The new host of the long-running game show survives his first fumble on the show with a little help from Vanna White after he pauses dramatically before announcing a contestant's win.
- Oct 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - Ryan Seacrest, the fresh face of "Wheel of Fortune", experienced his first major hiccup recently, and it has the internet buzzing. In a suspenseful moment on the October 4 episode of "Wheel of Fortune", the host introduced his first on-screen error by taking an awkwardly prolonged pause before announcing a contestant's win.
Cody Hunger, fresh off his victory in the "BetMGM Big Winners Tournament", faced the final challenge with a puzzle from the "phrase" category, successfully guessing "out of the way" to secure a whopping $94,900 jackpot.
Accompanied by co-host Vanna White, who quickly signaled Cody's correct guess with an encouraging smile and a small clap, Seacrest kept the contestant and viewers in suspense. "Cody? That's it!" Seacrest finally declared amidst confetti and streamers. Cody's palpable relief and joyful reaction were mirrored by fans soon flooding online forums with comments about the moment.
On Reddit, opinions varied from supportive to critical. A discussion thread titled, "How about that pause," became a hotbed of debate. One user commented, "What a nightmare for the guy as he had to wait for Ryan to wake up and tell him he got the puzzle," while another suggested, "Ryan obviously did that for dramatic effect." Some viewers even speculated the pause was a deliberate move by producers to build tension, with one noting, "It's happened a few times now with Ryan."
Seacrest's debut as host began on September 9, following Pat Sajak's retirement. Although taking over from a long-serving figure is no small feat, Seacrest embraced the role with enthusiasm. "Welcome to 'Wheel of Fortune'. I am your host, Ryan Seacrest," he proclaimed on his first night, before going on to express his gratitude, "Hosting 'Wheel of Fortune' is a dream job. I've been a fan of this show since I was a kid, watching in Atlanta with my family."
Despite the criticism, Seacrest's initial week brought in the show's highest ratings in five years, evidencing his positive impact. Yet, how he handles future blunders and the show's ongoing production changes will be pivotal in determining his lasting legacy on "Wheel of Fortune".
Nevertheless, as Seacrest himself acknowledged, filling Sajak's shoes is no easy task. With time, fans can expect the seasoned television personality to smooth out any rough edges and continue to entertain millions with the classic game show.
