Ryan Seacrestwho replaced Pat Sajak as host of “Wheel of Fortune”, made his long-awaited debut on Monday, but fans were divided.

While many praised the 49-year-old actor for his smooth transition into the role, others were surprised by the lack of any reference to his predecessor during his premiere.

The decision not to acknowledge Pat Sajak’s iconic, four-decade career sparked a wave of reaction on social media, with some viewers expressing disappointment at Ryan Seacrest’s debut as host.

Ryan Seacrest Makes Debut As New ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Host

“Wheel of Fortune” kicked off its 42nd season Monday night, and things are already shaking up. The flashy new set wasn’t the only thing fans had to get used to. The biggest change? The new host.

Ryan Seacrest made his big debut, but the show’s longtime frontman Pat Sajak was nowhere to be seen.

The new era began with announcer Jim Thornton rousing the crowd: “And now for the first time together, here are the stars of our show, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!” But the conspicuous absence of a shoutout to Sajak left fans feeling all sorts of ways.

What Did Ryan Seacrest Say (And What Didn’t He Say)?

“I’m your host, Ryan Seacrest. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to be here with you tonight to continue this legacy of this incredible show with all of you,” the 49-year-old said after taking the stage. “And of course my good friend, Vanna White.”

“Thank you for the warm welcome,” he continued. “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 just so grateful to be invited. I also know I have some really big shoes to fill,” Seacrest said, referring to Pat Sajak’s hosting duties, though he never mentioned his name. “So, let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune.'”

Social media reacts to Ryan Seacrest as host

Viewers quickly noted that Seacrest didn’t mention longtime host Pat Sajak during the episode, sparking a debate among fans. While the “American Idol” host takes on the iconic role, some felt the lack of recognition was a missed opportunity to honor Sajak’s 40-year legacy on the show.

“Ryan Seacrest is having a rough start on ‘Wheel of Fortune,'” one user said. “Not a single mention of ICON Pat Sajak?!

“Ryan Seacrest might have been the worst possible choice to replace Pat Sajak lmao,” another said. “It’s 3 minutes into his very first episode and I hate it.”

Other fans support Ryan Seacrest after seeing his ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ debut

It wasn’t all bad, though. Others believe Ryan’s style of hosting should herald a new era for the game show.

“My first impression of Ryan Seacrest as host of ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ (besides the amazing new set and improved production) is that he does it without notecards,” said one fan, who supported the new host. “That takes a lot of skill and confidence, and also shows a lot of personal character in learning the game and the contestants.”

“I’m so glad he’s here. Such a breath of fresh air,” wrote another.

“I just watched 10 seconds of Ryan Seacrest hosting the opening game of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and… He’s going to be amazing,” said a third. “Nothing negative. He’s going to slide into that role effortlessly.”

Ryan Seacrest Named New Host of ‘Wheel Of Fortune’

Seacrest filmed his first episode of “Wheel of Fortune” back in July, giving fans a sneak peek at his big moment on Instagram. In a behind-the-scenes video, Seacrest shared his excitement about landing the iconic role, showing off his first day on set with Vanna White by his side.

“Still spinning with excitement!” he wrote in the caption. “I’m so excited, my heart is pounding,” he said in the video. “The wheel might be smaller than you think — just like me,” he joked as he spun the wheel for the first time. “I couldn’t sleep last night I was so excited. I slept fine but I was still really excited for the alarm to go off.”

New episodes of “Wheel of Fortune” air each weeknight on ABC.