Mayim Bialik, one of two temporary Jeopardy hosts, just shared some of the awful things that fans of the show have said. On her podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, actor and comedian Justin Long asked her what it’s like to be in her position.
Videos By Rare
Asked if fans ever tell Bialik that they prefer her to her cohost, Ken Jennings, she responded:
“Sometimes.” Then she immediately segued to, “Sometimes I get, ‘We don’t prefer you to Ken.”
Long compared the profession to being a politician. He said both are jobs “where people will tell you deeply insulting things but with a big smile.”
“I was very confused. You looked pretty.”
Bialik chuckled and agreed. “[They’ll tell you] exactly how they feel.” She continued, “Like, ‘I saw you in a magazine, I was very confused. You looked pretty.’ I get that a lot,” she said, looking off in the distance.
Long, on the other hand, said he often gets told he’s better looking in person. To this, Bialik noted that he looks more manly now than he did earlier in his acting career. So, she essentially said, it’s all due to the viewer’s point of reference.
Bialik previously mentioned to Newsweek that online comments can be quite cutthroat. “It’s been unbelievable,” she said. “It’s an unbelievable turn of events in my life and career to have this opportunity… But yes, I did not know the depth of in particular the social media presence of people who are so passionate about Jeopardy!“
Bialik May Or May Not Stay
Mayim Bialik is currently cohosting Jeopardy along with Ken Jennings due to longtime host Alex Trebek passing away of cancer in 2020. The show’s executive producer, Mike Richards, was named as the new host but he was met with negative publicity.
An article in The Ringer published explosive accusations of Richards making sexist and offensive comments earlier in his career. So, Sony announced that Richards was stepping down as host of Jeopardy as well as from numerous game shows as executive producer.
Bialik and Jennings are currently serving as interim hosts until a permanent host is announced. Although, it’s assumed that one of the two might stay onboard to fulfill that role.