# 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:** 4
**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:** [November 16, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/61 "2020-11-16T16:41:50Z")
I don’t suppose you want to add some context to that. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/62 "2020-11-16T16:43:29Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YmNK8R-YuEc/maxresdefault.jpg "Alex Trebek saying the word "genre" on Jeopardy!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmNK8R-YuEc) ---
**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:** [November 16, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/63 "2020-11-16T16:48:32Z")
Yep, it helps if you’re fluent in French. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/64 "2020-11-16T16:52:44Z")
Isn’t this kind of like a “replacing Willie Mays in Center field” type of situation? Trebek is a legend. It will be hard for his successor to fill those shoes. Whoever they pick needs to have an air of dignity about him. That’s what I remember most about Trebek. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/65 "2020-11-16T16:59:28Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Somebody in their 30’s or 40’s and unknown. The show will make them a star. Back when Alex got the job, he was already a professional game show host. There were lots of game shows on the air, and when anyone made a new one, they had a pool of specialists to draw from. These days, game show hosts are usually famous for something else before they host a game show (see: Alec Baldwin, Jane Lynch, Michael Strahan, Elizabeth Banks, Joel McHale), so it’s likely they’ll go that route. > [@NetTrekker](#): > > I’d like to see it offered to Steve Harvey, Drew Carey or Wayne Brady but they would all probably prefer something more laughy. > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Ugh no. I love Wayne on LMAD and Drew on PRIS. But they aren’t really the right fit for the show. I agree with **ANB** , you don’t want someone who will draw attention to themself, and these three definitely would. Not that you can’t have a comedian do it, just not a famously hammy one. I think Aisha Tyler would be a good choice. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/66 "2020-11-16T17:01:56Z")
I once thought Wolf Blitzer might make a good _ **Jeopardy!** _ host, but no more. 😁 ---
**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:** [November 16, 2020, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/67 "2020-11-16T17:06:05Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Back when Alex got the job, he was already a professional game show host. There were lots of game shows on the air, and when anyone made a new one, they had a pool of specialists to draw from. These days, game show hosts are usually famous for something else before they host a game show (see: Alec Baldwin, Jane Lynch, Michael Strahan, Elizabeth Banks, Joel McHale), so it’s likely they’ll go that route. Those celebrities host limited-run nighttime game shows, with a small number of shows each year. That’s different from Jeopardy, which runs five days a week for most of the year. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/68 "2020-11-16T17:47:17Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I think Aisha Tyler would be a good choice. Ooooooh, yeah. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/69 "2020-11-16T18:29:48Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I once thought Wolf Blitzer might make a good _ **Jeopardy!** _ host, but no more. 😁 That would be a really funny and ironic choice. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/70 "2020-11-16T18:55:26Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > But you’re mistaken about the bolded part. They tape two days (ten shows) every other week, with a total of 46 taping days per year. Most likely hosts could easily work that schedule around another full time job. I know, but a actor on a movie or a TV show is not going to be able to give away 20% of their time on a strictly regimented basis to another job. Shooting movies especially requires quite a bit of agility, it’s why most TV actors have to quit in order to do movies. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/71 "2020-11-16T19:04:24Z")
Has the benefit of getting him off CNN… ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/72 "2020-11-20T23:54:08Z")
LeVar Burton is already 63. Neil Patrick Harris has a lot of MC/hosting experience, age 47. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/73 "2020-11-21T01:28:54Z")
Neil Patrick Harris has a career, so I’m not sure if he’d want the job. On the other hand, Google search results claim that Alex Trebek was paid ten million a year. So that kind of money might be worth it and they only tape a few days a month. And it’s a lifetime gig. (I remember one Savage Love column in which Dan Savage said he planned to do his advice column for the rest of his life, much as Dear Abby or Ann Landers did.) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/74 "2020-11-21T01:47:57Z")
I doubt very much that the next host will pull down anywhere near Alex’s paycheck. As for it being a lifetime gig, I don’t think that’s necessarily a given. Ratings will have something to say about that. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/75 "2020-11-21T03:09:41Z")
10 mil a year and he still did those shitty insurance commercials. I don’t get it. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/76 "2020-11-21T03:15:57Z")
I don’t get it either and he’s not the only one. Tom Selleck does crappy commercials too, and he’s got a regular gig on a CBS cop drama. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/77 "2020-11-21T04:49:28Z")
FYI, [celebritynetworth.com](http://celebritynetworth.com) (“The website future billionaires read every day”) says he was making [$18 million](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/alex-trebek-net-worth/) a year. Discrepancies like this could stem from some sources counting only the salary and others counting side gigs like product endorsements, etc. Or maybe they’re all just pulling numbers out of their asses. Who knows? ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/78 "2020-11-23T23:52:03Z")
Ken Jennings will be the first of a series of interim hosts. > **[Jeopardy! Returns to Studio Nov. 30 With Interim Host | J!Buzz | Jeopardy.com](https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/news-events/jeopardy-returns-studio-nov-30-interim-host)** > > As Jeopardy! remembers and celebrates the life of Alex Trebek, the show announced today that it will resume production on Monday, Nov. 30. Though a long-term replacement host will not be named at this time, Jeopardy! will return to the studio with a... ---
**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:** [November 23, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/79 "2020-11-23T23:56:08Z")
Gee, who’da thunk it? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/80 "2020-11-24T00:08:41Z")
If they could somehow get Watson to guest-host for a week, I’d be absolutely tickled pink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=5)