Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik? Amy Schneider Reveals Her Favorite ‘Jeopardy!’ Host
Jeopardy! super-champ Amy Schneider has been talking about her time on the show and more during an online Q&A, including which host she prefers out of Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik.
Schneider, who won 40 consecutive games on the long-running quiz show from November 2021 to January 2022, took part in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Monday, October 10. During the session, she was candid with her answers, revealing her thoughts on the show and various behind-the-scenes details.
When asked, “Ken or Mayim?” the Jeopardy! all-star firmly answered, “Ken in a landslide. No offense to Mayim, but Ken just *is* Jeopardy in a way that can’t easily be replicated.”
Another fan asked how she mustered the courage to perform every day despite the high stakes. “Well, I’ve done a lot of theater, which was super helpful in getting me through the fear of being on stage,” Schneider said. “But the main thing was in the weeks leading up to taping, I did a lot of mental preparation. Basically the mantra I was telling myself was ‘For those 30 minutes, there is literally nothing more important than playing the game.'”
As for her most formidable opponents during her time on the show, Schneider listed the top three as “Andrew He, Do Park, and Pam Schoenberg.”
The former engineer also revealed what she’s been up to since bagging $1.3 million after her impressive run. “I’ve been on something like 30 different plane trips this year, set up an LLC, gotten an agent, hired an assistant to help me keep on top of everything,” she said. “My whole goal at this point is to never have a day job again, but just be a writer/public speaker/whatever for the rest of my life. So far, so good!”
She also talked about her excitement for the upcoming Tournament of Champions, writing, “Somebody at the ToC said “More people have been in outer space than have competed in the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions.” I haven’t verified that statistic, but regardless, there aren’t a lot of people who have been through the specific and kind of weird experience of competing in a ToC, and I’m being honest when I say that I consider all the ToC participants as friends at this point.”
On a more personal note, one fan asked Schneider how they can help protect trans rights. ‘Just be visible, whether as a trans person or as an ally. Speak up at home, at work, at church, at family gatherings. Don’t let hateful statements go unchallenged,” Schneider stated. “Transphobia only works by painting trans people as ‘others,’ as different from ‘us.'”
As for whether we will see Schneider on Jeopardy! again after the Tournament of Champions, she is keeping an open mind. “I love Jeopardy,” she said, “And they’ve obviously been very good to me. So whatever they might want from me, I will do my best to provide!”
Jeopardy!, Weeknights, Check your local listings
This… Is… Jeopardy!
Get absolutely everything about Jeopardy! in your inbox!
Conversation38 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
P
Yay Amy! You said it! Mayim Bialik is anathema to most true Jeopardy fans.
47 10
-
B
Ditto!
35 3
-
G
I prefer Mayim Bialik!
3 22
-
O
Some people enjoy root canals.
16 1
-
G
LOL!
7
-
-
-
-
B
I really like her. Ken can keep his know at all tones and facial expressions to himself. The very antithesis of Alex.
5 18
-
O
Amy did not say Mayim was an anathema. She simply answered that Ken was her favorite when she was asked. She did not denigrate Amy and should not be misquoted.
2 2
-
G
No one here quoted her. Did you see any " " marks?
2
-
-
-
R
TOC starts on Halloween, right? Hope the kids get their trick or treating done on the weekend, cause I won't be answering the door. Can't wait, and super happy Ken is hosting.
29 2
-
G
Amy recognizes professionalism. Mayim is a posturing ego desperate for attention. Gak!
30 4
-
P
I turn Jeopardy off if Mayim is hosting. Love hat as actress but can’t stand her style of hosting. Ken Jennings is fantastic at hosting.
32 6
-
P
Please make Ken the permanent host
21 1
-
P
Well duh lol
20 2
-
R
Amy is a regular Jeopardy viewer, ergo, she prefers Ken.
22 6
-
B
Nearly everyone, except Mike Davies, prefers Ken. Mayim is insufferable. I'm so glad that Ken is hosting the TOC. I'd use CC if she hosted but unfortunately there is no way to unsee her.
45 5
-
-
O
Ken is the people's choice to host Jeopardy. Ms. B. is a not at all amusing parody of a game show host.
14 1
-
P
“Ken in a landslide. No offense to Mayim, but Ken just *is* Jeopardy in a way that can’t easily be replicated.”
7
-
B
Ken has a deaper connection to Alex and the show. His love and heart is jeopardy. It's not that Mayhim isn't good. She simply doesn't have the heart. I know Alex is smiling down on Ken.
4
-
O
Amy's transition has nothing at all to do with Amy as a person, a champion, etc. Get over yourself.
4
-
P
Do not look at show when SHE. Is on. Alex must me turning in his grave with that woman
3 1
-
O
Alex was cremated, he has no grave.
1
-
-
P
Nothing against Mayim,but ken is a natural, I think he even tops Alex.
1
-
G
Love both and love Amy. Hope she is going to be on again on the jeopardy of champions
-
C
Duane.
-
O
Ken is a legend and the best. As far as the delusions of some contestants, well let the hate begin from the self righteous enlightened.
3 3
-
G
Mayim is so entertaining and energetic in her spirit of Jeopardy. Truly believe that Alex would be regular viewer of Mayim and first to join and cheer on her fan club. She is beautiful on the inside and sparkling on the outside. I would 💕 love daily dose of MB , Jeopardy style.
1 4
-
O
It’s getting boring! Thank goodness there are other shows besides Jeopardy!!!
11
-
B
So, why are you posting?
10
-
-
R
I love Mayim, ever since "Blossom"! She has grown up on TV, and seems to have more fun than Ken, who is more serious. She is the perfect choice for Celebrity Jeopardy because she empathizes with the celebrities due to a lot of shared experiences in "show biz". Ken is great with regular Jeopardy for similar reasons, he has been where they are.
6 22
-
B
IMO she's the perfect choice to go work in a lab somewhere. She took a spot at uni that might have gone to a serious scientist who could have contributed something worthwhile. She, instead, chose to chase the spotlight. Combine that with her offstage views and actions and my contempt for her is boundless.
14 3
-
G
She can have Celebrity Jeopardy and spend the hour with other quasi celebrities. I don't watch that. Syndicated Jeopardy is a serious contest for intellectuals, and is ideal for Ken. When M takes over the daily half hour in January, that will end my watching until Ken returns.
15 1
-
B
Not really, they did Celebrity Jeopardy while Alex was alive with the $$ going to charity. There were some amazing smart players.
-
O
That was then. Standards have slipped since then.
-
-
-
O
I like Mayim too. More interesting and I like the way her clothes, hair and smiling personality are so much more flattering than when she’s on. Big. Bang.
-
-
P
I find Ken Jennings boring. I'll take Mayim Bialik. To think Ken Jennings deserves the host title because he's won the game more than anyone else makes no sense. How many games did Alex Trebek win? He came in as a host without every playing the game. I thought he was the best.
12 36
-
G
Ken also has game show experience through Master Minds and The Chase. Alex hosted several other game shows before Jeopardy. Mayim only knows how to act as someone else, there is nothing genuine about her. And it shows.
34 5
-
O
Phosphotytlserine will help.
1
-
G
Did you misspell phosphatidyliserine? How embarrassing for you.
7
-
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services