There have been quite a lot of present tapings within the many seasons that Jeopardy! has been on the air, however the premiere of Season 39 that co-host Ken Jennings filmed this yr (and aired final month) was totally different. A studio viewers, which had been banished due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was again.
“That first sport of this season, I walked out and other people simply went bonkers and I simply began to cry,” the Jeopardy! champ mentioned Monday on Good Morning America. “This sport means a lot to folks. And there was simply this visceral wave of affection and power. I will be fascinated with that for the remainder of my life.”
Jennings and his co-host, Mayim Bialik, who’re taking turns helming the present, sat for the morning talker of their first joint interview since being introduced because the everlasting hosts. Earlier than that, the 2 had been a part of an extended record of visitor hosts who learn the clues, following the demise of Alex Trebek in November 2020 from pancreatic most cancers.
Each mentioned that they consider Trebek, who had hosted the present since 1984, usually.
“I really feel like Alex’s presence is right here, and it’s,” Bialik mentioned. “It is within the phrases that we heard him say for therefore many a long time. However I believe additionally, like, eager to extra form of imitate the sensation that he created on the stage for the contestants and for the viewers.”
The co-hosts had been chosen following a scandal, which is uncommon for the TV staple. It occurred when former Jeopardy! govt producer Mike Richards briefly served as official host, then left the present altogether, after offensive feedback that he had made on a podcast earlier than he joined the beloved sport present surfaced on-line.
Jennings, who continues to carry the document for many consecutive wins, with 74, mentioned he appreciates that he and Bialik are sharing internet hosting duties.
“One of many good issues about having two hosts is the main focus is rather less on who’s the long-lasting host of Jeopardy! And it is actually extra about Jeopardy! as a sport,” he mentioned. “Some nights it is gonna be me. Some nights it is gonna be Mayim. Nevertheless it’s all the time Jeopardy!“
Bialik hosted Sunday evening’s episode of Celeb Jeopardy!, during which Loopy Wealthy Asians actress Constance Wu needed to be censored.
