“Jeopardy!” Executives Still Really, Really Want Mayim Bialik As Permanent Host 

August 24, 2021 / Posted by:

What is MESS!?!” is the only correct response to the Jeopardy! clue, “This is the current state of Jeopardy!’s search for a host.

When the late, great Alex Trebek died last year, Jeopardy! producers should’ve just retired the entire show and burned its set as a sacrifice to him. But instead of doing that, producers angered the Jeopardy! Gods by ignoring Alex’s suggestion of testing CNN’s Laura Coates and NHL reporter Alex Faust for the host job and instead brought out a parade of guest hosts before settling on Jeopardy! executive producer Mike Richards as its daily host and Mayim Bialik as host of primetime specials and spin-offs. And one second after that announcement was made, a giant wave of bad press knocked Mike Richards off of his new hosting perch and he stepped down as host. Jeopardy! is now once again looking for a permanent host. Mayim Bialik will temporarily take over as Jeopardy!’s daily host, but producers are reportedly working hard to make it permanent.

Mike Richards’ Jeopardy! hosting job lasted only one day. He managed to shoot five episodes (all of which will air) before he quit as host after being accused of past workplace discrimination and sexism. On top of that, the Anti-Defamation League called on Sony Pictures Television to launch an investigation into shit Mike said about Jews, Haitians, women, and people with disabilities on his podcast in 2013 and 2014. Mike stepped down as host for the sake of the show’s image, but he’s staying on as executive producer.

Yesterday, it was reported that production on Jeopardy! will start up again next week and Mayim Bialik has agreed to host three weeks’ worth of episodes (15 episodes total). Sony then plans to bring in more guest hosts until they find a permanent one. But sources tell TMZ that Sony is working on making Mayim the show’s sole host. Mayim was reportedly Sony’s top choice for the job, but her schedule is too packed to host the show full-time. Mayim currently stars on Fox’s Call Me Kat.

Sources say that Sony is willing to bend backward so that Mayim is able to be the show’s only host. It could happen since Mayim is interested in the gig and Fox has been cooperative with her Jeopardy! schedule so far. via TMZ:

Sony production sources tell us … execs for the game show are doing everything possible to work around Mayim’s schedule in order to bank as many episodes with her hosting the daily syndicated version, with the ultimate goal of her taking over full-time.

Our sources say Sony bosses have even offered up the possibility of shooting on weekends and normal hiatus weeks to squeeze in more shows with Mayim. She’s already locked in for 15 episodes.

Of course, Blossom’s reputation doesn’t totally smell of roses and rainbows either. When Mayim was named co-host of Jeopardy!, the internet reminded everyone that she’s spoken against vaccines in the past and is also the GOOP of bogus brain supplements for peddling “brain-boosting” snake oil. Mayim responded to the backlash, saying that she’s not an anti-vaxxer and she got the COVID-19 vaccine.

So Blossom could end up being the only host. Or they could give the job to Ken Jennings (who got the highest ratings among the guest hosts) or the internet’s favorite LeVar Burton. Or they could finally say “I’ll take Fuck It for $200” and stop fighting the inevitable by hiring Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek. The only logical option, obviously.

Pic: Sony Pictures Television

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