Who Will Host the Upcoming Season of JEOPARDY!?
Photo via Jeopardy! Instagram
Who Will Host the Upcoming Season of JEOPARDY!?
By Movieguide® Contributor
JEOPARDY! host Ken Jennings reaffirmed his commitment to the show after questions about his return circulated online.
JEOPARDY! has faced a hosting problem since the long-time face of the show, Alex Trebek, stepped away shortly before passing away from cancer. An extensive search for his replacement was conducted with dozens of frontrunners serving as interim hosts before former JEOPARDY! champion Ken Jennings and BIG BANG THEORY actress Mayim Bialik were chosen as co-hosts in 2022.
In 2023, however, Bialik departed from the show, leaving Jennings the sole host. But with multiple versions of JEOPARDY! running at once, the producers have still relied on celebrity hosts to pick up some of the load. Furthermore, even after leading the show for two years, Jennings frequently receives criticism with many calling him awkward.
“[Jennings] is desperate to make it work and has no intention of leaving of his own accord,” a JEOPARDY! insider told Closer. “Ken’s well aware of the noise and tittle-tattle, and privately he would acknowledge these are tough times…but he’s insisting there’s a share of blame here. He doesn’t write the lines or pick the questions and contestants, and won’t be made a scapegoat.”
“He won’t take this treatment. He’s calling on bosses to be more supportive and warning people not to trip him up,” the source continued. “Ken doesn’t understand why viewers think this is all his fault, because it’s not. He believes others need to take responsibility. He’s done playing ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’”
Regardless of how the producers or fans feel about Jennings, he will continue to remain the face of the show and will host the upcoming season of CELEBRITY JEOPARDY! which begins on Jan. 8.
“Ken’s ready for the new season of #CelebrityJeopard!, are you?” an Instagram post from the show reads. “Watch the season premiere January 8 at a NEW TIME, 9/8c on ABC, and stream on Hulu!”
