‘Jeopardy!’: Ken Jennings & Mayim Bialik to Split Hosting Duties for Season 39
It appears that Jeopardy! is going to continue with its current formula as Season 39 will see Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik return to alternate hosting duties.
Jennings and Bialik will be the official co-hosts of the fan-favorite game show for the whole season, according to TV Line. Since longtime host Alex Trebek died in late 2020, it’s been a race to find a replacement that feels right, and it would seem that this combination is it.
(Credit: ABC/Peggy Sirota; ABC/Casey Durkin)
Both Jennings and Bialik were among the initial rotating lineup of guest hosts that followed in Trebek’s absence as a means to finish out Season 37. Following that run, former executive producer Mike Richards was named host of the syndicated game, while Bialik had been tapped to lead Primetime coverage.
After past comments Richards had made on a podcast came to light, he stepped down from the position, leaving Jeopardy! to appoint alternating hosting duties to Bialik and Jennings. As viewers know, Jennings was one of the show’s first long-running champions, winning the G.O.A.T. Tournament in 2020 prior to Trebek’s death.
Meanwhile, Bialik entered the Jeopardy! arena as a guest host, but has continued to make a mark throughout her run, lending her own expertise to conversations and banter. When we asked our readers who they’d like to see take hosting duties in Season 39, the majority voted for Jennings to have the gig on his own.
But it seems fans will have the best of both worlds as Jennings and Bialik continue to alternate moving forward. Let us know your thoughts on the reveal in the comments section, below, and stay tuned for more on Jeopardy! as the game show continues.
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Comments are closed on this story.
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If they were planning on letting them share the job as they are now, they could have just announced this months ago. Instead they let they let the show dominate the headlines, often in a way that wasn’t flattering to either host, and in the process allowed the good name of the franchise to slowly tarnish further than it had. But the incompetent execs pay no mind to that.
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You're waaaay too invested in this.
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Yet here you are, participating in the discussion and feeling entitled to pass judgment on perfect strangers.
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All this exercise has proven, regardless of who you prefer, is that the executives are indecisive.
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Are you kidding?? This article has over 50 comments in 4 hours..... the producers know that fans have strong feelings and are very outspoken. The more publicity and interest they can generate for this show, the better they like it.
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They definitely don't care what the fans want. They could have made this announcement a long time ago instead of dragging it out. I don't think I'll watch anymore.
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Is Sony waiting to the third season of Call Me Kat to be cancelled too? That was the oft-quoted reason she wasn’t hired outright. Yet Ken dropped literally all of his commitments for this, yet the best he can do is share the everyday role.
Shameful move by the executives.
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Guess I’ll only be watching part of the time. Definitely NOT a fan of Ms Bialik
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When you can’t please everybody, please nobody.
What a terrible outcome.
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This is exactly what they did and I can’t imagine why. It is very sad. I won’t watch anymore, not even when Ken hosts. I’m sick of being jerked around by these producers.
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For me it should be Jennings all the way I will watch it no m if they have both share the stage
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Jennings FULLTIME!!
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Jennings alone.
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So where is Mayim hiding the bodies? I’m not convinced her family even loves her as much as the producers do.
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Or as she does.
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Well her husband dumped her, as did the next guy after a short time. You do the math.
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Ugh!!! Worst choice! She is awful. She feels so fake when talking to fans and she has too many weird pauses while reading the answers!
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I know I won’t be watching when Mayim is on. She’s absolutely terrible!
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They are ruining their own show and Alex’s legend. You are also making a farse of your fans that have long enjoyed this show. Show is not the same anymore
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The word is spelled F-A-R-C-E. Spell it right or your criticism won’t count!
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No Bialik…all Jennings!
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Really - we have to continue to watch her?!!
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You don’t have to watch at all.
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That’s my plan. I watched tonight and I won’t watch again. There was no reason to include Single-Digit-Approval Mayim.
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I watched Jeopardy for many years. Today was the last time. I already stopped watching whenever Mayim Bialik hosted. Ken Jennings is doing a great job. He’s exactly the right person to take the baton from Alex Trebek. Mayim Bialik is truly awful and most viewers feel that way. What godforsaken reason do producers have for continuing to shove her down our throats and taunt us for almost two years? I no longer trust them to take the show in a great, new direction. When we were panicking about how hard it was going to be to fill Alex’s hosting shoes, we should have been worried about the destabilizing effect his death would have on the production team. I’m done. This show no longer interests me. I’m done.
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Tell us how you really feel. And please…don’t hold back.
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So Ken Jennings gives up all of his commitments on The Chase and Master Minds just to be a part-time host on Jeopardy, and Mayim Bialik gives up nothing to continue with a role she already has now?
There's been a fatal crash at Sony headquarters and I'd like to find the black box on this one.
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I’m with you. It is a mystifying and preposterous decision.
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Isn’t this essentially the opposite of what Alex wanted his legacy to be, making a spectacle of the carousel of hosts rather than focusing on the players? He’d be ashamed that they couldn’t reach a decision like sane adults.
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Exactly!
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It wasn't Alex's show.
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I’ll take “Missing the Point” for $200, Alex.
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No, I think the OP "missed the point" about whose decision it is to name a host to the show. Alex has nothing to do with it.
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Sigh. You are missing the point again. No one—absolutely no one—thinks it was Alex’s show. It was his LEGACY that was being discussed. He elevated that job to beloved icon status and brought class, charm and fun to the show. This latest decision is just another in a long line of stupid, shoot-yourself-in-the-foot decisions made by Sony executives after Alex’s passing. It is heart-breaking.
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Alex is probably rolling over in his grave with this decision . It should be one host to carry in his legacy and that person should be Ken
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Alex doesn't have a grave, he was cremated. RIP
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This rotation of hosts just makes watching the show a chore. There’s a twitter account that I follow that tracks all the episode dates when Ken hosts called @IsKenHosting. But I don’t know if I can put up with this on-off, on-off habit for another year, let alone an indefinite period of time.
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This is a heart-breaking decision. Today was my last day watching Jeopardy. I’d already stopped watching whenever Mayim Bialik hosted and I was 100% Team Ken. I don’t know why Ken is willing to go along with this. I know there was a lot at stake for him and maybe I would have made the same decision. But this tells me that Ken is not in a position to do what is best for Jeopardy and I don’t want to know what other terrible decisions he and the other producers will make. I’m done.
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Don’t lose hope, Bridget. For one thing, Ken was not involved in his capacity as a producer to make a decision regarding what and how much he hosts. If true, it’s a product of him getting stabbed in the back by the company that hired him. Secondly, this report is still based on unofficial reporting. There are still rumors that he will host the syndicated version to himself, with Mayim taking the spin-offs.
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Thank you for the kind thoughts, but Mayim Bialik should not be anywhere near that stage, not even for spinoffs. She can’t even break single digits in polls and ratings dropped when she hosted. Maybe Ken got stabbed in the back, but he agreed to this. There’s a lot of money involved, so he might have had to choose between what’s good for him and what’s good for the show. Can’t blame him. But this bizarre decision shows that he can’t influence the other producers and will have to go along with these terrible decisions. R.I.P. Jeopardy
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The producers of the show don’t make the decisions (unless you’re Mike Richards who positioned himself to rig the focus group data). The executives were the ones who decided this. I feel bad for the rank and file producers getting blamed. Most of them probably want Ken anyway because he’s more comfortable with the game, and therefore brings less time consuming tape days.
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I don’t know who actually makes these decisions. To me it doesn’t matter. Whoever it is does not care about the show or the viewers. I cannot imagine what drives them to give such a plum assignment to someone who couldn’t get single digits in polls and is so obviously terrible at the job. I won’t sign up for being jerked around even more by these people. Not a lot of sympathy for the rank and file, including Ken. They couldn’t stop this and continue to act like it’s all normal. I’m done. I don’t want to see where the show goes next.
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I think it should be Ken Jennings 100% of the time. I cannot stand Ms Bialik's delivery. No offense to her personally, but Ken is the clear choice. What are they thinking? They promised a decision... this is not a clear decision.
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This is no decision at all. It’s more of the same taunting they’ve been inflicting on us for more than a year. I thought Ken was great, but I won’t be watching anymore. The producers have no respect for the show, its legacy, or the viewers.
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#reincarnateAlex
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At least we can be honest now that Mayim is strictly a diversity hire.
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This smells more like behind the scenes pressure bordering on blackmail or Sony really screwed up the contractural agreements. No one in charge can be doing this gladly, it's ratings suicide.
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She is AWFUL. A disgrace to the show.
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This is the TV example of getting a slow pitch right down the middle and striking out looking instead of swinging for the fences.
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I think that Ken Jennings needs to be the ONLY host. He is much better and does a great job. He is more personable and relates to the contestant and the viewers with much more ease and natural comments, humor, and smoothness.
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I would’ve been able to stand a rotation if it was between Ken and Buzzy? But Mayim? No way. She’s terrible and also a terrible human being to boot. Maybe I’m better off watching the Pluto TV channel with archived Alex Trebek episodes. At least he never let me down.
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I’m with you. I wasn’t a big fan of the rotating hosts, but I probably could have lived with it. But not with Mayim Bialik. I already don’t watch when she hosts. I would spend the whole time cringing and wondering what the producers could possibly be thinking, especially since her ratings and approval are so low. I watched for the last time tonight. Ken Jennings is the perfect fit, but I am shocked and dismayed that he agreed to this. I thought he had more respect for the show.
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Huh??
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How do I set up the Pluto TV channel? Is it on cable, I have no interest watching with Mayim
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Who is Buzzy? This may just be a rumor I heard, but I had always heard that Alex 'wanted' it to be Ken Jennings. For me Mayim is playing a PART of a HOST and Ken is 'being' a HOST. I can't explain it, it just seems more organic when he is on. Like I think Mayim is SMART but I think somebody 'feeds' her the little asides re some q/a; when Ken says He also tore down the Taj Mahal (not really, but you know what I mean) I believe he already KNOWS that himself.
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Somebody mentioned this in their comment in one of the other articles, but the contestants are really the losers in this scenario. Much of their success is so timing-dependent, developing a rhythm based on the cadence of the host reading the clues. If that rhythm is constantly disrupted by the revolving door of hosts, it puts them at a substantial disadvantage. This wasn't an issue with Alex hosting for 37 years. Now, because of the indecisiveness of the producers, this multiple-host plan hurts them the most.
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This! Is! Pandering!
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To? Whom?
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Zionists
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Poor choice-not so enthused to watch it when Mayim is on—I honestly don’t watch it. Enjoying Ken right now. She just makes me nervous—she hesitates in confirming the contestants answers are right so often. No thanks.
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I feel bad for the contestants that will be on when Mayim hosts because I won't be watching it- neither will most of the Jeopardy fan base. And I need the show to help keep my brain sharp. So very disappointed.
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Yikes. This doesn’t even make sense, y’know?? BTW…Mayim is smarter than Ken.
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Mayim can barely spell her own name without a teleprompter to guide her. And before you scream “Ph.D!!!!!” anybody with Hollywood money from a lifetime of sitcom residuals can easily buy their way through a doctorate program at UCLA.
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I'd be willing to bet that if they did one special episode wherein Ken, Buzzy and Mayim were the contestants [let Faber host], that Mayim would lose spectacularly. Of course she would never agree to do it because her knowledge is very narrow while there is little that is beyond Ken's or Buzzy's scope.
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I am so puzzled about this, but I have no choice.
#cancelmayimbialik
#istandwithkenjennings
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I was 100% Team Ken and stopped watching when Mayim hosted. But now I won’t be watching at all. I still think Ken is perfect for the job, but I cannot understand why he agreed to this absurd arrangement. It degrades him, the show, and the viewers. I don’t blame him. There was a lot on the line and I may have done the same thing in his shoes. But now he has signed us up for another year of this farce. I won’t stick around another year to learn what indignities and gaslighting Sony executives have in store for us. R.I.P. Jeopardy.
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I agree! I am still part of Team Ken to this very day.
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I certainly wish Ken well, but I cannot support his decision to accept this arrangement. Although I wasn’t excited about two hosts, I could have kept an open mind. But not when one of the hosts is Mayim Bialik. She is a joke. There is something very wrong at Sony and I have no desire to enable the next terrible decision. I won’t be watching Jeopardy at all anymore. It’s not worth getting gaslighted like this.
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You won't post what I really think since it would consist of a lot of "naughty" words! So, let me just say it's a terrible idea. Those of us who can't stand one or the other (for me, it's Bialik) will wind up watching half the programs since we refuse to watch whichever one we don't. They should have the guts and intestinal fortitude to choose one person or another - and if it's not either of these, there's always Buzzy Cohen who would be great. This is a pathetic idea.
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Big mistake. I find myself increasingly unconcerned if I miss Jeopardy when Bialik is hosting. Just don't like her as host. Give the job to Jennings full time and be done with it. This waffling makes the show look bad
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I will only watch when Ken’s on.
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Will quit watching!!!...I am so disappointed,was so very happy when Bialik had apparently hosted her last night....TERRIBLE DECISION
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Horrible decision…. Should be Ken and only Ken. Enough said….
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I’m sorry but I would like Ken Jennings to be named permanent host. He has just the right personality forthe show.
What I didn’t like was the way they announced the host. For Mayim they said the host of Jeopardy is Mayim and for Ken they said hosting for Jeopardy is Ken, like he was a guest host.
I think Alex would like Ken to be the host.
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Nobody can fill Alex’s shoes, that much I agree with. But one obviously does a better job of attempting to fill those shoes than the other.
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So disappointed. It was clear that all the polls favored Ken by HUGE amounts, but the decision makers must be afraid of seeming to favor the white male. The fact is he is just better at keeping the show moving and not making egregious errors. I guess we will have to continue to mute Jeopardy and depend on captions when MB hosts.
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Better yet- DO NOT watch when she hosts. Let the ratings continue to tank and force the advertisers to balk. There's a new Pluto streaming channel featuring a 24/7 feed of Alex Trebek episodes scheduled to start up on Monday. Watch that instead when you need your Jeopardy fix. That's my plan at least.
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If you are not a Nielsen household, it doesn't matter if you tune in or tune out.
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Not true. First, Nielsen polling is very scientific and not to be discounted. It has been determining the fates of TV shows since the 1950s. Now Nielsen also has access to much more data. They measure live, DVR, on-demand, and streamed content.
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This is an empty gesture as it isn’t reflected in lowered ratings.
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Found this on Google: Jeopardy!” is having in house competition right now. Who will be regular host? Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik?Don;t get me wrong. I have nothing against Mayim. But she has had trouble keeping the ratings above 5 million. Except for one, she’s been well below 5 million. The most recent numbers have Mayim just at 5 million fans, down by 200,000 or 4% from the previous week. Bialik’s ratings have not been close to Jennings’ from the winter and spring when there were back to back bonanza winners.
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I know. This has been reported in many outlets. It makes it even more preposterous that Sony execs made the decision they did. Something stinks.
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Not deciding on a single host is almost as bad as the hiring of Mike Richards. It exposes the callous disconnectedness of the decision makers. I’m sure the folks at Fremantle are having themselves a hearty laugh.
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Somewhere, Pat Sajak is wondering how his bosses will also screw up his legacy.
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Maybe, but IMO Wheel is a much lighter, fluffier show not directed at intellectuals. Chuck Woolery did OK hosting it and I can think of any number of personalities who could grow into it. Jeopardy is unique and Mayim hasn't grown into hosting at all.
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Have watched nightly since 86 in the early Trebek mustache days, could barely stomach the guest hosts last year but bitterly got through them, only watched half the year when Ken hosted. Now that this is continuing I’m done with this circus. Somebody here said you can watch the Alex Trebek shows somewhere, how???
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Some said it’s possible to stream on Pluto, but that doesn’t seem to be old shows with Alex. Hoping it’s somewhere but in any case, after decades of watching, tonight was my last time. I already stopped watching when Mayim Bialik hosted. I thought Ken was a great fit (from what I understand, Alex did too), but I am very disappointed that he agreed to this arrangement. I know there’s a lot of prestige and money attached to the job, so maybe he was forced to choose between what’s good for the show and the viewers and what’s good for him. I might have made the same choice in his shoes. But it is obvious he does not have the power or interest to set Jeopardy on the right course. As a result, I now don’t trust him any more than I trust the other producers. For more than a year we were taunted and had Mayim Bialik shoved down our throats even though ratings and polls showed her to be widely disliked. I’m done. R.I.P. Jeopardy
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what terrible decision don't watch the show no when she is the host.
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Very disappointed that Ken Jennings did not get the solo hosting position. He is so relaxed while Ms. Bialek’s performance seems very forced. 🙁
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I worked in the corporate world for almost 40 years. My very first boss had a mantra: "Make a decision, right or wrong, but make a decision." Apparently the new axioms that guide the way these executives think are to do the exact opposite. I'm not sure who this helps or for what purpose.
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Ken is so much better at hosting! We don’t watch when he’s not there. Mayim just makes it awkward with her pauses and her reactions to contestants’ answers.
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Ken should be the obvious choice has a much better delivery of the clues and he doesn't have to wait for the judges to rule if contestant is right or wrong He also shows interest in what contestants have to say in their interviews
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There’s a warm puddle of ur!ne sitting atop Alex Trebek’s grave, the culprits likely being the Sony executives.
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Alex was cremated and his ashes returned to his wife. Your crude post is in extremely poor taste.
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RIDICULOUS!!! Ken should be the permanent host!!!
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There should only be one Jeopardy host as when the late, great Alex Trebek and the hosts before him. That's the way it was meant to be. I don't like "the alternating host game" My choice? Ken Jennings.
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I won’t be watching any of the weeks that Bialik is hosting. I can’t stand her. I will only watch Jeopardy when Ken is the host. Very disappointed!!!
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Give it to Jennings permanently.
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Why did you want our votes if you already made your decision. We voted for nothing. Thanks a lot executives for wasting our time. When she is on, I will not be watching and I will get my friends not to watch too. “WE WANT KEN AT FULL TIME”.
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No we all don't
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Wait, what?? The producers of Jeopardy haven't created any poll, nor are they using any poll results to make their decision.
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Too bad...I was hoping Ken would get the nod! I would have been ok with Mayim doing the special tournaments, but she's slow and annoying on the daily show.
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Not wanting to give the job to a white male + Jewish nepotism… talk about a True Daily Double!
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It’s Rediculous. Just make a decision on one person. Why is this so hard to do. I dont watch when Mayim is hosting. Jeopardy is loosing a lot of fans. If they keep going like they are, they will probably be cancelled like so many others have.
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Only 3 misspelled words in your entire post. Well done you!
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Prefer Ken. I don't like the co-hosting duties. This is the end of Jeopardy!
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Thanks for the heads up! This frees up several hours of my time now, and if I ever need a fix, I'll just track down reruns of Alex hosting. Adios.
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Still want JENNINGS EXCLUSIVELY!!!!!!
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What was the point of having 2 polls where the majority of Jeopardy viewers wanted Ken Jennings? Not even close! As a long time fan of Jeopardy I thought we would see the last of Mayim Bialik. Well sadly this viewer won’t be around to see a great show ruined.
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Terri, it wasn’t a real poll. You could vote over and over. Sooo. There you go. No one took this poll seriously.
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And yet, Mayim still could not clear single digits. Interesting.
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Mayim Bialik sincerely believes in the creation of a theocratic ethnostate and has put her money where her mouth is, including donating much of her money to a foreign military. How this keeps getting swept under the rug is anybody's best guess, but if Ken endorsed something similar he'd get raked over the coals for it. So many such double standards unfortunately exist with Mayim.
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No one cares. Plus, it’s not true.
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Obviously the producers don’t care what the fans want. Over 80% of us want Ken Jennings to be permanent host!! I’m done watching Bialik and won’t watch her anymore. Alex would be very upset by the way his beloved show is being messed up by the producers’ refusing to accept the overwhelming choice of us viewers. I’m done!!!
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She isn't in politics? Because her personal views and opinions would create an even worse mess than the current one.
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The Zionist fix is in.
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I have the same questions. I cannot imagine why Ken Jennings agreed to this. It is degrading to be considered an equal of Mayim Bialik when it comes to Jeopardy hosting. She doesn’t understand or care what makes a good host and continues to play the character of a game show host in a middle school play. I don’t know what Ken was up against, so I can’t judge the decision he made. But I won’t play this sick gaslighting game anymore. I already wasn’t watching when Mayim hosted. Now I don’t watch at all. There is something terribly wrong at Sony and I won’t sign up for another year of this. I’m done.
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I would compare Mayim Bialik to garbage, but that comparison would be unfair to garbage.
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QQ more
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Hahahahahahaha
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It’s not fair to say Jeopardy fans don’t like change. At first it was impossible to see anyone able to step into Alex’s shoes. But fans followed the weeks of guest hosting enthusiastically. It went on too long, but it did show that a new host didn’t have to stand in Alex’s shadow and be forever second best. Someone new could make the job their own. I don’t see anyone criticizing a host for not being enough like Alex. He may have created the template, but no one wants a clone or a mimic. But Mayim Bialik does not understand what a host is supposed to do. She thinks it’s another scripted character and she needs to turn in a performance. It is painful to watch.
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You’re just looking for an argument, aren’t you?
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Once you get “them” involved “they” will never go away.
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"Them"? You mean giant ants that have mutated due to atomic blasting?
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I don't know why you got 6 downvotes; I thought it was a humorous response. Strange world.
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Because Jena was deliberately misdirecting Truth Teller's obvious post aimed at Zionists.
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Mayim needs to get more professional. Am I against a female host, NOT AT ALL. Mayom needs to learn from Sara Haines (The Chase), Elizabeth Banks (Press Your Luck), and Janelle Jones (Final Straw) on how to run a show with true professionalism and excellent rapport with the contestants.
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Ken Jennings would have had the job in the bag if he was a passionate Zionist like Mayim Bialik.
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If Mike Richards can't be the permanent host, then Ken is probably best for the job. He needs to watch his mouth though. A couple of remarks have come across as snarky.
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I think Jeopardy management should search for a non celebrity. Start afresh!
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I watch Jeopardy because I like the show. I like both of the hosts but prefer Mayim Bialik. Maybe they shouldn't let host like Alex stay so many years and then it wouldn't be such a big deal. Some people will stop watching and new people will start watching. This isn't going to be the end of the world!
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No one thinks it’s the end of the world and Alex’s long tenure is not the reason there’s chaos. The hyperbole is unnecessary. But this show became a phenomenon and it is heart-breaking to see it turned into a dumpster fire. The ONLY reason for this is a very big stink coming from Sony executives. I cannot imagine what is driving these decisions, but it smells VERY bad. I won’t be watching AT ALL anymore. Tired of being used for this sick game.
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You can take a break now, your wait is over. I think Mayim is doing just fine. I have absolutely no problem with her as host (or co-host) of Jeopardy!
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If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
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I'm not aware of a problem. And there's no single 'solution'..... the powers that be on the show own the decision, and I'm sure they have their reasons for making whatever decision they make. (And NO, it has nothing to do with any plots or political ideals. It's about $$$$$, as it always is with TV.)
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If that was true the loss of up up to a million viewers whenever she hosts would have cinched Ken's holding the job solely.
2
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G
Evidently from reading these comments most are dropping the show because of the host. I don't care who host as long as Jeopardy continues to air.
2 10
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B
Alex did not become a beloved icon because he was really good at reading clues. He made the show the phenomenon that it is. Ken could have continued that legacy. If Mayim Bialik hosts it is no longer the show I grew to love by watching for so many years. She distracts from the game and the contestants with her incompetence and constantly drawing attention to herself. Impossible to watch. The Jeopardy boards are available the day after airing: clues, questions, wagers, results. There are also many other trivia games online. There is no reason for me to participate in this farce.
1
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O
It amazes me is that people will not watch the show when their preferred host isn't on. That seems so silly to me. I would think that if you are a true Jeopardy fan, you would be watching everyday for the game show aspect, not the host. Personally, I enjoy watching the show for the game regardless of who is hosting. I always amaze myself whenever I get the answer right!
2 10
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B
You need to stop calling people “silly” just because they don’t see things the same way you do. Alex Trebek did not become a beloved icon because he was really good at reading clues. And Ken was not the favorite for that reason either. There are a lot of responsibilities and challenges involved with being host. Mayim Bialik doesn’t even seem to understand that, let alone be good at it. She is so awful that she is a constant distraction and ruins the experience for many of us. The Jeopardy board is posted the day after, along with clues, questions, wagers, and results. Anyone who is just interested in trivia can go there and amaze themselves when they get an answer right. I don’t need to sit through a half hour of Bialik’s giggling, swaying, and awkward attempts at banter and wit. I was a true Jeopardy fan for many years, but with Bialik hosting and the executives making terrible decisions like this, it’s not the same show. There is nothing to be loyal to anymore.
5 1
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R
Jeopardy is the decompressing 30 minutes of the day for many viewers. When Mayim hosts it's like being a passenger in a car with a bad driver. Nothing relaxing about that.
6 1
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O
Love the game, love Mayim, can tolerate Jennings ‘cause I love Jeopardy, watching since it began with Art Fleming in “64 - adjusted to Trebek in his time too
1 11
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B
I find this announcement to be exactly what I thought would happen all along. And now I have to find time to read all the comments from the people who swear that they will stop watching Jeopardy! because Mayim Bialak is still part of the show.
What I find most interesting is that almost all of the dissenters seem to believe that Ken was the only choice. Have they ever even considered the fact that maybe -- just maybe -- Ken was not able to fit full-hosting duties into his schedule? Who knows, that always remains a possibility.
Anyway, we'll see how many hundreds of people complain in the comments section. And then Jeopardy! -- the long-running show that has been watched by millions of people over the years -- can worry how they are going to replace the dozens of commenters on this board who insist that they will never watch the show again.
All I can say is enjoy that extra half-hour you will have five nights a week ... 😉
10
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B
Ken has said many times that he wants the job. He has been working as a producer since many months before Alex died and it was believed that Alex was grooming him to take the job. Ken recently left his job on The Chase so was already freed up. If, for some godforsaken reason, they need to go with the rotating hosts that no one wanted, why is Mayim Bialik in the mix? She is widely disliked, terrible at the job, has a bad effect on ratings, and couldn’t break single digits in polls? I am one of the people who won’t be watching at all anymore. I am tired of the executives at Sony taunting us and have no interest in being present to witness the next terrible decision they make.
5
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G
One season of "The Chase" is taped over one two week period.
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B
What’s your point? Ken has been saying he wants the job for two years. He has been guest hosting and “also hosting” the entire time. Months before Alex died, Ken was being groomed behind the scenes. He even became a producer, as Alex was. So now your theory is that in all that time Ken was not able to free himself enough to accept a prestigious, lucrative position full time, but is willing to degrade himself by being considered the equal of an incompetent. That’s preposterous.
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G
Great decision. They were the two best guest hosts during January to August 2021, and have continued doing solid jobs. For those wondering why the announcement at the top of the show for Ken Jennings is that he was "hosting" Jeopardy as if a guest host, I believe that is correct. One year ago, Mike Richards and Mayim BIalik were announced as the hosts of "Jeopardy." Ken Jennings was out as host. When Mike Richards was let go, Ken was named as a guest substitute, and Mayim was already a given as a "host" (albeit originally for the ABC network versions). So this is a promotion for Ken Jennings and a continuation for Mayim. Congratulations Ken.
11
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R
I think Mayim should be host
1 13
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N
I'm not even going to read the comments and all the hatred for Mayim and just say that I am happy with this sitution and I like both as hosts and for true fans it is actually about the players and the game and not the host.
2 15
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B
It is impossible to pay attention to the game and the contestants when the host has no idea what a host is supposed to do. It’s not about reading clues. Inappropriate giggling and awkward, forced banter are painful to watch and distract from the game and the contestants. True fans of Jeopardy know this and know that the current show is a shadow of its former self. It’s truly heartbreaking. Being a true fan does not require being willing to have terrible decisions about the show’s forced down our throats. Quite the opposite.
3 1
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M
I prefer Ken as the regular host, but as an executive producer he may not feel comfortable yet doing both. It will take another season for Mayam and Ken to commit to their other projects or Jeopardy on a full time basis.
13
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R
Ken is not the executive producer. He’s a consulting producer who sometimes drops by when his help is needed by the staff. He could’ve taken the full time job if he wanted it and/or if it was offered to him. Somebody at Sony obviously is terrified of the backlash of hiring a white, Christian-adjacent, male.
16 1
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G
Alex JT I am as liberal as they come and "I" want Ken Jennings. He just 'works' better as the HOST OF JEOPARDY. For me. If they just wanted 'diversity' they would've gone for Levar Burton, who ALSO really wanted the job. Actually when they did the guest hosts I thought AARON RODGERS did the best. SO very natural.
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R
Levar had a similar, though less pronounced, problem as one of Mayim's. He tended to speak as though he was addressing kids as he did on Reading Rainbow. He did not have the myriad of other problems that accompany Mayim. Happily, he's got a gig on the new iteration of Star Trek. I was hoping for Buzzy Cohen for any or all versions of Jeopardy.
3
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B
They have already been doing this sharing nonsense for a year. Ken is a producer, but not an executive producer. He has been working behind the scenes since months before Alex died. It is rumored that Ken was Alex’s choice and the way Ken was given more responsibility going way back lends credibility to that rumor. And it is preposterous to think that he would have been in favor of sharing with the widely disliked, low approval Mayim.
15
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A
I'm fine with this arrangement.
14
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O
Good compromise. Lots of people like Ken and lots of people like Mayim. Personally I like how excited she gets and her interaction with contestants. I think this was a good decision.
1 15
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B
Most people prefer Ken. Few people prefer Mayim.
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O
I for one am happy the two will be continuing. They both have different styles (both have made mistakes) and having the change-up is great.
15
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B
Yes. They do have different styles. Ken seems to have been born for the job. Mayim seems to have no idea what the responsibilities and challenges of the job are, let alone be able to meet them.
2
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G
We are delighted by this decision! To us, Mayim is much more invested in talking with the contestants and making them feel welcome. Ken is more businesslike, but certainly does a good job as cohost. It's sad that so many comments reflect bias.
15
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B
She is awkward and phony. Her “conversations” are scripted and painful to watch.
2
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G
I am very happy to hear Mayim Bialick will continue hosting jeopardy.
1 18
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R
Can’t stand Jennings!!! I only watch when Miss Bialik is hosting!!
18
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O
I don’t know why everyone is so hard on Mayim Bialik. Both Ken and Mayim are unique for their own styles and are both doing an awsome job! They are both enjoyable to watch!
20
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B
I think it's less about people being hard on her but rather more fervent in their judgment of Ken's ability. Jeopardy fans don't like change and his style is much closer to Alex's, so it makes sense.
6
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O
Google her personal words, deeds and opinions and get back to us.
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B
Mayim’s “style” is incompetent, awkward, distracting. Not something I want to watch.
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R
I think these two are a good choice. No one can ever please everyone in light of the fact that Jeopardy is synonymous with Alex Trebeck. Instead of criticizing one or the other people need to recognize that it will take them years to make it look and sound as seamless as Alex did. Have patience.
3 32
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B
Mayim Bialik’s approval was in SINGLE DIGITS! There is no reason for her to be in the mix.
16 1
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R
I am SO happy that Mayim will still be hosting. I don't think I could take Ken full time.
3 35
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B
Get rid of Ken Jennings. He has no personality. Mayim is much better.
3 36
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O
Sounds good!
2 35
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P
I love the game and watch regardless. I can put up with Ken, I’m extremely pleased Mayim will still be there. I enjoy her very much in the role of host of Jeopardy!
1 36
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B
Well, at least we get a periodic break from the abominable Ken Jennings. He eats!
2 38
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