# Who should be the next host of "Jeopardy!"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [November 12, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460 "2020-11-12T20:49:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/182 "2021-02-27T07:40:51Z")
Yes, it really seemed to me that his comments were directed at those critical of Dr. Oz guest hosting the show. I think people are rightfully concerned since Oz is a quack/charlatan with credibility problems that aren’t compatable with the Jeopardy community. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/183 "2021-03-02T00:45:05Z")
OK then, _ **Pete Buttigieg.** _ He is young. He cleans up nice. He speaks obscure languages. An ideal, if impractical proposal. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/184 "2021-03-02T00:54:18Z")
I’ll consider it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/185 "2021-03-02T05:03:13Z")
It just occurred to me what I like about Mike Richards. He’s practically invisible. He lets the contestants (and the game itself) be the stars. That’s why Trebek was always called the “host” of _Jeopardy!_, not the “star.” And that’s why I’d prefer Richards over Ken Jennings. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/186 "2021-03-02T15:10:12Z")
You know what’s not invisible about him? His eyebrows. Damn if they don’t look weird during his opening. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/187 "2021-03-02T18:08:24Z")
I like his eyebrows. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/188 "2021-03-02T21:23:58Z")
Dunno about others, but I find it easy to imagine Mike as a CGI virtual host. Maybe that’s what the show needs in the interim. Still, I think he’s doing an OK job. But I still prefer Ken. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/189 "2021-03-03T01:33:49Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > … I find it easy to imagine Mike as a CGI virtual host … Once you open up _this_ as an option, the possibilities are endless–even if you limit it to English-speakers. Einstein! Newton! Rosalind Franklin! Bertrand Russell! Ada Lovelace! Charlie Sheen! You’d need someone to voice them, but other than that, it would probably be fairly easy on the show budget. Think of the ratings! (Well, maybe not for Sheen.) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/190 "2021-03-03T01:55:59Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > You’d need someone to voice them, but other than that, it would probably be fairly easy on the show budget. Hey, I’m available. And I have experience! ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/191 "2021-03-03T04:58:05Z")
Speaking here as someone who thinks Ken was terrific: in tonight’s episode, when reacting to incorrect guesses by contestants (or no guesses at all), Mike used the phrase “We were looking for…” at _least_ ten times. I counted because I noticed his overusing it last night as well. Just don’t like him. He seems detached, saying his lines. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/192 "2021-03-03T06:48:44Z")
His French pronunciation is HORRIBLE. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/193 "2021-03-03T23:57:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Hey, I’m available. And I have experience! You’re hired! Just be aware that there are job requirements beyond the usual expectations: > [@panache45](#): > > His French pronunciation is HORRIBLE. . ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/194 "2021-03-04T00:33:52Z")
Ken Bone. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/195 "2021-03-04T01:19:04Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > Hey, I’m available. And I have experience! > > You’re hired! > > Just be aware that there are job requirements beyond the usual expectations: I am, after all, a cunning linguist! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/196 "2021-03-04T23:38:32Z")
Take it to the Pit! (j/k) But seriously, folks, the time WILL come when shows–perhaps game shows in particular–will have CGI hosts. When it becomes cheaper than paying a performer to host a mainstream half-hour show, someone will try it. (And listen to the voice of the CGI Elvis [or whoever]—it may be terentii!) I guess the contestants would be responding to the same cues they respond to now: a big game board that changes electronically, and a voice from a booth telling them whose turn it is, etc. And then later Elvis would be added, standing in front of that actual information/game-content screen that the contestants were looking at (so it will seem as though they were looking at him). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/197 "2021-03-05T00:49:44Z")
My repetoire includes: Elvis William Shatner Sean Connery Ross Perot Mike Tyson Ricky Ricardo Beavis Butt-Head Mr T Bullwinkle Dudley Do-Right Queen Elizabeth II ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/198 "2021-03-05T04:09:47Z")
Well, hell, the time may come when shows have CGI contestants. Definitely cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/199 "2021-03-19T02:54:34Z")
I’m not enjoying Katie Couric as the host. There’s something about her that’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I don’t dislike her in general, but this is just not working. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/200 "2021-03-19T12:36:41Z")
Yes, I find her voice very clear and understandable, which is a plus, but she’s stiff with the contestants and as you say, it’s just not working. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/201 "2021-03-19T14:12:20Z")
Sure, but Jeopardy is about the contestants and the questions, and the host typically shouldn’t play a huge role. Being kind of bland is not a negative thing on a show like it, versus a more… interactive show like “Price is Right”, where a large chunk of the entertainment value is the host/contestant interaction. Alex Trebek was exceptional, in that he managed to both keep the show about the contestants and questions, while having a fairly prominent role in the show. But if I had to choose, I think the show would be better served by a less colorful host, than a more colorful one- as much as I enjoy Wayne Brady and Drew Carey, they’re pretty much entirely wrong for Jeopardy because their antics and jokes would draw the focus from the actual “game” part of the show. The other thing that I think is important is to have a comfortable, confident host. Mostly because the majority of contestants are uncomfortable and awkward in front of the camera, and the host needs to be both comfortable in front of the camera, as well as confident and reassuring to the contestants. Katie Couric is plenty comfortable in front of the camera, but comes off a little weird to me. Ken Jennings got better, but still seemed overly formal. Mike Richards had a good blend of comfort and confidence- he wasn’t really all that notable himself, but I thought he did a good job of managing the contestants and the game without seeming awkward or overly formal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=11)