Ryan Seacrest spins ratings gold as new host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’
There is nothing like a familiar face to serve up TV’s ultimate comfort food.
Starting in September, the control of Sony Pictures Television’s game show “Wheel of Fortune” was passed on to Ryan Seacrest, affectionately known as broadcasting’s enduring titan. According to Nielsen statistics, the viewership for “Wheel of Fortune” has averaged 7.9 million viewers until December 1st, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year, during Pat Sajak’s final season as host.
The television show ‘Wheel’ outperforms every non-sports prime-time series on other networks, with the exception of CBS’s ’60 Minutes’ and ‘Tracker.’ This season alone, over 58 million viewers have caught a piece of the program. In the 7 p.m. time slot, more people watch ‘Wheel’ and its counterpart ‘Jeopardy!’ from Sony than any standalone streaming service, including Netflix.
The surge in viewership for “Wheel” is observed at a time when conventional TV viewing is witnessing an ongoing decrease. During the same duration, the overall TV audience dropped by 9%, yet “Wheel” managed to attract more viewers.
Durability is a defining feature of the classic game show “Wheel,” which celebrated its 50th anniversary on January 6. First airing on NBC’s daytime schedule, this popular guessing game has remained a staple of television, enduring numerous transformations that have fragmented audiences over the years.
However, a significant indicator of a TV show’s popularity is when its main actor is changed. For instance, since its debut in 1983, Sajak has been the host of the syndicated version of “Wheel,” and for many viewers, it became a nightly tradition. He announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
In her words, “It represented a significant turning point for us,” stated Suzanne Prete, the president of game shows at Sony. “For the audience, it feels very much like Pat has become part of their family.
As a passionate cinephile reflecting on Sony’s decisions, I can understand their awareness of the unpredictable nature of change, especially within an iconic institution like “Wheel of Fortune.” Following the open auditions for Alex Trebek’s successor on “Jeopardy!” in 2021, they chose executive producer Mike Richards, a name less familiar to many. This choice sparked outrage among fans, and unfortunately, a podcast scandal involving offensive comments made by Richards forced him to step down before any episodes were aired.
Ryan Seacrest is a widely recognized figure in media. He anchors the morning show on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, hosts “American Idol,” and traditionally counts down the New Year’s Eve ball drop for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” In 2023, he concluded a successful six-year stint as Kelly Ripa’s co-host on the daily talk show “Live.” He has largely managed to avoid controversy, with an investigation into sexual harassment allegations made by a former stylist at E! being dropped in 2018 due to lack of substantial evidence.
In regard to potential replacements for “Wheel,” Prete named Ryan Seacrest as her top pick. As she put it, “Given the choice of anyone worldwide, it would’ve been Ryan.
Hollywood Inc.
Those who found the Country Music Queen on ‘The Voice’ are now discovering six seasons of comedy that she starred in, which were broadcast on the WB and the CW networks.
After Prete proposed her concept, she discovered that Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Chairman, Tony Vinciquerra, knew Ryan Seacrest, having worked together at Fox during the early years of “American Idol.
Vinciquerra reminded himself that Seacrest had deeply admired Merv Griffin, the musician-turned-talk-show-host and game-show magnate who invented both “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!”. Upon his initial arrival in Hollywood, Seacrest even tried out for a game show pilot that Griffin was producing. One of Seacrest’s aspirations was to take over hosting duties on “Wheel.
Vinciquerra shared an evening meal with Seacrest, and they managed to finalize a deal in just a year before Sajak’s departure.
After getting the job, Seacrest requested old video clips of previous shows in order to grasp the intricacies of the game. Ready and waiting, Prete had 50 recent episodes at his disposal.
“He said, ‘No, I want to see every episode,’” Prete said. There are 8,000.
Ted Harbert, a past network executive and friend of Seacrest’s, can confirm the host’s meticulous preparations. According to Harbert, Seacrest aimed for the rules to become as natural as breathing to him, so that there would never be any doubt or uncertainty.
Bellamie Blackstone, the executive producer, traveled to Miami for a meeting with Seacrest. She brought along a smaller model of the game and rehearsed numerous potential situations.
“When he stepped on the set, it was like he’d been doing it his whole life,” Prete said.
Additionally, Seacrest swiftly grasped the art of engaging contestants and demonstrated his readiness to exceed expectations. In a recent game show appearance by a bodybuilder, the host surprisingly agreed to be bench-pressed live on stage.
The vibrant carnival vibe of the stage continues, as Seacrest and his co-host Vanna White enter together, much like Sajak used to, without any alteration.
Despite a smooth transition playing a role, the enduring success of “Wheel” underscores the timeless appeal of traditional game shows.
Over time, they’ve been a staple on television for many decades, and their popularity endures across various generations. The people who once enjoyed watching them alongside parents and grandparents now share the experience with their own children and grandchildren. Furthermore, these shows are particularly appealing due to their simplicity compared to the increasingly complex and intense scripts seen in TV shows during the streaming age, offering viewers a refreshing change.
Prete expressed that programming can be quite intense generally. However, our games are lively and full of energy, serving as a great way to connect with others.
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2025-01-06 14:31