Ryan Seacrestwhich replaced Pat Sajak as host of “Wheel of Fortune”, made his highly anticipated debut on Monday, but fans were divided.

While many praised the 49-year-old for his smooth transition into the role, others were surprised that there was no reference to his predecessor at his premiere.

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

Ryan Seacrest makes his debut as the new host of “Wheel Of Fortune”

“Wheel of Fortune” started its 42nd season on Monday evening and there is already something going on. The striking 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 there was no mention of the show’s longtime frontman, Pat Sajak.

The new era began with announcer Jim Thornton cheering on the crowd: “And here are the stars of our show together for the first time: Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!” But the glaring absence of any mention of Sajak left fans with very mixed feelings.

What did Ryan Seacrest say (and not say)?

“I’m your host, Ryan Seacrest. I still can’t believe my luck to be here with you tonight to continue the 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 watched it as a kid 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,” Seacrest said, referring to Pat Sajak’s hosting duties, though he never actually mentioned his name. “So, let’s play ‘Wheel of Fortune.'”

Social media reactions to Ryan Seacrest’s moderation duties

Viewers quickly noticed that Seacrest didn’t mention longtime host Pat Sajak during the episode, which sparked debate among fans. As the “American Idol” host stepped into 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 off to a rocky start on ‘Wheel of Fortune,'” said one user. “Not a single mention of ICON Pat Sajak?!

“Ryan Seacrest was probably the worst choice to replace Pat Sajak lmao,” said another. “It’s three minutes of his very first episode and I hate it.”

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

It wasn’t all bad, however. Others believe Ryan’s hosting style will usher in a new era for the game show.

“First impression of Ryan Seacrest hosting ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ (aside from a great new set and improved production) is that he does it without note cards,” said one fan, supporting the new host. “This 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. A breath of fresh air,” wrote another.

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

Ryan Seacrest named new host of “Wheel Of Fortune”

Seacrest filmed his first episode of Wheel of Fortune back in July and gave his fans a sneak peek of his big moment on Instagram. In a behind-the-scenes video, Seacrest shared his excitement about stepping into the iconic role and showed off his first day on set with Vanna White by his side.

“I’m still spinning with excitement!” he wrote in the caption. “I’m so excited, my heart is racing,” 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 pretty well, but was still very excited for the alarm to go off.”

New episodes of “Wheel of Fortune” air weekday evenings on ABC.