Why Mayim Bialik Isn’t Hosting ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Next Season
As TV Insider reported yesterday, Monday, August 21, Mayim Bialik will not be hosting the upcoming Celebrity Jeopardy! tournament. Instead her Jeopardy! co-host Ken Jennings will once again be stepping in to replace her.
If you’re wondering why The Big Bang Theory alum won’t be appearing in the new season, it’s because of the ongoing Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Bialik, who is a member of the SAG, previously stepped away from her hosting duties at the end of Season 39 in solidarity with those on the picket lines.
When Bialik bowed out of the final week of Season 39 tapings, Jennings filled in for the remaining episodes. He will now do the same for Celebrity Jeopardy!, which is expected to return on Wednesday, September 27. The Jeopardy! GOAT’s decision to continue hosting has been met with backlash from some fans and former players, with ex-champ Wil Wheaton referring to him as a “scab.”
Bialik hasn’t spoken publicly about her decision to step away from Jeopardy! However, Variety reports that she was asked to host the upcoming Celeb edition but declined the invite due to the ongoing strikes.
Earlier this month, Jeopardy! showrunner Michael Davies confirmed that Season 40 would go ahead with recycled material and material written before the WGA strike. The season will begin with a Second Chance tournament featuring Season 37 contestants, followed by a Champions Wild Card series, where the winners of the Second Chance competition will face off against former Season 38 champions.
Bialik and Jennings were officially announced as Jeopardy!’s new hosts in July 2022 following the passing of Alex Trebek. The pair split duties hosting the syndicated show, while Bialik also hosted Celebrity Jeopardy! and other spin-offs, including the National College Championships and the High School Reunion.
Jennings helmed the first Second Chance tournament in October 2022, the Tournament of Champions in November 2022, and Jeopardy! Masters in May 2023. So long as the strikes continue, it seems safe to say Jennings will be leading all future episodes and tournaments until the issues are resolved.
Meanwhile, Bialik continues to release new episodes of her podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, where she invites on guests to discuss mental health issues.
Celebrity Jeopardy!, Season 2 Premiere, Wednesday, September 27, 8/7c, ABC
Conversation11 Comments
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We’ll because she’s an awful host! She ruins Jeopardy.
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We don't really care why, just glad she isn't doing it.
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P
Yay! Hope this leads to only Ken Jennings hosting Jeopardy
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As nice a gesture as her decision may be, the studio now has grounds to fire her because SAG’s network code clearly writes in an exception for union members to continue working on production for quiz/game shows. “Solidarity” is not a good enough reason to skip work. Don’t be surprised if a “graceful bow-out” is in the cards.
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T
Let's hope so!!
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B
I want to tell Will Wheaton to keep his big mouth shut! He is Mayim's bestie and I am wondering if he is saying her thoughts or channeling her thoughts or if he is just an imbecile, but he is just so rude calling Ken Jennings a scab! I truly hope he is never invited back to Jeopardy! Mayim is an actress and not a game show host! Most of all the other game show hosts are still taping and hosting their shows. Will Wheaton's public and vindictive chatter makes him look like he's so jealous of Ken!
Will Wheaton, you need to apologize to Ken Jennings!!! He is not a scab!!!!
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G
Bring her back please!!!!!!!
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I think there is a plan to replace her, she is too smart, a feature not allowed on TV, Ken is Ok, but boring and caters to the queer contestants
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I’m just disgusted that fans continue to complain where Sony clearly wants her. So someone needs to defend her, because I believe her and Ken anew excellent hosts. If fans really want her gone, then try and do some that out it or quit whining. Look this has gone on too long. There was even a comment here where they want here fired because they believe she has done something wrong when it to the strike, where in reality she hasn’t.
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I'm not sure she can legitimately host Jeopardy right now. According to her IMDB, she has written something back in 2022. Also, if Sony wanted her to host Celebrity Jeopardy, that tells me they have no intention of removing her as host. So fans, just enjoy Ken Jennings as the sole host while this strike is still ongoing because she will eventually be back.
I posted this before and never got a response. If fans are that tired of her as host, put out a petition to Sony to have her removed. All this whining will get you nowhere. Have the balls and try and do something about it. I'll have more respect for someone if they try and make a legitimate effort to have her removed instead of sounding like a bunch of little cry babies. For over 2 years, fans have been whining about wanting her out. Now either do something about it or stop whining.
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Personally I do not care for her as the host of Jeopardy! On the other hand, she actually shines when hosting Celebrity Jeopardy! because she is in her element and with people she mostly knows. But she does not shine on regular Jeopardy! If Sony wants her so bad let her host Celebrity Jeopardy! only.
My initial problem with her was when she was campaigning to be the only full-time host of Jeopardy! I thought she was selfish and crazy and could not understand how she thought her connection to the show could be anywhere near Ken's connection to the show and Alex. That was a very bazaar situation to me.
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