Passing the Torch: Longtime TV Hosts and Their Successors

With the recent revelation that Ryan Seacrest will be replacing Pat Sajak as host of Wheel of Fortune, we've decided to look back on the history of veteran TV hosts stepping down and handing the reigns to someone new. There's pretty much no job like a host no matter what kind of show it is, and most of them learn on the job once they get that big break unless they've moved from other shows. The best hosts can both recite monologues clearly and get a great organic conversation out of anyone in their studio. Here are some of the best TV hosts to ever do it, and those who rose up to put their own spin on these great programs afterwards.

Wheel of Fortune - Pat Sajak

Pat Sajak has hosted Wheel of Fortune since 1981, such a long career that he has a Guinness World Record acknowledging it. He surpassed previous record holder, Bob Barker in 2019, and announced recently that he will depart the show in 2024.

Wheel of Fortune Successor - Ryan Seacrest

Seacrest was just announced as Sajak's successor, and he certainly has decades of TV work to back it up. He's known for shows like American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and being on the ground for TV coverage of tons of red carpets, awards shows and other events.

The Tonight Show - Johnny Carson & Jay Leno

Johnny Carson is still the longest-serving Tonight Show host to-date, taking over from Jack Paar in 1962 and staying in the position for 30 years until 1992. His successor Jay Leno also had a pretty long tenure of about 21 years.

The Price is Right - Bob Barker & Drew Carey

The late, great Bob Barker hosted The Price is Right for a stunning 35 years, and hosted Truth or Consequence for 19 years as well, so he was all over TV for many decades. Drew Carey took over the show in 2007, having fronted his own self-titled sitcom as well as hosting Whose Line is it Anyway for 9 years before being hired to follow up Barker.

The Late Show - David Letterman & Stephen Colbert

David Letterman's TV career spanned 33 years over several shows, and he is back in the host chair for Netflix on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. But still, his retirement from live TV in 2015 was a huge deal. Stephen Colbert dropped his satirical persona he built on The Colbert Report to tackle The Late Show, which is currently the top late-night program in the U.S. as of the end of the 2019-2020 season.

The Daily Show - Jon Stewart & Trevor Noah

Jon Stewart hosted The Daily Show from 1999 to 2015 after hosting shows for MTV. He had a ton of amazing correspondents who also elevated the program, some of which got their own shows later, and the South African comedian Trevor Noah took over the hosting duties after Stewart's departure until 2022. A new permanent host hasn't been chosen yet, and the 2023 episodes had been hosted by rotating guests until production was paused due to the 2023 Writer's Guild of America strike.

Jeopardy! - Alex Trebek & Ken Jennings

Alex Trebek took over Jeopardy! from Art Fleming after it returned to TV in 1984, and stayed hosting the show until 2020, when he died due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Ken Jennings, a Jeopardy! veteran who is the highest-earning game show contestant of all time, was the first of several guest hosts to step in and finish the 37th season after Trebek's passing.

Jeopardy! - Successor Mayim Bialik

Jennings and Mayim Bialik are now permanent rotating co-hosts of the show as of 2021. The actress and neuroscientist is also the sole host of Celebrity Jeopardy, which began as its own spinoff series in Fall of 2022.

Password - Allen Ludden

Allen Ludden hosted several incarnations of this popular game show between 1961 and 1980. The game paired celebrities with regular contestants to convey mystery worlds to each other using single-word clues, a simple and elegant concept that could devolve into chaos easily.

Password - Successor Keke Palmer

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon started using the Password rules for funny segments on their shows with all-celebrity teams. NBC eventually ordered a full revival in 2022, going back to the classic format with teams of one celebrity and one regular contestant. It's hosted by Keke Palmer, a perfect fit for the show, and features Fallon as a recurring player.

The Late Late Show - Craig Ferguson & James Corden

Ferguson brought a uniquely offbeat charm in his nine-year tenure hosting The Late Late Show, which began in 1995 with hosts Tom Snyder and later Craig Kilborn. James Corden began hosting after Ferguson, and he departed the show in 2023. Sadly, CBS decided to sunlight the Lat Late Show franchise after Corden.

The Tonight Show - Jay Leno & Conan O'Brien

Well, we have to talk about this rocky transition, don't we? Conan O'Brien had already handled taking over a beloved talk show time-slot when he began hosting Late Night as a then-unknown comedy writer after David Letterman left for CBS. O'Brien felt like a great choice for a successor to Leno, and moved to the show in June of 2009 with Leno in a new, earlier time slot.

Motivated by apparent low ratings of the new shows, NBC shocked audiences in early-2010 by announcing it was moving Leno's show back to its old time-slow, and giving O'Brien the choice to host The Tonight Show at 12:05 a.m. or leave the network. O'Brien refused the deal and left the show, with Leno returning until 2014 when he was replaced by Jimmy Fallon.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - Chris Tarrant

While Americans may know versions of the show hosted by Regis Philbin or Meredith Viera, Tarrant hosted the original UK version of the famous quiz show for ITV, recording a wild 592 episodes from 1998 to 2014.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - Successor Jeremy Clarkson

Clarkson is a longtime presenter who is currently hosting Millionaire? after they brought it back for a 20th anniversary special in 2018 and it saw great success. Clarkson is very busy hosting more shows for Amazon like The Grand Tour and Clarkson's Farm as well.

You Might Also Like

• 30 Anti-Aging Foods for Women That'll Keep You Feeling Young

• A Definitive Ranking of Popular Potato Chip Brands