Ken Jennings Blasted by ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Contestant Wil Wheaton for Crossing WGA Picket Line
Actor Wil Wheaton has a bone to pick with Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings as the performer took to Facebook over the weekend to make his thoughts amid the ongoing WGA writers strike clear.
Wheaton, who is known for his roles in shows like The Big Bang Theory and The Sandman previously appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy!, meaning he’s no stranger to the competition. Still, that doesn’t mean he condones Jennings’ ongoing role, as he wrote on social media, “This is a VERY small town, Ken Jennings, and we will all remember this. Your privilege may protect you right now, but we will *never* forget.”
(Credit: ABC/Christopher Willard)
In case Wheaton’s thoughts weren’t clear enough already, he continued to add musings in his own comments section, writing, “Hey y’all, if you’re here to sh*t on unions, you can f**k right off. I’ve been a union man since I was a union boy, and I will be a union man until the day I die.”
The proclamation went on to say, “If you’re here to sh*t on the workers of the world, or to make excuses for someone who is currently doing that, go f**k yourself and don’t come back.” The statements were met with some questioning comments and Wheaton wasn’t shy about answering the fans who stumbled into his comments section.
When one fan asked about whether or not the season of Jeopardy! has been completed, and if so, would that make a difference in his stance surrounding the situation? Wheaton responded, “It’s like this: did you cross a picket line? If yes, you are a scab who turned your back on organized labor. If no, you’re a decent person who stands with your fellow workers.”
This online reaction from Wheaton follows the recent headline that Mayim Bialik, Jeopardy!‘s other host, would step back from her duties in solidarity of the WGA. As Big Bang fans will recall, Wheaton and Bialik appeared together on the sitcom.
What do you think of Wheaton’s comments? Sound off in the comments section, below, and stay tuned to see if Jennings’ role at the game show will change in accordance with the ongoing strike.
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The WGA explicitly stated that non-writers unaffiliated with the union can continue doing their jobs. But Wil won’t get likes on his posts if you knew that.
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Continuing the game show is keeping a few hundred people employed and bringing home a paycheck. It's a game show, not a scripted show, Wil. And Ken is not an actor.
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You cannot say you are pro-labor in the same breath as saying Ken should abstain from the last week, and in the process, exploit the pay of the hundreds of remaining crew. Wil loses me on this one.
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Ken is doing what he needs to do so contestants who have waited a long time to appear on Jeopardy don't miss out on their maybe one time opportunity. Not everyone has the privilege to change their schedule due to a writer's strike. Money and job concerns are issues for many contestants and Jeopardy has filmed during previous strikes using old clues.
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Wil is so brave. Who will pay the salaries of the remaining crew (cameramen, techs, and gaffers) and come up with the funds for the refunds for dozens of contestants? Didn’t think that one through, did you Wil?
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No he didn’t, because he’s an idiot.
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Actually he did. Every job in TV or movies is a union job. This time the writers are on strike. Their grievances are many and quite large. By standing with the writers union, the cameraman union, the lighting and gaffer union, the food service union, and even the actor's guild have just gained a another group to back them up when it is their turn to fight for what they deserve. By fighting collectively they enhance their power by leaps and bounds! It isn't easy for most workers, but if you only follow the easy path, you will never gain ground. Why should Disney, WB, and other reap billions while the people who do the work make peanuts. Solidarity will win out. Thanks for listening.
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So these hundreds of workers should abstain from the last week of production out of solidarity and miss out on a full week's worth of pay? Should the contestants have to reschedule their transportation, jobs and livelihoods (most likely out of their own pockets) around a last-minute decision of the writers to strike? It's hardly an endorsement of the studio(s), as these writers should absolutely be paid fairly for their work, but pausing production out of solidarity is not as feasible for the many people involved as you may think.
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Yes, they should absolutely abstain. That's the deal with organized labor. The other unions honor the WGA's picket line because the WGA honored the picket lines of the other unions. It's working for the greater good and it most certainly is feasible. It requires not screwing someone else over because it isn't your particular fight--this time.
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Well then, why doesn't Wil call all those union workers out as well? It seems to me they are more obligated to not cross the line than Ken is.
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I know a lot of members of various unions involved in production, mostly in IATSE and Actors Equity. There is not a one of them that would hesitate to walk out and take the hit if the WGA asked them to. And they would probably not take as big a hit as you think, as their union dues will be used to partially or sometimes even fully pay workers asked to walk off. As for contestants, they shoot an entire week of shows in 1-2 days, and do pay for transit, so guests who are re-scheduled because of a strike don't lose anything.
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Jeopardy does not pay for transit until you are a returning champion.
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Since Will is so virtuous, maybe he should dish out the money to pay the hundreds of crew members’ pay for the missed week of production. But he won’t.
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There is not a single crew member (IATSE is their union) on that or any production who would not walk out in sympathy if asked to, and not one who will hold someone who choses to honor the line to blame if their work is affected by it. I was in IATSE myself in the late 80s and have over a dozen friends who are in it today, and they would all tell you the exact same thing.
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Unfortunately as a current IATSE remember I witnessed multiple riggers crossing a picket line at WB last week.
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Does feeding your family not matter?
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I have never been in favor of unions. My dad was a teacher and was the only one in the school not to join the union. While they do plenty of good things, they are all overshadowed by keeping people who have no business in the profession employed, and that is a dealbreaker for me.
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Every benefit your dad enjoyed, from paid time off to summer payment to the health plan that let you see a doctor as a kid, came to him because of that union he chose not to be a part of. as for your statement that all unions are "overshadowed by keeping people who have no business in the profession employed", that just shows how little you know about trade unions. It can take years of proving over and over again that you belong in the profession before you are allowed to join certain unions. This is especially true in the entertainment industry.
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Every benefit and every raise was limited by that union too. You can prefer to take the union side but many, many non-union employees have similar benefits and vacations and raises to union employees and theirs aren’t curtailed by a contract in service to all. Unions were to protect workers, they have a different agenda in many fields now, with teachers unions being the biggest offenders.
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There was a time when the unions were necessary but Wheaton has no idea about those times. He should take his head out of his rear and read up on that history. Today unions have a completely different agenda that rarely benefits their constituents.
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Disappointed with Will Wheaton, free country and I believe in the right to work. Most unions are corrupt!
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Will Wheaton is the Colin Kaepernick of actors. No real agenda other than to call attention to himself. What does Will actually do for a living. He may not need to work but a lot of working people have been adversely affected by this strike!
Ken is doing his job and helping a lot of people stay employed and receiving a paycheck. He, like most of America, doesn't really care what Will Wheaton thinks.
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He lost my sympathy right off the bat with his disrespectful language.
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Frankly, disrespectful language seems entirely appropriate in reference to anyone who crosses a picket line.
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Strike or not, the show must go on, right? It just aggravates me. What about the fans?
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"What about the fans?" Seriously? People should work in unfair circumstances for unfair pay, or let others in their industry who do so rot, because your entertainment is being interrupted? Man is that selfish.
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Ken isn’t or ever has been on a tv show until now isnt the same as being an actor on a series he’s just mad he didn’t get to host jeopardy
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EXACTLY!
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I like Wil, but I doubt he would have said that to Alex.
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well kens not an actor & not part of the sag or writers guild so hes not crossing any picket lines
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As if they are not getting paid enough. They make more money in a year than most do in 10. I believe they can get by on what they are making. Unions are nothing more than extortion thugs.
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Union SOP intimidation and blackmail.
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Ken Jennings is a producer on the show, in effect, a manager. Which means he does not have the choice to cross the picket line.
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I think Will Wheaton should keep his mouth shut!!! Did he say the same thing about Pat Sajak and Vanna White and all the other game show hosts? Or did he say the same thing about all the contestants on game shows? No he did not! Will Wheaton and Mayim Bialik have been actors almost their whole lives. Ken Jennings has never been an actor and is still not an actor! Will, stop picking on Jeopardy! You are just jealous!
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We all have choices. Be a big boy Will. Just because you do like someone else’s choice doesn’t give you the right to be offensive and critical
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Wil reminds me of the dog in Old Yeller after he gets rabies; uncontrolled anger, snarling, and biting. Do what you feel you need to do, Wil, and allow others that same choice without all your foul commentary.
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Thanks Wil Wheaton for exposing your crassness. I will not watch anything you do in the future
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Screw this Liberal A$$hole!!!!
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Wil who????
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Wheaton feels it’s Union or else. Communism is the same. If he feels truly the way he attacked Jenny’s then he is totally against democratic rule. Only a dictator would talk with evil words as Wheaton expressed.
To me he is a threat and threatened Jennings to the point of his safety and LIFE!
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Wil Wheaton being mad at you is literally the least scary thing in the world.
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I think Will Wheaton should clean up his mouth if he wants to be the upstanding person he thinks he is.
If you really believe in what you are saying, you don't need to use offending language to get your point across.
'
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Possibly off topic, but the Jeopardy clue writers don't do a very good job. The clues are often far too long and convoluted, needlessly confusing and lead to (declined) answers from contestants that have to be corrected later in the show. This has become an increasing problem over the last few seasons.
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Given that Ken is not a clue writer and not affiliated with any union as it pertains to his work on the show, he could actually be fired if he decided not to show up to tapings. He has already reiterated his support for the WGA on numerous occasions- in this instance, at least for a month, going back long before the writers began their strike. The timing of this, along with Wil Wheaton’s ongoing association with Mayim Bialik (through his regular appearances on the Big Bang Theory), leads me to believe something nefarious is going on behind closed doors to position Ken out of favor with a largely ignorant public, and eventually out of his job as host.
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Not many much likes him or Mayim, posers
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Jennings, picket line crossing poser -- yes; Bialik, non-picket line crossing -- real deal. And speak for yourself about not liking Mayim. She's brilliant.
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Totally agree.
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Agree! Will Wheaton has always seemed a little devious to me.
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There is no such thing as hosting a nationally syndicated game show without being affiliated with a union. Jeopardy is a union house. Which is also why he could not be fired for missing tapings if attending tapings involves crossing a picket line.
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Since you seem to know, tell us the union to which Ken belongs. We'll wait.
Jeopardy music plays
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Just what I was going to say.
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Now I don’t care as much about whether Wil won or not!
Thanks Wil!
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Wil gets a little worked up at times.
I had to unfollow him back at the election cycle.
He unfortunately has little room for different opinions, which contradicts his good guy statements.
"Don't be a dick, "
(Unless you disagree with me).
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These idiots should be more worried about A I. and not needing actors, writers, or hosts to make entertainment from movies and TV to singers and sports players.
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I might have some sympathy for him, but his foul language left me with nothing but disgust.
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SHUT UP WESLEY!
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Why is it that every time a celebrity expresses an opinion, unless that person is willing to create the remedy for the entire situation (“Are you going to pay those who are out of work due to the strike”), they have no right to their opinion. The show is unscripted? Do you think the host comes up with all of the questions? No. The writers do. All of you who think Wil Wheaton “failed to think it through” actually did fail to think it through. Support union workers!!
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Why was the little mermaid allowed to have its premiere when others are being cancelled?
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We all know the Ken trolls swarm this website every time Ken Jennings is mentioned. They’re about 12 years old and their brains haven’t fully developed. They’ve just about ruined Jeopardy. Their beyond mean and nasty.
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Hmm. About being "12 years old and their brains haven't fully developed," can we talk about your use of "their" instead of "they're "? And you watch Jeopardy?
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Solidarity and morality for $__, please! Jerk is the next word following Jennings_Ken in the dictionary (at least the printable part of same!)
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I like Wheaton better all the time.
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You have to stand with your brothers and sisters.
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Wheaton is entitled to his opinion (and I agree) but if he wants to be taken seriously, maybe without the foul language.
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Good for Wil! Crossing a picket line is not okay. Jennings is doing it, Bialik is not. There, ladies and gentlemen, you find the difference between these two hosts. And we viewers will never forget it, either. 'Nuff said.
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Ken is not tied to any union associated with the show. Mayim's SAG-AFTRA membership precludes her from working due to that union's rules. Legally speaking, Ken can be fired by the studio for choosing to strike; Mayim cannot.
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He is absolutely right. There is nothing on earth lower than a scab.
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I agree with Wheaton. I If the studio wants to finish recording the current season, management foils can fill in as host.
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I wish I were surprised by all the comments shilling for oppressive work practices. 🙄
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While I might have issue with the language, I stand with Wil. As for supporting the contestants by allowing them to play, this isn't the first strike during filming, so I'm pretty sure there were options available. It isn't as if a break in filming is unusual, either.
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The problem with your reply is that Will Wheaton is calling out only one person! You must know that it is personal and is just a venue for him to get his name in print...and look at all of us, we are falling for it!
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Right to work is anti-American and must DIE like the broken idea it is. That's not up for debate or discussion either, ever.
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