Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings received a special surprise during the game show as they taped on his 50th birthday
Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings is used to making dreams come true on the hit game show – but for his 50th birthday, the TV host was instead offered up a ‘nightmare’ by audience members who marked the milestone occasion with a horrifying prank.
According to a producer on the popular show, Ken – who turned 50 on May 23 – was less than thrilled with the surprise organized for him by the Jeopardy! team, even going as far as to describe it as ‘nightmare fuel’.
Speaking about the stunt, which was taped on the host’s birthday but has yet to air, on a recent episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss explained that she and her fellow staffers wanted to ensure it was a day that he wouldn’t soon forget.
And according to Sarah, they certainly succeeded.
Because in addition to the more traditional cookie cake that they presented him with during the show, she and her colleagues also came up with a very special surprise to kick off his special birthday episode: asking every audience member to sport special Ken masks.
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The game show dedicated an episode, which has yet to air, to its beloved host and presented him with a cookie tray with candles
‘We actually taped on his birthday. We came up with this idea that when Ken walked out, it would be so cool if the audience walked out with those faces that you hold up with a stick,’ she revealed.
‘So we went and got all these photos of Ken throughout his life: child Ken, teenage Ken, contestant Ken, and host Ken.
‘We had birthday hats on them and printed them so everyone in the audience was handed one.
‘The entire staff came down, and they were holding heads. People in the booth were holding heads, too.’
A YouTube teaser clip from the upcoming episode, which is due to air in the next few weeks captured Ken’s hilarious response to the stunt, showing the host entering the studio to be greeted by his own faces glaring back at him.
‘Wow, look at that It’s a little bit of nightmare fuel, but thank you!’
Thankfully they also had a few more surprises in store – this time of the more traditional variety, including the presentation of a special cookie cake, which they opted for because Ken doesn’t actually like cake.
Producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss revealed that the host was shocked when crew and audience members threw a birthday celebration for him
Since Ken had to tape an episode on his 50th birthday and wasn’t able to be with his family, Sarah ensured that he rung in the special day with his Jeopardy! family
However, the surprise took Ken back as he branded it ‘nightmare fuel’ because audience members held up cut outs of his face
She added: ‘We turned off the feed so Ken wouldn’t know. Ken walks out, everyone has their heads up, and I run backstage to light his cookie platter.
‘So we brought that out and sang Happy Birthday to Ken.’
The producer explained that she wanted to make sure that he received a special treat for his big day since he couldn’t be with his loved ones.
‘The night before we also decorated his dressing room, he’s not at home but he’s with his Jeopardy! family,’ she said.
Buzzy Cohen, who guest hosts the podcast, asked: ‘Does he like being celebrated in that way?’
Sarah admitted that he ‘doesn’t’, but he was ‘very appreciative.’
Ken holds the record for the longest winning streak in history, with him winning the game 74 times in 2004.
Former host Alex Trebek died in November 2020 following a battle with cancer.
This prompted producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim Bialik to take over.
However, by 2022 they both resigned, with the role then going to Ken in 2023.
