Blossom is her claim to fame! I stopped watching when she was on full time and its been tough to get back into it, to be honest. I've moved over to Countdown, which isn't the same, but more...
Blossom is her claim to fame!
I stopped watching when she was on full time and its been tough to get back into it, to be honest. I've moved over to Countdown, which isn't the same, but more relaxing.
All in all, Jennings was the best and most logical pick from the start.
I should make my biases known upfront, I disliked almost every celebrity who they brought in for guest hosting and Richards too. The bottom line was that Alex had game show experience, not just...
I should make my biases known upfront, I disliked almost every celebrity who they brought in for guest hosting and Richards too. The bottom line was that Alex had game show experience, not just camera experience. None of the celebrities had over a decade of game show experience like Alex did, and it showed. I never participated in any discourse around the show though because no one was going to easily replace Alex. The Trebek we had on Jeopardy was already an extremely skilled host by the time he came on and I was willing to put up with some roughness during the transition...
But this puts the whole thing into the plainest light,
while Sony executives would like to maintain a relationship with Bialik, “Mayim made it clear it was all or nothing. As a result, we’re told Sony brass declined.”
Now, of course the studio is going to claim she's 'difficult', what woman in Hollywood hasn't heard that, but her breaking her contact is actually being difficult to work with.
Nearly three years of drama just to reach a conclusion a lot of people were already expecting. There's no one better equipped to carry Jeopardy's and especially Trebek's legacy forward than Ken...
Nearly three years of drama just to reach a conclusion a lot of people were already expecting. There's no one better equipped to carry Jeopardy's and especially Trebek's legacy forward than Ken Jennings, and that's been obvious since before we lost Alex.
The bit in the article about Jennings getting heat for (correctly) not striking from his role annoyed me, especially when one of the criticisers should know better.
The bit in the article about Jennings getting heat for (correctly) not striking from his role annoyed me, especially when one of the criticisers should know better.
I dunno. The points about only using previously written questions, following the letter of your contract to ensure the union has the strongest negotiating power, and Trebek previously hosting...
I dunno. The points about only using previously written questions, following the letter of your contract to ensure the union has the strongest negotiating power, and Trebek previously hosting during the late 00's writer's strike all made sense to me.
I haven't watched an episode of Jeopardy in years so what do I know. 😋
Read the article, but the bit where Wil posted for Ken not striking with WGA while Mayim chose to do so, when according to his union SAG-AFTRA, he should not have striked.
Read the article, but the bit where Wil posted
This is a VERY small town, Ken Jennings, and we will all remember this. Your privilege may protect you right now, but we will never forget.
for Ken not striking with WGA while Mayim chose to do so, when according to his union SAG-AFTRA, he should not have striked.
So it's actually a little bit more complicated. I think, if I understand it correctly, game show host work is not under the SAG contract. So it's more about choosing whether to cross a picket line...
So it's actually a little bit more complicated. I think, if I understand it correctly, game show host work is not under the SAG contract. So it's more about choosing whether to cross a picket line for the writers. Because his hosting was not part of the sag contract, it isn't covered by the prohibition against sympathy strikes, or by the union request to hold for their own labor action.
I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I was following a lot of the strike info at the time. Given the contrast on the other host respecting the ticket line and the fact that his single action of crossing the line allowed the show to continue to be filmed without writers caused a lot of genuine and understandable animosity. Hosts are perceived as having a lot of power whether or not that is actually true. But in this case, if he had refused to cross the line, the *tournament of champions would have been postponed until the strike was over.
There could be something weird about Jeopardy in particular or I may be fully misreading the situation but that's my best understanding
*Edit for transparency - I believe it was Season 40 at issue, I did see a large number of ToC contestants talking about not crossing the line though so that may have been due to the pressure on that end.
If I understand it correctly, Jennings crossed a picket line. Isn't the deal with supporting unions that we aren't supposed to cross their picket lines and work? Not a union guy myself, so I don't...
If I understand it correctly, Jennings crossed a picket line. Isn't the deal with supporting unions that we aren't supposed to cross their picket lines and work? Not a union guy myself, so I don't know. Whether his union obligated him to strike or not seems beside the point -- this seems like a grievance about what Wheaton perceives as a moral duty for all people in the industry.
I thought the article made it clear that while she is intelligent and well educated, she is not comfortable with the fast pace of the show. A PhD doesn't mean quick on the draw for trivia. And she...
I thought the article made it clear that while she is intelligent and well educated, she is not comfortable with the fast pace of the show. A PhD doesn't mean quick on the draw for trivia. And she wasn't personally a fan of the show.
i don’t even watch the show but yes, the article did say that. interesting if people missed it. every type of game show i’ve seen over the years has a certain pace, and a host who doesn’t match...
i don’t even watch the show but yes, the article did say that. interesting if people missed it. every type of game show i’ve seen over the years has a certain pace, and a host who doesn’t match that would not be optimal.
I’m a big, casual fan of Jeopardy!. This feels like a hot take even though it shouldn’t; I enjoy both Mayim and Ken as hosts. They were both my personal favorites during the host search. (Although...
I’m a big, casual fan of Jeopardy!. This feels like a hot take even though it shouldn’t; I enjoy both Mayim and Ken as hosts. They were both my personal favorites during the host search. (Although IMO if it’s true Alex told producers he wanted Ken to be his successor it should have been a done deal.) But I think she has poise and great presence. Ken has a complete mastery of the game though, which for a game like Jeopardy! is massively important. I find it a bit disappointing Mayim admittedly didn’t have that same experience with the game, you could really tell when she would host. Felt like she was simply going through the motions.
Like the article said Ken seems like he’s gotten really comfortable in front of the camera, especially with side factoids and game commentary, and now he has this recognition, it’s hard to go back. I have really enjoyed watching Ken absolutely crush it as host of both the Masters and Second Chance tournaments these last few months. This run has cemented him as the official host in my mind at this point.
I feel similarly, and I'm realizing that my biggest hope for this announcement is that internet discussions about Jeopardy! improve. For the most part I think that the fandom has shown themselves...
I feel similarly, and I'm realizing that my biggest hope for this announcement is that internet discussions about Jeopardy! improve. For the most part I think that the fandom has shown themselves to be not-awful, but I'm tired of having to separate good faith criticisms from misogyny and weird gatekeeping about what a host/nerd/Trebek successor "should" be.
I'd be curious to hear the perspectives of those who strongly prefer Mayim, and what they're feeling. Ken's style works really well for me, but I'm sure it doesn't for everyone and I hope the Jeopardy! community can continue to grow more inclusive.
This is a complicated ending, but I'm glad we're finally here. SO excited for Masters.
There's no better choice than Ken Jennings, definitely not someone who's biggest claim to fame is being a side character on the Big Bang Theory.
Blossom is her claim to fame!
I stopped watching when she was on full time and its been tough to get back into it, to be honest. I've moved over to Countdown, which isn't the same, but more relaxing.
All in all, Jennings was the best and most logical pick from the start.
I should make my biases known upfront, I disliked almost every celebrity who they brought in for guest hosting and Richards too. The bottom line was that Alex had game show experience, not just camera experience. None of the celebrities had over a decade of game show experience like Alex did, and it showed. I never participated in any discourse around the show though because no one was going to easily replace Alex. The Trebek we had on Jeopardy was already an extremely skilled host by the time he came on and I was willing to put up with some roughness during the transition...
But this puts the whole thing into the plainest light,
Now, of course the studio is going to claim she's 'difficult', what woman in Hollywood hasn't heard that, but her breaking her contact is actually being difficult to work with.
Nearly three years of drama just to reach a conclusion a lot of people were already expecting. There's no one better equipped to carry Jeopardy's and especially Trebek's legacy forward than Ken Jennings, and that's been obvious since before we lost Alex.
The bit in the article about Jennings getting heat for (correctly) not striking from his role annoyed me, especially when one of the criticisers should know better.
I dunno. The points about only using previously written questions, following the letter of your contract to ensure the union has the strongest negotiating power, and Trebek previously hosting during the late 00's writer's strike all made sense to me.
I haven't watched an episode of Jeopardy in years so what do I know. 😋
Oh, I guess I wasn’t clear, I’m in agreement with what Jennings did. My ire is towards people like Will Wheaton.
Ha, agree mostly. Wheaton'd comment smacked me of pandering to an uninformed audience. It was weird.
Isn't that Wheaton 101?
What did Will Wheaton do wrong?
Read the article, but the bit where Wil posted
for Ken not striking with WGA while Mayim chose to do so, when according to his union SAG-AFTRA, he should not have striked.
So it's actually a little bit more complicated. I think, if I understand it correctly, game show host work is not under the SAG contract. So it's more about choosing whether to cross a picket line for the writers. Because his hosting was not part of the sag contract, it isn't covered by the prohibition against sympathy strikes, or by the union request to hold for their own labor action.
I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I was following a lot of the strike info at the time. Given the contrast on the other host respecting the ticket line and the fact that his single action of crossing the line allowed the show to continue to be filmed without writers caused a lot of genuine and understandable animosity. Hosts are perceived as having a lot of power whether or not that is actually true. But in this case, if he had refused to cross the line, the *tournament of champions would have been postponed until the strike was over.
There could be something weird about Jeopardy in particular or I may be fully misreading the situation but that's my best understanding
*Edit for transparency - I believe it was Season 40 at issue, I did see a large number of ToC contestants talking about not crossing the line though so that may have been due to the pressure on that end.
If I understand it correctly, Jennings crossed a picket line. Isn't the deal with supporting unions that we aren't supposed to cross their picket lines and work? Not a union guy myself, so I don't know. Whether his union obligated him to strike or not seems beside the point -- this seems like a grievance about what Wheaton perceives as a moral duty for all people in the industry.
The world is a complicated place
I thought the article made it clear that while she is intelligent and well educated, she is not comfortable with the fast pace of the show. A PhD doesn't mean quick on the draw for trivia. And she wasn't personally a fan of the show.
i don’t even watch the show but yes, the article did say that. interesting if people missed it. every type of game show i’ve seen over the years has a certain pace, and a host who doesn’t match that would not be optimal.
I’m a big, casual fan of Jeopardy!. This feels like a hot take even though it shouldn’t; I enjoy both Mayim and Ken as hosts. They were both my personal favorites during the host search. (Although IMO if it’s true Alex told producers he wanted Ken to be his successor it should have been a done deal.) But I think she has poise and great presence. Ken has a complete mastery of the game though, which for a game like Jeopardy! is massively important. I find it a bit disappointing Mayim admittedly didn’t have that same experience with the game, you could really tell when she would host. Felt like she was simply going through the motions.
Like the article said Ken seems like he’s gotten really comfortable in front of the camera, especially with side factoids and game commentary, and now he has this recognition, it’s hard to go back. I have really enjoyed watching Ken absolutely crush it as host of both the Masters and Second Chance tournaments these last few months. This run has cemented him as the official host in my mind at this point.
I feel similarly, and I'm realizing that my biggest hope for this announcement is that internet discussions about Jeopardy! improve. For the most part I think that the fandom has shown themselves to be not-awful, but I'm tired of having to separate good faith criticisms from misogyny and weird gatekeeping about what a host/nerd/Trebek successor "should" be.
I'd be curious to hear the perspectives of those who strongly prefer Mayim, and what they're feeling. Ken's style works really well for me, but I'm sure it doesn't for everyone and I hope the Jeopardy! community can continue to grow more inclusive.
This is a complicated ending, but I'm glad we're finally here. SO excited for Masters.