‘Jeopardy!’ Reveals Why Mayim Bialik Was Fired as Host

Ken Jennings will serve as the only host for ‘Jeopardy!’ moving forward.

December 18, 2023, 1:14pm

JEOPARDY! NATIONAL COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP – "Jeopardy! National College Championship," hosted by Mayim Bialik, debuts TUESDAY, FEB. 8 on ABC. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, "Jeopardy! National College Championship" is a multiconsecutive-night event that features 36 students from 36 colleges and universities from across the country, battling head-to-head for nine days of intense competition. (Casey Durkin/ABC via Getty Images) MAYIM BIALIK

Jeopardy! decided to drop Mayim Bialik as a host in order to “maintain continuity” for its viewers. After The Big Bang Theory alum announced over the weekend that she would no longer serve as a Jeopardy! host alongside Ken Jennings, the studio behind the game show released a statement explaining the decision to fire her.

“We made the decision to have one host for the syndicated show next season to maintain continuity for our viewers, and Ken Jennings will be the sole host for syndicated Jeopardy!” the statement reads. “We are truly grateful for all of Mayim’s contributions to Jeopardy!, and we hope to continue to work with her on primetime specials.”

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Bialik announced she had been let go on Friday evening in a straightforward Instagram post. “As the holiday break begins in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” Bialik’s announcement began. “Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy! I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family. For all of you who have supported me through this incredible journey and to the fans, contestants, writers, staff and crew of America’s Favorite Quiz Show, thank you.”

Fans had speculated about Bialik’s future on Jeopardy! starting in May, when she decided not to finish Season 39 as part of a public display of solidarity with the game show’s striking writers, prompting Jennings to step in to finish off the season as host. In August, Jeopardy! released on social media a new poster to tease the 39th season that featured only Jennings, not Bialik, causing fans to wonder if the actress would return to the show at all. Soon after, ABC announced Jennings as the new main host of Celebrity Jeopardy!, replacing Bialik.

Bialik was first named as Jennings’ back in 2022 as the game show studio scrambled to find a permanent hosting solution following the death of Alex Trebek. The two shared hosting duties and were expected to continue that arrangement for the current 40th season until Bialik’s announcement.