Wheel of Fortune has entered a new era this season, introducing a new host and set amid Pat Sajak‘s shocking retirement. But there’s one part of the show that will hopefully always stay the same: Vanna White turning the letters.
White reflected on her career of 40 years turning letters on the hit game show beside her longtime co-host in a new interview with Parade. Now that Sajak’s retired and Ryan Seacrest is replacing him, is it possible the show could one day replace White, too? (We hope not!)
While reflecting on how “energetic” the show has become in the last 40 years, White explained, “My role on the puzzle board has changed. When I first started, I had to physically turn every letter. Then they switched to TV monitors, so I just had to touch the letters and they would light up. Now the board is operated by a laser. It’s like a flat screen. And when I go to touch the letter, the laser catches my movement. It’s crazy, right?”
The interviewer asked if that meant her role could one day become obsolete if they made the letters “light up automatically.”
“I’m telling you right now, don’t say it. They need me!” White playfully responded. She added, “Well, with all the electronics today, obviously they could do it without me. But people love watching what I’m wearing. I’ve worn over 8,000 outfits… My wardrobe is a big part of it.”
There are few people who can turn letters better than her. White also revealed that, during her audition for the job in 1982, Merv Griffin told her she was chosen for Wheel because she “turned the letters better than anyone else.”
Despite all of the changes this season, White spoke highly of Seacrest, who recently made his big debut on the show.
“Ryan just stepped right in,” she said. “He did so much rehearsing and really cares about the show. Hopefully that’s what America sees.”
She maintained that she doesn’t like to “compare the two.”
“It was obviously very different after working with someone for 41 years… I just think of it as a new era, because we also have a new set and a new puzzle board,” she said. “But I’m so happy that they hired Ryan because he does not want to replace Pat. He said, ‘I’m here to just do a good job.’”
White also revealed that she and Seacrest will be taking Wheel of Fortune cross-country this season with visits to Nashville, Salt Lake City and Hawaii.
Though Sajak retired from Wheel, he is set to continue hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. White confirms they haven’t began filming yet but episodes are expected to air this fall.
Wheel of Fortune airs on weeknights. Check out the show’s website for your local listings.
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