‘Jeopardy!’: Who Should Have Hosted the Game Show? (POLL)
Major decisions about the future of Jeopardy! have officially been made as Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik are set to share hosting duties in succession to the late great Alex Trebek.
The game show’s executive producer and Big Bang Theory star were selected following their guest hosting gigs, beating out several others for the coveted position with Bialik taking on primetime and Richards helming syndicated shows.
(Credit: Jeopardy!, Inc.)
But fans of the game show have varying opinions on the decision. Throughout Season 37’s laundry list of guest hosts, viewers have rooted for their favorites, and while Bialik was a front-runner in our reader poll, Richards wasn’t even in the Top 3.
Along with Bialik and Richards, Ken Jennings, Katie Couric, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Aaron Rodgers, Anderson Cooper, Bill Whitaker, Buzzy Cohen, Savannah Guthrie, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, LeVar Burton, David Faber, and Joe Buck all brought their own flair to the Jeopardy! stage, making us wonder who should have really hosted the show.
Now that all of the guests have appeared, it’s easier to select favorites whether they appeared early on or later in the game. Should two people have been given the gig? Were Richards and Bialik the right choice? These are all questions only the fans can answer.
Below, we want to hear from you. Let us know who should have hosted the game and sound off in the comments section.
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
Of course LeVar Burton has the highest percentage when I did the poll. My question is who watched when he was on. He wasn’t very good. Not being disrespectful towards him. Just for how hard he campaigned for the job, he was a huge disappointment.
36 4
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G
I totally agree. I was not impressed at all with his hosting. Too loud and acted like he was dealing with children instead of adults.
15 3
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R
He was terrible
4 2
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G
I was so excited for him to host, but was really disappointed with how it went. My pick is definitely Mayim.
1
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G
We thought LaVar was HORRIBLE! Hate to be mean but facts are facts. His mannerisms and the way he said RIGHT, became extremely annoying. We would have been very disappointed to not be watching Jeopardy any more. Thank you for making the right decision with Mike Richards. He’s is a perfect choice.
18 3
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B
Yes! Combined with one of the most annoying contestants (WHAT'S Matt?) ever...it was a terribly annoying week of Jeopardy...usually my refreshing half-hour oasis at the end of a long day....
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O
My first choice was Ken Jennings, but if it could not be him, I am happy with the two hosts they picked - they were my second and third choices anyway.
I have always liked LeVar Burton in other shows, but I really did not care for him as the Jeopardy guest host. I think it is time to accept the network’s decision and move on. There is no reason to whine and complain.
9
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G
I agree with you! I haven’t a clue as to why people are pushing for LeVar Burton! He was okay as Guest Host, but definitely not the best! Get over it already!
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R
I feel they made the right choice. LeVar did a terrible job as host.
11 3
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G
What is "Blah, blah, blah?" So each person had their favorite host! Just because yours wasn't picked, don't be whiny! And you know you will still watch Jeopardy so just stop!
9 1
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O
Sorry to say but Lavar did not do as good a job as I would have hoped. He seemed to rigid at times and I hated his yelling out, "Right!" He needed to lighten up at times. Though I am not a big fan of "Big Bang Theory," I did like Mayim and felt she deserved to host the show on her own. I don't care for this decision to have two hosts. However, the decision has been made, whether you agree or disagree. In the end, it's all about the show.
8 1
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P
I want Mayim Bialik only!! She did a great job.
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O
Joe Buck or Ken Jennings. Richards is too plastic and robotic. Mayim did a good job. Levar Burton was one of the worst. He was annoying. Do not get this poll results---at all. Seems like the insider had the gig all along.
7
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C
Yay! My two favorites!!!
6
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G
I think David Fabre should have been chosen to be Jeopardy host. He did an excellent job.
5
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B
He was SO good that you can't even spell his name correctly...
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G
Yes he did perfect successor to Alex Trebek
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C
Levar Burton was awful.
4
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O
Levar was great on reading rainbow and Star Trek but was awful on jeopardy.
I agree with Richards being the host
1
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C
I'm fine with Richards. He was poised and professional, plus he's done other game show hosting gigs. The fact that he's a producer that worked with Alex is another aspect in his favor, imho. Mayim Bialik is wonderful as well. 👍
1
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C
It was all a big joke. How stupid do they think fans are. The insider guy was picked long ago. And then to add the token female? Sad and embarrassing. I hope Alex Trebec is not watching. I know I won’t be.
4 3
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B
Alex is NOT watching, btw. He's dead. And if he were....he would say "Spell my freakin' name right!!!"
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O
So why are you changing your vote to Ken Jennings?
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O
Mike Richards was a very good choice. Second and third in my opinion - David and Joe
I was anxious to see LeVar, but very disappointed in his hosting.
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O
Not many commenters would have chosen lavar. How did he win the poll? Sweet man, poor host.
My choice was Michael Richards and Buzzy.
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B
Ken would have been my first choice. He knows the ins and outs of the game. Because he was a contestant and guest host as well as a consulting producer.
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G
I love Mayim. Maybe now she can quit that horrid Call Me Cat sit-com, which is the worst thing on TV.
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C
LeVar Burton is a nice guy, but not a very good host. Timing was off and he made some errors that appeared on air.
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C
Everyone is blind to Allyson Felix. She checks off so many boxes and can pull this off.
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O
If they don't do something about reining in that abominable "champion" with his disregard for phrasing AND timing...it won't matter. What they've done is drive a stake in the heart of our beloved program. Nobody wants another noisy, loud, contentious program. There are already too many of that kind of show. Jeopardy lasted because it was DIFFERENT and special.
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P
I think that the two choices made were the best ones.. I would not be watching Jeopardy had it been Burton.. He was too loud and I for one was disappointed in his voice.. I watched him 2 times one week and 3 times the next.. He had not improved by the second week.. It was like he was with children.. And also he was older than the other hosts except for a couple of them. Jeopardy needs someone who might be with it as long as Alex Trebek.
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C
They should have chosen just Mayim Bialik. She was good. It would have been nice to see even the slightest bit of diversity in hosting. But once again, we're stuck watching another white male, who wasn't even in the top 3 in popularity, but his position as executive producer probably got him the gig. But if it had to be another white male, Farber or Buck would have been a better choice. Farber is a natural and Joe Buck is actually funny and enjoyable to watch (in this format😉). It will be difficult getting through each episode with Mike Richards at the helm. 😖
2 2
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O
LaVar Burton was not my choice so I didn’t watch after several shows. I enjoyed both that were picked, but was rooting for Ken Jennings!
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O
My favorite was Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He was so personable and relaxed. A natural!
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B
I’ll still watch regardless.. but I’d have to agree, Burton was my least fav.. and while I’m not a Buck fan when it comes to his baseball color, he was excellent at hosting Jeopardy.
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O
I loved Alex T, but he cannot be replaced. Just go with the choice made and enjoy the show.
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C
I would like to see being a Jeopardy champion as being a requirement to be a host of the show and rotating occasionally.
We don’t watch the show for the hosts, we watch it for the love of the game.
2 2
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B
Oh please....NO. After Ken Jennings..possibly Brad Rutter, and maybe a few others...you descend quickly into the nerdiest of the nerds...the annoying "look at me" contestants (I'm looking at you through my trendy fake glasses, Buzzy!)...contestants with a complete lack of personality (Hey James, are you "all in"? This isn't poker...)...and an odd assortment of quirks, ticks, and speech impediments. This is a professional TV hosting job.
But I agree with your last point. No TRUE J! fan watches for the host. We watch for the game. Alex was terrific...but too many folks have jumped on the bandwagon (or Alex'x HEARSE?) lately to have an opinion. They are not true J! fans...
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G
I am all in with Byalik! As for Richard's? He's the executive producer! What did you expect? Really don't care who does daytime. Didn't know there was one.
1
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B
That's because there ISN'T a daytime. Some markets might still air J! in the afternoon though...
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O
I watched almost all of the guest hosts. I did not like any of them.
2
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P
Me too... but then they were not Alex..
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O
Let Mayim host everyday. Ken Jennings hosts Tournament of Champions, LeVar hosts celebrity & teen tournaments
4 6
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C
I like your idea much better than what they came up with!
1
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G
LaVar Burton's years long campaign and entitled attitude were a turn off.
2 1
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J
There is no celebrity Jeopardy tournament.
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R
This was fixed and a poor decision in the end. You have just lost a viewer
3 5
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P
This has been a big joke. Richard's knew all along he had the job. He hired himself for heaven sake. Mayim needs to go. Hope Jeopardy fails and goes off the air
2 7
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G
That’s so mean!
2
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P
That is a mean thing to say.. are you a witch?
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C
Why are you hoping Jeopardy fails? Perhaps you should just turn the channel...
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