Jeopardy!andWheel of Fortune, two of the mostfamous TV game showsof all time,have entered a new era in 2024,with brand-new hosts taking over. Historically, both shows have been an important part of American pop culture. But the role of the host can really make or break shows like these. Starting from 1984,Jeopardy!was hosted byAlex Trebekfor 37 seasons, whose name became synonymous with the general knowledge quiz show. Similarly,Pat Sajakwas the force behindWheel of Fortunefor 41 years. However, the latest seasons of both shows in 2024 have seenKen Jenningsreplacing the late Trebek andRyan Seacrestsucceeding Sajak.
Jeopardy!andWheel of Fortuneare sister shows, with both being produced and conceptualized byMerv Griffin.WhileJeopardy!follows the format of a quiz show,Wheel of Fortuneis all about strategy and luck. However, there has always been a bit of rivalry between the two, with fans arguing over which one is better. But with Jennings and Seacrest coming on board, the conversation has slightly shifted. Now, the viewers are left to wonder which host is the better replacement and canstay true to the tone and style of their respective show.
Ryan Seacrest’s Journey As ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Has Been Bumpy
Ryan SeacrestjoinedWheel of FortuneafterPat Sajakannounced his retirement in June 2023. Now, Seacrest has been a prominent name in television for a long time, and he has just what it takes to connect with the audience.Seacrest has hostedAmerican Idolfor 20 seasons since 2002, so he’s not a new face for audiences. From red carpets to award shows, Seacrest has made quite the name for himself in Hollywood as an Emmy-winning host and longtime radio personality. And he brings all those years of experience toWheel of Fortune.
The best part about Seacrest’s hosting is thathe’s not trying to copy Sajak or replicate what he did.He has come in with his own style of hosting, which has helped him get into the groove of things. During the season premiere forWheel of FortuneSeason 42, Seacrest took a moment to thank the audience for supporting him and acknowledged that he has extremely big shoes to fill.8,310,000 viewers tuned intoWheel of Fortunefor its premiere weekwith Seacrest, which is a good sign that the new host is setting himself up for success.
However, fans were quick to notice that Seacrest isn’t nearly as thorough as Sajak was, despite his claims of having taken months to prepare for his new role. During the premiere episode, Seacrest missed when a contestant mispronounced a word and granted him a win. And while you can chalk that up to first-day jitters, he made a similar mistake inWheel of FortuneSeason 42, Episode 2, when he failed to explain the rules to a contestant. The poor woman ended up losing her $1 million wedge on the wheel because Seacrest forgot to remind her of an important rule. If you draw a comparison to Pat Sajak, the former host of the show would never forget to give the contestants reminders such as these in such a high-pressure situation. If these rookie mistakes continue,Seacrest’s career as the host ofWheel of Fortunemight not have the longevity of Sajak’s.
Ken Jennings Knows ‘Jeopardy!’ Inside Out — but Is That Enough?
Ken Jenningsmight not have the extensive TV experience that Seacrest brings to the table, but he knows pretty much everything there is to know aboutJeopardy!.And that’s because he started out as a contestant on the show. Back in 2004, he becamethe show’s most successful contestant of all time after winning 74 games in a row. He then made several appearances in special episodes, tournaments, and competitions over the years, including theJeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions,Jeopardy! Battle of the DecadesandJeopardy! The Greatest of All Time.His long-time connection to the show made him an obvious choice to replace Trebek. Fans already know and love him, and everyone who takes part in the show aspires to be as successful as him. But Jennings’s journey to becoming the show’s full-time host wasn’t all that easy.
After Trebek’s passing, Ken Jennings andThe Big Bang Theory’sMayim BialikjoinedWheel of Fortuneas co-hosts in 2021. However, in 2023, the decision was made to move forward with Jennings as the solo host, possibly because ofonline controversy Bialik was embroiled inrelating to some of her views on health and medicine. All things considered, it made sense for the producers to retain Jennings, considering he has been a fan-favorite since 2004. However, he also found himself mired in controversy when a few of hisold and extremely insensitive tweets resurfaced.
Jennings refused to delete his tweetmaking fun of disabled individuals, which led to an uproar from the fans who no longer wanted them to host their favorite show. Following the backlash, Jennings issued an apology for his past mistakes, mentioning he didn’t delete the posts as he believed it to be a form of “whitewashing.” However, he needs to show the audience that he is the right man for the job, and make sure he doesn’t make the same mistakes again. For the viewers, the host of their favorite game show is someone they genuinely want to like and look up to because of their kindness, wit, and intelligence.
‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Reportedly Takes Dig at ‘Wheel of Fortune’s Ryan Seacrest
Just some light jokes between sister game shows.
Who Is Going To Be the Better Host in the Long Run?
Both Jennings and Seacrest have seen rough startsas hosts of their respective shows. But, in terms of the ratings, Seacrest seems to have made up for his early oversights.Wheel of Fortunehasexperienced a huge boost in ratings. Despite Seacrest’s blunders, itbecame themost-watched entertainment showacross broadcast, cable, and syndication for September 2024after pulling in an impressive 7.99 million viewers. It’s fair to say that some of the credit goes to Seacrest. However, this boost in ratings forWheel of Fortunemight also have been because of the audience’s initial curiosity about the change in hosts.
On the other hand,Jenningshasn’t quite gotten the hang of things, because even though he’s had the hosting gig longer,Jeopardy!came in at the No. 3 spot with 7.35 million viewers. Not to mention thatJennings’s contract with the show isn’t permanent yet, compared to Seacrest, who is in it for the long haul.Sony is still evaluating how Jennings performsas a host before offering him a long-term contract similar to Alex Trebek’s. But Jennings is committed toJeopardy!to the point wherehe is willing to take a pay cut if he has to, to stay on board as the show’s permanent host.
Ultimately, you’re able to’t deny that bothJennings and Seacrest bring their own flair to hosting, and are loved by the fans for different reasons. While both of them are familiar faces for the audience, Seacrest already knows exactly what makes the audience tick. Jennings might need some more time to find his rhythm, but he has a loyal-enough fanbase that keeps coming back for more. So, the competition is still very much on, and it will be interesting to see who emerges as the winner.
Jeopardy!airs every weeknight on ABC in the U.S. Episodes are also available to stream on ABC.com.Wheel of Fortuneis available on broadcast TV and streaming on YouTube TV in the U.S.
