LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pat Sajak’s decision to retire after 40 years of continued service as ‘Wheel of Fortune' host came as a complete shocker to fans of the game show. The 76-year-old announced that the upcoming season will be his last and he has no plans to return to the show which has become synonymous with his name over the years. Although it wasn’t the decision to quit that made its impact on the fans, and especially the executives of the show, it was the timing and secrecy revolving around it.
Pat never consulted anyone before taking the drastic step. He gave almost zero notice before unexpectedly announcing he was retiring from the show, a source revealed to The US Sun. This put the bosses in a perplexing situation who went into panic mode and started looking for their next host. This was bound to create chaos for people at Sony, and truth be told, Pat’s decision did led to a chaotic few weeks for the studio.
Was Sony really angry with Pat’s rash decision to quit?
After Pat announced his retirement, the executives scrambled to choose their next host. But filling Pat’s shoes is no easy task. They finally gave the gig to Ryan Seacrest, who will become the new ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host in 2024. But it took two weeks for the executives to find a decent if not the best replacement for the show. The source revealed that Pat’s announcement created a chaotic atmosphere that threatened to hamper the franchise's reputation.
The source said, “Sony announced Ryan so quickly because they did not want to repeat the angst that happened around the drawn-out process of replacing the host and producing team on Jeopardy! after Alex Trebek's passing. That said, Pat did not give the Sony bosses a lot of warning before his announcement and still has a full year on his contract that he plans to fulfill.”
The source further added, “The pressure is on Sony now to prove that Ryan is not only the right decision but the man who can take this iconic and beloved franchise into the modern era. That's still an open question and the next step is to convince the independent TV stations and affiliates that air Wheel that the show isn't going to take a massive ratings dive the second Ryan takes over.”
All this turmoil could have been avoided if Pat would have given fair notice to the executives at Sony. Even if they are not furious at Pat since the man made the show what it is today, but his decision surely caused brief trouble for the network.
Will Ryan Seacrest be able to deliver as the new host?
The US Sun source revealed that Sony is indeed taking a gamble by appointing Ryan as the game show’s host. They explained, “He’s certainly not the most obvious selection, but he does have thousands of hours of hosting experience both in the daytime and on primetime. Sony is rolling the dice that this will work and that the show won't bleed viewers, but it's still a massive risk with one of the most valuable and profitable shows on TV.”
Ryan will be joined with Wanna White who is in talks to extend her contract. However, it remains to be seen whether Ryan will deliver what’s expected of him.
