Ryan Seacrest ‘Refuses’ to Be Controlled by ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Bosses: He ‘Wants Freedom & Control’

Three months into his hosting gig, Ryan Seacrest has hit it out of the park with Wheel of Fortune and bosses are trying to nail him down with a new contract, but he’s proving to be a tough negotiator and it’s causing some unexpected difficulties, a source exclusively tells Closer. 

Social media users have let the dust settle over the past few months after Ryan, 49, replaced long-term host Pat Sajak on the show. Many were impressed the American Idol host made the set feel more dynamic and carried on smoother banter with contestants sans cue cards.

“I personally love the new set and I’m enjoying his banter with the contestants which was previously stale compared to Jeopardy!. Getting Vanna more involved is pretty cool too,” one person wrote, also praising Ryan’s efforts to include cohost Vanna White in on the fun. 

“Ryan can host paint drying and it would be entertaining,” another user commented. “That’s just Ryan.”

While not every fan comment was high praise for the new host, the general consensus were compliments that came as no surprise to the insider, who says it’s expected, as, “Ryan’s always been successful at pretty much everything he’s touched, hosting, producing, his clothing line, charities and even cooking.” 

Regardless of how commenters online feel like expressing themselves, ratings for the show with Ryan as host have been their highest in five years, which has execs satisfied they made the right pick.

However, the real issue getting under the skin of network bigwigs is the potential of losing the veteran presenter or having to compete for his schedule: “The powers that be over at Wheel of Fortune don’t want him stretched to the limit and want his full and undivided attention on the show,” the source adds.

The showrunners have decided “It’s okay he hosts American Idol,” as “they can’t change that,” the insider says, “but they want him to scale down his other endeavors and tie him up in a binding contract.”

Ryan has been courted non stop since he rose to popular heights along with the success of Idol in the early 2000s. Similar to his assumption of Pat’s iconic role as Wheel of Fortune host, Ryan also stepped in to take over Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve after the titular host, Dick Clark, ceded his duties to the up-and-coming presenter following a stroke in 2004. 

In December 2019, getting ready to host his 15th New Year’s show, he told Good Morning America he was “terrified” to be “stepping into a show that is such a franchise with a legend,” adding, “all I wanted to do was prove myself that year and be invited back.”

He’s also the host of radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest, as well as an investor and producer in Los Angeles. Certainly busy, Ryan is the kind of person bosses want bound by long contract.

“They see Ryan as the future, but Ryan’s not the kind of guy to lock in and sign here,” the source says. “He wants freedom and control and refuses to be pigeon-holed, and his obstinate stance is driving bosses crazy.”