How Ryan Seacrest’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Success Is Affecting Another Game Show Host
Disney/Eric McCandless Reading Time: 2 minutes
Ryan Seacrest’s new gig as host of Wheel of Fortune has proven successful since he took over for longtime host Pat Sajak last year. This success has apparently put some pressure on Ken Jennings, the current host of Jeopardy!, to turn things around for his own show.
Is Ryan Seacrest’s Wheel of Fortune Success Affecting Ken Jennings?
After Pat Sajak retired from his longtime hosting gig on Wheel of Fortune last year, Ryan Seacrest took over for him in September. His addition to the iconic game show has been successful, as the Los Angeles Times reported in January that ratings were up 3 percent compared to Sajak’s final season.
Another popular game show, Jeopardy!, has also been dealing with the introduction of a new host. Following the death of Alex Trebek in 2020, the show has tried out different hosts such as Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings — the latter of whom became the sole host in 2023.
According to Closer Weekly, ratings for Celebrity Jeopardy! took a dip earlier this year. With under 2 million viewers, it was the lowest viewership since 2022, with the show being beaten by competing game show The Price Is Right At Night.
“Ken is committed to staying. He’s not giving up without a fight, but there is alarm within the network over these terrible numbers,” a source shared. “The pressure is obviously on Ken, as the face of the franchise, and also on everybody else around him, to up their game and try and turn things around.”
SEE ALSO: RYAN SEACREST KNOCKED OVER BY EXCITED ‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’ CONTESTANT
Could Jennings Be Replaced as Host?
Another source told Closer Weekly that Seacrest is “looking like the game-show golden boy right now,” adding, “Ken doesn’t have any stability or a long-term contract, so the higher-ups could fire him at any time. Bosses over at Jeopardy! must be panicking by now, and word is they’re brainstorming names to replace Ken.”
The first source suggested that Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost, who hosted the spin-off series Pop Culture Jeopardy!, could be a potential replacement for Jennings as host of the main show. Jost apparently earned the show “good numbers.”
What do you think? Are you enjoying Ryan Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune? Do you think Jeopardy! should hire a new host to boost the show’s ratings? Let us know in the comments below.
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