Jeopardy! producer reveals how show surprised Ken Jennings for milestone birthday in way he ‘doesn’t like’
JEOPARDY! host Ken Jennings just turned 50, and the game show completely blindsided him with a soon-to-air birthday tribute.
Producer Sarah Whitcomb Foss gave fans a rundown on Ken’s on-stage celebration – which was a total surprise – before it airs.
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Jeopardy! G.O.A.T Ken had a surprise on-stage 50th birthday on May 23Credit: ABC
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The special episode includes an audience full of Ken cut-outsCredit: ABC
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Producer Sarah Foss revealed how the show pulled it off, admitting he ‘doesn’t like’ surprisesCredit: ABC
Champ-turned-host Ken hit the big 5-0 on May 23, 2024, and Jeopardy! did not let the milestone go unnoticed.
Unfortunately, Ken couldn’t be with his wife and two children because he had to tape the show that day.
So, the game show dedicated an entire episode to him, which will air in the coming weeks.
Because the show tapes well in advance, his actual birthday didn’t air the day it was taped – but it will soon, whether he likes it or not.
‘VERY APPRECIATIVE’
On Monday’s Inside Jeopardy! podcast, producer Foss discussed the surprise birthday episode, which was indeed a total surprise.
“We actually taped on his birthday,” she shared, explaining he wasn’t expecting his b-day to align with the taping schedule.
“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.
“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.
“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- Ken doesn’t like cake.
“So we brought that out and sang Happy Birthday to Ken.
“The night before we also decorated his dressing room, he’s not at home but he’s with his Jeopardy! family,” she continued.
Former champ Buzzy Cohen, who guest hosts the podcast, asked, “Does he like being celebrated in that way?”
Sarah bluntly replied, “I feel like he doesn’t.
“But he was very appreciative of it.
“He’s not a guy who’s like, ‘I need to celebrate my birthday,’ but he was very gracious.”
‘NIGHTMARE FUEL’
The show shared a YouTube clip of the upcoming episode, which will be dedicated to him.
In the clip, Ken walks out stunned to hear Johnny Gilbert, 95, declare, “On his 50th Birthday, here’s Ken Jennings!”
It was abundantly clear that the host had no idea he’d be getting an all-out tribute episode.
The clue board was turned into a giant display that read, “Happy Birthday Ken,” with photos of his face from his infantry to today.
Ken sheepishly bowed, taking center stage as usual, but noticed something else was different.
Everyone in the audience held cut-outs of Ken over the years adorned with birthday hats.
“Wow, look at that,” he said as the avalanche of Kens could be seen in the crowd.
“It’s a little bit of nightmare fuel, but thank you!”
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Ken got a cookie cake because he ‘doesn’t like cake’
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Writers Billy Wisse and Michele Loud held up more cutouts and a big signCredit: ABC
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Even the producers in the booth got cutouts – they ‘turned off the feed’ so Ken didn’t know until he walked outCredit: ABC
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Ken called the tribute ‘a bit of nightmare fuel’ but was so thankfulCredit: ABC
“Oh wow, look at that,” Ken continued turning to the clue board.
“All the categories are going to be about my life!” he joked.
Then, the entire audience and staff sang happy birthday to Ken as he blew out a cookie cake and posed with the quizzical creation.
‘ALEX WOULD BE PROUD’
Fans flooded the comments section of the sneak-peak Youtube clip loving the winning tribute.
“Happy 50th birthday, Ken Jennings! It warms my heart to see you go from being a record-breaking Jeopardy! champion to taking Alex Trebek’s place as the host. I know he would be very proud of you,” one wrote.
“I don’t usually comment on YouTube videos but Jeopardy! got it RIGHT when they hired this man as host. Most qualified, great personality, people like James came for him and they got all the smoke,” wrote another.
“Happy 50th Ken. I love you as our Jeopardy host. Hope you had a great day, a fan,” wrote a third.
HE’S THE G.O.A.T.!
Ken holds the record for the longest winning streak in Jeopardy! history with 74 consecutive wins in 2004.
Now, he has taken over as a full-time host of the series.
Ken was born on May 23, 1974, in Edmonds, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.
His father was a lawyer employed overseas, and Jennings spent 15 years growing up in South Korea and Singapore.
Having returned to the US, the Mormon host attended Brigham Young University in 1996 where he met his future wife, Mindy Boam.
Ken and Mindy now have two children, Dylan and Caitlin Jennings.
Host Alex Trebek died in November 2020 after struggling with pancreatic cancer.
Jeopardy! Host Timeline
Jeopardy! has had a tumultuous history regarding hosts after the death of the iconic Alex Trebek in 2020. Here are all of the hosts since the game show’s inception in 1964.
Art Fleming – 1964 to 1975, he was the original host of the daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC.
Alex Trebek – 1984 to 2020, the late, great Alex hosted Jeopardy!’s modern iteration for 36 years until his death from pancreatic cancer.
Guest hosts – 2020 to 2021, Jeopardy! tested out a series of guest hosts for week or two-week stints, including Anderson Cooper, LaVar Burton, and Aaron Rodgers.
Mike Richards – 2021, he was named host for one week before resigning amid controversy. He was the show’s executive producer at the time.
Mayim Bialik – 2021 to 2023, when Mike was announced as the show’s new host, Mayim was chosen to host tournaments and primetime specials.
Mayim and Ken Jennings – 2022 to 2023, 74-time champion Ken (the longest-winning contestant ever) joined Mayim as a guest host and they split hosting duties.
Ken Jennings – 2023 to present. Last December, Mayim announced on Instagram that she would “no longer” host Jeopardy! after a lengthy hiatus, having stood with the writer’s strike, and Ken was named sole host.
Ken now helms all editions of Jeopardy! including Celebrity Jeopardy!, the nightly show, and other primetime specials like Masters.
After a series of guest hosts, officials announced that producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim Bialik would be taking over as co-hosts.
However in August 2021, Richards resigned over sexist resurfaced comments and Ken stepped in to split hosting duties with Mayim.
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim and Ken would continue to host together for season 39.
However, after the show’s summer 2023 hiatus, it was revealed that Jennings would take over as the permanent host for season 40.
Mayim announced in a personal Instagram message in late December 2023 that she would “no longer be hosting” the show.
Ken later said he “understood” the decision as shows “don’t have two hosts.”
Now, Ken helms all facets of Jeopardy! including specials and spinoffs.
Meanwhile, today, June 2 is another milestone day for Ken as it marked the day his winning streak began airing – and the rest is history.
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Ken’s birthday tribute episode should air in mid-JuneCredit: ABC
