Mayim Bialik says she was let go because ‘danger!’ Host
Bialik added that she is “deeply grateful” to have been part of the Jeopardy! family, but also “incredibly honored” to be nominated for a 2023 Primetime Emmy Award for the show earlier this year.
“To all of you who have supported me on this incredible journey and to the fans, contestants, writers, staff and crew of America’s Favorite Quiz Show, thank you,” she concluded her message.
Sony confirmed the news Entertainment weekly on Friday, but said Bialik could return for primetime specials.
“We have made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers Ken Jennings will be the sole host for the syndicated Jeopardy!,” a spokesperson told the outlet. “We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to continue working with her on primetime specials.”
Bialik became temporary host of the long-running NBC series alongside 49-year-old Jennings in September 2021, following the death of former host Alex Trebek. (Trebek, who started hosting the show in 1984, died in November 2020 at the age of 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.)
Bialik and Jennings split time with their hosting duties over the next year before making the gig permanent in the summer of 2022.
‘Blossom’ Cast: Where Are They Now?
From child stars to Hollywood mainstays! Mayim Bialik, Joey Lawrence and more actors paved the way for enduring careers when they appeared in Blossom in the early 1990s. The sitcom ran for five seasons on NBC – from July 1990 to May 1995. Bialik (Blossom Russo), Lawrence (Joey Russo), Jenna von Öy (Six Lemeure), Michael Stoyanov (Anthony […]
The game show spent nearly two years searching for the perfect host before landing on Bialik and Jennings, with celebrities like LeVar Burton, Aaron Rodgers, Katie Couric And Anderson Cooper spending time as guest stars. While former Jeopardy! executive producer Mike RichardAlthough he was initially lined up as the new permanent host, he ultimately resigned in August 2021 after controversial comments he made resurfaced.
Bialik, meanwhile, faced her fair share of backlash after taking on the mantle of president Danger! presenter, who has been labeled an ‘anti-vaxxer’ and ‘anti-feminist’ because of our outspoken views, labels the actress ‘hurtful because they are not true’ in an interview in September 2021 Glamour.
Danger! viewers also took issue with Bialik’s hosting tactics in March 2022, when she began referring to the show’s opening round as “Single Jeopardy”, something Trebek herself used on occasion.
“I did it once. If it wasn’t right, they would have made me do it again,” she said Yahoo Entertainment at the time. “I hardly act alone. I promise. There’s so many things we’re re-recording. If we go back, I’ll confuse things. You will see an edited version. So it’s funny. When I saw that, I thought, “But if it literally wasn’t kosher, there are a million producers, writers, and researchers.” They all listen to me.”
Bialik added that she understands that “people care a lot” about the long-running series, noting that she “regrets” the misstep.
“I’m trying my best!” she explained. “I will never do it again! Even if it’s in this script, I won’t say it.”
Despite the struggles, Bialik was enthusiastic about the positives of being part of such an iconic program.
“I enjoy meeting all the participants. Really and truly. I love hearing their stories,” she said Yahoo. “Some of them are academics, some are housewives and some are teachers. They’re all different types of people who can retain information in a way that most of us can’t.”