If you’re a regular Jeopardy watcher, you’ve noticed by now that this fall’s season has been one tournament flowing into the next without any episodes featuring new contestants. This was the show’s workaround to the WGA strike: tournaments somehow allowed them to use previously written but unaired categories. For those of you growing weary of the endless tournaments, I regret to inform you that they’re likely to continue until April 2024. Again, the delay is due to the writers being on strike from May to October. Writers matter! Mayim Bialik walked away from hosting duties to strike in solidarity with the writers, leaving co-host and former champion Ken Jennings to man all episodes himself. As discussed here last week, Bialik and the show just officially confirmed her permanent departure. Jeopardy executive producers claimed “continuity for viewers” was behind their decision to stick with Jennings as the sole host, but new reporting from Matthew Belloni at Puck News suggests that Bialik’s actions during the strike may have been the driving force:
Bialik striking in solidarity upset Sony executives: “Bialik’s actions during the strike were at least a contributing factor, according to three sources close to the show.” Mayim hadn’t been on-screen since last May, walking out of all things Jeopardy! when the WGA went on strike, later citing solidarity for her union. The report continued: “Sony TV executive Suzanne Prete and [Jeopardy!] executive producer Michael Davies were furious when Bialik said in May that she would step away from the final week of filming last season in solidarity with the show’s striking writers. “After all, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are well-oiled machines, requiring precise timing to make the show’s five-episodes-a-day schedule.”
But Sony had other reasons, too: First, Bialik’s reception on set was less than favorable, and second, Sony had adjusted shooting schedules last season to accommodate her since-canceled Fox sitcom Call Me Cat. “Bialik wasn’t loved on set,” Puck News claimed, but did not specify further. “And Sony had switched up shooting that [previous] season to accommodate her sitcom.”
Egads! These hosting salaries: According to Puck News, the Big Bang Theory alum was pulling in an annual salary of $4 million. Bialik’s compensation was allegedly set to increase by $1 million each year that she remained with the franchise. Puck News also noted that Ken is also making $4 million a year, although that number is expected to increase now. The late Alex Trebek reportedly made $10M a year as host.
Meanwhile, Jennings was giving some interviews to hype new episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy, and The Hollywood Reporter squeezed in a question to him about Bialik’s firing. His answer was very diplomatic, if somewhat milquetoast:
“It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her. I can’t speak to her decision-making process or her opinions about it.
But on my end, I’m just a fan of Jeopardy! and I’m always delighted to host when they call upon me. I just feel extremely lucky to have even been considered for this job as a non-broadcaster.
It’s kind of a weird thing to try to bring back an ex-contestant to host, and I’ve obviously been learning as I go. But I loved growing up with Jeopardy! where Alex was the host of that show for almost 38 years, and people just kind of felt like he was part of their family, and it’s impossible to fill those shoes. But it’s such an honor and hopefully I look forward to 37 more years of doing it, when I’ll be a very, very old man.”
So Jennings says a sentence or two about Bialik, but then deftly pivots to broad comments on hosting in general. The show’s PR team must love him! Honestly, I feel like no one comes out of this story looking good. Jennings mainly dodges the question, the least offensive action here. But then again Sony stuck with him in the first place because he worked through the strikes. Bialik did the noble thing by showing solidarity with the writers, but I’m not surprised, either, that Sony was fed up with continually having to reschedule her filming dates. Still, I think Sony earns the most stink of all because the main headline is that they fired Bialik for standing by striking workers. And all these people are being paid millions of dollars a year.
Here’s the kicker for me: the current tournament airing right now is “Second Chance,” wherein previous contestants who didn’t win get… a second chance. Something Sony producers declined to extend to Bialik. I’ll take Potentially Hypocritical Actions for $400, please!
Photos credit: Avalon.red, Cover Images and via Instagram/Jeopardy
Couldn’t happen to a nicer person
I agree 💯 %!!!
She does seem to be truly unpleasant, and won’t be missed.
She’ll be fine. Sounds like she did them a favor by striking.
IKR? I think they wanted to get rid of her and saw an opportunity here. I’m no fan of hers (she’s really full of her self and kinda sexist; and she was awful on the show), but, for their sake, sure hope Jeopardy has their I’s dotted and T’s crossed. Cuz she could have a lovely lawsuit on the way. Perhaps there was a good severance.
When she was hired she was just coming off of The Big Bang Theory. And there was a lot of free publicity for Jeopardy from that. Ever since Alex died they don’t know what to do with the show. And after the debacle of the first guy who was a producer of something getting the job. They had to do something big. So they came up with the guy who won the most. As a publicity stunt. Then they added Mayim to the mix. To get even more buzz. They didn’t know how to pick a host who is good at the job. They just wanted to keep people watching so they chose names. Their best bet to actually save the show. Is to cancel it for two or three years. Then find a good host and relaunch it later.
Is you comma button broken?
@Caroline, is your “R” button broken?
@Robert–She really did have a lot of buzz coming out of BBT. But stories have come out about her being a nice person, so here we are.
I’d be more up in arms about her firing if she wasn’t such a trash person. What she said during the Me Too movement was deplorable so her being axed from Jeopardy has me saying: good riddance.
Yeah, she’s been problematic for years now.
Plus I loathed her bbt character, the whiny way she talked & infantilized Sheldon. He could do better.
Agree the show just needs to stop spinning & let it rest. Also, filming 5 shows a day?! And Vanna never got a raise, so it’s not surprising Sony trotted out the “hard to get along with” line here.
I figured everyone read between the lines last week?
The second-chance tourney is for players who didn’t win 5 episodes that automatically got them into the tournament of champions. As for Mayim, she was good & I find Ken annoying (always have as he reminds me too much of Herbie the Elf from Rudolph). I thought she was just let go from the syndicated series (M-F) but it seems from all of jeopardy. I think I confused her with her Amy Farrah Fowler who I found oddly interesting . I tried to watch Call me Kat because of Leslie Jordan but even with his delightfulness it was excruciating I am still heartbroken at his sudden loss.
Haven’t watched much with Ken and Mayim. Neither can replace Alex. I actually liked the guest hosting with money going to good causes.
The scheduling around her other commitments was probably the main factor here…she likely doesn’t have the clout or personality to make it worth it for them. I’m guessing it’s her people that put out the part about it being because of the strike. Or Sony just has bad PR people.
Sorry but I’m not going to miss her.
I didn’t care for Mayim as a host. I have watched jeopardy for 30 years or so (I’m 40 but we always watched wheel of fortune and jeopardy when we ate dinner at home). And my husband and I watch it every night still. I can’t pinpoint what it was about her that I didn’t like – sometimes she came across as condescending. Given that she earned a PhD in neuroscience, which I could certainly never do, I don’t blame her! But I didn’t like the way she hosted. Ken is better in my opinion – more approachable and affable. To be clear, I obviously think she is extremely intelligent and talented, but I just didn’t think she was a great host.
Jeopardy should have ended with AT.
Bring in LeVar Burton.
MB is a multi-millionaire. No tears for her job loss. She’s fine. Got a PhD and $$ in the bank.
No loss. Should have been much sooner.
Sometimes you just need to do you job and shut up. If you are hired to perform a task, unless there is something specifically included in your job description about your opinion, we dont need it. It’s not necessary. If what you are doing violates your self imposed morals then quit. The good thing about a job in todays world is you can walk away. When you walk though the door of your company you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of your employment. All you have to do to change that is not show up. She was given an opportunity she always wanted and decided to bring her personal views into the workplace. She should be fired. We dont care what she believes as long as she can read the category.
glad to hear it. hated her on the show and hate her irl. i’m happy ken is the only host now.