Ryan Seacrest Gives Off 'First Day of Schoo...

It's safe to say that Ryan Seacrest is thrilled to be in his Wheel of Fortune era

Published Time: 17.07.2024 - 02:31:09 Modified Time: 17.07.2024 - 02:31:09

It's safe to say that Ryan Seacrest is thrilled to be in his Wheel of Fortune era.

The television personality, 49, shared a behind-the-scenes look at his first day as the game show's new host on Instagram, and it's giving major "first day of school" vibes.

"A glimpse of my first day at @wheeloffortune, and I’m still spinning with excitement!" he captioned the video.

In the video, Seacrest starts spinning the wheel and showing off the "iconic" sound it makes. "I find it soothing," he says as the pegs slow down ticking along the dollar amounts contestants can win.

He then walks to set and takes fans behind the scenes at the soundstage at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. "My heart's pounding, I'm so excited," he says before even walking through the doors of the studio.

At one point, Seacrest notes that the wheel is "smaller than you think," and jokingly adds, "So am I." He then gives it another spin, just for kicks. "I could not sleep last night. I was so excited," he admits, adding that he was waiting for his alarm to go off.

Seacrest walks through a mini hall of fame including "vintage" footage from the show and some Emmy trophies. Outside the studio, the host gives off "first day of school" energy at one point when he jumps for joy while carrying a Wheel of Fortune tote bag and binders.

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"To be continued," he ended the video, teasing what could be more behind-the-scenes footage for fans.

It was announced in July 2023 that Seacr -

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est would be taking over the job of Wheel of Fortune host from Pat Sajak, who hosted the game show starting in 1981. Sajak's last day was June 7.

"I'm truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them," Seacrest said in a statement at the time.

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"Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease," he continued. "I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition."

Vanna White, Sajak's long-time co-host, will stay on the game show through the 2025-2026 season.

Seacrest previously told PEOPLE in April what it would be like to continue Sajak's legacy and forge his own path.

"Well, no one can ever do what Pat has done. He is incredible," Seacrest said. "He has made that show just something so very special for so long, and he has done such a seamless, remarkable job, so no one can be him."

"So do I feel pressure? Sure," Seacrest continued. "People love watching him. I want them to keep love watching it, and I hope to do a great job as well."

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Wheel of Fortune airs weekdays in syndication (check local listings).