Ryan Seacrest is poised to take over hosting Wheel of Fortune following Pat Sajak‘s retirement this month. Sajak’s legacy, however, is not far from Seacrest’s mind as he pays tribute to the “standard” Sajak set for hosts across all of television.
Almost exactly a year ago, Seacrest was announced as the new Wheel of Fortune host, tasked with taking over for season 42. Vanna White is, so far, slated to stay on as a letter-turner. The latest season with its new host is expected to premiere in September of this year. Upon his announcement as the new host, Seacrest also paid tribute to the aspirational groundwork Sajak laid out for all in his position across decades.
Ryan Seacrest pays Pat Sajak tribute as he bids him farewell
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On Saturday, Seacrest shared a tribute to Sajak, the day after Sajak’s final episode of Wheel of Fortune officially aired. “Pat, congratulations on an incredible run with Wheel of Fortune!” Seacrest cheered. “Your dedication, charm, and wit have made the show a beloved part of American television for decades.”
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He continued, “Your partnership with Vanna has been nothing short of iconic, and together, you’ve created countless wonderful memories for viewers. You’ve set the standard for hosts everywhere, and this marks the end of an era. Best wishes for all your future endeavors!”
His Instagram post is accompanied by a photo of the past meeting the present, showing Seacrest, White, and Sajak standing side by side at the titular wheel. He also included footage of the former and new host working together on the show.
Seacrest honors the position he is now filling
49-year-old Seacrest is no stranger to playing host, having worked extensively with Kelly Ripa on Live! With Kelly and Ryan, and that is before counting his time on American Idol, American Top 40, and more. He was honored in 2018 for his work on Live! with nominations in the categories of Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment and Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host.
But just like everyone else, he’s been captivated by watching Sajak and White. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them,” he said last summer, following his appointment as Sajak’s replacement.
Sajak, for his part, has called it an “incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, decade after decade.” While he won’t be hosting, he will continue working with the show as a consultant, so expect his influence to endure for a bit longer!
Will you be watching the new iteration of Wheel of Fortune this fall?
