‘Jeopardy!’ Officially Sets Ken Jennings & Mayim Bialik as Hosts — Get Details
Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies has made it official: Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik will continue to host the trivia game show moving forward. They began splitting hosting duties during the search for a permanent host, which began following Alex Trebek’s death in 2020.
“The fact is, we have so much Jeopardy! to make, and so many plans for the future, that we always knew we would need multiple hosts for the franchise and we are just so grateful that Mayim and Ken stepped in and stepped up to put the show in a position to succeed,” Davies wrote in a memo.
“In Mayim and Ken, we have two outstanding hosts at the beginning of their Jeopardy! hosting careers who connect with their own unique fanbases, new fans, and the traditional Jeopardy! viewer,” he continued before detailing how they’ll be splitting hosting duties and ruling out that they’ll “flip flop the hosts constantly.” In fact, they’ll be keeping viewers informed of the hosting schedule.
For now, we know that Jennings will be the one to kick off Season 39 in September, as well as host the inaugural Second Chance competition, and the heavily anticipated Tournament of Champions featuring Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, Mattea Roach, Ryan Long, and many, many more. He’ll host through December. Bialik will be hosting primetime’s Celebrity Jeopardy! on ABC, then take over the regular show from Jennings in January. According to Davies, “the current plan is to have her host a couple of new tournaments as well as the Jeopardy! National College Championship and as many weeks as she can manage with her other primetime commitment to Call Me Kat.”
Davies also revealed that beginning on August 1, six weeks of reruns will feature episodes handpicked by the producers with their closest games, super-champions, and some of the people who will be announced as part of the inaugural Second Chance competition. The contestants returning for that Second Chance competition will be announced on the August 1 Inside Jeopardy! podcast.
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Literally this arrangement was made so that the executives could pander to Mayim. Everything revolves around her, including how the show creates its schedule. "Oh, she has a sitcom? Let's work around that." Unbelievable cowardice and indecisiveness from the people in charge. These people somehow get paid for their work!
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I’ve been Team Ken since he first hosted in (I believe) Jan 2021. I’m not as anti-Mayim as I once was but the recent long stretch of her hosting was about 2x too much. Now Jeopardy producers seem to announce that’s exactly what we’ll get next season: 3-4 months of her at a shot. Not good. Am more than ok with a long stretch of Ken.
I get that apparently Ken can’t commit to full time hosting but I hope the producers pay attention to the lower ratings when Maim hosts and make adjustments down the road.
Ideally (given their apparently limited availability) let Mayim have ALL the tournaments except the Tournament of Champions and have Ken do all daily Jeopardy and the TOC. Failing that, give Mayim 25% of the daily shows and all the fufu ‘entertainment’ tournaments, Ken does 75% daily Jeopardy and the TOC.
As another fan mentions below, during the long Mayim stretches next season i may need to flip over to Pluto Tv on the Roku to catch some Alex Trebek Jeopardy reruns and be checking @isKenHosting on twitter.
I hope Mayim continues to improve as a Jeopardy host. As many have noted the pause before she says an answer is correct can be maddening. Even tho she has the answer on her card, she often seems still waiting for the judges to rule on nearly every answer and signal her. Ken (like Alex) knows when an answer is acceptable 99.9% of the time. Jeopardy needs to figure this out. You can feel them leading her through the shows via her earpiece and the teleprompter.
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Did they each sign long-term deals or is this just an extension of last season's arrangement with the execs hope that Call Me Kat gets canceled? From my outsider's perspective, this reeks of pandering to Mayim. Her agent must be the absolute best in the business for negotiating a deal for a talent (and I use that word loosely) as bad as Mayim.
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I feel sure she could mess up a one car funeral in the middle of the Gobi desert.
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The less Mayim, the better. I'll continue following the twitter account @IsKenHosting somebody here at TV Insider let me know about so I can tune in only on the weeks that Ken hosts. Every Mayim week will be back to the incomparable Alex Trebek, whose reruns will be aired 24/7 on a dedicated Pluto TV channel starting Monday!
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The date Jeopardy! officially jumped the shark: July 27, 2022
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A welcome respite from her for the fall at least. Then back to CC for any specials or Celeb shows she hosts. She is truly insufferable to me and I don't understand Sony's decision at all.
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This is just another paycheck for Mayim. That's how she treats it. Another job to add to her IMDb page, that's it. Want proof? Go to their social media and look how each of them reacted to the announcement. Ken wrote a long, heartfelt thread about how the show has meant so much to him, literally changing his life, and how he is blessed to advance Alex's legacy. Mayim only retweeted the official announcement tweet between some memes of her other show Call Me Kat.
She doesn't care. It reflects on her poor work and her ongoing, obvious antipathy towards the fans.
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This is by far the biggest opportunity that has come to her, maybe not the highest-paying, but easily the highest profile. The least she could do is put out a statement, heck even crafted by her PR people, about how grateful she is to be a part of it. At the same time, I'm not really surprised by her reaction (or lack thereof) due to her self-proclaimed disinterest in the show. She said she never watched it before the opportunity became available, which I found really tone-deaf and disrespectful of somebody hoping to succeed Alex Trebek.
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Not to mention that she gets $18 million for a few weeks work. Sickening.
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She's too busy congratulating herself. Nothing matters to her, except herself.
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She doesn't care about the show but she sure loves the check!
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The answer is: foreign money, NGOs and a whole bunch of terrified TV executives behind the scenes.
You have thirty seconds, good luck.
Think music plays
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I will preface this by saying that I am not in a position to say this on the record. I am purposely keeping myself anonymous out of fear of retaliation from Sony, the executives or any other person or organization who has had a hand in this decision. As such, this message is being sent over a virtual private network.
I don't think people either know or want to openly admit the ADL's influence in the production of Jeopardy! They've been involved in little ways for many years, even prior to Alex's illness. You can even see it in the writing of the material. It landed the show in hot water in 2020 due to activist backlash. Anyway, this organization played a pretty big part in Mike Richards's firing due to offensive comments he made that are tangentially relevant to that organization's cause. Yes, they absolutely played a role in Bialik's selection as well with the belief that she will be a vehicle to promote the cultural interests of her ancestral people on the show. There's a reason why it is more obvious that you see certain topics during the episodes she hosts.
This could become a major scandal if it is ever uncovered. I am not sure that the publishers of this website will even keep this message up for everybody to see. If you've seen it, now you know.
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On one hand, there's no publicly available evidence to independently verify this, but on the other, this is the only explanation that's been offered to justify this decision. It really makes you wonder if this is actually the reason.
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I remember the question that got the show in trouble. It was asking the location of the church of the Nativity and one player buzzed in "What is Palestine" and was ruled incorrect. Another tried with "What is Israel" and was awarded the money. Of course organizations like the ADL are pulling some strings behind the scenes so it makes complete sense that Mayim Bialik would have a leg up on the competition.
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So… Business as usual in Hollywood?
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There's no reasonable explanation for the approval gap that exists between the audience and the executives. When one host's ratings are demonstrably lower, the headlines specifically draw negative attention to that person, and the show's credibility is in tatters among the fanbase since the initial botched effort—there is absolutely NO reason to divide the hosting responsibilities in such a way that caters to the less popular candidate's availability. An internal investigation might uncover internal politics and nepotism, but an external one might find bribery. What an all around disgrace to the legacy left by Mr. Trebek.
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Sorry, can’t watch Mayim’s episodes. I find her rather unappealing and insincere as a host. I just hope the show will be more upfront about who is hosting each week of the season. I’ve watched since the early Alex days too, even before he wore glasses!
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When complaining to Jeopardy doesn't get results, perhaps a message to their sponsors will. If we don't watch the program when Ms Wiggles & Giggles is hosting, we won't be seeing the sponsors ads.
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I've posted similar on various sites. When she hosts, I switch to CC and mute the sound because I can't stand her voice. That prevents me from hearing the ads which seldom have CC. That reduces the sponsors' reach and diminishes revenue. Long term, viewers tuning out entirely when she hosts or muting as I do costs everyone involved including Sony. Keeping her is a bad idea from a business standpoint.
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Muting is an empty gesture. Nielsen still has its statistical sampling from boxes, but data is now collected from many sources (live viewing, DVR, on-demand, streamed, etc). Watching on mute still counts as watching. It’s useful to reduce annoyance, but does not send a message to sponsors or Sony executives.
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Horrible Mayim is wretched!
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Playmate of the month on the Wretched Mess calendar
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"If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none."
- John Madden
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Will TV Insider do a story on the planned boycott of Mayim Bialik episodes that's now making headlines across the internet?
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Mayim is a BIG disappointment
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That is a masterpiece of understatement!
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I am through watching Jeopardy. All the drama with Richardson and "Mayim-How Do I Love Me, Let Me Count the Way" became tiresome. Her sense of self-importance and intellectual prowess is nauseating. This is not the show Alex made famous. Jeopardy is no longer a show I regularly program and record so I don't miss an episode.
The power players involved who created this ridiculous drama really showed us their rear-ends. As others have commented, Ken Jennings earned his stripes and proved himself long before Miss Neuroscientist ascended the stage. We have watched Ken before and we liked what we saw. If Ken isn't politically correct enough for the power players, it won't be a problem for long because viewership will continue to decline.
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It can't be overstated how badly mangled this process has been from beginning to end. Now they're taking a huge gamble by hiring two people to the same position in what seems to be a desperation play, presumably against the will of the core fanbase if the ratings and polls are to be believed. Alex Trebek was able to man the ship without any co-hosts for over 36 years. Why does Ken Jennings need his hand held by somebody objectively far inferior to him skill-wise?
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All I can say is thank goodness for closed captioning so I can mute MB. Did Ken’s clear popularity mean nothing to those Sony screw-ups? All online polls had him the clear winner. I guess after the Mike Richards fiasco they were afraid to reject a female despite her frequent awkward errors.
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This notion that Ken is unable or unwilling to host a full season is completely unfounded, and I will only believe it when I hear it from him. Remember that he quit all of his other commitments specifically to host Jeopardy. He was dealt the short end of the stick and, as I see it, only accepted in the hopes of expanding his role to a more permanent one in the future.
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I agree. I don’t believe for one second that this is happening because Ken couldn’t commit. Except for the comment here I haven’t seen that reported anywhere. I don’t know his reasons for going along with this, so can’t criticize him, but I also can’t support a team that is making these preposterous decisions. I’d already stopped watching shows with Mayim. Since this announcement I’ve stopped watching Jeopardy at all. Something nasty is going on behind the scenes and I want no part of it.
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Perhaps, with Mayim's obvious "in" with the execs, this is the best they were willing to give him?
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It doesn’t matter. I’m sure he had his reasons and maybe I would have made the same decision if I were in his shoes. Even if it’s not the way he hoped it would go, he is now a willing participant in the twisted direction the show is taking so I won’t be watching at all.
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Don't forget your football.
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Team Jennings all the way. Really can’t stand Mayim in anything!
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No to Mayim. Absolutely terrible. Who is she related to or who does she know. If you need two use Buzzy. Ken is great, but if you need someone for another show use Buzzy. Won't watch when she is on. Sorry you're going to lose fans. get smart.
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I already DVR Jeopardy since it airs at 5 in the afternoon here. If I start a Monday recording and see Mayim, I just delete that week and wait. I didn't mind her at first, but she is starting to be more irritating to me than Alex Trebek (Not trying to start a conversation here, but, yes, I am in the minority of people who found Alex pompous and slightly misogynistic - but I still watched him). Ken strikes just the right note of authority without being overbearing. He learned a lot from the things Alex did well, like being familiar with the questions and preparing tricky pronunciations ahead. I just don't get any of the decisions Sony is making.
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We have written to Jeopardy! asking them if they can pixelate her face. Still waiting on a response...
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Any change would have to be an improvement.
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To allow someone as ill-equipped for connecting with the base audience as Bialik is for this show to share any part of its daily interaction with the audience is sad. Those who have been watching through all of the changes in stages, Trebek's hair color and, style, will agree with me that Bialik is a square peg in a round hole - tight and uncomfortable. I will miss the portion of Jeopardy she hosts, as it is uncomfortable to watch and listen to her, and the choice left to me is whether to watch or not. I choose not.
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IF KEN JENNINGS CAN'T COMMIT TO PERMANENT HOSTING, PEASE FIND SOMEBODY OTHER THAN MAYIM! SOMEBODY LIKE AARON RODGERS 🙏 HE WAS A NATURAL HOST WITH A GREAT PERSONALITY!
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Aaron is a flake who can't even manage his personal life. Buzzy Cohen for all of it or at least take over Mayim's portion.
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If you are totally done with the show, why are you still posting the same exit notice over and over? Not to mention the dismissive tone when you respond to other's posts. Done is done, give it a rest.
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I said nothing dismissive to Casual Observer. It’s called communication and sharing thoughts. You have a serious rage problem. You found the time to attack a total stranger because of thoughts expressed about a game show. You weren’t even part of the conversation. This is a forum about Jeopardy, not a forum to judge participants. It’s hilarious that you think I’ll take orders from you.
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Not a good idea in my opinion. Don't even watch her shows, especially if you're a Nielsen household. You don't want to contribute to the ratings. Turn off the show when she hosts. Tell your friends to switch off as well. If you must watch Jeopardy when the new shows air, catch it on Pluto TV at the same time. They will be playing Alex Trebek episodes from throughout his tenure on a 24/7 feed.
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Ratings don’t only come from Nielsen anymore. Data is supplied from DVR, streaming, on-demand, etc. Unless you watch on a TV with rabbit ears, data is being collected on what you’re watching. But you do make a good point. Don’t watch when Mayim hosts. Don’t mute as some have said they’re doing. That may reduce how much you’re annoyed, but it gets into viewing data as being watched. J! Archive posts the board the day after airing: clues, questions, wagers, results. You can play along and know how contestants did too.
As for me, I’m done with Jeopardy. I was 100% Team Ken and had already stopped watching whenever Mayim Bialik hosts, but since this decision I don’t watch at all. I can’t imagine why Ken agreed to this. I don’t know what he was up against, so I don’t judge him, but I won’t sign up for another year of this gaslighting from Sony executives. This decision is impossible to understand. Something stinks and I want no part of it.
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OK, but I don't use DVR, streaming, on-demand etc. just regular cable at the time the show airs. I refuse to let her deprive me of it entirely. As for Pluto, I want questions that are current not pop culture from the 80s.
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I only gave a few examples of other data sources and I agree that Pluto isn’t a solution, but if you have cable your cable company is collecting data on everything you watch. A DVR is not required. I can’t tell you what to do, but please don’t think data on your viewing is not being collected.
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But closed captioning also keeps you from paying attention to the ads, and the sponsors as well as Sony are in this for profit.
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I also record and FF through commercials. I refuse to let MB prevent me from watching my show. I was willing to boycott her episodes at the beginning but since the Sony crew had their minds made up no matter how the numbers favored Ken, I just had to shrug and accommodate her in the least distasteful way possible.
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Unfortunately, after the last two years, Jeopardy is not my show anymore. There is something disgusting going on behind the scenes. The clues, questions, wagers, results are all available on J! Archive the day after airing. A lot more engaging than watching a TV show with no sound. I’ve been using it when Mayim hosts or sometimes just because I missed something. I was 100% Team Ken. I know he had his reasons for going along with this. Maybe I would have made the same decision. But I won’t support the direction the show is taking. It bears very little resemblance to the show I loved for decades.
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Reported for harassment and personal attack.
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#1 This sounds like woman bashing, I thought that Mayim was better that most of the people who were 'auditioned.' (Excepting Ken, Buzzy, and a certain Football quarterback . . . and excepting an ex-producer.)
Maybe, just maybe, Ken has a wife and a family, and a life outside of Jeopardy. When he complains, you might
have an issue. If you don't like Mayim that much, don't watch when she's on or turn the sound off and watch
with close captioning. I've watched since the beginning, and will continue to watch, because I love the show.
(I thought that ex-producer was excellent . . .until I heard about his treatment of women.)
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I find Mayim a breath of fresh air compared to Ken’s droll recitation of Jeopardy material.
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It seems you have inside information.
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Works for me, I like them both but full time one would be to much. He can be slightly condescending and she’s not as quick with the repartee but I like the show too much to quit watching! Now Dancing with the Stars, that show has really jumped the shark and gone dooowwwnhill!
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Mayim, ditch the (fortunately infrequent) bows in your hair, and stop taking a beat before you tell a contestant whether they are wrong or right. I will continue to watch both of you; I love the show.
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I hope it’s savannah Guthrie and katie couric they’re better than ken Jennings amd mayim bailik I think savannah Guthrie and katie couric I should vote for and scribbled up mayim bialik and ken Jennings they’re not cool they shouldn’t be on our votes ever only Savannah Guthrie and katie couric
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Savannah or Robin Roberts would’ve been way better than Mayim. I still like Ken and Buzzy the best.
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The Zionist fix is in. Jeopardy is doomed.
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I enjoy both hosts very much!
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I really wish people's tongues would turn black and fall out of their mouths when they lie.
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Only 7 comments after 16 hours? I'm disappointed. 😛
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We are not here to live up to your expectations.
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Ken Jennings and mayim bialik should be fired from jeopardy host and never come back and savannah Guthrie and katie couric should take their jobs
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I guess I am her only fan here. I like her a lot. And for me, she is much easier to understand than Ken is. She has amazing diction. I will watch the show with either of them standing in.
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I like the both of them and don't understand the anti-Mayim sentiment.
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Then you are, at the very least, woefully uninformed about her disgusting offstage views, words and deeds. Google her. And if she's paying people to support her online, their own ethics are questionable.
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Mayim is my favorite host out of the two.
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This is great news because we love both Mayim and Ken!
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