After cycling through various special guest hosts for weeks, Jeopardy! settled on bringing aboard two hosts: Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik. Following the announcement, many viewers, including several celebrities, took to social media to react to the new Jeopardy! host news.
Bialik and Richards both shared their excitement and gratitude on social media once the news broke. Bialik tweeted that she had “Been waiting a long time to tell you all. Really really honored and astounded and excited for this – it’s beyond anything I ever imagined could happen.” Richards, meanwhile, said he couldn’t believe he was “being chosen to step into a role of this magnitude.” Richards is the executive producer of Jeopardy! and Bialik had an ongoing roll on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Celebrities react to the ‘Jeopardy!’ host news
Why couldn’t they just give it to @levarburton like literally everyone on the planet wanted? https://t.co/NTSuzaRGys
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 11, 2021
Responses from viewers have been mixed. Celebrities’ reactions are the same regarding the new Jeopardy! hosts. Today meteorologist Al Roker said, “Well, [Jeopardy!] got one out of two right,” adding that “Mayim is just it!”
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Conservative columnist Meghan McCain voiced surprise that LeVar Burton was not chosen and asked “Why couldn’t they just give it to @levarburton like literally everyone on the planet wanted?”
Former hosts also weighed in. Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! GOAT and top contender for the new permanent host role, jokingly tweeted, “In hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have insisted to Jeopardy that I host every episode while eating a loud, juicy apple.” In his next tweet, he added, “BUT I’m relieved that the guest-host carousel ride is over and excited to start work on the new season. Still my favorite show.”
Looking forward and looking back
In hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have insisted to Jeopardy that I host every episode while eating a loud, juicy apple.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) August 11, 2021
Yet another Jeopardy! champion, James Holzhauer, responded to Kenning’s first tweet with a joking, “Keep your head up, tryouts for the role of Second Best Chaser are still ongoing” of his own. However, some celebrities reacted to the Jeopardy! host announcement with less humor and more dismay.
The playing field was NEVER level. Never.
His “tryout”, the lobbying it took to get it along with the scheduling of it against the freaking #Olympics , it being ONE week and ending a DAY before the leak of a host being chosen?! C’mon, Son! @jeopardy https://t.co/rq1s2B3gMR pic.twitter.com/nSBMJI7lmp
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) August 6, 2021
Yvette Nicole Brown, known for a starring role on NBC’s Community and a recurring role on Drake & Josh, felt, “The playing field was NEVER level. Never. His ‘tryout’, the lobbying it took to get it along with the scheduling of it against the freaking #Olympics , it being ONE week and ending a DAY before the leak of a host being chosen?! C’mon, Son!”
For his part, Burton, who received low Nielsen ratings but very high fanfare from celebrities and fans, said, “I have said many times over these past weeks that no matter the outcome, I’ve won. The outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and fans alike has been incredible! If love is the ultimate blessing and I believe that it is, I am truly blessed beyond measure.”
What do you think of the news?