Ryan Seacrest Disses Pat Sajak In ‘WOF’ Premiere
On Monday, September 9th, Ryan Seacrest officially walked out as the new host of Wheel of Fortune alongside Vanna White. Amid a monologue, gratitude, and a lot of excitement, Ryan seemingly dissed his predecessor, Pat Sajak. So, how did Ryan do this and what did viewers have to say? Keep reading for more details.
Ryan Seacrest Disses Pat Sajak In WOF Premiere
In June 2023, Pat Sajak announced his retirement from Wheel of Fortune. He would stick around for one more season and then he was gone. That meant they needed someone to replace him and there were some names thrown around but in the end, it was Ryan Seacrest who got the job. This made sense as he had a lot of hosting experience. Not only did he have his radio show but he had co-hosted Live! With Kelly and has been the host of American Idol since day one. Therefore, this was the perfect fit. However, some fans wanted a new and fresh face.
Vanna White was also nervous as she and Pat had such great chemistry for forty years and a new person could ruin the dynamic. Ultimately, she and Ryan clicked quite well and her nerves were put at ease. It was a big test to see if Ryan had that same spark as Pat and he was about to show if he could handle it in the season premiere on September 9th. When Pat exited, he did not acknowledge Ryan and it seems, the favor was returned.
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When Ryan Seacrest stepped onto the Wheel of Fortune stage, he gave a sweet speech, noting his excitement about being the new host. According to The Sun, he first addressed the audience:
“I still can’t believe my luck of being here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you.”
He then turned to Vanna to extend his gratitude:
“And of course, my good friend Vanna White.”
Ryan noted how this was a dream and how he grew up watching Wheel of Fortune:
“I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it in Atlanta with my family. And I just know how special it is that ‘Wheel’ has been in your living rooms for the past 40 years. And I’m just so grateful to be invited in.”
Though he did say he had “some very big shoes to fill,” Ryan never once sent a shout-out to Pat Sajak, and that rubbed fans the completely wrong way.
That’s A ‘Slap’
Just like Pat Sajak snubbed Ryan Seacrest, it seemed the diss was returned. Ryan did not even acknowledge his predecessor in his premiere episode which was a bitter pill to swallow. So, what exactly did viewers have to say about this?
- That’s all he could say he has big shoes to fill? Couldn’t mention Pat’s name and thank him for all the years making wheel what it is? That’s a slap in the face.
Yet, others felt it was done in the proper manner. Ryan did not throw Pat in people’s faces but rather gave him a nod and moved on. Though he was praised for doing well, viewers did miss seeing Pat Sajak on their screens. This will be a very tough adjustment.
Do you think Ryan should have said something directly to and about Pat, or was his speech just fine? Let us know, and watch Wheel of Fortune on weeknights.
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