Nobody thought replacing Alex Trebek would be easy after the longtime Jeopardy! host's death in 2020, and the search for a new permanent host has been an interesting process during Season 37, with viewers and former contestants alike being pretty vocal with their opinions regarding the game show’s future. Those beliefs definitely haven’t changed since Sony Pictures Television announced Jeopardy!’s new permanent hosts — that’s right, plural — with one of the games greatest, James Holzhauer, chiming in with a hilariously ruthless burn.
The decision to appoint both executive producer Mike Richards and actress Mayim Bialik as the full-time replacements for Alex Trebek was an unexpected one, as Trebek never shared his hosting duties with anyone. (I mean, can you imagine?) James Holzhauer, who won $2,464,216 on Jeopardy! over 33 episodes and made a name for himself with his unique strategy of betting big and jumping around the board, took to Twitter with some brutal commentary about the decision. Check out the fiery tweet below:
Also new for next season: contestants can submit two Final Jeopardy responses in case the first one causes public backlash.
Wow, way to make a point, champ! James Holzhauer’s sarcasm is in reference to Jeopardy! adding The Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik after fans’ negative response to the news of Mike Richards taking over as Alex Trebek’s permanent replacement. The official announcement named Richards as the program’s full-time host starting in Season 38, with Bialik set to host Jeopardy!’s primetime and spinoff series.
The fan response was predictable (and perhaps understandable) after viewers definitely had their favorite guest hosts — including Reading Rainbow’s LeVar Burton — during Season 37’s transition period. But to James Holzhauer’s point, if Richards was the right man for the job, why didn’t Jeopardy! just stand by its decision?
Mike Richards is no stranger to the game show world. He served as executive producer for The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal, and produced Weakest Link. Both Richards and Mayim Bialik also took a turn as Jeopardy! guest hosts, so viewers do know a little of what to expect from them in the permanent role.
James Holzhauer’s hilarious commentary on the hosting situation as a whole has been fun to watch. Holzhauer resurrected a clip of the WWE’s Vince McMahon announcing, “It was me all along!” after it was reported that Jeopardy! planned to promote from within with Mike Richards.
Fox Sports announcer Joe Buck, another Jeopardy! guest host, also found himself on the receiving end of James Holzhauer’s Twitter trolling, as the professional sports bettor facetiously rooted for Buck to get the permanent job, but for purely selfish reasons.
Jeopardy says whoever hosts full time will have to quit their other job, so I’m crossing my fingers it’s Joe Buck.
I’m kind of on James Holzhauer’s side of that argument, to be honest. But Holzhauer also pulled NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers — who apparently really did want the job — into the discussion, relenting that he’d actually prefer Rodgers be the one to quit his day job to focus on Jeopardy!. I’m guessing the Las Vegas resident isn’t a Packers fan.
Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik will assume their new duties for Season 38 of the classic trivia show, with production starting later this month and new episodes premiering on September 13. Stay up to date with all of the upcoming premieres with our 2021 Fall TV schedule.
