Ken Jennings Hopes for Fresh Start with Mayim Bialik on ‘Jeopardy!’

Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings is looking to rebuild his relationship with his former co-host, Mayim Bialik. Mayim was let go from the show in December 2023, and now Ken hopes they can reconcile. Details on how and why he wants to mend fences are just ahead.

When Alex Trebek passed away, the search for the right Jeopardy! host began. While no one could replace Trebek, Ken Jennings, a former champion, and Mayim Bialik, a beloved actress and neuroscientist, emerged as strong contenders. Instead of choosing one, the show opted for both. Ken and Mayim shared hosting duties, striking a neat balance between Celebrity Jeopardy! and the main show.

The audience had mixed feelings about the two hosts, and complications arose when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike happened. Due to this, Mayim stepped down, followed by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike, making her absence even more prolonged. As a result, Ken Jennings became the primary host, and the dual-host format was phased out.

Many viewers didn’t mind the change, as they felt Mayim’s hosting style included too many pauses and quirks they didn’t favor. Now, after some time apart, Ken seems eager to amend things with Mayim.

According to Closer Weekly, Ken is ready to reconcile with his Jeopardy! counterpart. He admits he wasn’t very kind to Mayim initially. An insider shared that Ken has softened his stance and now wants to be friends with Mayim. The insider elaborated:

“Ken’s softened his opinion of Mayim Bialik now that his persistence to nail the Jeopardy! job has paid off and wants to be friends. He thinks he was the best candidate then and still thinks so but doesn’t like knowing he was a bit of a jerk, and he’d like to make it up to Mayim. He wants to be the nice guy.”

Where does this leave Mayim? According to the insider, she isn’t interested in forgiving Ken. It appears she believes Ken’s overture isn’t genuine:

“She’s not buying the act and wants nothing more than for Ken to scram and to be left alone. She wanted to be the host so badly — the solo host, that is — but Ken got it, and she was forced off the show. She’s over it now.”

Both Ken and Mayim seemed to have had a strong desire for the hosting gig, which created tension. In the end, Ken secured the role while Mayim chose to stick to her principles and went on strike, signaling to production that one host was sufficient. Despite opportunities for her to return, she didn’t seem interested. Perhaps, over time, she may reconsider.

What do you think? Should Mayim and Ken reconcile, or is it too late? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Closer Weekly