Ryan Seacrest & Vanna White Announce Major ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Change in Season 44
Ryan Seacrest & Vanna White Announce Major ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Change in Season 44.
As Wheel of Fortune returns for Season 44 next week on Monday, September 14, and ahead of the premiere, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White appeared on Good Morning America to promote a major formatting change on the way for the game show.
“This is exciting. A lot of people say, ‘How do you get more games into the show?’” Seacrest teased. It’s not a long show, so we’re squeezing more game play into the show with a rapid fire game that we just started to have, which I love, with $1,000 for every puzzle they solve.”
The new segment is called “Fortune Frenzy,” GMA reported, and in a sneak peek of the Season 44 premiere, fans could see the players jump in on one of the new segments.
In the category “Season Premiere!” it took a few seconds, but one contestant correctly surmised that the clue read, “It’s great to be back!” In another, the clue read, “It’s opening night!”
About the new format, Seacrest explained, “I think it shakes the nerves off of the contestants from the top because they’re so excited. The adrenaline is pumping and rushing, and they’ve got to focus right into playing the game, and I noticed that with some of the first episodes.”
White agreed with her cohost, adding, “Yes, there’s nothing else to think about but ‘solve that puzzle.’ It’s gotta be quick, so they have nothing else on their mind but solving.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Seacrest opened up about how he and White have bonded over their now-three years together on the show, saying, “Vanna got me a clock, so that I don’t use my phone by my bed, that projects the time in red numbers on my ceiling. It looks like the New Year’s Eve countdown.”
“It’s great,” White added. “Our dressing rooms are upstairs. I can always tell when he’s walking up the stairs. I can hear the cadence of his [steps]. Most of the time he’s fast!”
Check out the GMA segment above to see more of Seacrest and White’s comments and a first look at the “Fortune Frenzy” segment in action.
Wheel of Fortune, Season 44 Premiere, September 14, check local listings
