Ryan Seacrest means business when he’s hosting “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.”
The TV host, 50, revealed that he had to reprimand Derek Hough for his antics during the “Dancing with the Stars”-themed episode of the game show.
“In the commercial break, [Derek] was jumping on the center of the wheel and having Bruno [Tonioli] spin it, much like the top of a cake ornament,” Seacrest told USA Today in an interview published Friday.
“We did say, ‘Please don’t do that. That would break it, and there’s only one of those wheels. If that breaks, we have a real problem,’” Seacrest added.
During the episode, Hough, 40, celebrated getting correct answers by jumping on top of the podium in front of him and the other contestants, which didn’t fly with Seacrest.
“We had to sort of say, ‘Stick to the ledge,’” the “American Idol” host recalled, adding that the “DWTS” guests are “very physical, and that makes for fun.”
Seacrest also pointed out that he has a personal relationship with Hough, since he dated the professional dancer’s sister, Julianne Hough, from 2010 to 2013.
“Knowing someone, or being friends, is definitely helpful,” Seacrest said. “You can kind of tease them more than somebody you don’t know.”
On the Season 6 premiere of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” which aired Sept. 26, Hough faced off against fellow “DWTS” judge Bruno Tonioli and reigning pro champion Jenna Johnson-Chmerkovskiy.
Hough beat his competitors and won $63,350 for his charity of choice, Feeding America.
Seacrest took over hosting “Wheel of Fortune” and its celebrity spinoff version in Sept. 2024 after longtime host Pat Sajak’s retirement. Vanna White remains on the show as co-host.
“I have a lot fun with the job, but I take the responsibility very seriously,” Seacrest told The Hollywood Reporter in June. “We all have memories of watching ‘Wheel’ with our families. I mowed lawns growing up in Atlanta just to save money to buy a Zenith TV for the kitchen so we could watch ‘Wheel’ during dinner!”
Seacrest continued, “There were conversations — actually, years ago — about me doing this show, and I expressed interest even back then. When you look at what Pat and Vanna have built over the years … they are your friends. What they’ve established is special. So that’s why I said yes.”
The Emmy Award winner also said his favorite part of the job is interviewing the contestants.
“It can get physical, too!” he noted. “Maybe it’s my size, but the men throw me around. I think, ‘Oh my God, it’s coming.’ I bruise easily, you should know.”
