For more than four decades, Americans welcomed a familiar dynamic duo into their homes night after night. Pat Sajak and Vanna White had one of Hollywood’s longest and strongest relationships, albeit strictly professional. Pat began hosting Wheel of Fortune in 1981, and Vanna joined him a year later, turning letters. They were staples in the game show scene, and it seemed unimaginable that anyone could replace either one.
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But after 41 seasons, Pat decided to retire. Finding the perfect host for the show and someone who would complement Vanna was a challenge. Veteran TV host Ryan Seacrest will fill some very big shoes.
Vanna told CBS Sunday Morning that she “had no idea what to expect” when coming into work with a new host. After so many years with Pat by her side, it was a whole new world.
“I mean, when I’m used to one person for so long, I was very scared, but he’s doing a great job.”
Thankfully, Ryan And Vanna Aren’t Total Strangers
The pair have known one another professionally for quite some time and spent the summer working and getting to know each other better.
“I’ve known Ryan for probably 20 years, but in the past couple of months, we’ve done some traveling together for the show, and we got to know each other a little better too, so I think our chemistry is good,” she said.
Ryan shared with the news program that while everyone knows Wheel of Fortune, he still had a lot to learn.
“Wherever I was working, the producers sometimes would come, and they’d bring contestants, and we would play Wheel of Fortune in hotels just to get familiar with the rules and scenarios and things that can happen so that at some point it becomes second nature,” Seacrest said.
Ryan and Vanna will make their debut on Wheel of Fortune together on September 9.
This story’s featured image is by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for CBS Media Ventures / Sony Pictures Television.
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