Maggie Sajak has something to say about Ryan Seacrest, who recently replaced her father, Pat Sajak, as the host of Wheel of Fortune.
During an appearance at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, September 21, Maggie, 29, spoke with Us Weekly, where she remarked on Seacrest, 49, and his hosting skills. While fans have much nostalgia for Pat as a host, Maggie is confident in Seacrest’s abilities. She praised Seacrest, calling him “great” and “so professional.”
“I’m sure you would assume, but he really appreciates the show and knows how important it is,” Maggie said. “You can really tell by how prepared he is, and how he treats the contestants, and how he treats the whole experience.”
Ryan Seacrest performs during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This month, Seacrest took over as the host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage via Getty Images
Seacrest has pulled in strong ratings for the show, with a 4.62 household rating based on early data for the season premiere, which aired Monday, September 9. Last year’s premiere had a 2.94 household rating.
Pat, 77, hosted Wheel of Fortune for 41 years, and while he may have retired from the show, Maggie is carrying on his legacy. She is currently the show’s social media correspondent.
Elsewhere in her conversation with Us Weekly, Maggie shared what the show means to her, and why she’s honored to be a part of it.
“It’s such a special show to so many people and it’s more than just a show, which sounds maybe kinda cheesy, but it really is. I mean, this is bonding among generations. This is the time that families eat dinner together. I mean, it’s really special,” she said. “When people have come up to my dad or told me how special the show is to them, it goes beyond just ‘I love that show’ and to be a part of it now is really meaningful to me.”
