.

Bethenny Frankel - Bethenny - 2012 - 2014

How’s this for a story? The Real Housewives of New York alum Bethenny Frankel tried to kickstart her talk show Bethenny, only for it to initially get shelved. Fate seemed to smile on the entrepreneur as the show was revived for a run between 2012 and 2014. Only 170 episodes would be produced before the hammer came down, freeing Frankel up for appearances on shows like Shark Tank. 

Kris Jenner - Kris - 2013

It wasn’t cancellation that ended Kris’ brief 2013 run, as the talk show fronted by Kris Jenner was only being tested when it aired. Coincidentally the most notable episode was its finale, which saw Kanye West showing off the first photos of her granddaughter North. Ratings spiked, but it couldn’t save this ship from sinking. 

Khloé Kardashian - Kocktails With Khloé - 2016

A TV show where the host drinks with their guests? Not a bad move, especially when someone with clout like Khloé Kardashian could get the concept greenlit for cable. Unfortunately for Kocktails with Khloé, the show struck out after 14 episodes; more than likely due to the perfect storm of airing on cable and audience feedback sounding rather disappointed with the overall product.

Harry Connick Jr. - Harry - 2016 - 2018

For someone as adept at conversation and shenanigans as Harry Connick Jr., to fail in the talk show landscape always feels like a waste. Harry capitalized on the former American Idol judge’s star power and charisma, but even then audiences weren’t buying as heavily as when he was a part of Fox’s former reality show fixture.

Sarah Silverman - I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman - 2017 - 2018

There still isn’t a clear answer as to why Hulu canceled I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman. A mashup of talk show and sketch show, Silverman took on the tough issues of our modern times with her trademark sense of humor. Twenty-one episodes still don’t seem like a long enough run, but that’s sadly where things ended.

Lilly Singh - A Little Late With Lilly Singh - 2019 - 2021

With Carson Daly giving up the throne of Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC made what seemed like a smart move. By tapping famous YouTuber Lilly Singh for her show A Little Late with Lilly Singh, the network was clearly trying to get the younger generation to tune into this tested timeslot. It didn’t work, even with some changes to the format in the second season, and with this show’s demise also came that of the 1:35 A.M. slot at NBC.

Kathy Griffin - Kathy - 2012 - 2013

Giving Kathy Griffin her own talk show, after years of being banned from shows like Ellen and The View, was probably a bit of a surprise. In fact, the only thing that would have been more surprising is if Kathy had actually lasted past its short spell of 24 episodes on Bravo.

ALF - Alf’s Hit Talk Show - 2004

ALF’s Hit Talk Show tried pretty hard in its extremely brief run to make TV Land viewers stay up a bit later. Not even guests like Merv Griffin and Doris Roberts, not to mention professional sidekick/Tonight Show legend Ed McMahon could push this affair past seven episodes. 

Russell Brand - Brand X With Russell Brand - 2012 - 2013

You’d think a talk show with Russell Brand at the helm would be something so controversial you’d have at least heard of it. That appears to not be the case, as FX failed to crack the same molds it had broken with shows like The Shield with its two-season run of Brand X with Russell Brand. 

Bonnie Hunt - The Bonnie Hunt Show - 2008 - 2010

Bonnie Hunt not only had the comedic chops and kindness to host something like The Bonnie Hunt Show, but she infused it with a creative spin. Thanks to guests being able to enter the set through various methods of excitement, like a firepole, there seemed to be some magic in giving the Cheaper by the Dozen star a daytime talk slot. Two seasons, and even a couple of award nominations later, it was lights out.

Fran Drescher - The Fran Drescher Tawk Show - 2010

For six seasons and 146 episodes, Fran Drescher charmed the world as Fran Fine on CBS’ The Nanny. Sadly, that sort of effortless affability didn’t help The Fran Drescher Tawk Show make it past 16 episodes in 2010. And yes, that did include a humorous reunion with her co-star Charles Shaughnessy. 

Even with the most pleasing personality, the best time slot, and a pedigree in the business, talk shows are a concept that can still present a gamble. Many celebrities have tried, and many more probably will in the future; because when you can make it as a talk show host, you can pretty much write your own ticket from that point on.

As Pat Sajak’s Wheel of Fortune retirement gets closer, it’s hard to imagine him and Vanna White not being on the show together. The duo have been the faces of the long-running game show since 1981, which is definitely a long time. It seems like they are super close too after spending a good chunk of their lives together. However, don’t get the wrong idea about them because friendly reminder, they are just friends and colleagues. If you did think they were married at one point, you aren’t the only one though, because Kelly Ripa thought that for a while.

The longtime letter-turner appeared on Live! with Kelly and Mark to discuss her time on the series and Sajak’s upcoming retirement, which will happen after this current season. Since they’ve been working together for so long, Ripa actually thought at one point that they were married. After White brought up the Live! hosts being married, Kelly Ripa confessed how a dinner party made her realize that the Wheel hosts weren’t actually together (via TV Insider):

Kelly Ripa: For years, I mean, I think I speak for a lot of people, I thought you and Pat were married. Imagine my surprise when Pat came to our house for dinner one night…

Mark Consuelos: And you weren’t there.

Ripa: I was like, ‘Oh my god! Pat and Vanna must have gotten divorced!

It’s hilarious to know that Kelly Ripa genuinely thought the Wheel co-hosts were married and then got divorced. I would have loved to see her reaction when she found out that Pat Sajak and Vanna White were, in fact, never married. It just shows how close the two of them are and that their chemistry is undeniable. Now Ripa is just laughing at the fact she thought that, and she is willing to admit it. She likely isn’t the only one who thought the Wheel hosts were married, or at least dating, but she is probably the only one who learned they weren’t by way of Sajak showing up to dinner without White at his side.

After Sajak announced his retirement, White revealed she thought about leaving Wheel of Fortune. She didn’t know how the show or herself would be able to go on without him. However, she realized she wasn’t quite ready to retire, which is why she went through tough negotiations to get a new and fair contract. She finally landed a new contract, meaning she is sticking around for at least another few seasons. 

When White eventually leaves, whenever that may be, fans already have someone in mind who they want to replace her, and it would be keeping it in the Sajak family. Sajak’s daughter, Maggie, has experience turning letters from filling in for White on a couple of occasions. She’s also the show’s social media correspondent. White also gave her thoughts on Maggie replacing her, noting that she’s “a good replacement.” So you never know what could happen.

Kelly Ripa's former Live! co-host, Ryan Seacrest is set to replace Sajak after his retirement, but it will be hard to match the same energy Sajak had with White. The bond the two of them have is pretty special, and while they aren't actually married, they are close. Fans can continue to see Sajak host Wheel of Fortune on the 2023 TV schedule weekdays on NBC and going through at least early summer 2024.

As Wheel of Fortune’s current season continues, Pat Sajak’s retirement is getting closer. The longtime host is set to exit from the game show after this season, with Ryan Seacrest taking over for him. Although it’s hard to imagine the series without Sajak, fans still have several more months left with him. That isn’t stopping them from giving him gifts and celebrating him, however, as one contestant shared a sweet poem with him, and the host had a pretty great response.

When Sajak first announced his retirement, it was definitely a surprise. In recent years, he'd talked about retirement and his future on the show, but didn't specifically allude to when he'd leave. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that he had plans to depart the series next year, and it was definitely sad. To share her love and appreciation, contestant Rachel, who writes and performs spoken word poetry, wrote something for the host, and she shared it with him during Wheel of Fortune. It proves just how much he means to so many people and how different Wheel will be when he is no longer on it:

Pat Sajak’s reaction was perfect. He jokingly questioned leaving, because it seemed like he may be the only one who didn’t get the news. Rachel assured him he wasn’t, at least not yet. He may just be trying to live in the moment and not think about retiring until the time has come next year. 

This was actually the first time the series and Sajak acknowledged the retirement since the announcement. 

After the news about his decision broke, some people thought Vanna White could be right behind him. The co-host spent a while fighting for a better contract. Thankfully, she was able to get one and will remain on Wheel of Fortune for at least another few years. When the time does come for her to leave, fans already have their pick of who could replace her. 

Sajak’s daughter, Maggie. She is the show’s social media correspondent, and she took over for White while she was on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Maggie has the experience, and it would be nice to keep it in the family. So, there's a chance there will still be a Sajak presence after the host’s retirement. 

Ryan Seacrest is set to replace Pat Sajak as host, and while he may not be everyone’s first choice, he does have a lot of experience. He hosts American Idol, served as a correspondent on E! News for years, co-hosted Live! with Kelly and Ryan for several years, and he's had numerous other gigs, including his radio show. No one will ever be able to replace Pat Sajak, but Seacrest is a great choice to follow in the long-time host's footsteps.

There will still be plenty of moments fans can look forward to with Sajak ahead of his retirement. Whether it’s another poem or, another on-air flub for a puzzle or the title of a themed week. Wheel of Fortune’s Season 41 finale date is unknown, but it will likely be in the early summer of 2024, like previous seasons. It’s only October, so there is still a lot of time left, and you can catch Wheel of Fortune on weekdays on NBC as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

Wheel of Fortune is going to look quite different after the currently airing season wraps up, with Pat Sajak retiring and stepping down from his longtime frontman role. Ryan Seacrest was already announced as his replacement, making it his first daily hosting gig since he exited the then-named Live with Kelly and Ryan. He appears to be pretty confident about eventually taking over, but his former co-star Kelly Ripa voiced an amusing (but highly relevant) concern she has about Seacrest in that particular capacity. And it turns out any worries she has are probably justifiable, with Pat Sajak getting called out by viewers for allowing a contestant’s misspoken guess to count as a correct answer.

Kelly Ripa appeared as a guest on the podcast Life Is Short, hosted by the current star of Disney+’s Goosebumps, Justin Long, where she talked about chatting with Wheel’s Vanna White, who’s spent quite a few months in 2023 working out contract negotiations (even if she downplayed how hectic it was). The soap opera star-turned-celeb then brought up her biggest concern over Seacrest taking on the highly visible hosting job: his spelling skills, or possible lack thereof. Here’s how Ripa put it:

Both Ripa and Justin Long basically shared the notion that Ryan Seacrest is the kind of endlessly casual and collected celeb that doesn’t seem like he’d ever present a case for his TV bosses to worry, least of all when it’s a hosting position. But it’s rather hilarious that one of his biggest hypothetical personal issues involves the most core element of his upcoming job. If he was terrible with numbers and math? Wheel of Fortune would be a great option. But for someone whose spelling skills have much to be desired? It seems like a good time for a reboot of Classic Concentration, amirite?

As Ripa bemusingly put it: “Spelling counts on that show.” And if Ryan Seacrest isn’t 100% on top of his game in that department, he may find himself the butt of far more social media videos and comments after joining Wheel. To that end, Pat Sajak once again found himself the target of viewer ire after botching a contestant’s answer.

The Wheel Of Fortune Mistake That Fans Got Angry Over

One Wheel of Fortune episode this week featured a round with a Crossword Puzzle theme, where each of the words in the puzzle had to follow “Butter” in a sensible fashion. Inexplicably enough, just as contestant Nadine Cedro was set to try and solve the puzzle, Pat Sajak reminded her of the slightly more strict verbiage in this instance: “Say everything. Don’t add anything.” And yet, when Cedro gave her answer, she did indeed slip up by adding an extra letter to one of the four words she answered with, erroneously guessing “nuts” instead of the proper “nut.”

But rather than recalling his own advice uttered just seconds before, Pat Sajak & Co. allowed Cedro to earn the $1,800 that she’d banked before guessing. Nothing against the contestant for making the mistake — lord knows there have been legitimately terrible answers already this season — but it seems kind of ridiculous for a show with both a host and a judges table to allow what was clearly a flubbed answer to be rewarded. Quite a few Wheel of Fortune viewers took to social media to express their dismay and befuddlement, with the post below summing things up quite perfectly.  

Will Ryan Seacrest need closed captioning to have a better shot at sorting through all the grid-based spelling involved with Wheel of Fortune? Will he need to wear an earpiece so that Vanna White can clandestinely guide him along through the episodes? Will WoF drop its words-and-letters format and replace them with puzzles based entirely on grunts? None of those seem likely. Or smart. 

Find out if Kelly Ripa’s worries were justified or all for naught when Ryan Seacrest takes over for Pat Sajak next season. Until then, be sure to watch Wheel weeknights in syndication, and head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see all the exciting new shows on the way soon. 

The saga of Vanna White’s Wheel of Fortune contract negotiations finally ended after the game show's letter-turner signed a new contract. WOF fans rejoiced when it was announced that she would be staying on for the Ryan Seacrest era following Pat Sajak’s retirement. However, before that, the online heat over her uncertain future with the show stayed high until her contract renewal became public. With that in mind, the beloved TV personality broke her silence on the ordeal as she got real about those contract negotiation rumors.

White will remain with the iconic game show at least through the 2025-26 season. Thankfully, she will be around as fans get used to seeing Seacrest unveil categories to eager contestants. However, seeing the online chatter over her contract talks was disheartening for the TV veteran. The Wheel of Fortune co-host said to People:

Despite the ongoing media chaos, the WOF veteran called herself “a strong person” as she didn’t let the speculation bother her. Her reported back-and-forth with Wheel producers had viewers questioning White’s future with the show. The producers and her reportedly weren’t on the same page during early talks, and an insider claimed White wanted her salary closer to current co-host Pat Sajak's annual income. 

The rumors and contract negotiations didn’t bring down White’s outlook on her future with the hangman-centric show. Of course, this wasn’t the first time she’d re-negotiated her contract. So, this time was no different. The TV personality spoke about her resilience, telling the publication:

Her mother’s advice helped the TV personality as she fought for her future with Wheel. The mother of two’s determination paid off as she will stick around for two more years. Vanna White mentioned she would give the same advice to any young woman. The TV veteran said:

Her words would work for any young female professional pushing to show their worth in the workplace. Following your instincts can be helpful in any situation. 

Her continued presence on WOF might garner a sense of relief for faithful viewers as White revealed she almost joined Pat Sajak in leaving the game show before extending her contract. As Pat Sajak continues his final season of Wheel of Fortune, viewers can watch the duo's last episodes together in daily syndication. Don't forget to look over our 2023 TV schedule too if you want to catch your favorite game show.

Pat Sajak and Vanna White’s names have been synonymous with Wheel of Fortune for over 40 years now, but more than that, the co-hosts of America’s favorite game show have been synonymous with each other. So it was no surprise that when Sajak announced in June that he was retiring at the end of the current season, there were many questions about what the future held for White. The famed letter-turner will be back when Ryan Seacrest takes over next September, but she’s now admitting that she thought about leaving Wheel of Fortune too.

Vanna White recently reached a deal with Sony Television to remain the co-host of the iconic game show at least through the 2025-2026 season. That gives her a minimum two years standing on the stage without Pat Sajak — something that she told People was unfathomable to her at first, as she revealed that it crossed her mind to retire alongside him. White said: 

Pat Sajak and Vanna White have been a package deal for four decades, and she’s even referred to him as her “TV husband.” I’d imagine there were some pretty strong emotions involved in what it would mean for them to all of a sudden be on different paths after all this time. In the end, White simply wasn’t ready to move on, so they each did what was best for them.

The current host, however, possibly got a taste of what’s to come for his work wife recently, as he seemed a little lost when Vanna White was missing from some Wheel of Fortune episodes following a positive COVID test. “I can’t even find my mark without her!” he told the audience.

The producers at Wheel of Fortune made it clear from the start that they wanted Vanna White to stay on after Pat Sajak’s retirement, but securing their longtime co-host wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. White lawyered up for contract negotiations, as she reportedly hadn’t received a traditional pay raise in over a decade, despite allegedly making just one-fifth of Sajak’s salary.

The two parties seemed to hit a stalemate, with producers reportedly balking at her terms, which sources said made Vanna White feel like they thought she was replaceable. Shortly after Pat Sajak’s farewell season premiered, however, an agreement was made, allowing White and the rest of us to turn our focus back to Sajak for his farewell season.

Check your local listings to see when Wheel of Fortune airs in your area, and be sure to also take a look at our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon. 

As Wheel of Fortune fans prepare for Pat Sajak’s retirement next year, they're probably wondering about Vanna White as well. After a few long months, the longtime co-host landed a new contract to remain on the game show, but her future beyond that remains to be seen. While it’s hard to imagine seeing Wheel without both Sajak and White, fans have already started suggesting Pat's daughter, Maggie, as a potential replacement for the latter. White was asked about that and shared a thoughtful response.

Maggie Sajak has some experience on Wheel of Fortune already. She’s the show’s social media correspondent and is often seen at the end of each episode. She even took over for Vanna White in 2020, who was, in turn, filling in for her dad while he was undergoing surgery. Maggie also turned the letters on the Celebrity spinoff earlier this year when White was a contestant. With all of that in mind, the veteran TV personality told E! News that the 28-year-old is more than capable of permanently stepping up to the plate if she’s ever needed:

Considering Maggie Sajak practically grew up on the set of Wheel of Fortune and is now part of it, it would be nice to see the show keep it in the family. The fact that the OG hostess thinks she’d be a good replacement says a lot about her work, and you love to see her show that kind of support. And even though she has experience, Maggie could receive guidance from the show's two co-hosts. And based on the comments the media personality further shared with the news outlet, Pat may have already been helpful in that regard:

Of course, as of right now, the show is still a ways off from needing a new letter-turner, given the new contract. Ironically enough, Vanna White did just miss some time from the show. (White didn’t appear during Teacher’s Week due to being out with COVID.) One element that needs to be considered here, though, is whether or not the younger Sajak herself would actually be interested in taking over White's gig if the opportunity was presented.

While Vanna White is sticking around for now, Ryan Seacrest is set to replace Pat Sajak after his retirement next year. Fans have already been speaking their thoughts on Seacrest, and they're generally mixed. However, the former Live! co-host has quite a lot of experience, so he does bring that to the table. Many would argue that both White and Sajak feel somewhat irreplaceable. Still, the notion of Maggie succeeding the former is, at the very least, interesting.

While the gears of speculation continue to turn in regard to Wheel of Fortune's future, check your local listings and watch the show in syndication weekly as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

Despite Wheel of Fortune being a game all about spelling, the long-running game show still makes its own mistakes sometimes. Host Pat Sajak was without his usual co-host during the latest Teacher’s Week eps, due to Vanna White being out with COVID, but it wasn't anything he specifically did or said that garnered so many grammar-centric comments. Rather, the very logo for Teachers’ Week itself was spelled wrong, with Wheel specifically noting it as “Teacher’s Week,” implying there could only be one lone educator vying for big prizes. There may only be one Highlander, but that's not how the game show runs things. 

Fans on social media noticed the glaring mistake and couldn’t help but to point it out in a variety of different and amusing ways. And it was lost on no one that the week-long tribute to teachers around the country got off to quite a sour note for language sticklers. Making it all the more amusingly frustrating is that this is far from the first time that Wheel of Fortune has made that technical snafu, as it actually happens EVERY YEAR, and it's the kind of thing that viewers definitely point out with pitchforks when it pops up. Sajak did address the issue during last season's run, explaining it away with:

The explanation does make sense in a vacuum, of course. However, it seems like that explanation needs to be attached to every episode produced for each “Teacher’s Week,” as a way to combat so many fans pointing to the gaffe. That, or just change the thing alreayd. 

With Pat Sajak retiring, he presumably won’t have to deal with the complaints anymore. So if Teacher’s Week continues after Ryan Seacrest takes over, he'll be the one needing to defend the choice each year. They could also put a little disclaimer at the beginning of the episode, even if it wouldn't stop the majority of viewers from complaining. 

Wheel of Fortune fans are not ones to hold back, from sharing thoughts on Seacrest replacing Sajak to railing on potential contenders for the worst guess in the show’s history, and everything in between. They can definitely be a brutal bunch, but it’s even worse in a situation like this where everyone is in agreement about something being ill-conceived. 

Teacher’s Week was already a tough week for Pat Sajak, on top of the criticism for the title. It was reported over the summer that Vanna White had to miss some episodes after falling ill ahead of Teacher’s Week. Since the producers couldn’t be very flexible with the schedules, due to the fact that it was around the time that they would be going back to work, the deicision was made to film the episodes as is without White. Sajak addressed the absence in the Oct. 2 episode, noting he “can’t find my mark without her.”

As Wheel of Fortune continues to air on the 2023 TV schedule, it’s likely this won’t be the last time viewers point out a mistake or speak their thoughts on puzzles that make otherwise intelligent people appear to be completely mindless. 

On top of the fact that it’s Pat Sajak’s final season, this installation of Wheel of Fortune has already been an interesting one. A recent episode of the long-running game show included a contender for the worst guess in the show’s history, and Vanna White was absent from the October 2 episode. It was pretty weird to see the show without her, however, the longtime host explained why the letter-turner was gone.

Over the summer, the co-host got COVID. She missed Wheel of Fortune for the first time in over 30 years, and she couldn’t appear during “Teachers Week,” which aired this week. Episodes were initially filmed in July, and because of schedules and the school year starting, it couldn’t be postponed. Monday’s episode was the start of Teachers Week, and Sajak explained why White couldn’t be in attendance (via TV Insider):

While it was expected for Vanna White to be out, it was still odd to not see her revealing letters. Instead, taking her place was, fittingly, a teacher. Not just any teacher, however, California Teacher of the Year Bridgette Donald-Blue stepped in to take over. It does sound like this will be an all-week thing, so fans won't see White for the remaining episodes of Teachers Week.

Luckily, she should be back next week and reunited with Pat Sajak. It won’t be long until the duo is separated once again, though, when the longtime host officially leaves Wheel of Fortune next year. If Wheel is different without White, it’s going to be a whole lot different without Sajak. It’s hard to imagine the series without either of them, and while it’s nice knowing that White landed a new Wheel of Fortune contract, it’s unknown how much longer she'll stay with the show. 

You could say that fans had been preparing for Vanna White’s exit since her future on Wheel was unknown for a while. People had already been thinking about White's replacement, pointing out that Pat Sajak’s daughter Maggie would be the perfect person to take over. However, White’s contract was finalized for at least a few more years, so it will be a while before we see someone else revealing the letters. Her absence during Teachers Week does show what the series could be like without her. I know it will take me a while to get used to her being gone if she decides to leave after her new contract is up. However, that's not something we need to worry about now, because she will be back on the show soon.

Vanna White will continue to be out for the remainder of the week as teachers continue competing on Wheel of Fortune as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Things will go back to normal next week, and the duo we all know and love will reunite until Sajak’s final episode of Wheel premieres in 2024.

Understandably, much of the conversation surrounding Wheel of Fortune over the summer was zoomed in on the fact that Pat Sajak will be retiring after the current season, with Ryan Seacrest taking his place, not to mention Vanna White’s complex negotiations that took months to finalize, ending with a new contract extension. But with the new season having started on September 11, fans could be sure it wouldn’t take long for behind-the-scenes issues to get overshadowed by contestants offering bonkers ass incorrect guesses. And that time has now arrived. 

Enter the lovely and genial Wheel of Fortune hopeful Jessica Washington, whose job at the hyper-busy Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta has clearly not provided the path to expertise regarding other forms of travel. Faced with a puzzle within the category “What Are You Doing?” that had all of its letters filled out, save for one, Washington took a brave step forward and made a completely baffling guess. Check out the puzzle below and see if you can figure it out.   

Even though it seems like a pretty easy swing-and-connect, Jessica Washington had other ideas:

The guess earned a non-plussed "No," from Pat Sajak, who then turned to the next contestant, and that person did manage to correctly guess that the final word in the puzzle wasn't "jar," but "car." Because dining cars are things that exist, and dining jars aren't. Had that logic been put in play before the guess, Washington might have walked out of there a winner. But with those plans dashed, it's back to the old drawing jar, I guess.

As it goes, social media wasn't about to let that Wheel of Fortune moment pass without questioning why it existed in the first place.

I guess if anyone had "hear someone say the phrase 'dining in the dining jar'" on their bucket list, this was the perfect episode to watch, but otherwise...

Thankfully, Jessica Washington didn't seem to be too put off by her silly answer, as she promoted the episode on Instagram ahead of its airing, though obviously without referencing anything that went on.

To be fair, I'm sure a lot of people below a certain age haven't ever considered a dining car, and haven't ever had a train ride that would have involved one. Though anyone who recently rewatched Murder on the Orient Express in anticipation for The Haunting of Venice probably had it in mind. 

Wheel of Fortune airs weekday evenings in syndication — right around when one might be catching some dinner in the dining car — so be sure to check your local listings to see when and where it plays in your area. And after poking through our 2023 TV premiere schedule, don’t forget to peep out the upcoming season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune when it kicks off on Wednesday, September 27.

There aren’t a whole lot of people who can say they’ve been at their job for over four decades — especially in Hollywood — but Pat Sajak is one of those lucky few. That’s why no matter how qualified Ryan Seacrest may be to take over as Wheel of Fortune’s host next year, many people are nervous about what will become of the show when Sajak retires. I myself am a little worried about how the hosting change will affect the overall tone of the show, but after hearing Seacrest speak about his upcoming role, I think his confidence is a good sign.

Ryan Seacrest spoke on Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, about his new gig as host of Wheel of Fortune, which he’ll start at the end of the current season with his debut coming in September 2024. It’s not lost on the American Idol host how legendary Pat Sajak is in the game show world — and in entertainment overall — and as a fan himself, Seacrest seems to understand the assignment when it comes to filling those big shoes. He said: 

Ryan Seacrest clearly has respect for the game, and when he mentions talking about the iconic set, there’s a reverence in his words. As far as how the game will change when he takes over, it sounds like longtime viewers don’t have anything to worry about, as he assured Willie Geist: 

This may come as a relief to Wheel of Fortune fans who have seen how zany the host could get on Live with Kelly and Ryan, and I have to say I’m more optimistic now that he’ll follow Pat Sajak in making the show about the contestants and the game, rather than about himself. Certainly there won’t be any Seacrest-falling-out-of-his-chair moments on this show!

Even so, change isn’t easy, and although Pat Sajak is still the host on the new episodes airing currently in syndication, fans have already started sharing their opinions on the impending change, and they’re not holding back about Ryan Seacrest taking over. While some are looking forward to seeing what the new host will bring to the show, others have said they don’t plan on watching, and some even think it will tank without the face of its franchise.

The game show may be losing its longtime host, but one thing that won’t change is Vanna White standing in front of the big board. The co-host finally landed a new contract with Wheel of Fortune and Sony Television — albeit for just two years — ensuring that she’ll be there to help Ryan Seacrest get his bearings. 

Ryan Seacrest told Willie Geist he was happy that a deal had been reached, noting that Vanna White also has been a “staple” of the show for more than 40 years. Knowing this and hearing that Seacrest will aim to make the viewing experience as “comfortable” for the audience as Pat Sajak has all of these years makes me feel better about what’s to come for Wheel of Fortune. In the meantime, though, it’s still Sajak’s show, so check your local listings to catch his final season. 

Wheel of Fortune Season 41 is now in full swing, and that’s somewhat bittersweet since it’ll mark the final stretch of episodes for longtime host Pat Sajak. Months ago, the 76-year-old TV presenter announced that he’d retire from WoF in 2024. Ryan Seacrest will ultimately succeed him in that post starting in the fall of that same year. All in all, Seacrest appears excited to be taking the reins of the game show and, as you’d expect, he’s already getting prepared. So it shouldn’t be shocking to hear he’s spoken with Sajak and veteran hostess Vanna White, who apparently shared some honest sentiments with him.

It goes without saying that Ryan Seacrest has had his fair share of hosting gigs over the years. However, Wheel of Fortune – in many ways – is a different kind of beast for him. The American Idol host spoke with E! News and explained that WoF’s two co-hosts shared some optimistic thoughts about the show they’ve spearheaded for the last several decades. Per Seacrest, one of the topics the two spoke to him about was the reason why they still find the show to be so fun after all these years: 

A number of devoted viewers may agree with me when I say there’s certainly a fair level of joy that emanates from the game show. There’s nothing like watching a contestant become giddy after winning a trip or guessing the answer during the challenging bonus puzzle. So I can totally understand why seeing such sights wouldn’t get old for Vanna White or Pat Sajak. During his interview, Ryan Seacrest went on to reiterate that he’s excited to start the gig but also admitted to being nervous: 

I’d probably be the same way, if I were in his position. It can be challenging to step into a new job but, in the New Year's Rockin' Eve host’s case, he has to do that and fill the shoes of a TV legend. It may be a bit of a culture shock in the beginning but, considering his experience and ability to adapt to different gigs, I’m thinking the 48-year-old will be able to find a groove and fit into the show and its culture perfectly. 

Fortunately for Ryan Seacrest, he’ll also still have seasoned veteran Vanna White by his side when he begins his hosting stint. White finally landed a new contract to remain on the show through the 2025-2026 season. There was a lot of speculation regarding whether a new deal could be worked out, as sources alleged that White and Sony TV were not on the same page for a while. However, throughout the negotiations, reports suggested she was open to working with Seacrest and remaining with the show. Seacrest, for his part, shared glowing thoughts about White’s contract extension. His comments were featured in a preview of his interview on Sunday Today With Willie Geist:

I’m definitely intrigued to see what the dynamic between Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White will look like around this time next year. Hopefully, White and Pat Sajak’s sentiments will help Seacrest rise to the occasion. 

Wheel of Fortune airs in syndication as part of the 2023 TV schedule, so check your local listings to see when it’s on in your area.

This time next year, Wheel of Fortune will enter a new era – one that’ll see Ryan Seacrest become host after Pat Sajak’s retirement. There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding his new post, much has also been said about Vanna White’s future on the show. Over the past few months, it’s been reported that White has been seeking a new contract. She and the powers that be at Sony Television have reportedly been going back and forth in regard to the specifics. Now, it would seem that White has finally landed a new contract. But given the details we have on it, one has to wonder if she’s planning to make a quick exit. 

The star has agreed to return to the long-running game show for a total of two years. That means she’ll remain the program's signature letter-turner through the 2025-2026 TV season. This was confirmed via a press release shared by CBS Media Ventures. While this is wonderful news to hear, some people scratching their heads over the length of the deal. 

In the past, both Vanna White and Pat Sajak have seemingly seen extensions that run for three or more additional years. While two years is still notable, it’s interesting that she didn’t agree to a longer deal. It’s hard to say how that particular number was reached, but it could be possible that she doesn’t want to remain within the Seacrest regime all that long. Plus, 66-year-old White has been at this gig for a while, so she could be nearly ready to call it a day. 

TMZ also makes note of a few more intriguing details regarding what allegedly happened at the bargaining table. First off, she’s set to receive a “substantial pay increase” as a result of the new contract. It would also appear that there are still a number of logistics that still need to be worked out, though. Her lawyer, Bryan Freedman, also told the news outlet that he was involved in “very difficult negotiations” with Sony TV on behalf of his client. While we don’t know exactly how much this new deal is worth, it’s said that Freedman wanted the veteran TV starlet to earn a salary that’s at least half of what her current on-air partner earns.

Money (unsurprisingly) has reportedly been a major point of contention when it comes to Vanna White’s attempts to reach a new deal. During these past few months, insiders have claimed that cash is a major reason why White and Sony haven’t been on the same page. As the public learned earlier this year, Pat Sajak has reportedly been earning $15 million per season, while White has made $3 million a season for the past 18 years. Sources previously suggested that the studio should “do the right thing” and pay White, because Sony could risk angering fans if she decided to walk away from the series.

Though from the jump, the head honchos at the studio said they had no plans to eliminate the game-show hostess from WoF. It was later alleged, however, that she was “disappointed” with the producers for not giving her a fair chance to take over her longtime colleague’s lead hosting spot. Despite that, sources said she held no ill will towards Ryan Seacrest and was more than open to working with him. We just now have to wonder how long that partnership might last.

Regardless of the length of her new contract, it’s just wonderful to know Vanna White will remain with Wheel of Fortune for at least a few more years. It’ll be intriguing to see how she and Ryan Seacrest play off each other once he steps into Pat Sajak’s post in the fall of 2024. And what I’ll also be waiting to see is what she ends up doing once this revised contract is up in 2026. 

Wheel of Fortune airs Monday through Friday, so be sure to check your local listings to find out when it airs for you.

Pat Sajak’s farewell season as the host of Wheel of Fortune is upon us! Season 41 of America’s favorite game show will kick off on September 11, with the man who has become synonymous with the game appearing for one last hurrah before Ryan Seacrest takes over in September 2024. There’s no doubt it’s going to be an emotional year — Sajak has appeared on Wheel for longer than some of its viewers have been alive — so as the show celebrated its upcoming premiere on social media, fans didn’t feel the need to hold back their opinions on everything from the incoming host to Vanna White’s ongoing contract negotiations.

Images of Pat Sajak and Vanna White — both of whom have been part of Wheel of Fortune for over four decades — are shown in front of a purple background on Wheel of Fortune’s Instagram page, with just a light sprinkling of confetti falling around them (a tasteful choice, given White’s history of getting whacked in the head with confetti and streamers after a 2021 contestant’s big win). Check out the post below: 

The caption reads, “41 never looked so good,” and one could almost be tricked into thinking they were referring to the game show legends’ ages, rather than the number of seasons they’ve been associated with Wheel of Fortune. Fans’ reactions were all over the place, including some comments from those who aren’t exactly looking forward to the big changeover in Season 42, when Ryan Seacrest will step in for the retiring Pat Sajak. Some viewer reactions included: 

• Not really watching anymore, won’t be the same without Pat Sajak, understand he wants to retire. Grew up with this show. Another pastime gone. – georgiannsuzanne
• Probably the last season since Ryan Seacrest will tank it and you wont give Vanna a raise 😢 – thereneemh
• Can we ditch Ryan Seacrest? – jaxon_and_captains_adventures
• Not a Seacrest fan so no! – fristoes

Change is hard, and again, with Pat Sajak serving as the host for 41 years, it’s understandable that some simply can’t fathom anyone else in that role, no matter how qualified Ryan Seacrest might be from his plethora of other hosting jobs. Other fans, however, did seem to be looking forward to the Seacrest Era, even if it is still a year away. Other commenters expressed opinions like: 

• I think Ryan Seacrest is a great replacement. He is a great communicator. – sewsmalldesignshop
• I cannot wait! Beginning of the next 40?! Something to look forward to and I still love this show! – kingofthemilehicity
• I’m looking forward in one way and dreading it in another!!❤️❤️❤️ – spazycat98
• Can’t wait to see Ryan Seacrest host this new season of Wheel of Fortune. – arose4deb

Many people relayed their hopes that Pat Sajak’s final year would be one to remember, and one thing the fans and producers seem to agree on is that the longer the powers that be at Wheel of Fortune fail to find common ground with Vanna White regarding her contract, the harder it will be to give Sajak the celebratory, drama-free sendoff everyone is hoping for. As Instagram user schnuddanaze wrote: 

It’s been reported that Vanna White hasn’t received a traditional pay raise in 18 years. With the famed letter-turner allegedly making $3 million a season — one-fifth of Pat Sajak’s reported $15 million — White has sought legal assistance in renegotiating for Season 42 and possibly beyond. If the reports are to be believed, it appears that Wheel of Fortune is balking at the $7.5 million she’s allegedly asking for (though some sources have said that number might actually be much higher). 

All we can do is wait to see how that situation plays out, but either way, the premiere of Pat Sajak’s final season is mere days away, kicking off on Monday, September 11. Check your local listings to see when and where to find Wheel of Fortune in your area, and tune in for what is likely to be an emotional season — for the fans and those on the screen.