Celebrity Jeopardy! hits ratings high without seemingly ‘unneeded’ host Mayim

CELEBRITY Jeopardy! has soared in ratings with Ken Jennings as the host instead of Mayim Bialik.

The former champion, 49, took over hosting duties from the actress, 47, earlier this year when she left the show over Hollywood’s strikes.

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Celebrity Jeopardy! Season 2 on ABC has set new season rating records.

The latest episode featuring actor Macaulay Culkin, SNL star Rachel Dratch, and WWE pro Becky Lynch pulled in 4.66 million viewers, The Wrap reported.

The show’s viewership has been on the rise, hitting 4.83 million total viewers, making it the highest multi-platform episode this season.

Ken, the current host, is outpacing Mayim’s previous season ratings, averaging more viewers than she did last year.

Bialik hosted all of Celebrity Jeopardy! Season 1, but was replaced by Ken for Season 2.

Last season, she averaged about 3.9 million viewers per episode, according to Neilson data.

Only five episodes she hosted broke the 4 million viewership mark – including the premiere.

BIALIK BREAKS FROM JEOPARDY!

Mayim exited Jeopardy! after May’s Writers Guild of America strikes, citing her support for the union.

As a SAG member, she hasn’t been on-screen since then, even as the strikes are over, and her return to the show remains uncertain.

“It’s not for me to personally judge anyone else’s decision [but] I am a union supporter,” Mayim told Vanity Fair in September in her first and only public statement.

“There’s a lot of complexity to this, but my general statement is always that I come from a union family.”

Fans have expressed a preference for Ken’s hosting style, finding it more seamless and “less clunky” than last season.

Some appreciate Ken’s serious approach, contrasting it with Mayim’s more humorous style.

The general sentiment is that Ken provides a welcome separation between host and contestants, allowing the players to take the spotlight.

One fan recently wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I appreciate that the #CelebrityJeopardy introduction is far less clunky than they were last season. Far more seamless.”

Another wrote: “Ken should be the only host! He does make it feel like the show is about the contestants. Can’t say the same about Mayim.”

On a Jeopardy! Reddit page, a third wrote: “Nothing against Mayim, but I prefer Ken’s serious style.

“He’s hosting the show and not taking part in the attempts at humor.”

MAYIM’S MIXED RECEPTION

While Celebrity Jeopardy Season 2 with Ken as host has seen thrilling matchups, Season 1 hosted by Bialik caused backlash for various reasons.

Comedian Eddie Huang wore sunglasses throughout the show and Constance Wu used explicit language in Final Jeopardy.

Executive Producer Mike Davies admitted about one installment on the podcast Inside Jeopardy!: “I think we’d characterize that as one of the more polarizing episodes, at least, I’ve been involved with.

There are certain people on Twitter who didn’t enjoy the episode.”

The Celebrity Jeopardy! format involves a tournament style where weekly winners advance, leading to a one-episode final faceoff with a $1 million prize for charity.

The show airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu.

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