As the quest for a permanent “Jeopardy!” host began last season, the beloved quiz show that has seen very little change in format over the years rotated through 16 guest hosts.
Every single host sparked discussion and debate among “Jeopardy!” fans. Some people even claimed they would stop watching the show altogether if “Jeopardy!” went with certain hosts.
Now, after Mike Richards’ rapid fall from the “Jeopardy!” host position, the show has resumed its quest to name Alex Trebek’s successor. But this time around, “Jeopardy!” is conducting the search with a little less fanfare.
Currently in its 38th season, “Jeopardy!” recently announced that only two people will stand behind the hosting lectern through the end of the calendar year: Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings.
Bialik is up first, starting on Monday. The neuroscientist and actress well known for her role as Amy Farrah Fowler on “The Big Bang Theory” is hosting episodes that will air through Nov. 5.
Mayim Bialik returns to hosting ‘Jeopardy!’
This marks Bialik’s return to the “Jeopardy!” hosting lectern. Last season, the actress was the eighth person to fill in as guest host of “Jeopardy!” following Trebek’s death, the Deseret News reported.
Bialik’s initial 10 episodes as guest host aired during the springtime, and she approached the role with a lot of enthusiasm.
“I can’t imagine not wanting to do anything involved with ‘Jeopardy!’” she said during a “Jeopardy!” interview at the time. “I offered to sweep the floors and they said, ‘No, you can guest host.’”
Trebek was always adamant that the contestants — not the host — were the stars of “Jeopardy!” Between the contestants and the “Jeopardy!” game board, the host doesn’t typically get a lot of screen time during an episode, which is one of the reasons Bialik said she was able to actually watch herself guest host.
“I watched myself and had all sorts of criticism,” she said in a video shared on Twitter, noting that her voice was shot from wrapping up filming on her current show, “Call Me Kat.” “My kids didn’t tease me too badly. ... It was very surreal to see myself there.
“I’d say it’s the only thing that I’ve ever enjoyed myself in, mostly because I was barely on camera,” she continued with a laugh.
Could Mayim Bialik become the permanent ‘Jeopardy!’ host?
Last month, “Jeopardy!” announced that Bialik would officially join the show as the host of primetime and spin-off specials — including the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” that will air on ABC next year.
Now, the actress is reportedly being considered for the role of permanent host, according to CNN.
Bialik has previously expressed interest in taking on the position full-time, telling USA Today that she cried when her initial stint as guest host was over.
“I didn’t want to leave,” she said. “This is one of the most iconic things that I can be part of in my life. Of all the things I’ve done, of all the acting I’ve done, of all the advocacy I’ve done, and all my academic things, this is the most globally understood, absolutely incredible thing to be part of. It’s unbelievable.
“If people find me tolerable, this is a dream job.”
When will Ken Jennings host ‘Jeopardy!’?
Once Bialik’s second run as “Jeopardy!” host concludes on Nov. 5, she and Jennings will split hosting duties for the remainder of 2021.
Jennings, a 74-game “Jeopardy!” champion who won the “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” tournament last year, has also expressed interest in hosting the show full-time. According to The Ringer, several Jeopardy!” staffers and former contestants figured Jennings would be Trebek’s successor — an expectation that grew when he was named as consulting producer for the show’s 37th season.
Of all the 16 guest hosts who filled in for the show’s 37th season, Jennings had the highest ratings, the Deseret News reported.
Jennings has said that hosting the show gave him even greater respect for Trebek, who seemed to fulfill the role so effortlessly for 36 years.
“You’re running the show in real time like a referee,” Jennings said, according to My Edmonds News. “You have to read a clue, you have to look up and see what they buzzed in, and as they are answering you have to adjudicate what they are saying and then move on appropriately. (Trebek) did it with such grace, you didn’t really notice how hard it was. My heart goes out to anybody brave enough to try that job.”
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