Jeopardy!’s Ken Jennings cracks about rival Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest during show taping

Jeopardy! host pokes fun at his ratings rivalry with Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest, cracking off camera jokes between games during taping.

Ken Jennings and Ryan Seacrest have very big shoes to fill.

Ken Jennings and Ryan Seacrest have found themselves in a ratings tug-of-war after taking over for their iconic and beloved predecessors, who left the new hosts with big shoes to fill.

Wheel of Fortune ratings surpassed Jeopardy! ratings by over 1 million viewers during Seacrest’s debut, but Jennings is finding ways to make light of the rivalry.

The former contestant-turned-host was able to poke fun at the situation, joking between games during a taping at Sony Pictures Studios this past week.

 

Ryan Seacrest took over as cohost alongside Vanna White in September, which saw a rise in ratings, with over 8.3 million viewers tuning in for the premiere. Meanwhile, Jennings, the late Alex Trebek’s successor, has been struggling to keep up after taking over as Jeopardy! host, with 7.1 million viewers during the same week, despite Jeopardy! bringing in more viewers overall last season before Seacrest’s takeover.

Former contestant Ken Jennings took over as host of Jeopardy! after beloved host Alex Trebek’s retirement and subsequent death. ( 
Image:
Disney)
An insider who spoke to The U.S. Sun said: “After a recent taping, Ken asked the live audience if they enjoyed their time at the show, before asking if any of them wished they’d gone to see Wheel of Fortune instead.”

Apparently, “The crowed erupted in laughter and seemed to appreciate him making fun of the rivalry and not taking it so seriously.” Jennings understands the friendly nature of the competition between the two shows, which run concurrently on different networks.

Ken Jennings is a former long-running contestant, so his connection to the show is very personal. Ryan Seacrest is a seasoned television presenter and host, with a wealth of experience and his own fanbase that have followed him throughout his career. He and Jennings have different personalities and hosting styles, which may influence the ratings.

The insider went on to say that “Ken is very humble, really kind to everyone on set, and eager to answer questions from guests. It seems the role hasn’t gone to his head. There’s no ego about him at all.”

Both hosts understand that they have very large shoes to fill after taking over for two of the most beloved and iconic game show hosts in television history. Jennings and Seacrest know that they are going to have to work hard to win over the hearts of the fans and dedicated viewers of their respective game shows.

Jennings poking fun and playing with the audience about his rivalry with the new Wheel of Fortune host is sure to keep it light and quell any bad blood between the two shows and their fanbases.