Jeopardy Host Ken Jennings Talks Mayim Bialik Exit and Superstar Present – The Hollywood Reporter

After Alex Trebek’s loss of life in 2020, the primary individual to step behind the Jeopardy! lectern was Ken Jennings.

The winningest contestant in Jeopardy! historical past, Jennings was named the syndicated program’s everlasting co-host final 12 months alongside Mayim Bialik, with the 2 of them splitting internet hosting duties on the each day syndicated present and on its primetime specials.

On Dec. 15 Bialik revealed that she would now not be internet hosting the syndicated version of this system, with Jennings set to take over that program on a full-time foundation.

Superstar Jeopardy! will return to ABC on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 8 p.m. for its semifinals and finals, and Jennings would be the grasp of ceremonies. Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts), Mira Sorvino (Shining Veil) and Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary) would be the contestants for the primary semifinal, seeking to earn cash for the charities of their selecting.

The Hollywood Reporter not too long ago caught up with Jennings to speak about Bialik’s exit, his function as the brand new full-time host of the syndicated present, and what makes Superstar Jeopardy! such a novel model of the long-running quiz present.

It not too long ago was revealed that Mayim isn’t going to be internet hosting the syndicated model of Jeopardy! transferring ahead. I wished to see in case you had any response to that call, any ideas on the way it impacts the present, and what it means to you because the now solo host of this system.

It took me off guard, as a result of I liked working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her. I can’t communicate to her decision-making course of or her opinions about it.

However on my finish, I’m only a fan of Jeopardy! and I’m all the time delighted to host after they name upon me. I simply really feel extraordinarily fortunate to have even been thought-about for this job as a non-broadcaster.

It’s form of a bizarre factor to attempt to carry again an ex-contestant to host, and I’ve clearly been studying as I’m going. However I liked rising up with Jeopardy! the place Alex was the host of that present for nearly 38 years, and folks simply form of felt like he was a part of their household, and it’s inconceivable to fill these footwear. Nevertheless it’s such an honor and and hopefully I stay up for 37 extra years of doing it, after I’ll be a really, very outdated man.

With regard to this season of Superstar Jeopardy!, have been there any moments from the preliminary video games that shocked you?

I imply, we had a tie sport with a tiebreaker. We had faucet dancing at one level, that not often occurs on the syndicated present, however Dulé Hill confirmed off a bit of gentle shoe, which was wonderful.

It’s actually what I really like about Superstar Jeopardy!, which is that even when folks love common Jeopardy! for its reliability, and its stability, it is a model of Jeopardy! the place something can occur, and that’s form of enjoyable to take this format that you just’ve seen each night time for 40 years and form of tweak it, and the contestants are looser, they’re having a bit of extra enjoyable.

The distinction in fact, is that they’re very comfy on digicam. A few of them too comfy, typically I’ve to be the imply substitute instructor who’s like, “hey, like, cease speaking over there, we have to play Jeopardy!.“

I wished to dig into that a bit of bit, as a result of this is among the huge variations between the syndicated model of Jeopardy! and Superstar Jeopardy! These are well-known folks. They’re very comfy on digicam. And I feel they’re greater than prepared to form of actually specific their personalities through faucet dancing, or no matter it is perhaps. Because the host, do you put together in another way in any respect than you’d for the usual syndicated present the place it’s the people who find themselves actually in it for the sport, as opposed tothese celebrities who’re elevating cash for charity?

I don’t suppose the house viewer actually understands how terrified the contestants typically are on that present. I imply, I’ve realized {that a} huge a part of my job as host is to attempt to be the contestant whisperer and simply inform them “you already know what, I do know you’re harassed; I do know that is bizarre to be on TV for the primary time doing this intense factor; I do know it’s your favourite present and the stakes are excessive; I bear in mind all these emotions, however you already know, simply attempt to let go of that and attempt to take pleasure in each second of this and also you’re gonna play higher.”

That’s a giant a part of Jeopardy! as you’re watching. You’re watching three laypeople, three non-performers carry out. And with movie star you actually do form of have the enjoyment of, what if someone can play the sport and inform jokes or have enjoyable on the similar time.

I discover that as a bunch, it’s a bit of extra like being a battle correspondent the place you actually must be ready for something to occur. You’ll be able to’t have a sport plan as a result of if someone’s riffing or someone doesn’t perceive the principles, you’re simply gonna must roll with it and attempt to hold the sport transferring. And by chance, the sport form of does push itself ahead and the celebrities catch the vibe of that, however it makes it very enjoyable and unpredictable for me as effectively.

I imply, actually the sport has momentum to it, however as you stated, you by no means know what’s gonna occur in these conditions. Associated to that, I’ve listened to a few of your interviews up to now the place you’d be aware that — for the folks within the each day syndicated present — there was a lot preparation that they are going to do to form of get themselves able to go on Jeopardy! The analysis, they’ll apply at residence. The movie star model appears a bit of completely different, I’m positive a few of them do take it very critically, however it’s maybe a bit of looser. Do you will have the sense that it’s form of a unique vibe for the contestants as effectively?

Yeah, I imply, actually, they’re simply good sports activities for exhibiting up. , we’ve requested them to play a really actual, troublesome sport present. This isn’t SNL movie star Jeopardy!, these are actual questions and solutions and a few of them are powerful and infrequently what impresses me is simply how effectively they carry out.

They’re not simply good sports activities, successful a pleasant test for charity. You’re genuinely shocked by how good they’re on the sport, the sorts of issues they know. Typically earlier than each sport, I’d be trying on the board with the writers and I’d suppose, “you already know, these classes would play on common Jeopardy! and we’re gonna throw them in entrance of those poor stars?” They usually do very effectively as a result of plenty of them grew up with the present, they’re all very shiny, I feel they actually geared up themselves effectively.

There have been so many contestants on Superstar Jeopardy! the place I’ve like seen them say “oh, I’ve wished to go on Jeopardy! for therefore lengthy.” That’s not one thing you’ll be able to essentially say about plenty of different TV exhibits.

Plenty of them will go on late night time TV and a few of them might need been excited to do it, however Jeopardy! is a present that I feel actually holds a particular place in lots of people’s hearts, and for lots of those folks possibly they wouldn’t suppose they’d have the ability to go on as a daily contestant, however they will go on Superstar Jeopardy! I feel it means quite a bit to them.

As we get into the semis, you’re seeing those who may play for-real Jeopardy! although in fact, they’d must put on a disguise to take action.

It is a service we offer. We give them Superstar Jeopardy! to allow them to they will play regardless that they’ve the horrible cross to bear of being extraordinarily wealthy and well-known.

As somebody who has not solely hosted Jeopardy!, but additionally performed in just about each iteration that has existed: Is there something that that you just inform the movie star contestants on condition that, once more, they won’t be doing the identical prep work. whenever you’ve you already know, performed each completely different sort of Jeopardy! there’s been that you just inform them to form of get them prepared or amped up for the sport?

No, it’s humorous as a result of my regular spiel is like, “hey, simply take a deep breath, you’ll be nice out right here.”

Whereas with celebrities, these three gamers by no means had any issues being on digicam. I simply inform them what an honor it’s to be there as a result of I genuinely really feel gratitude that they might take what’s form of a threat of happening a tricky quiz present with out realizing what the end result goes to be, they’re being good sports activities and enjoying for charity regardless that they may look shiny or not on any given clue and and we love them for that.

Provided that a few of the movie star contestants are prepared to have interaction a bit of bit past the 20 or 30 seconds you’d usually have to speak to a contestant, how do you stability retaining the sport’s momentum going versus letting the contestants — lots of whom the viewers wish to see and study extra about — specific themselves?

I imply, that could be a rigidity as a result of we all know that the die-hard nightly Jeopardy! viewers doesn’t prefer it when the format ever modifications. They don’t prefer it when the gamers are too chatty. They’re like, “this isn’t the strict Jeopardy! vibe.”

However we all know this present has a more recent, extra informal viewers and we predict that’s nice. I feel it actually helps construct the notice that Jeopardy! continues to be round and doing nice exhibits effectively over 200 occasions a 12 months. We all know it’s two audiences watching and I let the gamers take the lead. We wish them to have as a lot enjoyable as they will humanly have in that aggravating scenario.

After which I’m prepared to be the dangerous man who performs cop sooner or later and says, “all proper, knock it off you two, let’s let’s get again to the board.”