LOS ANGELES, Ca. — “Wheel of Fortune” is one of the most iconic game shows in television history, bringing families to the couch every single evening for over four decades.

Throughout that nearly half century, one man was the undisputed king of the puzzle board.

Pat Sajak took a simple game of hangman and transformed it into a nightly American institution, steering the ship through changing eras before finally passing the torch to Ryan Seacrest.

“This is a franchise that I grew up watching and loving as a kid,” said Seacrest. “My family, we get together. My dad would be home from work right at the time it started. We’d all hang out, then we’d have chicken salad for dinner afterwards.”

At the very heart of the show’s letter-spinning magic, co-host Vanna White was always by Sajak’s side.

Through it all, she’s been the epitome of grace, revealing every puzzle with that trademark smile.

“We’ve known each other for over twenty years,” she said of her new co-host. “So yeah, we’ve been friends, so it’s kind of easy. He’s so easy to work with, and he’s professional and he’s good at what he does. And he just, he just fit right in.”

Seacrest knows the history he is holding. Even as a broadcasting titan, he respects the monumental legacy Sajak built, fully recognizing the pressure of being the new guy in America’s living room.

“I’m filling the shoes of a legend, and I was, of course, nervous,” said Seacrest. “And I wanted people to still be comfortable watching the show and enjoy the show. And being the new guy can be nerve-wracking.”

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