Ken Jennings Forced Off Jeopardy?
Since being named as a co-host alongside The Big Bang Theory star, Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings has been arguably the more smiled-upon face standing behind the hosting podium at Jeopardy! When Mayim Bialik took sides during the WGA strike and stepped down from her hosting duties to show solidarity with the writers, the game show winner-turned-host took it upon himself to be the singular face of the show. But, now, Jennings is facing pushback from fans of the series who are begging him to draw a line in the sand and join the writers and actors on strike.
While he was first seen as a hero by stepping in and single-handedly steering the show toward the end of the season, Jennings is now facing heaps of criticism from those who believe he’s using this opportunity to cash in on a big paycheck and solidify himself as the face of hosting.
According to TV Insider, rumors are in the air with the long-running game show’s 39th season coming to an end. With the WGA strike still in full swing, many are wondering about both Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik’s future participation in the 40th season of Jeopardy! and what it will all mean for the upcoming Tournament of Champions.
While he was first seen as a hero by stepping in and single-handedly steering the show toward the end of the season, Jennings is now facing heaps of criticism from those who believe he’s using this opportunity to cash in on a big paycheck and solidify himself as the face of hosting.
While Ken Jennings has held onto a position of neutrality, that time seems to be quickly coming to an end with those both in the business and outside of it calling on the Jeopardy! host to align himself with the writers and actors and take to the picket lines.
According to the insider behind the report, Jennings finds himself in a much different boat than the crew members of the show who can’t afford to step down from their roles due to financial restrictions.
While both hosts have faced their own amount of ridicule from fans, there’s no arguing that Mayim Bialik has dealt with the most pushback.
The current shadow being cast on Ken Jennings is a shocking one to be coming from the Jeopardy! community as the champion-turned-host has long been the fan-favorite choice to step into the shoes of the late Alex Trebek. After cycling through a handful of possible hosts, Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik landed the jobs of co-hosting the show, a job they’ve both taken on over the last few seasons.
While both hosts have faced their own amount of ridicule from fans, there’s no arguing that Mayim Bialik has dealt with the most pushback. Meanwhile, Ken Jennings continues to be viewed as a Jeopardy! darling, seemingly doing no wrong in the eyes of the dedicated fandom.
When it was announced that he would be returning early from a hiatus that was initially meant to see him away from the podium until the early fall, audiences were thrilled that Jennings would be returning while Bialik joined the picket lines in solidarity.
Jeopardy’s Uncertain Future
Unfortunately for the favorite host, it would now appear as though the tables are turning with more fans and viewers standing in solidarity with the writers and actors taking up signs and joining the strike.
As this season wraps up, it will be interesting to see how Ken Jennings chooses to move forward with his hosting duties and whether he’ll, like Bialik, temporarily step down from his role at Jeopardy! or hold onto it for as long as he can.
