The team behind Jeopardy! is finally answering fans’ biggest question: Who will be the next host?
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Former Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings and Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik will permanently share co-hosting duties with the show, TVLine reported Monday.
Jennings and Bialik took turns hosting the program prior to Monday’s announcement. But ABC waited two years before making a final decision on who would succeed wildly popular host Alex Trebek.
Trebek died of pancreatic cancer in November 2020. He was 80 years old.
The Difficulties In Finding A New Permanent Host
Following the TV game show host was an arduous tasks for Jeopardy!’s organizers.
First, producers tried a rotating cast of candidates to see if they would be a good fit for the show. One of those candidates, Anderson Cooper, drew the lowest ratings in the history of the show. The team behind the trivia program also considered NFL player Aaron Rodgers.
However, the most troubling development in the saga to replace Trebek came with a third candidate, Mike Richards. An executive producer of the quiz show, he initially seemed like a perfect fit. But in the end, he resigned after only hosting five episodes of the show. Offensive comments, and sexual harassment suits filed against him, torpedoed his chances of keeping the gig.
Late last month, Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies said [https://rare.us/people/full-time-jeopardy-host-announcement-coming-very-very-soon/] an announcement on a new permanent host was imminent. He revealed backstage at the Daytime Emmys that an announcement was on the way “very, very soon.”
Controversies continued to ensue after Davies’ announcement.
Earlier this month, Bialik said on her podcast that she was the target of rude comments from fans.
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!“