The Real Reason Ken Jennings Bailed As ‘Jeopardy!’ Host?

The Real Reason Ken Jennings Bailed As Jeopardy! Host? [Credit: Jeopardy/YouTube]

Earlier this month, Ken Jennings announced his break from the show. Since then, Jeopardy! viewers have been begging for him to come back. Some of them are not comfortable with the way Mayim Bialik hosts the show. They think she needs to go back to school and improve her hosting style.

Meanwhile, other fans are figuring out why Jennings is leaving the show for months. Bialik will be taking over the podium during that time. While Jennings hasn’t been on Twitter as much, fans did notice a tweet he posted that has them buzzing. Read on to learn more.

Fans Want Ken Jennings Back [Credit: Jeopardy/YouTube]
[Credit: Jeopardy/YouTube]

Ken Jennings takes an extended hiatus

On Saturday, May 7, Ken Jennings shared the sad news with fans. He revealed that he was going on an extended hiatus. He’s been pulling double-duty not only by hosting on Jeopardy!, but also by appearing on the ABC game show, The Chase. However, Jennings teased that he will be back before the show’s season finale.

“I’m handing the keys back to the talented actor-producer-writer-director (!) @missmayim for a few months,” Ken Jennings tweeted. “We are lucky to have her! Thanks for watching, and I’ll be back before the end of the season.”

Some Jeopardy! fans were disappointed. They told Jennings they will not watch the quiz show, even with all the high praise he gave Bialik. The Jeopardy! champ didn’t reveal the reason for his hiatus. But, he wanted fans to know that they’re “lucky” to have Bialik holding down the fort.

“We are lucky to have her! Thanks for watching, and I’ll be back before the end of the season,” Jennings added.

Most Jeopardy! fans have been demanding for him to come back. They want to remove Bialik from her hosting duties. They don’t think she fits the pace of the show. Now, fans are looking for clues on social media to see why Jennings left. It looks like the TV star had another gig waiting for him across the pond.

Ken Jennings: Greatest Of All Time [Credit: Jeopardy/YouTube]
[Credit: Jeopardy/YouTube]

Jeopardy! fans figure out why he left?

Jeopardy! fans may have figured out the reason why Ken Jennings left the show. Host Buzzy Cohen took to Twitter to ask for help from his followers. He needed to speak with someone. The post sounded something of importance.

“Sorry to cross threads here but does anyone I know on here know anyone who works at/for London Symphony Orchestra? Thanks in advance!” he tweeted.

“Yes, I am second bassoon there,” Ken Jennings snuck in and responded. “How can we help?”

Then the Tournament of Champions Winner followed up with the second tweet, “Update! I have made contact. Thank you!”

Some Jeopardy! fans took to Reddit to speculate over Jennings’ humorous tweets. Some believe that he “traveled from Los Angeles to London” to perform with the Orchestra. One fan made a joke, “Ken better come back bassoon,” while another sighed, “There’s gonna be a lot of Mayim.”

What are your thoughts on Ken Jennings leaving Jeopardy? Do you think it’s because he’s performing for the orchestra in London? Do you think he should return? Sound off below in the comment section.

Check back with TV Shows Ace for more news on Jeopardy!

Chanel Adams

33 Comments

  1. My view is that Ken Jennings makes an excellent PERMANENT. HOST FOR JEOPARDY! Especially since he is the top Jeopardy winner! Stop with the back and forth of hosts and make Ken permanent! It’s not that difficult!

    1. My view is that Ken Jennings has the personality of a “turnip” and just because he is the “top Jeopardy winner” does not constitute a HOST! Mayim is a breath of fresh air and interacts with the contestants much, much better than KEN! Jennings is too arrogant and is way to awkward for the “Host” position. If they do make him permanent host, I will no longer watch the show. Yes, I love Jeopardy, but Ken’s voice is extremely irritating to me and ruins the show.

      1. I agree! Mayim is a much more personable host! She seems genuine whereas Ken seems stiff. Her wardrobe is also a breath of fresh air. Leave her wardrobe out of any criticism. Everyone is just having a hard time with change after Alex…

          1. You do know,right, that Mayim is Jewish. She dresses according to her socio-cultural traditions. Don’t know about you, but that’s the way I dress,too. My socio-cultural tradition is not as restrictive as hers, but it is the foundation for what I choose to wear.

        1. She is terrible. What credentials does she have that qualifies her to host this show? Ken is much more personable. No doubt, Alex would have wanted Ken. He’s much more professional.

      2. I like them both and they are interchangeable. Ken is great and Mayim is fun and refreshing. Her personality fits with most players. Perhaps not the most genius types.

      3. I’m with you. I so hope Ken Jennings will not be the permanent host. His voice bugs the heck out of me. I much prefer Mayim Bialik! I hope she will be the permanent host!

        1. I know it may sound mean but I want Ken back permanently. He is great as host and the contestants seem to really like him. Mayim is a good actress but zi do not like her on Jeopardy I dont watch Jeopardy when she is on. I want Ken as per.anent host

      4. I totally agree with Mary Vose and everything she stated above. I can’t understand anything he says, he mumbles. If it wasn’t for closed captioning, I wouldn’t know anything he was saying. He is just not host material for other reasons also!

    2. Jennings sux. Too damn arrogant. Mayim is perfect for the job and just needs a little seasoning.

  2. Jennings was a winner on Jeopardy! Bright, professional, sense of humor, personable. His mind fits the essence of the show.

    I’ve watched Jeopardy! for years – not anymore. When Ken returns, I’ll tune in. Until then, I’ve found other shows I enjoy.

    Mayim irks me! Annoying! She’s acting, not hosting!

    1. I agree that it feels like she is acting. Notably her style has changed slightly much like the Amy Farrah Fowler character she played on The Big Bang Theory. She comes across as condescending at times and annoyed when contestants can’t answer what she seems to be easy questions. Mayim the host comes across as yet another slightly less robotic version of AFF. Love her a an actress, but NOT on Jeopardy!!

  3. Bring Ken back and make it permanent. He is a great host and he gets the rhythm of the show.
    Mayim is trying too hard and there is often a long and noticeable delay before she says that a question is correct. Also, she talks too much, both when doing the interviews at the first break, but also makes gratuitous comments after someone gives the question, right and wrong.
    I vote for Ken.

  4. Mayim doesn’t know how to act naturally. She is an actress where someone always tell her what to do. Her constant chicken head movements are even more annoying.

  5. Bring back Ken. I cannot stand Mayim. She is condescending and rude. I will watch Jeopardy again when Ken is back.

  6. I am so glad to finally have a say about WHO should be replacing Alex Trebek. I wholeheartedly vote for Ken Jennings, he is a delightful person and I am sure Mr. Trebek would have wanted to have Ken as his successor. I have been watching Jeopardy for as long as it has been on TV and to have “that” woman in is stead is an insult to him. Yes she is an actress, and there is nothing “real” about her and that “chicken head” as one of your critics called her–also makes me sick and the wiggling of hips and shoulders sickens me I really can’t stand her, and something I have never done for years now—NOT taken the time to watch Jeopardy, my friends all know NOT to phone me between 7:30 pm because I will be watching JEOPARDY !! I was truly saddened when Alex passed away, and was delighted to hear & SEE that Ken would be the Host—and I had hoped it would be PERMANENT. Please don’t make my last years on this earth without Ken being the permanent host, after I have gone– I hope to my greater reward– and I don’t know when that will be — but I am already 94, and I don’t know what the good Lord has in store for me — but I am sure it won’t be another 94 years and Ken, I do like Classical Music ( what the call “music” these days is a total misnomer) it is just a bunch of crashing noise and hooting and hollering– but please come back to this side of the pond and be the Permanent Host of Jeopardy. Make an old lady happy. Thanks for your patience with this very long comment and God Bless, Betty dg

  7. Tired of waiting for Ken to come back! It is hard to watch right now! 57 years I’ve watched but I may stop if it isn’t Ken for permanent host!

  8. Mayim B. Is totally out of her element as Jeopardy hostess. Her weird body movement, her slow response to acknowledging a contestants answer have this 50 year Jeopardy follower no longer watching the show. Bring back the one person who is a natural as Jeopardy host, Ken Jennings.

  9. I like them both, i truly do….but I like Mayim as an actress better then host. I stopped watching until Ken comes back.

  10. We want Ken Jennings to come back to Jeopardy. Mayim does not fit as a host. She is destroying the game show. Please come back Ken.

  11. Ken Jennings should be the host of jeopardy he should not leave he is a better jeopardy host then any one else we don’t that Mayim Bialik hosting that show even Aaron rogers and Ken Jennings is better then her she shouldn’t wear clothes like that she should wear a dress bring Ken Jennings back let her host a game show

  12. I prefer Ken Jennings as full time host of Jeopardy. Mayim is a great actress but n9t a great host. When I turn on Jeopardy and she is on, I change channels.

  13. I wish Ken Jennings would be permanent host. Aaron Rogers would be my second choice, Sorry to say but I can’t stand the lady. Ken Jennings or
    Aaron Rogers I think would be perfect but not Her. I’ll quit watching for sure if
    She’s host.

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