'Wheel of Fortune' Veteran Vanna White May Not Work With Ryan Seacrest After Pat Sajak's Exit

Buying vowels and solving puzzles just won't be the same anymore on Wheel of Fortune. The long-running word puzzle show has been on the air for over 41 seasons since 1975. And while they didn't kick off the show's original broadcast, Pat Sajak and Vanna White have been on the show since the early 1980s and have been in front of the camera five days out of the week for decades.

Not only have they become synonymous with the show, but generations of folks have at least been privy to their hosting duties.

After being on Wheel for literal decades, it's hard to imagine the show without Pat or Vanna at the helm. But it was bound to happen eventually.

Pat Sajak formally retired from hosting duties on June 7, 2024 and is stepping away from his camera-left post. He and Vanna shared some tearful and emotional goodbyes before he signed off on Wheel for the last time.

His replacement is none other than fellow reality show host Ryan Seacrest, but will Vanna be working with him?

Shortly after Pat's retirement was announced, his replacement was already lined up. Fellow longtime reality show host Ryan Seacrest of American Idol fame is gearing up to take over in Pat's absence. Vanna was initially projected to stay on through Ryan's first couple of seasons on Wheel, at least until her current contract is up in 2026.

Her own retirement was lined up for that time frame as well, but reports suggest that she may exit sooner after struggling to make things work with Ryan.

According to an exclusive report by Daily Mail, Vanna is having a difficult time vibing with Ryan Seacrest as host.

A Wheel insider told the outlet, "She just doesn't jibe with Ryan like she did with Pat and no one really ever expected her to. There is just no way that she possibly could."

The insider also suggested that Vanna is growing more supportive of the show appealing to a younger demographic as they search for a new female host.

In all fairness, none of this is likely Ryan Seacrest's fault. While it stands to reason that the show could continue to thrive with new hosts, it would be difficult for anyone to find chemistry with someone else when their co-host of over four decades says goodbye.

Pat and Vanna have been together for so long that it's hard to imagine one without the other, so it should be no surprise that they've built up a working relationship that few can rival.

Whether or not these mismatched vibes are simply growing pains or a legitimate lack of chemistry remains to be seen. There have also been rumors that Pat's daughter Maggie Sajak may replace Vanna on the show.

As of this writing, Season 42 of Wheel of Fortune is currently still in production.