JEOPARDY! host Ken Jennings has the approval of fellow game show host Drew Carey as he seeks a long stint on the game show, The US Sun has been told.
Former champion Ken, 50, took over sole hosting duties after co-host Mayim Bialik was fired in December.
Initially, then-executive producer Mike Richards was named the new host of Jeopardy! in 2021.
He was forced to resign after just a week when sexist comments he had previously made on a podcast resurfaced.
Now, Ken has ambitions to replicate his hero, Alex Trebek, and his decades-long run on the beloved quiz show.
It seems he has a huge supporter on his side in The Price Is Right host Drew, 66, which is a huge accomplishment for him.
Read more about Ken Jennings
‘DREW HAS COME TO CONVINCE KEN’
A colleague of the generous CBS star said: “When there was an opening and a job available, Drew was fiercely supportive of his friend Mike Richards.
“He felt Mike was best suited to replace Alex and keep the franchise going.
“But that’s because Drew and Mike were friends.
“Now that Mayim has retired, Drew has really gotten closer to Ken, even though they are just acquaintances and colleagues.”
GOAT contestant Ken holds the record for the longest winning streak in Jeopardy! history with 74 consecutive wins in 2004.
Since he became the sole host, some fans have questioned his charisma, while others have pointed out instances where he can be too harsh in his decisions.
Meanwhile, veteran entertainer Drew has been hosting The Price Is Right since 2007 after replacing the legendary Bob Barker.
He also worked with Jeopardy!’s parent company, Sony Pictures Television, hosting its game show Power of 10 from 2007 to 2008.
That job prepared him for his now long-running role on The Price Is Right, which he has held for nearly two decades.
‘MODEL FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION’
For Sony, Drew embodies the modern game show host who replaced an iconic host and has since won over the masses.
Longevity is what Ken wants to do on Jeopardy!, and that’s why he wants Drew’s approval.
“The perception within the Jeopardy! bubble right now is that Ken needs all the help he can get,” The US Sun’s source told The Sun.
“Drew sees Ken as a man who fought for the job, proved his worth and deserves a fair chance from the public.
“The important thing about Drew’s endorsement is that it really resonates with Sony executives.
“They take him very seriously there, and his acquisition of The Price is Right is the model for a smooth transition as a game show host.”
Despite Drew’s clout in the entertainment world, the source believes Ken still has a battle ahead of him, with or without her support.
The source said: “Is Drew’s backing enough to give Ken the kind of lifelong tenure Alex enjoyed in the job?
“Not quite, because Ken still has to do a balancing act between keeping ratings stable and dealing with the vocal army of Jeopardy!-obsessed fans on the Internet who check every syllable for errors.
“Sony is listening to Drew, but is also monitoring the fan community incredibly closely.
“Ken has to keep fans engaged without shocking them, and that’s not easy.”
Jeopardy! fans are vocal in their defense of the show’s legacy and regularly call out the smallest mistakes online.
But most believe it wasn’t a mistake to hire Ken as host, and the consensus is that he’s doing Alex and the trivia show proud.
HOST CAUSE
Ken’s vision to capture Alex’s longevity on Jeopardy! comes after a notoriously scandalous transition period to replace him.
Alex hosted the modern version of the show from 1984 until November 2020 after losing a battle with pancreatic cancer.
After his death, things got a little chaotic, as viewers know all too well.
After a series of guest hosts, officials announced that producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim will take over as co-hosts.
However, in August 2021, Richards resigned following resurgent sexist comments and Ken stepped in to split hosting duties with Mayim.
In July 2022, it was announced that Mayim and Ken would continue hosting season 39 together by switching roles.
However, following the show’s hiatus in the summer of 2023, it was revealed that Jennings would take over as permanent host for season 40.
Mayim announced in a personal Instagram message in late December 2023 that she would “no longer be hosting” the show.
Jeopardy! Host Timeline
Jeopardy! has had a tumultuous history when it comes to hosts following the death of the iconic Alex Trebek in 2020. Here are all the hosts since the game show’s inception in 1964.
Art Fleming – From 1964 to 1975, he was the original host of the daytime version of Jeopardy! on NBC.
Alex Trebek – From 1984 to 2020, the late, great Alex hosted the modern version of Jeopardy! for 36 years until his death from pancreatic cancer.
Guest hosts: From 2020 to 2021, Jeopardy! tested a series of guest hosts for one- or two-week stints, including Anderson Cooper, LaVar Burton, and Aaron Rodgers.
Mike Richards – 2021, was appointed host for a week before resigning amid controversy. He was the show’s executive producer at the time.
Mayim Bialik – From 2021 to 2023, when Mike was announced as the show’s new host, Mayim was chosen to host primetime tournaments and specials.
Mayim and Ken Jennings – From 2022 to 2023, 74-time champion Ken (the winningest contestant in history) joined Mayim as a guest host and they split hosting duties.
Ken Jennings – 2023 – present Last December, Mayim announced on Instagram that she would “no longer” be hosting Jeopardy! after a lengthy hiatus, having supported the writers’ strike, and Ken was named sole host.
Ken now hosts all editions of Jeopardy!, including Celebrity Jeopardy!, the late-night show, and other primetime specials such as Masters.
“As the Christmas holidays begin in Hollywood, I have some Jeopardy! news,” she began her post.
“Sony has informed me that I will no longer host the syndicated version of Jeopardy!”
Jeopardy! put together a similar Instagram post an hour later, and it’s since been reported that Mayim broke the news without first consulting the show.
Ken later said he “understood” the decision as shows “don’t have two hosts.”
HAPPY WITH ‘LESS MONEY’
Ken is reportedly tied to a $4 million contract now that he is the sole host of the series.
The US newspaper Sun reported earlier that his contract is not yet long-term.
“He doesn’t have a long-term Trebek-style contract yet, and the Sony TV president can replace him at any time, on a whim,” a source previously shared.
However, Ken is willing to take a pay cut to ensure he remains a host for decades to come.
“Jeopardy! is Ken’s religion; he lives and breathes it, and despite all the outside pressures, he’s not going to screw it up,” the source revealed.
“What he really wants more than anything is to stay and make this position work for the long term.
“And if that means making less money to ensure his longevity, you can bet your life he’d be willing.”
Ken earned $2.5 million for his record-breaking 74-game streak as a contestant and $4.3 million including tournaments.
Alex reportedly earned $10 million a year by the end of his 36-year tenure.
‘KEN KNOWS HIS PROBLEMS’
As Ken grows into his seemingly permanent role, he is also acutely aware that his biggest obstacle is not being a natural-born TV host.
Ken has never had another major television role, but he won’t let that stop him as he adjusts to his long-term role.
“Ken is self-aware and knows his issues will always reflect in how his personality reads on camera,” a source previously said.
“And not his proven expertise with trivia or the game Jeopardy! itself.
“Ken knows it, Sony knows it, and everyone knows this is why he was never the first choice to replace Alex Trebek,” they said.
“He got this job because the other candidates didn’t work out and Ken is at peace with that.”
