Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings could be axed for a rather surprising reason as Colin Jost is set to host Pop Culture Jeopardy!
The 50-year-old is at risk of being replaced according to sources for The Mirror on Tuesday.
They report that rumors suggest that the producers of Jeopardy! aren’t sure they will keep the current host as they are weighing their options.
One reason given for the possible change-up is ratings as Wheel Of Fortune’s viewership has spiked since Ryan Seacrest took over the job for Pat Sajak last month.
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Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings could be axed according to sources for The Mirror on Tuesday
Jeopardy! executives are said to have taken note of the higher ratings since the 49-year-old American Idol host took the reins.
This comes weeks after it was revealed that there is a possibility that Jost takes over for Jennings to host the actual flagship.
A Sony official told The Sun back in August that it is not unreasonable to think that 42-year-old husband of Scarlett Johansson could take over as host of longtime game show Jeopardy!
The insider believes that if the ratings for Pop Culture Jeopardy! are more impressive than those of the flagship, a shake-up is within the realm of possibility.
Jennings, 50 – who is considered the Greatest Of All-Time (GOAT) contestant in the show’s history – has been the lone host of the flagship beginning this year.
He was previously sharing those duties alongside Mayim Bialik who was dismissed in December 2023.
However, the source believes that Jennings should not worry about his job security just yet.
They explained: ‘The only real reason to replace Ken is if the ratings took a nosedive, and that hasn’t happened yet.’
Ken Jennings hosts Jeopardy! a year after Alex Trebek passing
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The 50-year-old is at risk of being replaced according to rumors which that the producers of Jeopardy! aren’t sure they will keep the current host as they are weighing their options
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One interesting note is that Jennings dos not have a long-term contract for the $4million hosting job so his position on the program is not completely set in stone.
The insider said: ‘Of course Ken wants to do this for the next twenty years, but he’s going to have to get comfortable with only being renewed one or two years at a time for the foreseeable future.
‘Sony is keeping him in the hosting job but they are also keeping their options open.’
The source also explained to The Sun that if Jeopardy! were completely sold on Ken he would have named permanent host of all special editions of the show like Celebrity Jeopardy! and that has still yet to happen.
Regardless last week it was reported that Jost was going to be the host of the upcoming Jeopardy! spinoff, Pop Culture Jeopardy!
The show, set to stream on Amazon Prime Video, will begin production next month, Variety reported.
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This comes weeks after it was revealed that there is a possibility that Colin Jost (pictured in Washington DC back in April) takes over for Jennings to host the actual flagship
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Jennings, 50 – who is considered the Greatest Of All-Time (GOAT) contestant in the show’s history – has been the lone host of the flagship beginning this year
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A Sony official told The Sun recently that it is not unreasonable to think that 42-year-old husband of Scarlett Johansson could take over as host of longtime game show Jeopardy!; Jost is seen in French Polynesia last month
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However, the source believes that Jennings should not worry about his job security just yet as they explained: ‘The only real reason to replace Ken is if the ratings took a nosedive, and that hasn’t happened yet’
Ken Jennings give a great delivery of a cheeky answer on Jeopardy!
‘What is: I’m excited,’ Colin said of the new role in a statement.
‘Colin’s sharp wit and intelligence epitomize ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!’ Suzanne Pete, president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, explained in a statement.
‘He’s smart and quick, like our contestants, and we know he’ll be able to keep up with them while making this new series his own. We could not be happier that he is joining us for this new journey.’
Lauren Anderson, the head of brand and content innovation at Amazon MGM studios, praised Colin in her own statement.
‘We’re thrilled to welcome the multi-talented Colin Jost as the host of ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!’ she said. ‘Colin’s wry affability and pop culture fluency make him uniquely qualified as the perfect host for this new iteration of the beloved franchise.’
Pop Culture Jeopardy marks the first time that the brainy series, which was created by Sony Pictures Television’s game show division, will hit a streaming service.
The game show, which is yet to get a premiere date, will be released in more than 240 countries and may just be targeted to film enthusiasts and reality TV addicts who want to showcase their knowledge.
Contestants will play in teams of three and compete for the ultimate prize.
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Regardless last week it was reported that Jost was going to be the host of the upcoming Jeopardy! spinoff, Pop Culture Jeopardy!
The spinoff is produced by Sony Pictures Television.
It will be set up as the original game show, however the question segment will focus on things like music, films, TV shows, sports, and more.
Lauren Anderson, who is head of AVOD originals unscripted and targeted programming at Amazon MGM Studios, dished about the game show twist while speaking to Variety.
‘Pop Culture Jeopardy is its own cultural moment, marking the first time the iconic franchise will premiere exclusively on a streaming service,’ she said.
‘With a team-based approach and pop-culture focus, our global Prime Video customers will exclusively experience this innovative spin on Jeopardy! while testing their knowledge on topics that both define and transcend generations.’
Meanwhile, Suzanne Prete, president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, said: ‘We couldn’t be more thrilled to collaborate with our partners at Amazon to make Prime Video the home for our new Jeopardy! spinoff series.
‘With Michael Davies at the helm, Pop Culture Jeopardy! is going to be a nail biter for game show enthusiasts who can expect to see teams competing at the highest level of Jeopardy! combined with a fresh twist of pop culture Olympics for the mind.
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The show will be a spinoff of the popular Jeopardy! show; pictured James Denton, Bebe Neuwirth, and Neil Patrick Harris during a rehearsal for Celebrity Jeopardy back in 2006
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Ken Jennings hosts the original Jeopardy! show
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‘What is: I’m excited,’ Colin, 42, said of the new role in a statement; pictured with wife Scarlett Johansson at the Fly Me to the Moon premiere earlier this month
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A Jeopardy spinoff is coming to Amazon Prime and it will give the web-obsessed a chance to test their knowledge. Pictured is Jennings
Ken Jennings on honoring the late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek
‘It’s going to be a must-watch for long-time viewers and new fans alike.’
In the past, other Jeopardy! spinoffs have delighted fans, including Sports Jeopardy! and Rock & Roll Jeopardy!, which ran from 1998 to 2001.
Jep!, which was a kid’s version and ran from 1998 to 2000, also soared in ratings.
The original game show hit TV screens in 1964 and quickly took off due to popularity amongst fans.
