Despite the pushback against Ryan Seacrest as Pat Sajak’s replacement on Wheel of Fortune, the show’s ratings have gone up since the new season began. Ryan’s debut episode brought in more than 9.6 million viewers, which is 70 percent more than the tune-ins for Pat’s last season premiere.
This is great news for Ryan, who reportedly experienced a drop in his self-confidence due to the criticism online. According to an insider, fans are now feeling sorry for Sajak as his long-standing record is being challenged by Ryan.
Ryan Seacrest broke more records with his debut
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Aside from Sajak’s record, Ryan’s debut also brought in views that surpassed Jeopardy! and Family Feud’s premiere weeks. It appears things are looking up for the TV personality as his bosses are looking to renew his contract for the next season.
The source added that Ryan may have piqued the interest of new viewers or those who abandoned the show for years. The executives are also glad that Ryan is bringing a fresh new strategy to the program, which previously maintained the same hosts for 40 years.
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Ryan Seacrest celebrates his feat
Ryan did not hesitate to celebrate on social media, as he took to Instagram to appreciate the viewers. “This week has been a dream, and it’s just the beginning! Thanks for the warm welcome,” he wrote as a caption to the BTS video of him at work. Despite co-hosting the show with Vanna White, it seems fans are overwhelmingly satisfied with Ryan’s hosting skills as Vanna wasn’t recognized.
Sajak has yet to comment on his predecessor’s success; however, Wheel of Fortune fans took to Ryan’s comments section to commend him. “You were Fantastic on the First Night! I knew you would be Awesome at this! I love seeing the Behind-the-Scenes! You are the best, Ryan! You’re doing a GREAT Job!” someone gushed.