Wheel of Fortune is changing things up for Season 44 with a faster way for contestants to win money right from the start. Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White revealed the new feature during a Sept. 8 appearance on Good Morning America, giving longtime viewers a preview of what to expect when the game show returns.
According to People, the new Wheel of Fortune format introduces a rapid-fire opening game called Fortune Frenzy. Contestants will have only seconds to solve puzzles, with each correct answer worth $1,000. The change adds more gameplay to the half-hour show without altering the familiar puzzle-solving format fans have watched for decades.
New Wheel of Fortune Game Adds More Action at the Start
Seacrest explained that viewers often wonder how the show could fit more games into such a short runtime. Fortune Frenzy gives producers a way to squeeze extra gameplay into the opening minutes while immediately putting the contestants to work. He also believes the fast pace helps them move past their nerves because they have little time to think about anything except solving the puzzle.
White agreed, noting that contestants must focus completely on the board once the game begins. The addition arrives as Seacrest enters his third season hosting the show after taking over for Pat Sajak. He has previously spoken about the pressure of following someone who became so closely associated with Wheel of Fortune, while emphasizing that he wanted to respect what Sajak built instead of trying to imitate him.
Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White Continue a New Era
White has been on the show since 1982, while Sajak became host a year earlier and retired in 2024 after more than four decades. Seacrest then stepped into the role, marking a major transition for the series. White has said the two hosts have very different styles, while Seacrest says he especially enjoys meeting contestants and hearing their stories.
The new Wheel of Fortune season also arrives during another period of change behind the scenes. Longtime announcer Jim Thornton recently left the show after Sony Pictures Television Studios said it conducted an investigation. Thornton, who joined the program in 2011, has denied allegations of wrongdoing. Even with those changes, the heart of the series remains familiar: contestants, a spinning wheel, and puzzles waiting to be solved. Fortune Frenzy simply adds another burst of energy before the traditional game begins. Season 44 of Wheel of Fortune premieres Monday, Sept. 14.