Who will take over hosting for Jeopardy?

[Zeener Diode]

Before I'm accused of being a ghoul, this was something Alex Trebek suggested. Some names being tossed around:

Ken Jennings
Laura Coates
Neal deGrasse Tyson
LeVar Burton
George Stephanopoulos
Neil Patrick Harris
Anderson Cooper
Ben Mankiewicz
Steve Harvey
Drew Carey
Trevor Noah
Rachel Maddow
Alex Faust
Pat Sajak
Ernie Johnson
Michael Strahan

[Oxirane]

I like Ben Mankiewicz. I think the show needs someone who is not a 'big' star, someone more subdued to let the show shine for a while and grow into the role. Ben Mankiewicz has that temperament, IMHO, to not try and re-invent the show or make it about themselves.

[Colby11]

I think you have to have someone who is as quick witted as Alex was. I’m not sure if you can.

Maybe have some of the legendary Jeopardy players come in as a fill in host until a more permanent host is found?

[Rebo]

Why are there no women on the list? Jane Lynch comes to mind.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Rebo

Why are there no women on the list? Jane Lynch comes to mind.

While they're outnumbered, I see 2 women.

Laura Coates
Rachel Maddow

But Jane Lynch is a good choice. Better than most on the list.


I know it was only or mostly joking around, but why not Betty White?

[Detroit Hoser]

Age. Five shows a day is hard on someone getting ready to touch one hundred years.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Detroit Hoser

Age. Five shows a day is hard on someone getting ready to touch one hundred years.

Is it 5 shows a day? Then 6 days off?

[Rat Diva]

Originally Posted by Oxirane

I like Ben Mankiewicz. I think the show needs someone who is not a 'big' star, someone more subdued to let the show shine for a while and grow into the role. Ben Mankiewicz has that temperament, IMHO, to not try and re-invent the show or make it about themselves.

Unless a movie category comes up I think he's a good choice, too. He's intelligent, laid back, and good at talking to people.

I really hope it's not a former athlete [unless it's Tiki Barber ()] or comedian. Athletes tend to have overwhelming personalities and comedians don't have the gravitas for a nerdy long-runner like Jeopardy.

We get enough of Pat Sajak on Wheel, and let me just add a hearty OH FUCK NO to Steve Harvey. Family Feud was always a stupid show, but it was fun if you had half an hour to kill, and he made it unwatchable.

[Rat Diva]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

I know it was only or mostly joking around, but why not Betty White?

I like Betty White just fine, but even if her age allowed it, I think it would wind up becoming the Betty White Show in short order.

[Sputnik]

Don Trump is looking for another television gig. He's got acting experience and he'll be available in the middle of January.

[Cochrane]

I would have to nix Drew Carey. He seems comfortable on the Price is Right and I doubt he can host two game shows at a time. And I agree with Ratty - no comedians.

[Rock]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

Don Trump is looking for another television gig. He's got acting experience and he'll be available in the middle of January.

Plus he's a very stable genius.

[Inna Minnit]

Hopefully he will be undergoing prosecution.

[Cochrane]

Originally Posted by Bumbershoot

Plus he's a very stable genius.

He is a 's ass, all right.

[Solfy]

I really like the idea of LeVar Burton. He strikes a nice balance of intelligent but humble (unlike Tyson), has name recognition but isn't too flashy, and seems to have a good sense of humor. I don't know Mankiewicz, but if Trebeck suggested him that's good enough for me.

I don't dislike Jane Lynch, but having watched her do The Weakest Link and Hollywood Game Night, I feel like her energy is too much for Jeopardy. Or wasted on it. I feel the same about Neil Patrick Harris - love him in other things, but he's not right for Jeopardy.

Betty White should guest host just for a week. Ratings would be through the roof.

[Rebo]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

While they're outnumbered, I see 2 women.

Laura Coates
Rachel Maddow

But Jane Lynch is a good choice. Better than most on the list.


I know it was only or mostly joking around, but why not Betty White?

I agree with no to Betty White (too old), and HELL TO THE NO to Steve Harvey. (Do they still say that?) I could see Jimmy Fallon doing it. He can be serious, and he seems pretty smart and definitely witty.

[TheChileanBlob]

I love LeVar Burton. I loathe Steve Harvey with all the loathing possible.

[Oxirane]

Originally Posted by Solfy

I don't know Mankiewicz, but if Trebeck suggested him that's good enough for me.

If you've ever watched a movie on Turner Classic Movies, you've seen Ben Mankiewicz. (Yeah, THAT guy!)

Which is why I think he'd be good, he's smart, personable, well-spoken, and, while part of the industry, he's a facilitator above being a personality. Trebek struck that great balance of personality versus letting the show shine above him that made the show compelling while you appreciated him. I think Mankiewicz could strike that balance.

[The Futility of Nihilism]

Originally Posted by Cochrane

And I agree with Ratty - no comedians.

I agree, and that counts out both George Stephanopoulos and Donald Trump.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by TheChileanBlob

I love LeVar Burton. I loathe Steve Harvey with all the loathing possible.

hell, yes

[Wolf Larsen]

I think LeVar Burton would be a great choice.

I like Anderson Cooper a lot, but I want him to keep doing news, he's one of the few real newsmen left. (He's Commodore Vanderbilt's 6 greats grandson)

[Random Precision]

I'd like to see a woman take the host spot, but I don't know Laura Coates and I don't think Rachel Maddow is a good fit for it. I did consider Jane Lynch briefly, but rejected her for the same reasons Solfy gave.

I'm going to propose Mayim Bialik, recently of Big Bang Theory fame. Smart, witty and probably available. I could see her as a worthy replacement for Alex.

[Slate]

Levar Burton would be an excellent choice. So would Aisha Tyler.

Keeping it Canadian-American, I'd also nominate Pat Kiernan.

[Rock]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

I'd like to see a woman take the host spot, but I don't know Laura Coates and I don't think Rachel Maddow is a good fit for it. I did consider Jane Lynch briefly, but rejected her for the same reasons Solfy gave.

I'm going to propose Mayim Bialik, recently of Big Bang Theory fame. Smart, witty and probably available. I could see her as a worthy replacement for Alex.

I think Mayim Bialik would be a good choice but it looks like she has a gig, at least for awhile. Just the other day I saw a promo for her new show Call Me Kat which is supposed to premiere in January.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Sputnik

Don Trump is looking for another television gig. He's got acting experience and he'll be available in the middle of January.

But he can't speak two consecutive coherent sentences even on his best day.

I nominate the guy who played Trebek on the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy skits. He did a good imitation.

[Pencil]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

Mayim Bialik

Winner!
Smart. witty, understated. If I were producing Jeopardy, she'd be the top contender. Her previous TV experiences makes her perfect.

[Slate]

Originally Posted by C2H5OH

I nominate the guy who played Trebek on the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy skits. He did a good imitation.

That little-known actor, Will Farrell?

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by Slate

That little-known actor, Will Farrell?

Yeah, him. I couldn't remember who did it, and was too lazy to look it up.

[Baker]

Originally Posted by Bumbershoot

Plus he's a very stable genius.

Have you ever seen Randy Rainbow's parody of that stable genius statement?
Set to Gilbert and Sullivan of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LTRwZb35A

[brownie55]

Did you people not see Rachael Maddow or Anderson Cooper's performances on Celebrity Jeopardy? Embarrassing!

Meredith Viera is smart, has experience hosting a game show, and for me has the right balance of gravitas and personality. She would be my choice. It looks like they are grooming Ken Jennings with his participation this year. They could do worse, but I'd prefer Brad Rutter.

[Sputnik]

Originally Posted by CNN

'Jeopardy!' names Ken Jennings as its first interim host after death of Alex Trebek,


A long-term replacement host for Trebek has yet to be named, and Jennings is only the first of what will be a series of guest hosts, the show said. The additional guest hosts have yet to be announced.

I like Ken. Good place to start.

[Bashorian Clement]

Originally Posted by Slate

Levar Burton would be an excellent choice. So would Aisha Tyler.

Keeping it Canadian-American, I'd also nominate Pat Kiernan.

Aisha Tyler would be my first pick.

[fucktard loser]

nevermind

[Cochrane]

Yay, the transition has begun! Oh, and there was that other thing with the election, too.

[Rock]

Jeopardy will resume production on November 30 and the new shows with Ken Jennings will begin to air on January 11.

The show also announced that it would no longer air Trebek's final episodes during the holidays "due to anticipated preemptions around Christmas and New Year's." Instead, the episodes will now air the week of January 4, 2021, and what the show called "10 of his best episodes" will air the weeks of December 21 and 28.

[jali]

Here's the late Art Fleming hosting a special night time Jeopardy. The show was originally a daytime TV standard and I watched it after school with my grandmother.

[Random Precision]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

I'm going to propose Mayim Bialik, recently of Big Bang Theory fame. Smart, witty and probably available. I could see her as a worthy replacement for Alex.

I had no idea the Jeopardy! executives read this board.

It's Double 'Jeopardy!': Mike Richards And Mayim Bialik Will Be New Hosts


eta: Called it!

[leafrog]

I was hoping Pee Wee Herman would get the job.

[C2H5OH]

Originally Posted by leafrog

I was hoping Pee Wee Herman would get the job.

But then the show would be nothing but public masturbation and "I meant to do that!" It would totally disrupt the flow of the show...

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

I had no idea the Jeopardy! executives read this board.

It's Double 'Jeopardy!': Mike Richards And Mayim Bialik Will Be New Hosts


eta: Called it!

U so smart! just like Mayim!

[Sunny Daze]

So... the Executive Producer with sexual assault allegations against him nags the prime spot, and the "smart" woman who is anti-vax, sells woo medicine, and thinks that ugly women won't get raped is the special events host.

Color me thrilled.

[What Exit?]

I'm pretty sure Mayim is not anti-Vax. Something she said a decade ago got blown out of proportion from what I recall. She is no Jenny McCarthy.

Does she sell Woo Meds? I never heard that before.


On the Anti-Vax thing, she and her sons got the COVID-19 Vaccines and she claims she's not an anti-vaxxer.

[Helena]

She shills some supposed brain enhancing pills on TV. There's wordplay on how she plays a scientist on TV and she really is one! /s It's pretty awful (and disappointing).

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Helena

She shills some supposed brain enhancing pills on TV. There's wordplay on how she plays a scientist on TV and she really is one! /s It's pretty awful (and disappointing).

That sucks, she should know better. She might know better, which is worse yet.

[Random Precision]

Originally Posted by Sunny Daze

So... the Executive Producer with sexual assault allegations against him nags the prime spot, and the "smart" woman who is anti-vax, sells woo medicine, and thinks that ugly women won't get raped is the special events host.

Color me thrilled.

No, Mike Richards is doing the Daytime Jeopardy! Mayim Bialik is doing the prime time show and special projects to be named later.

Regarding your opinions on Mayim, I've never heard any of what you're alleging, so ... cite, please? She does have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, so I think that qualifies her as smart at the very least.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

No, Mike Richards is doing the Daytime Jeopardy! Mayim Bialik is doing the prime time show and special projects to be named later.

Regarding your opinions on Mayim, I've never heard any of what you're alleging, so ... cite, please? She does have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, so I think that qualifies her as smart at the very least.

The Anti-Vaxx thing is from about 10 years ago. It is a little complicated but while she isn't anti-vaxx she is also not a vaxx enthusiast. Though she has strongly encouraged people to get their COVID shots and said she got hers and and first flu shot in 20 years.

I never heard the bit about the ugly woman part before. But I never heard about her pushing woo brain supplements either. So very possible.

[Helena]

I can't format it correctly on my tablet so you'll have to go to YouTube, but here's the commercial:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7NZlwrCek

Show me some studies!!

[Solfy]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

Regarding your opinions on Mayim, I've never heard any of what you're alleging, so ... cite, please? She does have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, so I think that qualifies her as smart at the very least.

I think that depends entirely on how you define "smart." I've known many people with doctorates whose overall intelligence was . . . lacking outside of their extremely narrow specialty of expertise. Bialik's degree shows that she is capable of completing the work necessary for that particular degree, but it doesn't mean she is well informed in topics such as nutrition or societal issues and women.

There's a tendency to assume that someone who is capable of attaining a Ph.D., particularly in the sciences, is an overall smart person. Often that is the case. But someone can very smart when it comes to knowledge of optical physics and also hold abhorrently ill-informed opinions on economics. Or be a fabulous polymer chemist who is at a total loss when they need to change out their showerhead. Some very educated people are not good generalists, and it's frustrating to see them trading on unearned authority.

See also: Dr. Oz*, Ben Carson



*I hate Dr. Oz, but I had to grudgingly admit I didn't hate his hosting style. Just his smarmy face.

[leafrog]

I think the thing that bothers me the most about the new hosts announcement is this line "and Mayim Bialik...will take over for special prime time and spinoff episodes." (NYTimes)
Spinoff episodes.
That makes me think they're going to start changing up the show, give it an "update" and probably making it less about the game and more about personalities and promoting brand.
AKA shit I won't watch.
Or it will turn into something like "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" where it takes 30 minutes to get through 3 questions because of the chatter and bullshit and 40% commercial breaks.

I really wanted to like Levar, but it didn't seem to click for him. None of the guest hosts wowed me, and I wish it wasn't such a big deal.
I wish they would just find a qualified unknown and give them some time to get used to the job. When they showed Alex's first shows after he passed, he wasn't very good at it at all and made plenty of flubs.
And JFC, I'm so glad that it wasn't whoever the fuck Joe Buck is. Talk about having a punchable face.

[Sunny Daze]

On Mayim's opinions on women and sexual assault:
https://www.businessinsider.com/reac...-times-2017-10

Anti-vax
https://www.kveller.com/vaccinations...nt-to-discuss/

She recommends Robert Sears as a good source for vaccine info (he's very anti-vax)

Here's another article that discusses both topics:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeopar...an-anti-vaxxer