Fans of “Wheel of Fortune” criticize the new look: “A cheap green screen”

“Wheel of Fortune” premiered this week with a new set and a new host, and fans shared their disappointment.

The biggest change made to the show since season 42 premiered this week involved changes to the puzzle board. One fan on the Wheel of Fortune Reddit channel pointed out that it “looks like a cheap green screen with a lot of bright blue. Looks too cheesy.”

“I actually had a hard time with the new puzzle board. I don't know how to describe it, but with the simpler version, my brain was able to absorb and process the whole puzzle at once. With the more complicated version, it's like the letter boxes suddenly became harder for my eyes and brain to see,” noted another fan.

The criticism of “Wheel of Fortune” came after the premiere of the 42nd season with Ryan Seacrest as host.

“Thank you for the warm welcome,” Seacrest said. “Hosting 'Wheel of Fortune' is a dream job. I've been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it with my family in Atlanta. And I know how special it is that 'Wheel' has been in your living rooms for 40 years. And I'm so grateful to have been invited. I also know I have big shoes to fill. So let's do 'Wheel of Fortune.'”

Although Seacrest mentioned that he is “filling in very big shoes,” he did not directly mention former host Pat Sajak by name.

Sajak took early retirement last year after announcing his retirement as host of “Wheel of Fortune.”

However, he will stay for one final season of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” which premieres on October 7, 2024 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected]. Do you have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.