When Ryan Seacrest took over as host of “Wheel of Fortune” in September 2024, millions tuned in, giving the iconic game show a ratings boost following Pat Sajak’s retirement. But only time would tell if the longtime “American Idol” host can keep the momentum going.

Four months into his new role, Seacrest has received his first official report card and the news couldn’t be better. On January 6, 2025, the LA Times reported that Seacrest delivered “ratings gold” in the first quarter as host of “Wheel of Fortune.”

But wildfires began burning across Los Angeles the next day as strong winds blew, devastating and displacing entire communities and forcing many Hollywood shows – including “Wheel of Fortune” – to halt production.

Wheel of Fortune tapings on hold, but tickets available for late January

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On January 13, with firefighters still struggling to contain the largest fires and winds picking up again, The Wrap reported that “Wheel of Fortune” would not be recorded at its Culver City studio as planned. The outlet said other game shows temporarily canceled include “The Price is Right” and “Jeopardy!”

Although no one is sure when filming will resume, the Wheel of Fortune website now has Seacrest and his co-host, longtime letter writer Vanna White, scheduled to begin new shows starting January 29th.

When they return to the studio, they know they’ve done something right, considering the ratings they’ve achieved not only in their highly acclaimed first week as a team, but also in their first quarter of working together.

When Seacrest replaced Sajak, who retired in June 2024 after 41 seasons, his premiere episode drew 9.63 million curious “Wheel” viewers, making it the most-watched season premiere in nine years, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

During the remainder of Seacrest’s first week, an average of 8.31 million people tuned in to each episode, the outlet reported. According to TV Insider, these ratings represented a “double-digit percentage increase in viewership in every key demo” compared to Sajak’s final season.

But the best news for Seacrest is that viewership has remained high since his debut, the LA Times reported. During his first quarter on the series, his episodes averaged 7.9 million viewers through December 1st. That’s an impressive three million viewers. The audience ratings increased by 1.5 percent compared to the previous season. In Seacrest’s first quarter, 58 million people tuned in, the outlet said.