Wheel of Fortune Unveils Big Change — and It’s Not Just Seacrest!

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Longtime Wheel of Fortune fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming season, which includes new host Ryan Seacrest and a sleek revamped look. Check out what you can expect when Wheel of Fortune premieres on September 9.

Good Morning America’s Ginger Zee got a behind-the-scenes look at Wheel of Fortune and took fans along for the ride.
New host Ryan Seacrest and the legendary Vanna White were on hand to show Zee around their new digs.

They were both buzzing with excitement ahead of the premiere. “I mean, it’s Wheel of Fortune. How could you not be happy?” Seacrest said. White added, “It’s energetic, it’s positive, it’s fun… I’m so excited.”

Seacrest remarked that taking on the hosting gig after Pat Sajak retired from the role was an “out of body” experience. “To have watched Vanna and watched this show and Pat [Sajak] and what they’ve built with audiences across this country and what this show means to people in their living rooms every night, and their families, and generations of people who have watched this show, it is a very special thing that just doesn’t exist anywhere else,” he explained.

Seacrest said he prepared for the gig by watching “endless episodes of Pat and Vanna on Wheel of Fortune.” He noted, “We have played mock Wheel of Fortune games in many cities across America depending on where I am. On conference tables, in meeting rooms. We’ve had makeshift wheels and makeshift contestants for months, just to sort of get the gameplay down and the timing and the pacing down. And hopefully it all pays off.”

The American Idol host said the biggest thrill is meeting three new people every night who will win cash and prizes — and he doesn’t see that excitement falling off.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever settle in,” he said. “I get excited about it every time. I really do. I enjoy being the person who can introduce an audience to a singer, or who can play a new song on the radio, or can meet three people from around the country [and] help them win cash and prizes. That part never gets old.”

He added, “That’s what this show’s about.”

As for the set, Wheel of Fortune got a shiny update and it looks fabulous! Perhaps the biggest change is that White now has a brand new puzzle board featuring some cool tech upgrades. “I don’t even have to touch the letter anymore,” she said. “This is a blank screen with a video on it. There’s lasers up there, so when I go to touch a letter, it catches the movement of my hand, so it lights up. Isn’t that crazy?”

Zee stood at the wheel and gave it a spin — it still has all the retro charm that fans love. She shared that there are “tons of new prizes,” which include some hot items, like “tickets to NFL games” and “tickets to see some of the biggest musical artists.”

Seacrest revealed that the best way to move forward with Wheel of Fortune is to really maintain what fans love so much about it. “Don’t make any changes. Don’t touch it,” he said. “This show works. All I need to do is keep it moving. All we need to do is have fun every night. And I think if that’s what happens, this show continues for a long time.”

The new season of Wheel of Fortune premieres on September 9.