There’s nothing like a familiar face to serve up the ultimate comfort food on TV.

In September, Sony Pictures Television handed the keys to its game show “Wheel of Fortune” to Ryan Seacrest, the broadcaster’s Iron Man. Nielsen data shows that “Wheel of Fortune” averaged 7.9 million viewers through Dec. 1, a 3% increase from last year during longtime host Pat Sajak’s final season.

“Wheel” has more viewers than any of the network’s non-sports prime-time series except CBS’ “60 Minutes” and “Tracker.” More than 58 million people watched some of the programming this season. More and more people are watching “Wheel” and Sony’s companion show “Jeopardy!” in the 7 p.m. hour than every single streaming service, including Netflix.

The ratings increase for “Wheel” comes as traditional television continues to decline. The show gained viewers as overall television viewership fell by 9% over the same period.

Durability was a hallmark of “Wheel,” which on Jan. 6 celebrated its 50th anniversary since its premiere on the NBC daytime show. The game, in which participants guess the letters of a mysterious word or phrase, has been part of the TV landscape ever since and has weathered major changes that have divided mass audiences.

But an important test of a television show’s popularity is the replacement of the star. Sajak hosted the syndicated version of “Wheel” since its release in 1983 and became an evening ritual for millions of viewers. He decided to give up his career at the end of the 2023/24 season.

“It was a pivotal moment for us,” said Suzanne Prete, president of game shows at Sony. “It’s personal for the viewers. Pat is like family to her.”

Sony executives know how disruptive change can be for an institution like Wheel. After a public audition of potential replacements for longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek in 2021, the company settled on executive producer Mike Richards, who wasn’t exactly a household name. The move angered fans and a scandal over offensive comments Richards made on a podcast caused him to quit before his episodes aired.

Seacrest is a known quantity. He’s on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles in the mornings, hosting “American Idol” and counting down to the ball drop in Times Square for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” In 2023, he ended a successful six-year career as co-host of Kelly Ripa on the daily talk show “Live.” He has largely stayed away from controversy, surviving a 2018 investigation into sexual harassment allegations made by a former stylist who worked for him at E! had worked. (The network closed the investigation due to insufficient evidence.)

When Sony was considering a sequel to Wheel, Seacrest was at the top of Prete’s wish list. “If I had a choice between anyone in the world, it would have been Ryan,” she said.

As Prete was pushing the idea, she learned that Tony Vinciquerra, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, knew Seacrest from her time at Fox, the original “American Idol” network.

Vinciquerra recalled how Seacrest idolized Merv Griffin, the band singer turned talk show host and game show impresario who created both “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!” Seacrest filmed a game show pilot for Griffin after he first arrived in Hollywood. One of his dreams was to host “Wheel.”

Vinciquerra had dinner with Seacrest and a deal was quickly struck a year before Sajak’s departure.

After getting the job, Seacrest asked for videos of past shows so he could study the nuances of the game. Prete was willing to send him 50 current episodes.

“He said, ‘No, I want to watch every episode,'” Prete said. There are 8,000.

Ted Harbert, a former network executive and Seacrest friend, can attest to the host’s obsessive preparation. “He wanted the rules to be second nature to him,” Harbert said. “He didn’t want there to ever be a question.”

Executive producer Bellamie Blackstone flew to Miami to see Seacrest play a tabletop version of the game and practice as many scenarios as possible.

“When he walked on set, it was like he had been doing it his whole life,” Prete said.

Seacrest also quickly mastered interacting with attendees, showing he’s willing to go the extra mile. When a bodybuilder recently played the game, the host agreed to do a bench press right on set.

The colorful carnival atmosphere of the set, which Seacrest enters like Sajak arm in arm with co-host Vanna White, remains unchanged.

While a smooth transition helps, the continued success of “Wheel” is also a testament to the enduring power of classic game shows.

After being on the air for decades, their appeal spans generations. The fans who watched at home with their parents and grandparents now form the audience with their children and grandchildren. The easy-to-watch shows also offer viewers a break from scripted television, which has become more complex and intense in the streaming age.

“I think in general programming is pretty hard,” Prete said. “Our game shows are fun, energetic and bring people together.”