I think he’s doing a great job, particularly with the interview section, where he seems to spend a little more time with the players, and connects with them better than Alex did. In the game play he’s pretty much the same as Alex. Perhaps even too much the same.
I still think, as I mentioned above, that his voice is his weak spot. Apart from that, I think he’s practically as good as Alex. But I suspect it’s enough to deny him the permanent spot.
I like Ken just fine. He’s doing a great job for someone who’s kind of wandered into television. (I doubt he’d considered it as a career in his pre-Jeopardy! days.)
It’s inevitable that he would start out being “too much like Alex,” since Alex pretty much set the standard. It will take time to develop another template for the show, but it will happen slowly over time. Right now, it’s too soon for it to be anything else.
I’m sure there are people out there who would be better hosts, even if they don’t have the history with the show that Ken does.
Minority opinion here but Mrs. C and I have always felt that Jeopardy was good despite Trebek’s presence, and Ken has proven us right. We think he’s terrific, voice and all, and that Jeopardy is now FAR better than before. He keeps it moving, relates to the contestants as equals without the mock humility, and doesn’t hog the camera hamming it up.
Alex was great, Socially awkward at moments, sure, but he was great.
I am really enjoying Ken for reasons I stated earlier, and other reasons mentioned upthread. (ETA, @TreacherousCretin, agree very much with your comments) Yes they can always find another personality who’s smoother as a host, but nobody, absolutely nobody (okay, maybe very few?) people have the Jeopardy Cred that Ken has.
Regarding Ken talking too fast, he does seem to have slowed down somewhat as he’s gotten more comfortable. And when they aired the first shows from the current syndication a while back, Alex himself sounded like a county fair “Little Wonder Slice ‘n’ Dice” huckster.
Overall I’ve enjoyed Ken and feel he’s doing well, but tonight I noticed he stumbled slightly when describing that Brian, the current champ, had said something “last week,” as if he had to think about it.
I remember reading that Alex had gotten really used to living on multiple calendars simultaneously - the actual date, and the air date (of which there were several each day).
I like Ken, who I think is doing a good job and is improving. I can tell that he can relate to the players, as a successful player himself. I would be fine with him as a permanent host. None of the others who have been mentioned as future guest hosts really interest me, though I am looking forward to watching Aaron Rodgers.
I think that Alec Baldwin would be great as the new host. He is cutting back on his acting and this would be a great gig for someone like him who is raising small children. He has a great voice and is very smart. He also has a good sense of humor. He is a little over the top hosting Match Game, but that game calls for it. I think he would tone it down on Jeopardy, like he does for his interviewing podcast, Here’s The Thing, which is excellent.
At our house we call early Alex Trebek “Cocaine Alex”.
I’m liking Ken just fine. I thought his voice was a little high pitched at the start but don’t really notice it now. It probably helps that I listened to him read one of his audio books on a road trip one summer. He has mad a few gaffes during the interview portion that made me roll my eyes but so did Alex. I’m sure Ken will continue to improve, as he has been these past two weeks.
Well, Brian Chang had a good run.
Did anybody think today’s FJ was easy? I’m surprised none of the three contestants picked up on the “dual name” aspect of the clue.
I knew the correct response from having read Bernadette Devlin’s Playboy interview back in the '70s.
I knew it, but I did have a map of Ireland on my wall at one time.
Brian
I was surprised nobody got it. I thought the whole Derry/Londonderry thing was well known.
I knew it from reading Trinity by Leon Uris about 40 years ago.
I thought it was super easy but that’s only because of the show Derry Girls.
Nope, missed it, and never would have gotten it. Not stealth bragging?
I guessed Belfast too so I didn’t feel that bad about missing it.
I got it; don’t know how.
I did not get Derry/Londonderry. Never would have guessed that in a million years.
I’m becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Ken. I don’t know if he wants to be the next host. Maybe he’s doing it now out of respect for Alex Trebek, but he’d be great at it.
I like Ken a lot more than I thought I would. But I’m reserving judgment till I see some others, especially Mayim Bialik.