Ryan Seacrest managed to navigate his initial stumble as the new host of “Wheel of Fortune” with some assistance from his co-host Vanna White, a moment that eagle-eyed viewers quickly picked up on. During the Oct. 4 episode, contestant Cody Hunger was participating in the bonus round, having recently won the weeklong BetMGM Big Winners Tournament. Choosing a puzzle from the “phrase” category, Hunger spun the wheel and selected four additional letters: “C, D, Y, O” – which, when rearranged, spell his name. With just 10 seconds to claim the $94,900 jackpot, Hunger correctly guessed “out of the way.” However, instead of immediately confirming his win, Seacrest left Hunger in suspense for a few tense seconds.
White, sensing the tension, offered a small, restrained clap, subtly indicating to Hunger that his guess was correct while they awaited Seacrest’s confirmation. Finally, Seacrest spoke up, “Cody? That’s it!” Hunger, visibly relieved, exclaimed, “Oh my God.” Seacrest, grinning widely, congratulated him, “You got it! Congratulations.” Hunger was then joined by his friends as confetti and streamers filled the stage.
Fans of “Wheel of Fortune” were quick to comment on Seacrest’s delayed response. In a Reddit thread titled, “How about that pause,” one user wrote, “What a nightmare for the guy as he had to wait for Ryan to wake up and tell him he got the puzzle.” Another fan defended Seacrest, suggesting, “Ryan obviously did that for dramatic effect.” Some viewers felt the pause was awkward, with one commenting, “The pause was robotic. Didn’t even say what he had won with the solve.” Others speculated that the pause was intentional, with one user noting, “The pause, I believe, is due to the producers wanting to build up drama.”
Seacrest began his tenure as host of “Wheel of Fortune” on Sept. 9, succeeding Pat Sajak. In his debut, Seacrest expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and shared his excitement about hosting the iconic show. “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, and I’m just so grateful to be invited in,” he said. Seacrest’s debut week reportedly brought in the show’s strongest ratings in five years.
