Ryan Seacrest is about two weeks into his new gig serving as host of Wheel Of Fortune following Pat Sajak’s retirement after more than four decades on the job.
And with those handful of shows now in the books, Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, revealed she thinks Seacrest is doing ‘great’ and that’s he’s been ‘so professional’ as the new host of the iconic game show.
‘I’m sure you would assume but he really appreciates the show and knows how important it is,’ Maggie, 29, told Us Weekly while attending the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, September 21. ‘You can really tell by how prepared he is and how he treats the contestants and how he treats the whole experience.’
While Seacrest has stepped in as the newcomer, there will still be some familiarity on the set with Vanna White back in the fold as co-host.
The show turned into a family affair of sorts considering Maggie has been working on the Wheel Of Fortune team as the official social correspondent since 2021.
Pay Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, revealed she thinks Seacrest is doing ‘great’ and that’s he’s been ‘so professional’ as the new host of Wheel Of Fortune since taking over September 9
Sajak has been so fond of White as a working colleague and longtime friend through the decades that Maggie and her kin consider her to be part of their family.
‘Jokingly, we say she’s Aunt Vanna, but I really have known her since before I was born,’ she told the outlet. ‘She’s great, I love being able to see her now at work. We have a lot of fun, I pull her into TikToks I’m doing and things like that, so she’s the best.’
Maggie added, ‘She really is such an icon, such a legend and such a great person too. She’s as sweet as she seems.’
The WOF social correspondent went on to paint the picture as to what it was like growing up on the set of such an iconic game show over the years.
‘It’s such a special show to so many people and it’s more than just a show, which sounds maybe kinda cheesy, but it really is. I mean, this is bonding among generations,’ Maggie said, before sharing about the importance the production has had on viewers.
‘This is the time that families eat dinner together. I mean, it’s really special,’ she explained. ‘When people have come up to my dad or told me how special the show is to them, it goes beyond just “I love that show” and to be a part of it now is really meaningful to me.’
Maggie and her family have been protective over the Wheel Of Fortune legacy and how it would move forward following Pat’s departure, but she feels ‘it is in great hands so we’re excited to see where it goes.’
Pat Sajak first announced his plan to retire as host of Wheel Of Fortune in June 2023 after 41 years on the job.
Seacrest shared some complimentary comments about Pat Sajak when he stepped down to hand the reigns to him after more than four decaes
Sajak, 77, said his final farewell to the show’s devoted fans on June 7
The longtime Sajak-White team wore their emotions on their sleeve when bidding goodbye
He said he felt he needed to leave on his own terms, and that he’d rather leave a couple years too early than too late.
The Chicago, Illinois native then officially retired from the legendary show during this past season finale that aired on ABC on June 7.
‘Pat, congratulations on an incredible run with Wheel of Fortune! Your dedication, charm, and wit have made the show a beloved part of American television for decades,’ Seacrest shared in a heartfelt tribute to Sajak. ‘Your partnership with Vanna has been nothing short of iconic, and together, you’ve created countless wonderful memories for viewers. You’ve set the standard for hosts everywhere, and this marks the end of an era. Best wishes for all your future endeavors!’
Seacrest officially began his run as host on September 9, which marked the start of the show’s 42nd season.
Ryan Seacrest, and Vanna White at his side, took over as host of Wheel Of Fortune on September 9, following Sajak’s departure in June
‘I’m sure you would assume but he really appreciates the show and knows how important it is,’ Maggie Sajak told Us Weekly while attending the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, September 21
Vanna White addresses rumors she ‘doesn’t jibe’ with Seacrest by sharing a photo of the two eating together as friends off camera
While Seacrest is already carving out his own legacy at the helm, Pat Sajak is set to return to host his final season of Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune, that’s set to premiere on Monday, October 7.
Maggie and the Sajak family as a whole have been protective over Wheel Of Fortune and how it would move forward following Pat’s departure, but she feels ‘it is in great hands so we’re excited to see where it goes.’
Created by Merv Griffin, Wheel of Fortune ranks as the longest-running syndicated game show in the U.S., with 8,000 episodes taped and aired as of June 7, which is the last episode Pat Sajak served as host before handing the reins to Seacrest.
The show, which airs on CBS, has been running continuously since its debut January 6, 1975
