Ken Jennings Stepping Down From Jeopardy! Hosting
Without Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! might not have acheived such huge praise in more recent years, but now the man has decided to step back from his hosting duties.
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Since longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek lost his battle with cancer in 2020, the show has been in disarray regarding his replacement. The series ran with various guest hosts until the studio decided that Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings would share the podium until the end of the 38th season. The move wasn’t surprising since the pair has been popular with fans since making their debut. As such, the network opted to keep them as hosts until further notice.
While Ken Jennings is the current favorite to permanently take over the hosting position, it seems like Mayim Bialik will be taking the reins for the next few months. In a post on social media, the former champion said he will be handing the keys back to the Call Me Kat star. Filled with praise for his co-host, he called said fans were lucky to have the talented actor-producer-writer-director at the podium. Jennings ended his message by saying he will be back before the end of the season. Check out Ken Jennings’ message to Jeopardy! fans below:
Although Ken Jennings has been passing hosting duties back and forth with The Big Bang Theory alum for quite some time, fans were still disappointed by the news. And they didn’t waste any time airing their feelings about it in the comments with one Jeopardy! viewer saying, “For a few months? Guess I won’t be watching for that long, then.” Another gave Jennings their endorsement for permanent host saying, “You will be so missed, Ken! You just need to be the permanent host! Why is this not obvious to the powers that be?”
Former contestants have also praised Ken Jennings’ run as host and chosen him for the permanent hosting position as well. In a recent interview with Vulture, current Jeopardy! champion Mattea Roach said that Jennings was her pick for the hosting gig because of his history with the show. “As a contestant, there’s something really special about being on stage with the greatest player of all time. Someone who understands in a very visceral way what it’s like to be in your position,” the 23-year-old told the publication. The Canadian’s historic 23 show streak came to an end on Friday.
While Ken Jennings has been very popular with Jeopardy! fans, Mayim Bialik has had a mixed response. Most recently, she was criticized for repeating an outfit on the popular quiz series. The Blossom star addressed the uproar during an appearance on the Drew Barrymore Show, where she told viewers that she will never wear the infamous orange blazer again. She also talked about how unwritten fashion rules make it difficult for women to appear in unique outfits on days when multiple episodes are being recorded.
While it remains to be seen if Ken Jennings will be named the next permanent host of Jeopardy!, the odds are not looking good. Earlier this year, he stepped down from NBC’s The Chase in possible preparation for a permanent spot at the quiz show podium. However, nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Meanwhile, Jennings remains part of the Jeopardy! staff as a consulting producer. His responsibilities include finding potential contestants, consulting on clue creation, and being an ambassador for the game show. With so much responsibility, it’s no wonder why he has stepped down as the show’s host.
