Ryan Seacrest Isn’t ‘Used to Being Second Best’ as ‘Jeopardy!’ Beats ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in Ratings

Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest can’t stand losing to Jeopardy! emcee Ken Jennings in the game show ratings battle, a source tells Globe.

The week of Monday, July 20 to Sunday, July 26, Jeopardy! was the highest-rated show in syndication, TV Insider reported, followed by Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud.

“Ryan has at least sustained Pat Sajak‘s good ratings, so it’s not like he’s on the chopping block, but he’s also not used to being second best,” admits the source. “He’s a perfectionist and likes to win in everything he does, so he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself to get the ratings up and really trounce Ken.”

As Globe previously reported, Jennings, 52, earns a pittance compared to Seacrest, 51,  and is pushing for a salary boost amid Jeopardy!’s ratings surge.

“There’s no doubt Ken is getting a lot of personal satisfaction from being in the top spot,” the source says. “He wants to keep beating Ryan and showing that he’s better, not just for the ego boost but also to hang on to his job.”

The former Jeopardy! champion is “on a rolling contract, so they can technically terminate him at any moment,” notes the source. “The stakes are very high.”

As for how Wheel of Fortune can reclaim the top spot, which it narrowly held earlier this year, “there’s a lot of discussion happening about what could be done,” Globe‘s source reveals.

Seacrest “wants to get creative,” says the source. “He’s willing to go the extra mile and make WoF his big focus. It’s just a matter of figuring out something that will really bring in the viewers.”