‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’: Ken Jennings Replaces Mayim Bialik as Host
Ken Jennings is officially stepping in to serve primetime hosting duties on ABC‘s Celebrity Jeopardy! which was previously helmed by Mayim Bialik.
The former Jeopardy! champ-turned-host is filling the role Bialik once filled as she hosted the primetime special run on ABC for its first season, according to Deadline. The news shouldn’t come as a major surprise to viewers who missed Bialik’s hosting on the final weeks of the regular Jeopardy! series which she co-hosts with Jennings.
(Credit: ABC)
As previously reported, The Big Bang Theory actress took a step back from hosting to stand in solidarity with the striking writers and now continues to do so while also supporting her fellow SAG-AFTRA members who are striking as well. According to On Camera Audiences, which allows fans to snag tickets to live tapings, filming for Celebrity Jeopardy! has already begun.
The show is expected to return Wednesday, September 27 with brand new episodes featuring celebrity contestants competing to win big for charities of their choosing. Also returning the same evening is Celebrity Wheel of Fortune which will air directly after.
Celebrity Jeopardy! is just one of the many game shows filling up the ABC slate this season as the network puts a focus on unscripted content amid the ongoing strikes which is holding up the return of scripted favorites like Abbott Elementary and Grey’s Anatomy.
As previously reported, Jeopardy!‘s 40th season will feature material written prior to the WGA strike as well as “non-original material,” meaning recycled questions. It’s unclear if that applies to Celebrity Jeopardy! at this time. Stay tuned for more updates as we await news on Celebrity Jeopardy!‘s return, and let us know what you think about the show’s hosting switch-up in the comments section, below.
Celebrity Jeopardy!, Season 2 Premiere, Wednesday, September 27, 8/7c, ABC
Conversation38 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
G
The best news I’ve heard in months. Congratulations Ken. I won’t half to skip half a year of J!
45 10
-
O
I have always like Ken better than Mayim!! Rarely ever watch Jeopardy when Mayim is host!! Just hate the pause before she let's the person know if they are correct!! Absolutely hate it!!!
34
-
G
So glad Ken taking over. Really don't care for for Mayah. I think she is condescending, phony, disinterested in contestant's comments, and that pause before determination re contestants'answer is so off-putting. Hopefully she will not return to Jeopardy.
42 9
-
J
Yes, it's obvious you don't care for her... you don't even bother to spell her name correctly. Like a 3rd-grader on the playground calling someone they don't like by the wrong name.
1 8
-
-
G
Sony now has just cause to terminate Mayim's contract from the franchise since SAG explicitly told their members to honor their contracts to game shows.
32 1
-
G
Yea! The more Ken the better…
36 7
-
G
I am sooo glad is replacing Mayim. She makes a lousy host. She needs to stick with acting.
31 4
-
G
I wish Bialik well. The producers did her no favour putting up against the GOAT. He’s a consummate jeopardy host too.
29 4
-
B
This is a win-win for all parties involved, it seems. Mayim can now have a graceful exit from the show, including the everyday edition, on good terms with the public by saying she left in solidarity with the writers. The studio and network executives no longer have to deal with the constant media haranguing of employing two hosts (which gave off the appearance of a competition, even if it wasn’t intended this way). And now, the audience, who largely prefers Ken, gets him as sole host.
23
-
G
ABC probably didn't want Sony to pump the brakes on production, particularly when network executives became aware that Ken was capable of delivering higher ratings than Mayim in a primetime format. The 'Masters' spinoff became the most successful primetime edition since the 'GOAT' tournament hosted by Alex in 2020.
21
-
O
I’m delighted that Bialik won’t be on Jeopardy for whatever reason. I don’t watch when she is/was hosting and now I don’t have to miss watching Jeopardy to avoid her. Looking forward to the next season hosted by Ken Jennings!!! Yaaaassy!!
16
-
R
Fantastic I was about to give up if she stayed
25 9
-
P
Ken Jennings is an excellent Jeopardy! host.💙💜💙💜 He should be the sole fulltime host of ALL the syndicated episodes as well as ALL the tournaments, including Collegiate, and most definitely the Masters Championships🏆! If he's now going to be hosting the Celebrity version as well, hopefully that will improve over last season and actually be worth watching this season.🤦♀️ Of all the Jeopardy versions, "Celebrity Jeopardy!" was the only one for which Mayim was suited. If she returns to Jeopardy in the future, the Celebrity episodes should be the ONLY ones she hosts.👸 She presents as "acting" the role of host (NOT actually as "hosting"). She should use her skills for TV sitcoms and movies....NOT Jeopardy❗
16 1
-
E
I believe viewership will go up now. She is SO boring.
24 10
-
B
Boredom is in the eyes and ears of the beholder. Neither of them are Alex...but both are good in my opinion.
3 7
-
-
R
I’m not sure Mayim is disinterested in players.
She is just not as good as Ken.
Ken is the consummate host of Jeopardy and Alex would approve wholeheartedly! 🎉🎈
8
-
O
It's all about "who you know" to get you into the spotlight, according to a lot of the viewers. I agree with the complainers!!!
8
-
G
Once again I’m going to watch Jeopardy. Honesty Miyam just does NOT have it .
Why was she picked to start with ? Who knows ?!
4
-
B
Glad Ken will be full time host now. Mayim was a terrible host. Never watched when she was hosting.
4
-
G
Excellent idea to let Ken Jennings host all Jeopardy shows. He has the background and knowledge to stand toe to toe with any of the contestants. His expertise allows him to make meaningful comments about the guest's answers and humorous comments to keep the show interesting.
3
-
O
Never liked Mayim. The show is much better with someone who has knowledge and Ken definitely has that 👌
1
-
O
I am less interested in who will be handling the CELEBRITY JEOPARDY chores. As far as I'm concerned IBM's AI Winston could host. And REALLY P.O. SAG-AFTRA. What I want to find out is who are the guests crossing the pick line? Or will E.P. Michael Davies put the show on the road & pick contestants FROM the picket line?
-
G
I have been watching Jeopardy even before Alex. I like both of the hosts now. I approve of Mayah taking part in support of the writers. She is an actress. I approve of Jennings taking the rein until she returns. He is not an actor and even though he is on a TV show, l don't yet think of him as show biz. He really has no skin in the strike. Hopefully, you can continue Jeopardy until the strike is settled and Jeopardy can continue on with both hosts. I like both of them. I am too addicted o Jeopardy after all these years to give it up now! 😪
13 14
-
O
Pretty crappy to get rid of Mayim because she stood by the writers strike, I will no longer be watching Jeopardy, anyone that can treat people that way are sickening.
2
-
G
Mayim is the best host in every way.
If Sony let’s her go, my time with Jeopardy is over.
4
-
P
In this context, it's not about who's hosting. It's about the producers. I laud Bialik for her stance in solidarity. I'm OK with Ken feeling this is none of his fight (even if I don't agree). Who's my favorite host is irrelevant. Because I DO think both WGA & SAG-AFTRA have legitimate concerns that aren't being honestly addressed. Even tho Jepardy! is the only such game show that has consistentlyr commended my interest over the years, I will not be watching any versions/episodes, regardless of who hosts, until the strikes are satisfactorially resolved.
1 5
-
G
BOOOO!!!!!
9
-
P
What a shame. I prefer MAYIM as the host. Sorry but I won't be watching Jeopardy anymore. Sadly all things must end. Alex, Mayim it was a good run.
10
-
R
As a life long fan of Jeopardy I’m embarrassed to be a fan. For fans that will only watch the show because they don’t like a certain host is embarrassing. To want a certain host to be gone from the show is embarrassing. This show is about the players. These two do their best to be the best they can but it’s not good enough for you. As long you fans continue to complain about wanting Mayim gone as host I’ll be disappointed that you fans are that petty.
13 23
-
B
Always #teammayim
She was a breath of fresh air
I♥️Mayim
12
-
G
I like in Jennings, the least, he just doesn’t seem natural at this job. He looks and sounds like he’s reading Q cards and reading them very poorly.
6 18
-
B
Have never been fan of Ken Jennings. I so miss Mayah and hope the strike gets over soon so she returns.
6 22
-
J
Her name is Mayim.
1
-
-
P
Well I won't ever watch that boring Ken .
Jeopardy is over for me as long as he is host.
I find his attitude insulting to viewers.
I think Alex Trebek deserves someone better to fill his shoes.
Mayim is at least brilliant,while
Jennings has zero intelligence and integrity.
Like the guy said,Ken is like watching dry toast.
He is only staying on through the writers strike to get this hosting job.
He is only out for himself.
He has already proven that with the mistakes he makes.
2 19
-
R
Ken is boring, like watching paint dry.
7 25
-
O
I am unhappy that Mayim Bialik is being treated so poorly. I have read criticism by Jennings fans and some media, like The Sun, where Jennings is referred to as a champion and Bialik is called a "sitcom actress" with no refrence to her neurology doctorate. I found Dr. Bialik a refreshing host. Jennings' ego sometimes annoys me. Can't they both host or is Jennings too insecure to share hosting duties?
1 22
-
R
Thank you. I'm sensing loads of misogyny and perhaps a whiff of anti-Semitism in these nasty anti Mayim comments. I love her. For crap's sake, it's just a game show.
5
-
-
P
Mayim was a far better host (in my personal opinion). She will be missed.
1 25
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