Wheel of Fortune went through some major changes when longtime host Pat Sajak announced his decision to retire in June 2024. He had been involved with the program for 41 seasons and developed a very close friendship with his co-host, Vanna White.
White, 68, knew that things were going to look very different without Sajak. However, there was something specific that new host Ryan Seacrest said that made White feel “good.”
“Ryan did his homework,” White told TV Insider. “He rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed. He also said to me, ‘I am not replacing Pat Sajak because no one could – ever. I am just stepping in.’ That made me feel good because, as Ryan said, he’s just stepping in – he’s not trying to prove anything.”
Seacrest took over for Sajak in September 2024 and things have been going well, so far. Seacrest inked a deal to host the show for the next several years, according to the New York Times.
As for White, she signed on for two more years with the show, though she’s unsure when she might retire.
“When I heard that Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too,” she admitted to TV Insider in May 2024. “But I’m not ready! We’ll see toward the end of those two years how I feel. I thank God after all these years that I still love my job.”
