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Jeopardy! EP Michael Davies is speaking out for the first time about Mayim Bialik‘s controversial departure as co-host in December.
Speaking to reporters Saturday at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, the game show’s boss — who last May maintained publicly that the actress-turned-emcee had his “full support” — said that while Bialik is “a superb host,” in the end “Ken really won the job.”
“When I took over the show” in the wake of the Mike Richards controversy, “we were forced into that [multi-host] situation, because of everything that had happened before with the guest-hosting period,” Davies explained. “Mayim was left hosting the primetime versions, and I brought in Ken to guest-host because Mayim had her Fox sitcom [Call Me Kat].”
“But over the past 2-1/2 seasons, what we’ve heard a lot from our television stations and other interested parties is they were looking for more consistency, they wanted a single host,” Davies continued. “Mayim is a superb host — we hope to keep working with her on primetime versions and other spinoffs, those conversations are ongoing– but Ken really won the job.”
In the May 2023 Vulture interview, Davies had stated that there was “zero difference” in the ratings for Bialik-hosted episodes vs. Jennings’, adding that there were no “absolute” data that points to one being more popular than the other.
“I back both of them,” he declared at the time. “I go to the studio every day and try to make both of them better at hosting the show and make a better program environment around them. They have my full support.”
It was back on Dec. 15 that Bialik broke the Internet when she announced on Instagram, “Sony informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”
Hours after Bialik shared the news, Sony released the following statement: “We made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated Jeopardy! We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials.”
Bialik had been MIA from her $4 million-a-year Jeopardy! gig since last May, when she abruptly bowed out of Season 39’s final weeks in a public display of solidarity with the show’s striking writers, leading Jennings to step in and close out the season.
As the Big Bang Theory vet’s absence dragged on through the summer, questions began to swirl around her future with the franchise. The speculation intensified on Aug. 18 when Jeopardy! released via its official social handles a new poster celebrating the syndicated show’s 39th season that featured Jennings but not Bialik. At the time, Sony declined to comment on the decision to exclude Bialik from the now-deleted artwork. Days later, ABC announced Jennings as the new primary host of primetime offshoot Celebrity Jeopardy!, replacing Bialik.
For his part, Jennings says he was as surprised as everyone else by Bialik’s ouster, telling The Hollywood Reporter last month, “It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her.”
lol that’s a funny way of saying “he was cheaper”
I’m pretty sure both made the same salary, $4 million a year.
He’ll be cheaper in the long run, if not now.
She wasn’t willing to cross a picket line. And then didn’t forgive her for it. Good for her. Shame on them.
She was right in this. Any union person would agree.
If Mayim got the job there wouldn’t be articles every other week on why Ken didn’t.
Yes there would. Maybe they would be on different sites for different reasons, but absolutely yes there would.
She was not as good a host too, all the love went to Ken, he is just a better overall host.
That is your opinion not backed up by facts. There are many who would disagree. I enjoyed them both and don’t believe the “continuity” explanation for one minute.
Whenever a question was answered wrong she sounded like she was scolding one of her kids. (she had two of the funniest lines on Big Bang…Please pass the Butter! Oh MY God a Tiara I’m a princes) no hate I just think it wasn’t for her.
This is completely incorrect. Jeopardy hosts were not part of the same union contract that was currently striking.
His choice, not mine.
I therefore no longer watch this program with Jennings as the host.
If you think Mayim is a better host then you are delusional. She had this stupid little pause before responding after a contestant gave an answer that never got any better. She just didn’t have the same skill set as Ken.
Your skills as a tv critic don’t match Mayim’s or Ken’s as host.
Your loss. The game’s the thing. NOT the host.
Where you actually a regular viewer? Ken is just a better host overall.
Matter of opinion. I cringe at least once a week from a dumb comment Ken makes. Mayim was better.
Ken doesn’t make dumb comments. He is far smarter than you or me. If you don’t get his comments, it’s a reflection on you not him.
Haven’t watched Jeopardy since. She’s a bright intelligent woman. They couldn’t take it. Don’t believe Ken for a minute. Nothing more than a leech.
I prefer Jennings as host. Mayim did a decent job but had certain mannerisms that ground my gears a bit. So I am happy with how this turned out.
The goyam beats mayim
iishtings for Bialik-hosted episodes vs. Jennings’, adding that there were no ‘absolute’ data that points to one being more popular than the other.” Okay, then the answer lies elsewhere. Is it that the male White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Jennings has a higher TVQ? Is it because Bialik is Jewish at a time of increasing anti-Semitic piling on? Or is it because she publicly supported her union; if this is so, then this is actionablefor violating the National Labor Relations Act. As an aside, Jennings is a tool who is far less “clever” then he thinks he is.
No. Buzzy Cohen ( also Jewish) was very popular and is on the off camera crew. Mayim is just off putting with her “It’s all about me” attitude.
They’re always so quick to yell “anti semit ism” anytime something doesn’t go their way. Very rac I st if you ask me.
Who are “they”
The only racist I see here is you.
It really WAS about her, though. She lost a job she enjoyed.
Probably the strikes.
You’re Q, right?
Levar Burton should have been the host hands down.
Just what the show needed after the passing of the original legend. Not worth watching anymore.
Lavar is an excellent host of Reading Rainbow. Not so much of Jeopardy. And I’m a fan of his too, so don’t squawk.
He was my second choice after Ken. Levar would have done a much better job that mayim bialik though, that’s for sure.
I think Levar probably would have done as well or nearly as well as Ken is doing but the fact that Ken had history with the show is what made me prefer him over Levar. I’d have been happy with either one but mayim just didn’t do a very good job and came off as a stuck up know it all even though she has no right to be that way, not that anyone does in my opinion.
Levar hosted for one week. He was simply awful. I like him as a game show guest. He was fantastic at “Pyramid”… but hosting? He looked like an actor acting the part of the stereotypical game show host.
I absolutely love LeVar Burton, but his audition shows were not good. (Full disclosure: my top two picks were Ken and Mayim.)
Levar was not a good host during his week, great man, one of my favourite actors and educational hosts from Reading Rainbow, but he was probably the most nervous and shaky hosts during his week.
He was my #1 going in but he wasn’t as good as hoped. It really wasn’t his format. Love him though.
He’s uninteresting. Celebrity Jeopardy was not fun with him hosting. Don’t care about syndicated show at all.
the show died with the host on 11 8 20 period
You know that Trebek wasn’t the original host, right? No, it doesn’t sound like you know that.
Take the rag off the bush, Sandra.
Real Jeopardy fans are in it for the GAME. The game is all. Whoever hosts is incidental. I think Ken is the perfect host but Mayim was quite good. Of course, Mayim is also a brilliant woman, a respected scientist as well as an actress. All this makes “some” viewers uncomfortable.
Sad for them.
But– I state it again: REAL Jeopardy fans are in it for the GAME. That’s why the ratings didn’t go down. Period.
She uses her science background to peddle snake oil– stuff that has been verified as dangerous. She is not a respected scientist. Having a PhD does not make someone brilliant or respected in the field.
She’s anti-vaxx, she does NOT have a medical background, but she is using her PhD to legitimise incorrect information, and she is prone to conspiracy theories, like advocating for home birth when the risks are increased for doing this.
She also argued that Weinstein’s victims were sexually assaulted because they dressed inappropriately. She only apologised when people told her how out of line she was.
Rolling Stone did a check on that snake oil she sells. It’s rubbish. She is no more qualified to sell and give medical advice and materials as Gwyneth Paltrow is.
I have zero skin in this, just hadn’t heard about it and did a quick Google and a double blind study says the product she reps works at least in short term:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10195946/
Did a quick Google on this and a double-blind study says the product works in the short-term they looked at. Posted a link, it’s still being moderated but it might appear later.
It’s funny how people tear into Mayim for doing ads for a supposed brain-boosting supplement, when a different supposed brain-boosting supplement was one of Jeopardy’s main sponsors, and they constantly ran promos for it during the show.
Agree 💯
Matin was so superior as a host. Ken is a very nice but very dull man. As a life long Jeopardy watcher is makes me sad to say the show is so boring with Ken that I have stopped watching. And as an aside so have several of my friends and acquaintances. You have ruined a very entertaining show.
I like Ken..Don’t. Watch Mayim!
The show is now boring. I do not make a point to watch anymore.
I much prefer Mayim and always respect her for not crossing Union lines. Ken is a scab.
Pretty clear why this was done obviously, as reprisal for standing with the striking workers. I’ll definitely miss seeing her as host going forward.
Everyone is still carrying on for their favorite host. I preferred Mayim and Ken isn’t bad either. What I like is it’s a game that provides some factual info, good for the kids to see, hear and think about. Personally I’m just sick of reality shows, games shows, etc. Cheaper for the networks to make and just time fillers. I always liked Jeopardy and perhaps I’ll watch it again in the fall no matter who is the host.
I enjoy both hosts – I don’t think the data showed that one was more popular than the other. Mayim was let go because she became too political for the powers that be. They didn’t agree with her being vocal about the union protest and her support of the tragedy in Palestine/ Israel.
They lost 2 lifelong Jeopardy watchers. Good
riddance. She’s too smart and cute for that show. Fly high Mayim.
I personally enjoyed watching with Mayim was hosting . She made me feel like I could watch the show and really think that a woman does have the intelligence to learn the things of the show.
I have stopped watching now, and it’s sad because for the first time in years I actually liked watching the show. Back to reruns of Kung Fu.
bring Mayim Bialik that ken he thinks he all that and bag of chips also is it because he is a man
Ken is the winningest contestant in the half century of the show. I’d love to see him face off against Mayim and Buzzy Cohen in an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy and watch her go down in flames.. She’d never agree to it though because she would show the world just how ignorant she is.
I can’t enjoy either Jennings or Bialik for 30 minutes. You might need to try reopening your search and interviewing again. Surely to goodness there is someone out there not as dry.
The culture of the Sony bosses simply prefers (*cough*requires*cough*) a male main presenter over a female one.
Gave up on jeopardy. They dumbed it down after Alex…. even I was getting more answers correct. But what really killed it for me was all this wildcard champions tournament stuff. Enough was enough. To many tournaments as it was but then it became months of this….
Union busting. She wouldn’t cross the line so they got rid of her. GO GIRL
Jennings won the role but JEOPARDY! lost me..
I think Sony will find that they made the wrong choice with choosing Ken for the host of Jeopardy. His arrogance shows on the show an Mayim seemed more down to earth. I think they let her go because she was supporting the writer’s strike. After 55 years of watching Jeopardy, I will watch it no more because of the way Ken hosts the show. Have a great day.
JL