‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Ryan Seacrest Faces Pressure Ahead Of Debut
Ryan Seacrest’s first episode as the Wheel of Fortune host airs on Monday, September 9. This is the first time in over 40 years that Pat Sajak has not hosted the popular game show. However, after Pat’s last season of the show, the ratings began to drop. The drop in ratings is putting a lot of pressure on Ryan.
Here is what you need to know about Ryan and his first season on Wheel of Fortune.
Ryan Seacrest Needs Big Ratings On Wheel Of Fortune
Pat Sajak’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune had some massive ratings. However, since he left the show, the reruns over the summer have seen ratings drop dramatically. While these are still Pat’s shows, the ratings fall has producers concerned. The show has fallen behind Family Feud reruns.
Ryan Seacrest signed on to host Wheel of Fortune, hoping to bring in a younger audience to watch the show. The thought is that the older fans would keep watching, but the more energetic and younger Seacrest could help build up a younger audience to add to the numbers.
However, if that doesn’t happen, there is a chance that Seacrest’s tenure as host could end sooner than expected. The network is paying Seacrest a lot of money to host the show, and there is a lot of pressure to see bigger ratings in exchange for that paycheck.
If Ryan Seacrest can’t raise the ratings, the producers might consider handing the hosting duties over to Vanna White, who received a huge raise to remain with Wheel of Fortune. However, insiders claim that Seacrest feels no real pressure and has confidence he will get things under control.
What Is Changing On Wheel Of Fortune
When Ryan Seacrest takes over as the Wheel of Fortune host, the show will undergo big changes. Wheel Of Fortune has a revamped set, including new lighting, additional space, and a lot of gold metal laminate.
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The puzzle board will also undergo a major change. A laser pointer is aimed at it, and now all Vanna White has to do is wave her hand over a square, and it will automatically reveal the letter. This means Vanna no longer has to touch the board to turn the letters herself.
However, the good news is that the game itself will not change. The style of play stays the same, so the changes will be cosmetic. This should allow the ratings to depend on how Ryan Seacrest can connect with audiences and players as he hosts the show.
Are you excited about Ryan Seacrest joining Wheel of Fortune? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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