The search continues for a new permanent Jeopardy host. But while Sony, the producers of the iconic gameshow, continue to review possibilities, Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will continue to alternate hosting duties through the rest of this year.
Bialik and Jennings both previously served as guest hosts of the show earlier this year, part of a cycle of guest hosts that producers brought in the wake of the passing of long-time show fixture Alex Trebek. Other guests hosts included Katie Couric and Anderson Cooper. And while these were seen by many as very public auditions for a new permanent host for the show, ultimately the show’s executive producer Mike Richards was announced as the new host.
Richards’ tenure lasted exactly one day of taping episodes for the show. Fan reaction to his announcement was already negative, with loyal viewers seeing Richards taking the job as something of a betrayal of that audition process. This was compounded by a damning article in The Ringer highlighting a number of misogynistic and anti-Semitic comments he had made on his old podcast, The Randumb Show. It was the second wave of accusations made against Richards. Previously, there were allegations that Richards discriminated against several pregnant female employees during his tenure as executive producer of The Price Is Right. Faced with a tidal wave of bad PR, Sony executives had no choice but to fire Richards from both his hosting and producing duties on the show.
Following Richards dismissal, Bialik was brought in to host for three weeks worth of shows, which are set to begin airing on September 20. That stint is now being extended another four weeks for the shows airing through November 5. Jennings, who serves as a consulting producer on the show, and Bialik will then aplit duties for the rest of the year depending on their availability. Bialik also stars in the sitcom Call Me Kat which is resuming production shortly for its second season.
