What is: Two hosts?
Current Jeopardy! leads Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik are set to keep swapping spots behind the lectern of the popular quiz show as it enters its 39th season this fall, according to media reports.
Variety reports that Sony Pictures Entertainment is entering into lengthy deals that will have the two hosts continue to share hosting duties on the long-running game show as well as a spinoff Celebrity Jeopardy! series.
“With all of our plans for Jeopardy! — which is more Jeopardy!, not less, more versions — we’re going to need multiple hosts to represent the entire audience, to represent the entire country, in order to take this franchise forward,” executive producer Michael Davies told Variety in June.
Jeopardy! has been on the hunt for a permanent host after the 2020 death of Alex Trebek, who helmed the program since 1984. After trying out various guest faces in 2021, the series’ executive producer Mike Richards was briefly named as the show’s permanent lead before being dismissed when past controversial comments resurfaced on social media.
Before producers settled on alternating between Jennings and Bialik, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he would have taken the job on a full-time basis, if offered.
“I definitely would have,” the Green Bay Packers football star said during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “If they would have figured out a way to make it work with my schedule, yeah, for sure.”
In May, Jeopardy! fans reacted in anger when Jennings revealed Bialik’s return after Canadian champ Mattea Roach’s 23-game winning streak came to an end.
“Congratulations to Mattea Roach on a truly iconic @Jeopardy streak. I believe she’s one of only three champs in history ever to ‘shoot their age’: 23 years old, 23 wins,” Jennings tweeted.
“I’m handing the keys back to the talented actor-producer-writer-director (!) @missmayim for a few months. We are lucky to have her! Thanks for watching, and I’ll be back before the end of the season.”
“Ken is IT!” one person griped. “He knows the game & game strategy, he is funny, quick as heck, humble & endearingly self-effacing.”
“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! NOT MAYIM BIALIK!!! I WANT AARON RODGERS!!!” another fan complained.
“No Ken, no more Mattea … I guess I can skip Jeopardy! for awhile,” a third chimed.
But not everyone was opposed to Bialik’s return.
“I think both Ken and Mayim are wonderful hosts!” one fan enthused. “Both are very intelligent and know how to capture the audience.”
In an interview with Vulture, Roach weighed in on who she thought should be the next permanent host. “I would say Ken because of his history with the show,” she said. “As a contestant, there’s something really special about being onstage with the greatest player of all time. Someone who understands in a very visceral way what it’s like to be in your position. Mayim is fantastic, but she doesn’t have that same experience.”
Post a Comment