# 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:** 23
**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:** [May 16, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/443 "2021-05-16T15:00:39Z")
Whitaker was so forgettable, I’ve already forgotten him. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/444 "2021-05-16T18:25:39Z")
So far I’ve been most impressed by Jennings, Rodgers, Cooper. In that order. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/445 "2021-05-16T18:35:48Z")
Ken Jennings seems most willing to commit himself full-time to the job. And he’s relatively young at 46. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/446 "2021-05-16T21:59:56Z")
Am I the only one who thinks these celebrity hosts have nothing to do with who will be the next permanent host? My uninformed opinion is that after a year of letting Alex Trebek fade into a fond memory, the producers will come up with a “professional” game show host, tweak the format to put a little more emphasis on the contestants, and let the ship sail on. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/447 "2021-05-16T22:15:35Z")
I think there’s a pretty good chance you’re right. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Wait for the outrage that erupts from legions of J! fans when LeVar Burton is not named the permanent host. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/448 "2021-05-16T22:18:11Z")
I’ve watched for years and seen nearly all the guest hosts (ditched Oz after a few seconds and missed most of Whitaker for a variety of reasons including that he was not compelling in what I did see). I realize I findthe guest hosts are sort of distracting from the game because I have preconceived ideas about their personalities and styles that I’m looking for. But I did not have that for Richards which is maybe why I ranked him him highest overall. The second is that I think the host might not matter - what I like is the questions and the contest between the players. I ultimately realized I liked Alex because he was the host of an interesting show, I didn’t like the show because of Alex. So a competent no-name would be fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/449 "2021-05-16T22:35:31Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks these celebrity hosts have nothing to do with who will be the next permanent host? My uninformed opinion is that after a year of letting Alex Trebek fade into a fond memory, the producers will come up with a “professional” game show host, tweak the format to put a little more emphasis on the contestants, and let the ship sail on. I agree; I was surprised when someone upthread referred to these guest host stints as “auditions.” Is that really what most people are thinking? If so, where did the idea come from? To my knowledge, no one officially associated with the show has ever said any such thing. I’ve simply been assuming the guest hosts were just that, guest hosts, meant to tide the show over while they search for the next permanent host. ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/450 "2021-05-17T07:42:25Z")
I would rank them as such… 1. Aaron Rodgers 2. Ken Jennings 3. Anderson Cooper 4. Mike Richards 5. Katie Couric 6. Bill Whitaker 7. Oz Looking forward to Mayim Bialik and LeVar Burton, whom I think both will be good. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/451 "2021-05-17T16:48:37Z")
> [@mtnmatt](#): > > …I didn’t like the show because of Alex… Mrs. C and I have always loved Jeopardy _despite_ Alex. My crackpot notion is that the producers are wearing us down, making us so sick of the “Guest Host” revolving door while mourning Saint Trebek that we’ll collapse into exhausted relief when they finally announce _anybody_ as permanent host. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/452 "2021-05-17T21:35:16Z")
Buddy Holly for the next 2 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/453 "2021-05-18T07:48:46Z")
I have been watching Jeopardy! regularly only since last November. Today was the strangest and most unusual episode I have ever seen, the first day of the Tournament of Champions. The host was hyperactive and doing EVERYTHING too fast…reading the questions, the pace of the show, etc. It was really tiring. I remember seeing the guy as a contestant on some of the older episodes I saw on Netflix. Then, the guy seemed to be trying too hard to audition for anything in show business. Weird. Also the guy that won today was really annoying and was cheering too hard for himself. Are the Tournament of Champions shows always a little different from the normal ones??? ---
**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:** [May 18, 2021, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/454 "2021-05-18T09:29:09Z")
I’m not sure whether Buzzy Cohen is actually in the running for permanent host. I can put up with him for two weeks. Yeah, the guy who won was “cheering too hard for himself.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/455 "2021-05-18T09:36:21Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > I agree; I was surprised when someone upthread referred to these guest host stints as “auditions.” Is that really what most people are thinking? If so, where did the idea come from? To my knowledge, no one officially associated with the show has ever said any such thing. Two reasons I assumed they were auditions: 1. You’re going to have the tryouts anyway, so why not record them and get some return on them by airing them (as long as they are of sufficient quality)? 2. Surely an important part of picking the next host is to gauge audience reactions. ---
**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:** [May 18, 2021, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/456 "2021-05-18T12:09:40Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > My crackpot notion is that the producers are wearing us down, making us so sick of the “Guest Host” revolving door while mourning Saint Trebek that we’ll collapse into exhausted relief when they finally announce _anybody_ as permanent host. I’m there. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/458 "2021-05-18T17:16:46Z")
This stupid discourse software keeps messing up my post. Let me try again. > [@BigDfromLA](#): > > I have been watching Jeopardy! regularly only since last November. Today was the strangest and most unusual episode I have ever seen, the first day of the Tournament of Champions. The host was hyperactive and doing EVERYTHING too fast…reading the questions, the pace of the show, etc. It was really tiring. I remember seeing the guy as a contestant on some of the older episodes I saw on Netflix. Then, the guy seemed to be trying too hard to audition for anything in show business. Weird. Also the guy that won today was really annoying and was cheering too hard for himself. Are the Tournament of Champions shows always a little different from the normal ones??? Buzzy Cohen is a previous Tournament of Champions winner. I didn’t notice it being particularly fast, it just wasn’t super slow like the other guest hosts have made it recently. Buzzy and the three contestants are all already very familiar with how it works so we don’t get all the awkward pauses and waiting for the judges to OK an answer like previous guest hosts. It was so refreshing to actually watch them get through all the questions and not wait around in silence and then leave clues on the board! I hate the slow pace the other hosts have taken. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/459 "2021-05-18T17:22:28Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Buddy Holly for the next 2 weeks. “Dat guy, there? He’s dead!” ---
**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:** [May 18, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/460 "2021-05-18T18:38:15Z")
> [@BigDfromLA](#): > > Today was the strangest and most unusual episode I have ever seen, the first day of the Tournament of Champions. The host was hyperactive and doing EVERYTHING too fast…reading the questions, the pace of the show, etc. It was really tiring Yes. I always liked him as a contestant and was quite disappointed by his first episode. Every word he spoke was TOO LOUD and had an exclamation! point! behind it. > [@BigDfromLA](#): > > Also the guy that won today was really annoying and was cheering too hard for himself. Are the Tournament of Champions shows always a little different from the normal ones??? Yes, but the kid’s behavior was way out of line even for TOC. Or _especially_ for TOC. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/461 "2021-05-18T19:52:58Z")
Buzzy was fine. The game pace was fine. Ryan acted like a precocious 10 year old. “I am so smart!” Thoughn he still wasn’t as obnoxious as Austin Rodgers. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/462 "2021-05-18T20:51:54Z")
^ Agreed. I think the reason the show _seemed_ rushed is because we (or at least I) had become used to hosts like Aaron Rogers and Bill Whitaker (Whitaker’s delivery would also make Buzzy’s seem hyperactive). I was prepared to turn the sound off and rely on closed captions; instead, I was rather impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/463 "2021-05-18T20:55:55Z")
I thought Buzzy was too excitable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=24)