More than 50 years after airing its first episode, iconic game show “Wheel of Fortune” is getting new gameplay.
Hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White shared the news Sept. 8 during an appearance on “Good Morning America,” teasing a new segment that packs more opportunities for contestants to win cash prizes into a 30-minute TV time slot. “This is exciting. A lot of people say, ‘How do you get more games into the show?” Seacrest told GMA. “It’s not a long show, so we’re squeezing more gameplay into the top of the show with a rapid-fire game that we just started to have, which I love, with $1,000 for every puzzle they solve.”
Season 44 marks the third year of Seacrest and White hosting together after long-time presenter Pat Sajak retired from the main show in 2024. Seacrest joined during the show’s 42nd season; meanwhile, the ever-popular White has graced television screens since 1982.
Here’s what to know about the new segment.
“Fortune Frenzy” is a segment at the beginning of each episode where contestants “shake the nerves off” by solving puzzles within a time limit, according to Seacrest. The lightning-round style not only enables showrunners to add more puzzles per episode, but also allows contestants to win $1,000 every time they give the correct answer.
In a preview aired on GMA, contestants solving for the category “Season Premiere!” can be seen watching letters appear on the board as the timer ticks down. One contestant, after a few seconds, gives the correct solution: “It’s great to be back!” “I think it shakes off the nerves of the contestants at the top,” Seacrest told GMA. “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 when we did some of the first episodes.”
“Yes, there’s nothing else to think about but ‘solve that puzzle.’ It’s gotta be quick,” White agreed. “So they have nothing else on their mind but solving it.”
Source: USA Today
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