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Ryan Seacrest is holding down the fort at Wheel of Fortune.
There was a lot dialogue about how the American Idol host, 49, has been doing since taking up for Pat Sajak, who retired after 41 years internet hosting the present. Since he debuted as host on September 9, for season 42, Seacrest has discovered reward from his followers, in addition to a number of criticism from detractors who miss Sajak.
Nevertheless, in accordance with Nielsen information, Seacrest is true on the cash. The beloved sport present averaged 7.99 million viewers throughout Seacrest’s first month as host, per a submit by Selection containing the numbers. Between September 9 and October 6, Wheel of Fortune was “the most-watched leisure sequence throughout broadcast, cable, and syndication.”
David Becker/Getty Photos for iHeartRadio
While you take away sports activities and information exhibits from these Nielsen numbers, extra individuals watched Wheel of Fortune than every other program on conventional tv (moderately than streaming). The excellent news saved coming for Seacrest, as a result of the info additionally confirmed that the TV character helped get Wheel of Fortune its largest season premiere in three years.
Per TVLine, Seacrest’s debut was Wheel of Fortune‘s most-watched season premiere in 9 years. His first week boasted 8.31 million viewers, making it the No. 1 present in syndication that week. Wheel of Fortune “reached 40 million whole viewers in its premiere month” and the present is “up 3 p.c within the adults 25-54 demo versus final yr,” a Sony Photos TV producer for the present instructed Selection.
Maggie Sajak, 29, who works because the social media correspondent for the present, appeared to sense Seacrest’s potential straight away. The daughter of beloved long-running host Pat Sajak — who continues to be set to host Movie star Wheel of Fortune, which can air in 2025 — had beforehand known as the brand new host “nice” and “so skilled.”
She shared her confidence in Seacrest again in September, gushing, “I am certain you’d assume, however he actually appreciates the present and is aware of how essential it’s. You possibly can actually inform by how ready he’s, and the way he treats the contestants, and the way he treats the entire expertise.”
Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights at 7:30 p.m.