Why “Jeopardy!” Fans Think Mayim Bialik May Be Done Hosting for Good
ABC
Since Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings took over as official co-hosts of Jeopardy! , there has been an ongoing debate over who does a better job. Fans choose sides, with some staying true to Jennings, a former champ known as the “greatest of all time,” and others preferring Bialik , an actor whom they find charming and intelligent. The pair typically alternate hosting duties—appeasing viewers in both camps—but following a recent announcement, Jeopardy! fans are speculating that Bialik could actually be done hosting for good. Read on to find out why some think the Blossom actor may be stepping away.
RELATED: Jeopardy! Is Returning Next Month, But Get Ready for Major Changes .
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The first season of Celebrity Jeopardy! aired last September, with Bialik at the helm every episode. The second season is set to premiere on Sept. 27, ABC confirmed in a press release announcing its fall 2023 schedule , but Bialik won’t be behind the podium. According to Deadline, Jennings is taking over for Bialik as the host of Season 2.
The promo photo announcing the upcoming season of Celebrity Jeopardy! does feature a clip of Jennings, seemingly confirming the switch. Best Life reached out to ABC for comment on the hosting change, and will update this story upon hearing back.
RELATED: Jeopardy! Boycott Grows: Why Fans Say They Won’t Watch the Show .
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With the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike ongoing, this news isn’t necessarily shocking. As Best Life previously reported, Bialik opted out of hosting the final week of Jeopardy! in July to stand in solidarity with writers—and according to Deadline, she’s sitting out Celebrity Jeopardy! for the same reason.
The outlet said her decision is also likely impacted by the striking Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), of which Bialik is a member. Jennings is also a SAG-AFTRA member, but according to The Hollywood Reporter , actors are still permitted to participate in gameshows like Jeopardy! , thanks to the SAG-AFTRA Network Code .
On the Aug. 7 episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, executive producer Michael Davies confirmed that the material for Celebrity Jeopardy! was completed before the WGA strike, meaning the new season will have original clues. However, plans for regular Jeopardy! are different: Davies said the show will use recycled material—and past contestants—in order to continue production.
Given her decision to opt out of filming even when there is fresh WGA material, it’s unlikely that Bialik will be returning to her regular Jeopardy! hosting duties, at least while the strike continues.
RELATED: Jeopardy! Producer Explains “Painful to Watch” Episode Amid Backlash .
And that’s a wrap! 🎬 What were some of your favorite moments from S39? #Jeopardy ! pic.twitter.com/yMUFGa8TkN — Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) August 18, 2023
While Bialik’s future with Jeopardy! is unclear, TV Insider pointed out the show’s apparent jab at Bialik, who was left out of a promo photo posted on Jeopardy!’s social media channels.
The image, posted on Aug. 18, commemorated the end of Season 39 , featuring images of Jeopardy! Masters champ and fan-favorite James Holzhauer and Tournament of Champions winner Amy Schneider . Multi-game champs from Season 39, Cris Pannullo and Ben Chan , were included as well, as was contestant Jenny Dally , who was featured doing the “dab” dance move. Jennings is grinning on the left-hand side, but Bialik is nowhere to be seen.
Bialik is featured on the show’s list of the “ top moments ” from last season, but the fact that she wasn’t included in the main image—especially with Jennings featured so prominently—furthered some fans’ beliefs that the actor might be stepping down.
“Ken Jennings to be the permanent host of Jeopardy!” a viewer wrote in response to the post. Another wrote of Bialik, “I hope she doesn’t come back!”
In response to the caption, which asked viewers what their favorite moments from Season 39 were, one fan wrote, “I like it when Ken Jennings took the reigns as host of ‘Jeopardy!’”
Best Life reached out to ABC for comment on Bialik’s absence from the Season 39 image, and whether that reflects her future on Jeopardy! We will update this story with their response.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/08/Mayim-Bialik-jeopardy.png?strip=all&w=500" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Mayim Bialik hosting “Jeopardy!” - 3”>
Jeopardy! / YouTube
Filming for the upcoming Jeopardy! season kicked off on Aug. 15, with writers and former players picketing outside of the show’s studio, per a WGA post on X. A Redditor who claimed to be in attendance confirmed that Jennings was behind the podium. According to the Redditor, the taping was part of the Second Chance competition, which Davies said would feature contestants from Season 37 who lost their initial game.
But while Jennings appears to be the sole host right now, some viewers are hoping for the Big Bang Theory alum’s return.
“Give me one show where Ken doesn’t remind us what a champion he is. We like Mayim,” a commenter wrote on Instagram .
Another added, “It’s great we have a female host on the show. Majority of these game shows are hosted by men. I’m glad we have a Female Host!”
One more viewer voiced their support for Bialik’s position, writing, “I liked when Mayim refused to work on a struck production. Live Better Work Union!”
“Jeopardy!” Is Returning Next Month, But Get Ready for Major Changes
ABC
With the ongoing Writers Guild of American (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes stalling production in Hollywood, we’ve all been left wondering about the fate of our favorite shows —and Jeopardy! is no exception. The long-running game show employs WGA writers to draft questions, so while they’re on the picket line, no new clues are being produced. But despite speculation that the series would have to pause indefinitely as a result, Jeopardy! is officially returning next month—and producers just revealed that it’ll be accompanied by major changes. Read on to find out what you can expect to see come September.
RELATED: Jeopardy! Boycott Grows: Why Fans Say They Won’t Watch the Show .
ABC
Before any of the strikes were in motion, Jeopardy! was anticipated to kick off with a different format next month. As executive producer Michael Davies explained during a March episode of the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, Season 40 was set to begin with the Season 39 postseason.
However, last month, Sony Pictures Television confirmed that the postseason, including the ToC, would be delayed indefinitely due to the strikes .
“ Jeopardy! never had any intention of producing a Tournament of Champions for season 39 until the strike is resolved,” the spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter . “Further, no contestants from season 39 have been contacted regarding their availability for any postseason tournaments, including the TOC. The Jeopardy! postseason represents the pinnacle of our competition, and it should feature our strongest players playing our toughest original material.”
But while the show is pressing pause on the tournaments, the spokesperson confirmed that new, syndicated episodes would be airing in September, with production using recycled questions. Now, Davies has shared more details on what that will look like.
RELATED: The 10 Most Beloved Jeopardy! Contestants of All Time .
ABC
During the Aug. 7 episode of Inside Jeopardy! , Davies addressed the situation, noting that the game show is in a “ holding pattern .”
“Obviously, the entire staff is committed to producing the best episodes we possibly can, but I understand that the best episodes that are possible are episodes that feature our writers writing original material, and the very best contestants, as we’ve always put on the air, playing that original material,” he said, noting that writers are needed to draft questions for Season 39’s strongest competitors.
But as for the “new” episodes, Davies revealed that production will not only use recycled material, but will also feature recycled contestants.
“I believe, principally, that it would not be fair to have new contestants making their first appearance on the Alex Trebek stage, doing it with non-original material or, as we’ll talk about, a combination of non-original material and material that was written pre-strike,” Davies said. “And so we decided that really we needed to invite back and give a second chance in general to players who probably thought that their chance to come back and play on the Alex Trebek stage had gone forever.”
He continued, “So we’re gonna open the season with a Second Chance tournament for players from Season 37 who lost their initial game, and winners from that will advance to a Season 37 and Season 38 Champions Wild Card.”
According to Davies, the material in question includes WGA material from before the strike “which is still in the database,” as well as material “that is being deployed from multiple, multiple seasons of the show.”
RELATED: Jeopardy! Producer Explains “Painful to Watch” Episode Amid Backlash .
ABC
Jeopardy! producer Sarah Foss added that this new structure gives additional former contestants the opportunity to “come back and provide some great games for those of you that are looking forward to the launch of the season.” (Season 38 players already competed in their Second Chance tournament, which debuted in Season 39.)
The remaining elephant in the room, however, is the question of who’s going to host these new episodes. Mayim Bialik is unlikely to return before the strike is resolved, as she already bowed out of the final week of filming to stand in solidarity with the writers. Ken Jennings filled in, but he’s since received heavy criticism about crossing the picket line . Both are also SAG-AFTRA members.
Davies and Foss didn’t share plans for the host, and Davies conceded that he has “no idea on timing” for when the show will return to normalcy. However, he said the Season 39 postseason will begin filming once the strike ends.
As for Celebrity Jeopardy! —which is a separate show—that will proceed with original material drafted under the WGA contact before the strike began May. Foss noted that they have already started “booking exciting talent.”
ABC
These aren’t the only changes for the upcoming season, as Jeopardy! is also upping the prize money by $1,000 for second and third-place finishers. According to Davies, third-place finishers now receive $2,000, and second-place finishers will receive $3,000.
“This is something that we’ve been working on ever since I really took the reins of the show,” he said. “It’s something that obviously is discussed widely within our social communities and with the community of our contestants. We understand that post-COVID, travel costs have increased. We understand how complicated sort of funding a trip to Jeopardy! is for, you know, many contestants within our community.”
