# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/81 "2020-11-24T01:09:48Z")
Me 52, or whatever we’re up to for Levar. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/82 "2020-11-24T13:13:54Z")
I don’t think Jennings will be better than someone used to being on camera like an actor but I guess he would be the fan favorite. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/83 "2020-11-24T16:12:11Z")
I am NOT a fan of Ken Jennings. I’d much rather have Buzzy Cohen or Brad Rutter as host. ---
**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 24, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/84 "2020-11-24T16:36:08Z")
Jennings seems like a decent guy, but the few times he read a category on-camera, his delivery was very flat. True, Alex tended to over-pronounce foreign words, and his attempts at accents and impressions were often cringeworthy. But his gift was adding some interpretation to the clues, rather than just reading the words. It’ll be interesting to see how Jennings does over the course of several episodes, and whether or how much his delivery improves. But I suspect in the end the job will go to somebody with performing experience - for good reason. ---
**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:** [November 24, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/85 "2020-11-24T17:00:56Z")
[Bob Harris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Harris_(writer)), another previous champion, would be a good choice, I think. He has performing experience and seems like an all around good guy, but apparently he lives in Australia now. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/86 "2020-11-24T18:56:45Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > It’ll be interesting to see how Jennings does over the course of several episodes, and whether or how much his delivery improves. But I suspect in the end the job will go to somebody with performing experience - for good reason. About ten years ago, there was a rumor that Jeff Probst was leaving _Survivor_. It was an article of faith in the fan community that the job had to go to a former contestant, because contestants “knew” the show and were already familiar to the audience. I found this baffling. The idea that there was a skill set involved in hosting rarely came up. It’s nice of the producers to give Jennings a shot—they’re acknowledging that he’s a fan favorite—but I doubt that he’ll get the job. My impression is they’re getting him out of the way so they can move on to more polished candidates. ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/87 "2020-11-26T07:56:35Z")
LeVar Burton would be a great choice. Or, thinking out of the box, an actor like Matthew McConaughey or Vincent D’Onofrio if they would be interested. Liev Schreiber has done excellent narration work and he is intelligent, so maybe he would consider it. Jennifer Garner would be good and it would be a nice gig to do while her kids are still school aged. Alec Baldwin would be ideal. He is already cutting back on his acting and he would undoubtedly like the steady paycheck raising four kids aged seven or younger. I guess my choice from all of these would be Alec Baldwin. ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/88 "2020-11-26T14:38:35Z")
Ken has taken down his tweet mocking those with disabilities so it may signal a new, non-anti-wheelchair direction for this temporary host. But is it too little too late? Buzzer speed is important in his game. ---
**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 28, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/89 "2020-11-28T12:30:47Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > 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? He probably had investments, and he may have had “executive producer” status on _Jeopardy_. Sometimes when someone is making a lot of money per episode, paying them more salary just means they payout a lot more in taxes, but having them earn as an executive is taxed differently. That why you see so many lead actors in shows also billed as “executive producers,” but only one person, who isn’t an actor, billed under “produced by.” ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/90 "2020-11-30T19:15:18Z")
Who was that bartender champion with the light hair? Pretty funny guy , at times. Can’t remember his name. ---
**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 30, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/91 "2020-11-30T20:24:22Z")
[Austin Rogers?](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106318869-1578002455692austin_rogers_2_ad_09-26-17_sn7597.jpg?v=1578002513&w=1600&h=900) I liked him but he’s probably the most divisive returning champ among Jeopardy Fans. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/92 "2020-11-30T22:33:02Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > [Bob Harris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Harris_(writer)), another previous champion, would be a good choice, I think. He has performing experience and seems like an all around good guy, but apparently he lives in Australia now. I was going to say Bob Harris. I loved his book (“Prisoner of Trebekistan”) and used to follow his blog for a while, until he apparently fell off the face of the earth. Australia, huh? ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/93 "2020-12-01T13:11:21Z")
Yes, that’s him! ---
**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:** [December 1, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/94 "2020-12-01T13:19:59Z")
Yep, he’s on Twitter: > ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/95 "2020-12-01T15:28:39Z")
Clickable link to the story. > **[Remembering Alex Trebek and the Jeopardy! wedding | Boing Boing](https://t.co/UXpRKFWWpl)** > > 1998 Tournament of Champions winner Dan Melia marries Dara Hellman on the Jeopardy! set. Their vows were on the game board, they rang in to say their vows, and the ceremony was performed by fellow … I hadn’t heard about that one. Very cool. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/96 "2021-01-05T00:52:32Z")
It’s 2021 and Alex is going strong. Kind of looking like they’ll just stick with reruns this year. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/97 "2021-01-05T02:19:20Z")
The last five episodes were being reserved for the first full week of January, to have higher ratings. They were obviously intended to be broadcast before Christmas, since Alec had a message about the season of giving, and one clue category was December 21 (the date they thought it would be broadcast?) ---
**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:** [January 5, 2021, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/98 "2021-01-05T13:19:15Z")
My understanding was they were going to start taping shows with Ken Jennings right around Thanksgiving and start airing them right after Christmas. Now I’m wondering if that’s being scuttled because of his Twitter controversy. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/99 "2021-01-05T13:45:10Z")
The last two weeks were reruns of episodes in which Alex had travelled to some location to deliver clues (“Around the World with Alex,” it was called). The episodes being shown this week were originally recorded with the expectation that they would air the week of December 21-25. You can tell that from various internal clues, as **JohnGalt** points out. Expect to see Alex wish us all a Merry Christmas on Friday’s show. They decided to do the two weeks of repeats so that Alex’s final episode would not actually air on Christmas. I imagine that they figured people might be busy with other things during Christmas week, and that more people would be watching now that the holiday season is over. So far as anyone is aware, recordings with Ken Jennings hosting were done as anticipated, and they should begin airing next week. What effect Ken’s current controversy will have is anybody’s guess. Despite what many people seem to think, Jennings has never been named as permanent replacement host–just the first of a series of interim guest hosts. I’ve never thought he would make a good host in any event, and I doubt that he would have gotten the job, Twitter controversy or not. In general, I see no particular reason that any former contestant should become the new host. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2021, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460/100 "2021-01-05T13:57:27Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > The last two weeks were reruns of episodes in which Alex had travelled to some location to deliver clues (“Around the World with Alex,” it was called). The episodes being shown this week were originally recorded with the expectation that they would air the week of December 21-25. You can tell that from various internal clues, as **JohnGalt** points out. Expect to see Alex wish us all a Merry Christmas on Friday’s show. I wonder if they’ll cut out the Christmas greeting. And, by the way, I didn’t care for the plug for the Ryan Reynolds movie, with what seemed a long clip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-should-be-the-next-host-of-jeopardy/925460.md?page=6)