Mayim Bialik Is Almost Universally Despised As Jeopardy! Host
Mayim Bialik is not liked by Jeopardy fans for consistent mistakes, poor pacing, and even accepting a wrong answer for Final Jeopardy.
After the tragic loss of Alex Trebek in 2020, the quiz show Jeopardy struggled to find a reliable replacement host. It finally settled on The Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik and former Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings, who share hosting duties. A report from The Sun reveals that, while many Jeopardy fans love Jennings, Mayim Bialik may be tanking the show’s ratings.
On February 20th, Mayim Bialik stepped onto the daily Jeopardy show to host a special High School Reunion tournament that reunites contestants from 2019’s Teen Tournament. Until now, Bialik’s hosting duties had been restricted to tournaments and specials, with Ken Jennings hosting regular episodes. However, the new tournament has replaced regular episodes and will air until March 9.
Mayim Bialik has already been criticized for her poor pace and pronunciation when reading clues, and on the first day of the latest 14-episode tournament, she committed another Jeopardy! faux pas. During Final Jeopardy, Bialik seemingly confirmed an incorrect answer to a clue.
The clue read: “Heard here is this British national anthem that has the same melody as ‘My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee.’” Audrey Sarin, a college senior, answered: “What is God Save the Queen?” Bialik accepted the response, a move that sparked internet controversy.
Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September of 2022, Britain’s monarch has been a king. The national anthem changes depending on whether or not a king or queen is on the throne, and at the time of the taping, the British were singing ‘God Save the King’ across the pond. A minor technicality, sure, but sticklers have been unwilling to let Mayim Bialik slide.
Bialik’s three-week hosting gig on Jeopardy has many fans so disappointed that they are willing to temporarily abandon the show, which is already struggling to maintain ratings. The disdain for Mayim Bialik as a host of Jeopardy! is strong and venomous. Fans refuse to pull their punches, and the question on everyone’s lips is: When is Ken coming back?
Ken Jennings is scheduled to return to the main Jeopardy stage in March after the High School Reunion tournament ends, but some fans speculate that Mayim Bialik may be around for a while. Were Bialik to host Jeopardy for the remainder of season 39, which ends in July, then the hosting duty for the season would be split evenly between the two co-hosts.
Even if that is the plan, the responses to Mayim Bialik may alter the show’s course. While many have voiced dislike for Bialik’s approach to hosting, some have offered her support. Those Tweets, however, are much harder to come by.
Mayim Bialik is a rarity in Hollywood; she is an actress with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She started as the title character on the early 90s sitcom Blossom. After that, she rocketed into fame as Amy Fowler on The Big Bang Theory and now shares her time on Jeopardy with the Fox show Call Me Kat. She will next appear in The Inspector Chronicles, a comedic play on Doctor Who.
Jeopardy has withstood the test of time, but it may not withstand Mayim Bialik. If the exodus of fans caused by Bialik’s hosting continues, the show may risk cancellation. When Ken Jennings will return is one question Jeopardy fans can’t wait to see answered.
