topic Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host in TV and Movies

Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

novamc1 — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 12:58:59 GMT

From Associated Press, Jun 10, 2021

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Jeopardy!” needed a host, and Lucille Ball had an enthusiastic suggestion for creator Merv Griffin: The smooth-voiced, debonair emcee of the “High Rollers” game show.

That was 1984. Decades later, filling the void left by the late Alex Trebek involves sophisticated research and a parade of guest hosts doing their best to impress viewers and the studio that’s expected to make the call before the new season begins taping later this summer.

Think of Sony Pictures Television as clutching the rose, and Mayim Bialik, Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric and “Jeopardy!” champs Ken Jennings and Buzzy Cohen among the suitors so far, with more to come including Robin Roberts, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and LeVar Burton.

Sony has “the most robust team of people I have ever seen looking at this and analyzing it in a very cerebral way,” said executive producer Mike Richards. “It’s a real change from the way casting has traditionally been done on television.

“It’s usually been a gut instinct of the head executive: ‘How about that person?’” Richards said.

That was producer-entertainer Griffin’s approach when he brought a syndicated version of “Jeopardy!” to TV, five years after the quiz show’s last network iteration wrapped in 1979 on NBC. A word from Ball, of “I Love Lucy” fame, and Trebek’s skill and experience sealed his hire.

Audience and critical regard for the Canadian-born Trebek grew over the years, which makes finding a worthy replacement both a gesture of respect for the late host and the means to protect a corporate asset. While ratings have shifted under the guest hosts, “Jeopardy!” remains among the top-ranked syndicated programs in viewership.

Trebek helped build the show’s “display of excellence with his own excellence. And it’s tremendously difficult to find somebody to replace him, not only because of the status that he had in the American imagination,” said Deepak Sarma, a Case Western Reserve University professor and Netflix cultural consultant. “Anyone who is going to take his position will be judged in the end against this model of perfection.”

Game show hosts of Trebek’s era were usually radio and TV broadcasting veterans steeped in the genre, and almost invariably white men. Among the “Jeopardy!” subs are men and women of color and prospects from a variety of fields, including NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The approach makes sense to Louis Virtel, a longtime fan whose vantage point is informed by writing for a game show (“Match Game”) and competing on “Jeopardy!” in 2015.

““It’s great to see all these different fill-ins. I’m open to suggestions, and I think most people are,” said Virtel, a “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” writer and co-host of the “Keep It” podcast. “‘Jeopardy!’ is a one-of-a-kind show, and the replacement should be tailored to the game.”

What makes for a good “Jeopardy!” host?

I think establishing a sense of comfort (so) the audience just eases into the game,” Virtel said. “Also a sense of stakes, that a real tough game is being played. It’s called ‘Jeopardy!’ for a reason. The host is there to make sure we’re all on our toes.”

The try-outs are an unusually public form of auditioning, one that could cause flop sweat even for veteran emcees. For actor Bialik of “Blossom,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Call Me Kat,” any nerves were crowded out by the demands of the job — and she’s a neuroscientist.

“There is very little room for not being 100% dialed in to the job of hosting when you are on that stage,” Bialik said in an email. It proved the most “joyful, challenging, transcendent act I have undertaken — second only to giving birth to my second son on the floor of my living room.”

Back in the day, there were only a handful of pioneers like Betty White, the first female game show host to win a Daytime Emmy (for 1983′s “Just Men!”), and Adam Wade, a Black singer who hosted the 1975 game show “Musical Chairs.” Wayne Brady, Steve Harvey and Meredith Vieira are among those who made further inroads, with pressure only growing on the entertainment industry to reflect America more broadly on screen.

But taking over for an authority figure like Trebek is harder on women and others not typically seen in such roles, said Sarma.

“The sorts of expectations placed on a person of color in a leadership position are usually higher than those placed on a white person in position of power,” he said, and any error or “slight movement against the norm is jumped upon ... as some tremendous mistake.”

There could be backlash from those resentful that Trebek isn’t replaced like-for-like, which Sarma said isn’t far-fetched in this period of social discord.

“Sony is in a pickle,” he said.

Series producer Richards, the second temporary host after Trebek’s pancreatic cancer death last November at age 80, holds an optimistic view despite the prospect of online trolls and whatever their gripes about the newbie may be.

“My hope is that whoever is chosen will be given a chance to prove why they were chosen, without too much static,” he said. “Ultimately, we are trying to put out the best product for our fans. That tends to narrow your focus to a pretty nice North Star, as opposed to, ‘What’s the internet going to say?’”

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

bohogypsy — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:55:03 GMT

Anyone but Ken Jennings.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

QVCkitty1 — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:58:33 GMT

I really enjoyed Mayim Bialik.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

granddi — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:28:39 GMT

As I have said, I think this parade of guest host has been a great idea for Jeopardy to create excitement and talk among fans.

The permanent host has probably been selected and may not be one of the guests hosts.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

occasionalrain — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:44:05 GMT

I've begun to lose interest in it. The quality of contestants has decreased, just as the answers have become easier out of necessity, since any at all challenging are met with three sets of, deer in the headlights, stares.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

LyndaGee — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:47:35 GMT

Interesting article. Had no idea Lucy helped select Alex for "Jeopardy" host. Wonder why they haven't auditioned Alex's choices for his replacement?

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Puppy Lips — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:59:39 GMT

How about David Venable, lol? In all seriousness, I think he would be great at it. Personally, I think that position is better suited for a man.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

godi — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 16:06:52 GMT

I agree Myiam Bialik was very good.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

CatsyCline — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 17:06:22 GMT

@occasionalrain i too am losing interest. MB sounded too much like a 5th grade teacher. "That's right! You got it! Correct!

i have Jeopardy on in the background, but the edge that made Jeopardy is missing now without Alex. i would actually sit and watch the show (and participate). He had that special wit and dynamic between he and the contestants. He could be a bit acerbic at times...but no one wants a 100% saccharine game show. at least i do not.

Alex invariably had a tidbit of detail for the audience and contestants as well, whether they buzzed in correctly or not. He made his job as host look effortless.

i would probably not watch anymore because for me, Alex can never be replaced.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Beth-QVC — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 17:30:24 GMT

Inappropriate

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Mersha — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 18:31:29 GMT

@Puppy Lips wrote:
How about David Venable, lol? In all seriousness, I think he would be great at it. Personally, I think that position is better suited for a man.

@Puppy Lips Why do you say that?

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Katrinka23 — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 19:27:54 GMT

I think Ben Mankiewicz (sp?) of TCM should be given a tryout. Great voice and quite comfortable behind the camera

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Puppy Lips — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 18:27:24 GMT

@Mersha wrote:
@Puppy Lips wrote:
How about David Venable, lol? In all seriousness, I think he would be great at it. Personally, I think that position is better suited for a man.

@Puppy Lips Why do you say that?

@Mersha Well, I think men's voices are easier to listen to. I have a few other reasons, but don't feel like getting blasted today, so I will leave it at that. Thanks for asking.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Pearlee — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 18:33:41 GMT

@Katrinka23 wrote:
I think Ben Mankiewicz (sp?) of TCM should be given a tryout. Great voice and quite comfortable behind the camera

@Katrinka23. Nooooo! He does a great job succeeding Osbourne on TCM. I want him to stay there doing what he's doing!

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:43:31 GMT

As i have said before: Mike Rowe.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

occasionalrain — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 14:42:29 GMT

@Puppy Lips

I agree that men in general are just better suited to being the host.

Women have a more social, wanting to please demeanor that doesn't work for Jeopardy.

Jeopardy is not the typical game show that goes for reactions and laughs. I find those unappealing just as people who like them may find

Jeopardy boring.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

123SuzyQ123 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:32:18 GMT

For me, anyone but Savannah Guthrie or Katie Couric! I thought several of them did a very good job. I was sort of shocked that Aaron Rodgers did quite well. I do agree with someone who mentioned the "you are right!" "You are correct" answers that some of them gave made me feel like I was back in 3rd grade!

Jeopardy has been my favorite daytime TV show for over 28 years. While I still worked, I would record it everyday, but now that I am retired, I watch it faithfully everyday. So I am hoping that the new host is someone I can tolerate. And no one can replace our Alex, but we will have to move on.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

123SuzyQ123 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 16:33:48 GMT

One tiny thing that I always disagreed with Alex about, he often would make disparaging remarks like "Betty has twice as much money as the other 2 contestants combined!" And other sort of downgrading statements like that. "Betty has lots of ground to make up in Double Jeopardy" and even that one time he said "maybe we will check Betty's buzzer during commercial break to make sure it works!" !!!! YIKES! I would always cringe when he came out with one of those, but the contestants and we viewers came to know it was just his way. Miss you, Alex!

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

Puppy Lips — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 18:23:38 GMT

@123SuzyQ123 wrote:
One tiny thing that I always disagreed with Alex about, he often would make disparaging remarks like "Betty has twice as much money as the other 2 contestants combined!" And other sort of downgrading statements like that. "Betty has lots of ground to make up in Double Jeopardy" and even that one time he said "maybe we will check Betty's buzzer during commercial break to make sure it works!" !!!! YIKES! I would always cringe when he came out with one of those, but the contestants and we viewers came to know it was just his way. Miss you, Alex!

@123SuzyQ123 I know two people who were on Jeopardy. One is Roger Storm, my HS chemistry teacher. He went really far and came back as one of the top winners. I knew in HS how smart he was - a nice and upstanding guy. One of my classmates married his brother. The other guy was a year or two older than me. He became a doctor, but he did not do well at all on Jeopardy. At the end of his show, Alex said something to the effect of, "the big loser of the day," when referring to him. I don't remember the exact words, but it was disparaging to say the least. So I agree with you that some of his comments were a bit mean.

Re: Choosing the next JEOPARDY host

123SuzyQ123 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 18:50:13 GMT

@Puppy Lips , I enjoyed your story about the two people you knew who were on Jeopardy. I don't think Alex even realized that some of his comments were hurtful, I don't think he would purposely hurt anyone, but I would surely get the cringe when he would come out with some of those quips!!!