‘Jeopardy!’ producer addresses Mayim Bialik firing: Ken ‘won the job’

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A producer with Jeopardy! has spoken out about Mayim Bialik’s firing and Ken Jennings’ takeover as the show’s permanent host.

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During a stop on the Unscripted Storytellers panel at the 2024 Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, showrunner Michael Davies said Bialik’s exit was hastened by the desire of fans to have more “consistency” on the game show.

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“Over the past two-and-a-half seasons, what we’ve heard from a lot of television stations and other interested parties is that they wanted more consistency,” Davies told attendees at the panel (per People). “They wanted a single host.”

Bialik and Jennings had split hosting duties on the show since 2021 following the 2020 death of longtime personality Alex Trebek. But since Season 40 of the syndicated program kicked off in September, Jennings has fronted the show all by himself.

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“When I took over the show, we were really forced into that situation from everything that happened before, the guest hosting period,” Davies said. “Mayim was left hosting the primetime versions; I brought in Ken to guest-host once Mayim had her schedule on her Fox sitcom (Call Me Kat).”

Still, Davies didn’t rule out Bialik returning to the show down the line.

“Mayim is a superb host. We hope to keep working with her on primetime versions and other spinoffs,” he said.

“Those conversations are ongoing – but Ken really won the job.”

In 2022, fans of the show reacted angrily when producers announced the pair would continue to divide up their on-air duties.

“We have so much Jeopardy! to make, and so many plans for the future, that we always knew we would need multiple hosts for the franchise and we are just so grateful that Mayim and Ken stepped in and stepped up to put the show in a position to succeed,” executive producer Michael Davies said in a message posted to the official Jeopardy! site.

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But the news landed with a soft thud on social media as dozens slammed the decision to keep Bialik in the fold for Season 39.

“Good that we won’t have to endure Mayim for the first half of the season, but we’ll have to put (up) with her or tune (in) to something else after that,” one person wrote, with another labelling the decision a “terrible idea.”

“Ken should be the only host,” they wrote. “He knows the game better, he’s more knowledgeable and he deserves it. I will only watch when he’s hosting. I like her as a comedian and actor, NOT a host. I’m very disappointed.”

“I am permanently not watching,” a third fan declared, with a fourth person jabbing, “She’s a mess.”

Bialik posted news of her departure on Instagram in December.

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“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!” Bialik wrote. “I am incredibly honored (sic) to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jennings said that he was “caught off guard” when he was asked to be the permanent face of the franchise.

“I just feel extremely lucky to have even been considered for this job as a non-broadcaster,” the winningest contestant in the show’s history said.

“It’s kind of a weird thing to try to bring back an ex-contestant to host, and I’ve obviously been learning as I go. But I loved growing up with Jeopardy! where Alex was the host of that show for almost 38 years, and people just kind of felt like he was part of their family, and it’s impossible to fill those shoes. But it’s such an honour and hopefully I look forward to 37 more years of doing it, when I’ll be a very, very old man.”

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X: @markhdaniell

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