Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
There are a number of reasons why Ryan Seacrest is qualified to be the host of Wheel of Fortune, but one of his best ones has nothing to do with how he acts in front of a camera.
Lindsay Demsky, a contestant on the Monday, November 18 episode of the game show, took to Reddit the next day to share some details about her experience. For the first time since Seacrest, 49, took over as host of Wheel, viewers got an insider’s perspective about what he is like between segments when the cameras are off.
In her post the contestant said that the host was “SO friendly during the commercial breaks.” She also added that Seacrest “had individual conversations with each of [the contestants],” and that he “would talk to the audience” as well. The mother of three from Michigan later wrote that Seacrest “was just the absolute best,” remembering a moment where she stopped in the middle of conversation with him and said “I can’t believe I’m literally talking to you right now,” with Seacrest being very nice about it.
Demsky also recalled another standout moment in her post and wrote, “When I was talking to [Seacrest] and a producer interrupted to say something to him. I figured that was the end of the conversation, and then he turned to me and said ‘sorry, go on!’ It was so small but so NICE and polite.”
She later added that she believed that the gesture meant that “He genuinely cared about the conversations he was having!” She also revealed that she felt that Seacrest “was visibly touched,” when he was congratulated for doing an “amazing job as host.”
Seacrest took over as host of the beloved game show in September following former host Pat Sajak’s exit in July after a 41-year tenure.
Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights on ABC.