‘Jeopardy!’ Boss Speaks Out on Ken vs. Mayim Debate, Plus Who Gets Better Ratings
Jeopardy! showrunner Michael Davies has made plenty of changes since taking over the role from Mike Richards in 2021, including new visuals, new tournaments, new rules, and, of course, two new hosts.
While Davies himself didn’t select Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik as Jeopardy! hosts (that was decided before he came aboard), he has helped them settle into their roles, including choosing which specials and tournaments each should helm. It was initially reported that Bialik would be hosting all prime-time events, but the currently airing Masters tournament sees Jennings in the host role.
“When I joined Jeopardy!, there was already a deal that existed with Mayim to do all prime-time events,” Davies told Vulture in a new interview. “At that point, it was just the Jeopardy! National College Championship. I don’t think anybody had thought about any other prime-time events. Then Celebrity Jeopardy! happened, which became natural for Mayim to handle.”
However, since taking over, Davies has introduced several new tournaments, including a Second Chance competition and the currently airing Masters, which sees six of Jeopardy‘s elite players facing off.
“I think Mayim would agree that Masters was a more natural Ken tournament in terms of where his true hosting expertise lies,” Davies explained. “To me, it was pretty clear from the start that Ken was going to host.”
Davies is aware that the fanbase has strong opinions on Bialik and Jennings and which host they prefer. The executive producer, who was responsible for bringing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to the U.S., said he looks at all the data but overall doesn’t see a huge difference in preference.
“We read data from everywhere,” he stated. “In terms of the tiny percentage of our audience that do go on Reddit or Twitter, there are Ken fans and there are Mayim fans. There are some people who love Jeopardy! and will watch both. We also have various fans who post that they don’t like either of them. That’s just part of the data we look at.”
But one of the biggest and most important things he looks at is the show’s ratings. “When Ken is hosting and Mayim is hosting, there’s zero difference. It’s exactly the same and that’s the broadest part of the audience,” Davies said.
He went on to say that there was “an incredible fracture at the heart of Jeopardy” when he first arrived, noting the death of the show’s longtime host Alex Trebek. And he understood there was a lot of rebuilding that needed doing.
“I stand by the decision to bring Ken in and have Ken be a second host along with Mayim. I back both of them,” he added. “I go to the studio every day and try to make both of them better at hosting the show and make a better program environment around them. They have my full support.
Davies also noted how Jennings and Bialik are both new to the world of hosting, so it’s a learning process.
“I do read everything, and look, the strongest thing we’ve got is the passion of our fans. I wish many of our fans were more patient in understanding that we’re dealing with two hosts. Mayim is a very experienced actress. Ken is a very experienced Jeopardy! player. They’re both at the beginning of their hosting careers.”
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Conversation53 Comments
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I love Ken and do not watch when Mayim is hosting. I like her as an actress but not on jeopardy
56 8
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That reflects a very narrow minded person that has the potential to be a stalker. It's not the program you're watching but the host!
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Ken Jennings should be permanent host
I won’t watch Jeopardy when Mayim is hosting
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I agree! I won't watch when Mayim hosts nor do I record it for future viewing. I've been a die-hard Jeopardy! Fan since 1986. No longer. Mayim diminutizes Jeopardy!
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Please, please, please, it should be Ken only. Mayim's jerky moves and condescending voice are so unpleasant. Also, why does she hesitate to say the contestants' answers are right or wrong, especially on daily doubles? She wants to be the star of the show instead of the contestants.
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I’ve always watched Jeopardy. Now I only watch the ones Ken Jennings hosts. I just don’t care for Mayim Bailik in any capacity, therefore, I don’t watch the ones she hosts.
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Interesting. It’s the precise opposite for me. Hmm. Thanks.
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Myiam is terrible. It should always be Ken, it doesn't make sense for it to be anyone else with his resume.
44 6
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Sometime it's not about the resume, it's about the presentation!!
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You think Alex was a Jeopardy champion before he was host?
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Ken is my choice because his a champion. I can't stand Mayim.
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I have been watching Jeopardy every day for decades!! Now I can’t stand Mayim and only watch when Ken is hosting. It’s disappointing that he isn’t the only host. Then I would watch every show as I have always done for years and years.
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Ken always explains any anomaly that occurs in any category ie "ee:".will appear in each answer Mayim does not. She takes an exceptional amount of time to reveal whether the contestant is right or wrong - this is so aggravation after a short period of time. I have watched jeopardy for decades and will continue to do so. I hope the show will be tweaked and perhaps Mayim can be trained up to smooth out the aggregating habits she has.
29 5
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I agree about the excruciating time it takes her to say if the contestant is correct or wrong…….awful waste of time 🌚
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I agree with you that she hesitates if their right or wrong. Ken is so much better at hosting.
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Don't care for mayim. Why would she point out someone's misspelling if not to embarrass them?
28 5
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On some game shows, if you spell it wrong, you lose. Just like Mayim. It's spelled with a capital letter! All nouns and proper nouns are. J/S
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Both are ok but I prefer Ken Jennings
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I prefer watching Ken Jennings. It is clear to me that Mayim is not comfortable in her role as host of Jeopardy. She is trying but it doesn’t look like a good fit for her. She should stick to acting. Ken seems to be much more suited to the role of Host.
24 5
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Ken is a true part of jeopardy and should be the only host.
He’s gracious, kind to contestants
and knows what to say—he had such a long run as a contestant and knows the game inside out.
Having 2 hosts means always competing.
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I like Ken. I only watch when he is the host.
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I just can not believe that there is no difference in the ratings between Ken and Ms. Bailik . While I don’t tune her off
Mostly because my wife tends to like her , I can not stand her ………and frankly I believe they need a new “dresser “
because she looks as if the outfits came from a thrift shop !
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Only KEN !
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Ken does a much better job than mayim
Her delays in ruling are aggravating ..either she doesn't study or is just dumb...
She is also extremely biased towards contestants...giving female contestants extra time and quick rules against men...
She showed disappointment when champ won and didn't recognize him qualifying for TOC until the next day...whereas when female contestant qualified she was gushing praise...
Please remove her and stay with Ken
Who is heads and tails better...
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I prefer Ken! Much better at responding to answers! Doesn’t hesitate like Mayim does.
9 1
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I am a long time Jeopardy Fan. I only watch when Ken Jennings host the shows. I just can't stand to watch Mayim. She maybe intelligent and a good actress but she is horrible at hosting.
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I like Ken Jennings but I do not like Mayim Bailik at all. I don't watch when she is hosting!!
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I agree that Mayim is unsuitable as host of Jeopardy...
Please make Ken the permanent host...
Alex would agree 🙂
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I wonder why Jeopardy picked Mayim as a cohost on Jeopardy. She is has no history on Jeopardy and doesn’t handle the job easily. I wish Ken was there full time! He has a long history on Jeopardy and does a fantastic job as
Host. He makes Alex proud! I’m a lifelong Fan of Jeopardy and was very disappointed when they hired Mayim. Ken is so much better and carries on Alex’s legacy, Please make Ken full time host! That’s what Alex and all the fans would want! ❤️
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HE isn't being honest. The real ratings on a consistent basis has Jennings well above Bialik. They should get rid of her. Enough pandering.
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My mom and I have watched from the beginning. We do not watch if she host. As I remember Alex Trebek said that he wanted Ken Jennings to predecessor on air. Look back through the tapes. With that we will only watch Ken Jennings. Tournament championship that she host we don't watch. Take her off the show. She downs players. She makes them look stupid and she is rude.
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Both Ken and Mayim are doing very well. I wouldn't miss watching Jeopardy regardless. For me it's more about the clues and contestants.
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Dedicated fan!
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Mayim HAS GOT TO GO !! Ben Chen last episode sealed her fate . OUTRAGEOUS!! 🤬
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I like Jeopardy
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When is Ken Jennings coming back??
Will not watch until he is back!!
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Please, stop with the Mayim hate! She's an excellent host and warm person!
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I can't believe that the show's producers actually acted on something as infantile as complaints from the comments section. First of all, they've been complaining since before she was picked to be on the show. I can guarantee you that most of this has to do with her being female and their lack of willingness to change.
If it makes any difference, I think she's doing fine. She hasn't had a chance to play the game herself, but I'm sure she'd do well. She hosts the game in a natural, friendly manner. Both Alex and Ken make their mistakes, too. They just don't have a whole gang riding them until they get run off.
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I think he would be distracting, trying to make every A/Q into some kind of joke. It works for Family Feud, but not for this kind of quiz show.
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Jeopardy should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to put Mayim Bialik as a host of the show. As a long time fan it is disgraceful to have someone with no personality and no clue to being a sufficient host of this award winning show. I also watch the Game show network and everyone of those hosts are 10 times better than this woman. She hesitates on every answer, rarely gives scores after rounds and doesn't even know when a Daily Double is chosen (or give options when it is). Let's cut to the chase and name Ken Jennings, a great host to follow Alex, as permanent host. I, like the others, delete the shows now that don't have Ken.
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I watch both of them because I have loved Jeopardy since Art Fleming's seasons. I prefer Ken, he's more of a fit and he's having more fun. I like to watch Mayim and see how much easier she is, and how she' starting to have real fun.
But those high heels! I hurt every time I see more than 2" heels.
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Mayim is an excellent actress but as far as hosting Jeopardy, she is lifeless. Boring. Like a robot. And takes time in confirming if the answer is correct. Maybe Buzzy Cohen should replace her permanently
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I refuse to watch whenever Jennings is host. He stinks, not charismatic like Alex, not even good looking. I only watch if Mayim hosts. Another good host would be Holzhauer, fun but extremely intelligent.
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Who cares???
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I wish they would let Tony host!
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Who's Tony? Tony the Tiger?
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i only watch when Mayim hosts i love when she gets excited when a daily double is chosen, she adds excitment for the viewers.Ipersonally find Ken boring
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Ken is a misogynist and a scab.
1 5
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I like both I like the diversity they are both a breath of fresh air. God never
makes duplicates even in the reason
for our choices through out the various stages in our lives. We ALL
morph along life’s stages!!!! ????
I watch Jeopardy every evening
Please don’t pick favourites. See
the value in each we are all fearfully and wonderfully made … by God!!!
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I would love to see Steve Harvey guest host
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i do not like Ken Jennings and do not watch when he is hosting.
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I agree, but most here love Ken. So either Mayim has no fans, which audience data would prove otherwise, or Ken fans feel a collective need to tell us about what they hate on this earth while Mayim fans do not. Interesting.
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Both hosts are OK. If I had to choose I would choose Mayim as my favorite. She makes it fun to watch. Ken sometimes it’s like watching paint dry. Just my personal opinion.
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