A former “Jeopardy!” champion is weighing in on Mayim Bialik and her sudden determination to depart the “Jeopardy!” stage.
After internet hosting for 2 years, the “Blossom” baby star determined to step away from internet hosting because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Nevertheless, now that the strikes are over, she has determined to step away from internet hosting utterly and go away trivia guru Ken Jennings as the only host.
Former ‘Jeopardy!’ Champion Helps Ken Jennings As Sole Host
Many “Jeopardy!” followers will in all probability acknowledge Austin Rogers from his 2017 scorching streak. He used a few of his winnings to purchase a bar in New York Metropolis referred to as Gaf East. In a video obtained by TMZ, a photog requested Austin how he felt about Mayim’s exit.
When requested if her determination to step away because of the strike impacted her employment, Austin replied, “I believe it was time to say no [to host] throughout that point. We don’t wish to cross picket strains. […] However on the similar time, I don’t suppose that was a consider her exit.”
Austin additionally felt that she hadn’t left the present utterly and feels that she’s going to make a return to host primetime particular occasions. Austin feels that the continuity of getting one host – Ken Jennings – will enchantment to extra followers, whereas he feels that Mayim Bialik’s fanbase will assist her for primetime and spin-off reveals, like “Celeb Jeopardy!”
When requested if Ken must be the everlasting host, he replied, “Ken has earned the job. He is a superb human being. He’s extremely humorous and he’s so heat and type.”
“Ken Jennings has been synonymous with the phrase ‘Jeopardy!’ for nicely over 17 a long time as a result of he’s an ageless vampire who shall reside perpetually,” he joked, including that Ken has “earned” the “day-in-day-out” job.
Mayim Bialik Steps Away From ‘Jeopardy!’ Earlier than Vacation Break Begins
On Friday, December 15, “The Massive Bang Concept” actress took to Instagram to disclose that she was stepping away from her position as “Jeopardy!” host.
“As the vacation break begins in Hollywood, I’ve some Jeopardy! information, she wrote within the caption of a short Instagram put up. “Sony has knowledgeable me that I’ll not be internet hosting the syndicated model of Jeopardy!”
“I’m extremely honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for internet hosting this yr and I’m deeply grateful for the chance to have been part of the Jeopardy! household,” she continued. “For all of you who’ve supported me by way of this unbelievable journey and to the followers, contestants, writers. employees and crew of America’s Favourite Quiz Present, thanks.”
‘Jeopardy!’ Is ‘Grateful’ For Mayim’s Contributions To The Sport Present
About an hour later, the “Jeopardy!” Instagram account posted its personal assertion on social media. The message indicated that they had been nonetheless taken with working with the actress for primetime specials.
“Mayim Bialik has introduced she’s going to not be internet hosting the syndicated model of Jeopardy!” they wrote in a short Instagram assertion. “We made the choice to have one host for the syndicated present subsequent season to take care of continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings would be the sole host for syndicated Jeopardy!. We’re actually grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to proceed to work along with her on primetime specials.”
Ken Jennings Says He Was Caught ‘Off Guard’ By Her Exit
Throughout a December 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ken Jennings revealed that he was caught “off guard” by her determination however admitted that he felt “extraordinarily fortunate” to be chosen as the subsequent sole host of the present following the passing of late host Alex Trebek as a consequence of pancreatic most cancers in November 2020.
“It took me off guard, as a result of I liked working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her. I can’t converse to her decision-making course of or her opinions about it,” he defined. “However on my finish, I’m only a fan of Jeopardy! and I’m at all times delighted to host once they name upon me. I simply really feel extraordinarily fortunate to have even been thought-about for this job as a non-broadcaster.”
“It’s type of a bizarre factor to attempt to deliver again an ex-contestant to host, and I’ve clearly been studying as I’m going. However I liked rising up with Jeopardy! the place Alex was the host of that present for nearly 38 years, and other people simply type of felt like he was a part of their household, and it’s unimaginable to fill these sneakers,” he continued. “But it surely’s such an honor and hopefully I look ahead to 37 extra years of doing it, once I’ll be a really, very previous man.”
