Wheel of Fortune Contestant Loses Car After Doubting Ryan Seacrest as Host

Contestant Anita Quinn initially had 'no faith' in Seacrest but later praised his hosting abilities.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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During a recent episode of Wheel of Fortune, contestant Anita Quinn from East Aurora, New York, admitted she had doubts about Ryan Seacrest taking over as host of the game show. However, she later praised Seacrest's hosting skills, saying he made her 'want to be here.' Meanwhile, another contestant, Kevin Gartman from Montezuma, Iowa, solved several puzzles and made it to the Bonus Round, but ultimately lost out on winning a BMW.

Why it matters

The interaction between Quinn and Seacrest highlights the challenges new hosts can face when taking over beloved game shows, as well as the importance of winning over skeptical viewers. Gartman's near-miss in the Bonus Round also demonstrates the high stakes and unpredictability of Wheel of Fortune.

The details

During the contestant interviews, Seacrest acknowledged Quinn's initial doubts, saying, 'I understand you didn't have a lot of faith in me in the beginning of my start here at Wheel.' Quinn explained that she had watched the show with longtime host Pat Sajak in the 1980s and thought no one could replace him. However, she said Seacrest had 'made me actually want to be here' with his hosting skills. Meanwhile, contestant Kevin Gartman from Montezuma, Iowa, solved several puzzles and made it to the Bonus Round, where he failed to guess the phrase 'Major Hub' and missed out on winning a BMW.

  • The episode aired on March 3, 2026.

The players

Anita Quinn

An 83-year-old contestant from East Aurora, New York, who initially doubted Ryan Seacrest's ability to host Wheel of Fortune but later praised his hosting skills.

Ryan Seacrest

The new host of Wheel of Fortune, taking over for longtime host Pat Sajak.

Kevin Gartman

A contestant from Montezuma, Iowa, who made it to the Bonus Round but failed to guess the puzzle and missed out on winning a BMW.

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What they’re saying

“Yes. Vanna [White], I watched you in the 80s with Pat [Sajak], and I thought, when Pat said he was going to retire, I said, 'there is no one that could ever replace him.'”

— Anita Quinn (tvinsider.com)

“I have to admit, when you came on, you did it. You are so amazing with the contestants. You made me actually want to be here.”

— Anita Quinn (tvinsider.com)

“Thank you. I wasn't quite sure where this story was going to go. I felt the same way when Pat said he was going to retire.”

— Ryan Seacrest, Host (tvinsider.com)

What’s next

The Wheel of Fortune producers will likely continue to monitor viewer reactions to Ryan Seacrest's hosting and make any necessary adjustments to ensure a smooth transition.

The takeaway

This episode highlights the challenges new hosts can face when taking over beloved game shows, as well as the importance of winning over skeptical viewers. It also demonstrates the unpredictability and high stakes of Wheel of Fortune, where even strong contestants can narrowly miss out on major prizes.