What happened to Ken Jennings? Is He Still Hosting Jeopardy?
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 03, 2023
Who is Ken Jennings?
Kenneth Wayne Jennings III is a former game show contestant and host from the United States. He was born on May 23, 1974, and is known for his impressive performances on various game shows. Jennings is considered the highest-earning American game show contestant, having won a total of $4,522,700 on Jeopardy! and other game shows.
In 2021, he co-hosted Jeopardy! with Mayim Bialik, alternating as hosts throughout the season. Jennings holds two impressive records on Jeopardy!: the longest winning streak with 74 consecutive wins and the highest average correct responses per game in the show's history with 35.9 during his original run. In 2004, Jennings set the record for the longest winning streak on Jeopardy! by winning 74 consecutive games before finally being defeated by challenger Nancy Zerg on his 75th appearance.
Jennings wrote a book called Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, which was published in 2006. In this book, he shared his experiences as a game show contestant and explored American trivia history and culture.
What Happened to Ken Jennings?
Following the unfortunate demise of Alex Trebek, the iconic game show "Jeopardy!" announced that Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik would become the permanent hosts. Jennings was scheduled to host from September through December, but according to TheJeopardyFan.com, he is still hosting the show at the beginning of 2023 with a few weeks left. There has been no official statement from Jennings, Bialik, or the show about the hosting schedule for 2023, and Sony has not commented on the matter.
The initial announcement revealed that Bialik would take over as the host in January, with the plan being for her to host a couple of new tournaments and the Jeopardy! National College Championship. She will also host as many weeks as she can manage, considering her other commitments to the primetime show "Call Me Kat."
Bialik will also be overseeing the "Jeopardy!" High School Reunion Tournament, which is set to air from February 20 through March 9. Additionally, she will continue hosting "Celebrity Jeopardy!," which is scheduled to return to ABC on January 5.
Bialik has shared her experiences as a host of "Jeopardy!" on an episode of the podcast "Inside Jeopardy!" She acknowledged that hosting the show can be overwhelming yet rewarding, and it can be challenging to balance officiating the game while interacting with the contestants. She also expressed her gratitude for being a part of the show's legacy.
Is Ken Jennings Still Hosting Jeopardy?
As per a report from TheJeopardyFan.com, Ken Jennings is reportedly still serving as the host of Jeopardy at the beginning of 2023, and he has several weeks left before he steps down. However, neither Jennings, Mayim Bialik, nor Jeopardy! has made any official statement regarding the show's hosting schedule for the year. The Deseret News has reached out to Sony for a comment on this matter.
In the initial announcement of the new hosts, Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies had stated that Bialik would take over as the host in January. However, he did not specify how long the actress would continue as the host due to her commitments to the sitcom Call Me Kat. The current plan is for her to host a few new tournaments, the Jeopardy! National College Championship, and as many weeks as she can manage with her other primetime commitment to Call Me Kat.
The Jeopardy! National College Championship, which features 36 undergraduates from across the US, will air on ABC from February 8 through February 22, according to the "Jeopardy!" website. In addition, Bialik's upcoming hosting stint will include overseeing the new "Jeopardy!" High School Reunion Tournament, scheduled to air from February 20 through March 9, according to a news release sent to the Deseret News.
In summary, while Ken Jennings is still hosting Jeopardy at the start of 2023, Mayim Bialik is slated to take over as the host in January. Her hosting duties will include hosting new tournaments, the Jeopardy! National College Championship, and as many weeks as she can manage with her other commitments.
Why Is Ken Jennings Not Hosting Jeopardy This Week?
Ken Jennings is not currently serving as a temporary guest host on Jeopardy!, as he has already completed his hosting stint on the show. Following the death of longtime host Alex Trebek in 2020, the show had a rotating cast of guest hosts, which included Jennings, Mayim Bialik, Aaron Rodgers, and others.
Currently, Bialik is hosting the High School Reunion Tournament, which airs from February 21 to March 5. Jennings is not expected to return to host during this period. However, he is scheduled to return to the show on March 8 and continue his hosting duties through at least April 14.
Despite being a popular host, some fans have criticized Jennings' hosting style. Jennings acknowledged this in an interview on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast in August 2021, saying that not everyone will be pleased with his hosting. He also mentioned that having a rotating cast of hosts is beneficial because it broadens the show's appeal.
Where Is Ken Jennings This Week?
The Twitter account shared a message stating that Ken Jennings will not be hosting "Jeopardy!" from February 20 through March 9 due to the High School Reunion Tournament airing during that time. However, it is expected that he will resume hosting duties on March 10 and continue as the guest host until at least April 14.
This means that Jennings is currently on a temporary break from hosting the show but is expected to return soon. In the meantime, Mayim Bialik is serving as the host of the High School Reunion Tournament that is currently airing on the show.
When Will Ken Jennings Return to Jeopardy?
Mayim Bialik is currently hosting Jeopardy! as the show airs its High School Reunion Tournament. However, the popular former guest host, Ken Jennings, is only temporarily away from the show's hosting duties. A Twitter account, which tracks Jennings' onscreen appearances, shared a message on February 16, stating that Jennings would be absent from the show from February 20 to March 9 but would return on March 10 and continue to host the show until at least April 14.
Despite his popularity, Jennings has faced criticism from some fans for his hosting style. In an August 2021 appearance on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, Jennings acknowledged that not everyone will be pleased with his hosting. However, he pointed out that having a rotating cast of hosts broadens the show's appeal. Jennings also faced backlash in the earlier stages of his run as a Jeopardy! contestant in 2004, but he dissociated himself from the negative comments and continued with the show.
Similarly, Bialik has also faced criticism from some Jeopardy! fans before being announced as a permanent host. During an episode of her podcast, Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, she revealed that viewers often compare her to Jennings. However, she takes the comments with a smile and believes that people have the right to express their opinions. Bialik stated that everyone has the right to their opinion, and she takes everybody's opinion with a grain of salt.
What Happened To Ken Jennings: FAQs
Ken Jennings is an American game show host, author, and former game show contestant. He is the highest-earning American game show contestant, having won money on five different game shows, including $4,522,700 on the U.S. game show Jeopardy!
Ken Jennings' claim to fame is his record for the longest winning streak on Jeopardy! with 74 consecutive wins. He also holds the record for the highest average correct responses per game in Jeopardy! history.
Ken Jennings' total earnings on Jeopardy! are $4,522,700.
Ken Jennings has won money on five different game shows, including Jeopardy!, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, and Grand Slam.