Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings reveals he’s leaving game show for ‘MONTHS’ as fans claim they won’t watch until he returns
JEOPARDY! host Ken Jennings has revealed that he’s leaving the show for a long hiatus.
Disappointed fans shared their reactions after the much-loved former champion announced the news on Twitter.
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Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings announced he’s taking a hiatusCredit: Getty
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He’ll be leaving viewers in the hands of Mayim Bialik, with whom he shares hosting dutiesCredit: Getty
Addressing his 490k followers and millions of Jeopardy! fans around the world, 47-year-old Ken announced: “I’m handing the keys back to the talented actor-producer-writer-director (!) Mayim Bialik for a few months.”
Ken currently shares hosting duties with Mayim Bialik, 46, with Jeopardy! yet to officially announce the next permanent host.
He sang his costar’s praises as he continued: “We are lucky to have her!
“Thanks for watching, and I’ll be back before the end of the season.”
However, Ken’s loyal fans were not happy to hear that he will be away from their screens.
One wrote: “For a few months? Guess I won’t be watching for that long, then.”
Another added: “You will be so missed, Ken! You just need to be the permanent host! Why is this not obvious to the powers that be?”
A third chimed in: “No! No Ken… I guess I can skip Jeopardy! for awhile,” while one said, “… A couple of months is way too long!”
PODIUM BATTLE
While Ken has been overwhelmingly popular with viewers, former Big Bang Theory star Mayim has had a more mixed response.
Fans have shared their criticisms of her hosting style on Twitter as episodes aired on ABC.
One viewer previously wrote: “Jeopardy! needs to make Ken Jennings the full-time host.
“Not only do I miss Ken when he’s not there, but Mayim reminds me daily of how much better he is at the job.”
Another raged: “Get Mayim Bialik off the show! She’s losing viewers!”
Both hosted episodes as Canadian Mattea Roach enjoyed a historic 23 show streak, which came to an end on Friday.
BIG SHOES TO FILL
Fans are now eager to know who the new permanent host will be after Jeopardy! legend Alex Trebek passed away in 2020.
He had hosted the game show since its premiere in the early eighties, heading up nearly 8,000 episodes.
Alex was set to host until 2022, according to the New York Times.
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Mayim has faced a mixed reaction from viewersCredit: Getty
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23-year-old Mattea Roach’s epic winning steak came to an end this weekCredit: ABC
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Jeopardy! legend Alex Trebek passed away in 2020 following a battle with cancerCredit: Getty
