We'll Take Ryan Seacrest If It Means We Can Keep Vanna White On Wheel Of Fortune

Shortly following Pat Sajak's retirement bombshell, rumors spread that Vanna White's "Wheel of Fortune" future might be endangered, too. According to Entertainment Weekly, the popular co-host has been negotiating for her first pay raise in 18 years (it seems she's been given bonuses here and there, but no regular bump in salary). In 2022, White also admitted to People she couldn't imagine doing the show with anyone but Sajak. Frankly, neither can we. Anyone who claims White has an easy job has obviously never spent 40 years walking around a soundstage in evening gowns and 3-inch heels. She has to smile and be enthusiastic, even if she's just had a fender-bender or a root canal. And think of the self-control she has to have in order to not react when a contestant flubs a puzzle with only one letter missing. 

Fortunately, Ryan Seacrest offered hope when he spoke of "working alongside the great Vanna White." This suggests that the negotiations have been going well enough that she'll be staying around for at least a while longer. We'll give it a chance, for Vanna's sake. Still, we have to wonder why she wasn't offered the job instead. There are few enough women in the game-show world to begin with, and who knows the rhythm and vibe of "Wheel" better than she does? Let her do the talking while Seacrest smiles and lights up the vowels. That would be a "Fortune" worth winning.