Is Ryan Seacrest Really A Winning Pick For ‘Wheel Of Fortune’?

Ryan Seacrest has a new hosting gig on the horizon—yet again.

Just two and a half months after television’s most ubiquitous emcee stepped down from his co-hosting duties on Live With Kelly and Ryan, comes the news that Seacrest will give Pat Sajak’s Wheel of Fortune job a spin when the veteran game show host steps down from the series in 2024.

But is Seacrest really the right talent to take over the helm of the beloved and long-running game show? The answer depends on who you ask.

Work Experience

Consulting Seacrest himself, via his resume, it’s clear he’s easily qualified to head up The Wheel or any other prerecorded or live event made for the small screen.

The 48-year-old, who first got his start in radio, launched his TV hosting career in the mid-90s with the American Gladiators kids’ spin-off series, Gladiators 2000, and by the early aughts, he had more than a half- dozen other hosting credits to his name.

But none of those compared to the job he landed in 2002.

That’s when Seacrest, with one-season co-host Brian Dunkleman by his side, took on the job that would propel him to mega fame — as presenter of reality TV’s then breakout talent show, American Idol. And barring a brief break when Idol was off the air, he’s maintained that job to the present day and landed so many others.

He’s hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards (twice); he’s been the go-to guy for E! Live From the Red Carpet since 2006; and he’s served as a co-host on E! News for nearly a decade. Seacrest has also transitioned into a powerful media player as an executive producer of Shahs of Sunset, Shades of Blue, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and Keeping Up With the Kardashians (as well as Life of Kylie, Rob & Chyna, Khloe & Lamar, Kourtney and Kim Take New York and the current K series, The Kardashians.)

And when it comes to filling the shoes of a veteran TV icon, like Sajak, he’s been there and done that — long before there was any buzz about Wheel of Fortune.

Seacrest served as an as-needed substitute host on Larry King Live from 2003 to 2010, and in 2005 he began to take over hosting duties on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, which he’s continued to host solo since Clark’s death in 2012. And over on the radio, Seacrest succeeded Casey Kasem as the voice of American Top 40 back in 2004.

Viewer Response

But according to many Wheel of Fortune viewers, it’s the very things that make Seacrest so qualified for the game show gig that make him a less-than-perfect pick to follow in Sajak’s footsteps.

When the official Twitter account for The Wheel announced the news about Seacrest earlier this week, fans replied with complaints about the fact that the host is already everywhere.

“Seriously?! Does Ryan have to do every show?” one wrote. “We couldn’t try to find someone new and exciting? I’m sure there’s a lot of talented, new people that could have been used. I definitely won’t be watching.”

Several pointed out that one of the keys to Seacrest’s success has been his inoffensive style and safe brand of hosting, which could be considered boring.

“Well that’s it for me,” a Wheel fan responded. “I can’t think of anyone more boring. In all of showbiz they couldn’t come up with a better option?”

“Hopefully he’s not as dull and robotic as he was with @KellyRipa,” wrote another viewer. “It became unwatchable and I hate the thought of him ruining another program.”

And many more believed a better person for the job could have been found without even looking beyond the Wheel of Fortune set—for instance, Sajak’s letter-flipping sidekick, Vanna White.

As one person suggested, “Should’ve moved Vanna White to host and had Ryan Seacrest turning letters.”

Peer Appeal

Industry insiders, however, appear to be fans of the pick.

Carson Daly, Today co-host and emcee of The Voice, raved about the selection of Seacrest for the job in a chat with People.

“I love Ryan,” Daly said. “We’ve been friends forever. It’s amazing to me his desire to continue to work at such a high level. He’ll be great at it and good luck to him.”

And another game show host recently seemed to give Seacrest his approval — Sajak himself.

On Wednesday, the man who’s hosted The Wheel for 40 years tweeted, “I’m looking forward to my final season starting this fall, and then handing over the car keys to Ryan Seacrest in September of 2024.”