Big wheel, big nerves?

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

With all of the hosting gigs that Ryan Seacrest has held — 20-plus years on American Idol, Live! with Kelly Ripa and the American Top 40 radio show, to name a few — it would be easy to assume he’s found a way to master the nerves that come with such gigs. However, as he prepares to take over as the host of Wheel of Fortune after Pat Sajak bid farewell to fans in the Season 41 finale, Seacrest understands the weight of what lies ahead. So how is he feeling two months ahead of his Wheel of Fortune debut, and what’s he doing to keep the anxiety at bay?

Ryan Seacrest has admitted to feeling the pressure of following in Pat Sajak’s footsteps, as Sajak was one of the best game show hosts of all time and held that position for over four decades. According to an insider for Radar Online, Seacrest is a “bundle of nerves,” but this is also the career trajectory he always wanted for himself. According to the source:

Ryan tends to bite off more than he can chew. He’s a bundle of nerves right now, but he wanted to be the next Dick Clark and that’s what he’s become. He’s only human, though — and filling Pat Sajak’s huge shoes on Wheel of Fortune is a challenge of epic proportions.

It’s true that Ryan Seacrest is merely a mortal being, and he has to be careful not to overwork, especially with the anxiety that inevitably comes with the start of such a huge new chapter. Back in 2020, Seacrest caused a lot of concern amongst fans when they thought he suffered a stroke during American Idol’s finale. He’s since opened up about the viral health scare, blaming exhaustion and admitting that he had “burnt himself out.”

As he counts down the days to Wheel of Fortune’s Season 42 premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, Ryan Seacrest is reportedly taking every precaution to fight off the stress. The insider said:

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He’s doing everything possible to cope with the inevitable nerves ahead of his hosting gig, and that includes getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and listening to audio books for anxiety because Ryan never knows how to clock off on his own. He has many other tricks up his sleeve he’s found to be highly beneficial. Just going outside for a breath of fresh air and sunshine helps him to chill when he’s feeling anxious, and you can bet he’ll have a cozy, air-conditioned trailer at the studio where he can retreat to unwind.

A good night’s sleep sure can go a long way in keeping anxiety at bay, and in addition to the things listed above, Ryan Seacrest also consumes herbal teas, the source said, continuing:

And he’s doing yoga and chanting mantras. He has someone play Tibetan singing bowls for deep relaxation, and he loves his essential oils, aromatherapy diffusers and massages.

It sounds like he’s allegedly doing everything he can do to put himself in the best mental state to lead one of the best game shows on television. It might also help that he’s got Vanna White there to help him learn the ropes, as she’s been around the show for 40 years herself. However, some rumors suggest there’s trouble between her and Ryan Seacrest on the Wheel of Fortune set. That’s all speculation at this point though, as others said the co-hosts appeared to be getting along famously when they filmed promos for the upcoming season.

Time will tell, and hopefully Ryan Seacrest and everyone else involved continues to take care of themselves during what could definitely be a nerve-wracking time of transition for Wheel of Fortune.