Ryan Seacrest was named the new host of "Wheel of Fortune." It should have gone to Vanna White.
Lauren Edmonds
- Ryan Seacrest will host "Wheel of Fortune" following news of Pat Sajak's retirement.
- Some fans suggested Sajak's longtime co-host, Vanna White, should have snagged the job.
Ryan Seacrest will become the next "Wheel of Fortune" host after longtime host Pat Sajak's departure.
Seacrest announced his new gig in an Instagram post on Tuesday in tandem with the official "Wheel of Fortune" account. It came just two weeks after Sajak revealed he planned to retire and that the current 41st season would be his last.
"I'm truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak," Seacrest wrote. "I can't wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White."
While some fans congratulated Seacrest, who's reigned as Hollywood's favored host for about two decades, others suggested the role should have gone to Vanna White.
"What a poor choice. #justiceforvanna," one person wrote.
Now, by all accounts, Seacrest is more than fit to take over the position. Seacrest initially pursued acting but launched into the pop culture stratosphere when he became the beloved host of "American Idol." He's successfully positioned himself as a jack of all trades, consistently appearing on Entertainment Tonight, replacing Regis Philbin to host "Live with Ryan and Kelly" for six years, and host a long-running radio program called "On Air with Ryan Seacrest."
But as Insider's Joi-Marie McKenzie pointed out, Sony choosing Seacrest is a safe — and perhaps lazy — choice. On the other hand, there's still a case to be made for White.
Vanna White felt like a natural choice, given she's been on the series for 41 years and is beloved by audiences.
White joined "Wheel of Fortune" one year after Sajak in 1982 when the show still aired on daytime television. She's dazzled audiences in more than 7,000 episodes.
White's arrival on the show sparked "Vanna-mania," a pop culture phenomenon in the 1980s when the general public became enamored with the co-host. A December 1986 Los Angeles Times article reported that when former Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene surveyed young girls to determine their most important role model, around 90% listed White as their choice.
While White doesn't get as many lines as Sajak, she's continued growing with the brand through spin-offs like "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," proving how integral she is to the show's formula. At this point, White is synonymous with "Wheel of Fortune."
White's appeal to women helps engage its older female audience, Puck reported.
According to an article published by Puck this month, White's presence has a tangible impact on the show's audience. The outlet reported that Sony's research found that White's appeal to women contributes to the show's older female viewership.
At the very least, White deserves a pay raise.
In the end, White didn't get Sajak's hosting gig, but Sony should give her a raise nonetheless.
According to Puck, White hasn't received a pay raise in 18 years and is currently negotiating her contract to continue work after the 2023-2024 season. A source confirmed to Insider that she hired Bryan Freedman, a litigator who represented Tucker Carlson and Chris Cuomo in the past, to help.
White currently makes about $3 million, while the article reported that Sajak made nearly five times as much. Some might argue that Sajak's bolstered salary bump is fair, but given White's longstanding influence on the program and general appeal, she deserves more for 41 years of work.
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