Ryan Seacrest feels he made a 'major mistake' by replacing Pat Sajak as host of 'Wheel of Fortune'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Ryan Seacrest, a beloved figure on 'American Idol', is reportedly facing major regrets just days after stepping into his new role as the host of Wheel of Fortune.

Fans have been quick to criticize the new host, and sources say Seacrest is already questioning whether he made a mistake taking over the iconic game show from longtime host Pat Sajak.

Ryan Seacrest feels pressure to fill Pat Sajak’s shoes

According to an insider, Seacrest, who is co-hosting with Vanna White is privately telling friends that filling Sajak's shoes may have been a “major mistake.”

The source revealed, "Ryan is seriously feeling the pressure and wondering if there's just no winning this fight," as per Radar Online.

The backlash from the audience has already been significant, and Seacrest is starting to feel worn down. "Everything he tries on the show seems to spark an outcry, and he's already fed up with the fan backlash," the source added.

"He's getting the very distinct impression nothing will make them happy short of Pat coming out of retirement and hosting the show again."

Viewers have high expectations for Seacrest, who at 49, is making $28 million a year - $13 million more than Sajak.

With that hefty paycheck comes immense pressure to live up to not just Sajak's legacy but also the expectations from the show's producers and audience.

The source explained, "Ryan feels a ton of pressure because of his salary and the expectations that producers have set. He feels like the whole thing is weighing him down and wrecking his reputation. It's also taking time away from his American Idol duties and his recent foray into launching a cooking show."

Summing it all up, the insider called the situation "a real dumpster fire."

Producers worried as Ryan Seacrest privately questions Wheel of Fortune hosting

Interestingly, Seacrest wasn’t overly concerned about ratings prior to his debut on September 9, despite the show's viewership having dipped during Sajak's final months.

The insider revealed, "Ryan's trying to sugarcoat this and say it's good news, that the only way is up since Pat's ratings were down."

However, producers remain wary that the ratings drop could continue despite bringing in a new host. "The bosses are worried it's a freefall that might not be automatically reversible just by hiring a new host," the source said.

While Seacrest’s premiere episode saw a promising 57% boost in ratings compared to last season, it hasn’t silenced the critics.

There’s also been a noticeable shift in the show's target audience, with prizes like kombucha and puzzles featuring millennial pop culture references, such as a song by Dua Lipa, signaling an attempt to appeal to younger viewers.

However, the culmination of these factors along with his failure to mention Sajak's name in the opening episode has left Seacrest feeling uneasy about his decision to take on the role.

The insider shared, "He thinks he may have made a tremendous miscalculation and it could have dire ramifications for him."

Additionally, as per Daily Mail, Vanna White may be considering leaving Wheel of Fortune earlier than anticipated, despite recently securing a raise and contract extension.

A source told the outlet, “There is a part of her that wants to walk away sooner. It is just so difficult to do this without Pat,” the source said.

“Vanna feels that she has put her time in. She devoted her entire life to this show and she had an incredible run while making a fortune.”

Viewers fail to resonate with Seacrest’s fit and hosting style

As Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune, fans quickly voiced their mixed reactions.

While some struggled to adjust to the new face of the beloved game show, others expressed concerns about the drastic change in energy compared to longtime host Pat Sajak.

One viewer said, "No one , literally no one, is talking about how Ryan Seacrest hosts Wheel of Fortune now."

Another viewer said, "Wheel of Fortune is the dumbest show. I’m trying with Ryan Seacrest but it’s not happening."

One viewer noted, "Since when is Ryan Seacrest the host of Wheel of Fortune lol. Bring back Pat!."

A follower observed, "Ryan Secrest being the host of wheel of fortune feels wrong."

One comment read, "I hate wheel of fortune put jeopardy back on RYAN SEACREST BONES."

Another comment read, "Tried watching @WheelofFortune again and I just can’t get behind Ryan Seacrest as the host. I don’t hate him as a person, but his energy just doesn’t match the show imo."

"How the hell can Wheel of Fortune generate enough revenue to pay Seacrest $28 million and Vanna $5 million…literally blows my mind," questioned one person

Someone else commented, "This Ryan Seacrest led Wheel of Fortune is too far of a departure from Pat’s classic."

"Ryan seacrest on wheel of fortune don’t look right," another comment read. 

"No shade to Ryan seacrest but I don’t like him not the format of wheel of fortune like he does better in the other formats he does but in wheel of fortune he feels off for some reason," said another viewer. 

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