‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Sees Strong Ratings Boost With Ryan Seacrest’s Hosting Debut

Looks like Wheel of Fortune hit the jackpot with Ryan Seacrest’s debut as the host of Season 42.

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The episode, which aired on Monday, saw a significant boost in the major TV markets, delivering a 4.62 household rating, according to early data. That’s up 57% from last year’s premiere, which saw a 2.94 household rating in the same 44 overnight markets.

These are just early numbers for Season 42, and the more details ratings for the first week of episodes will be released next week.

Seacrest is stepping in for Pat Sajak, who bid farewell to the show in June after four decades. Sajak announced the year prior that he was ready to retire as host from the syndicated game show, and Season 41 would be his last.

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A week after Sajak announced his retirement, it was revealed that Seacrest would be taking over as host in Season 42. Seacrest also will serve as consulting producer on the show.

In the opening moments of his first episode as host, Seacrest told audiences: “Thank you for the very warm welcome. Hosting Wheel of Fortune is a dream job. I’ve been a fan of this show since I was a kid, watching in Atlanta with my family, and I know how special it is that Wheel has been in your living rooms for the past 40 years. I’m just so grateful to be invited in. I also know I’ve got some very big shoes to fill.”

Wheel of Fortune is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Media Ventures and internationally by Paramount Global Distribution Group, both divisions of Paramount.

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