Jeopardy!began its much anticipated season 39 last month with new hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, but not everyone is celebrating. Pam Mueller, a Jeopardy!champion, is challenging the decision of producers to choose Jennings and Bialik permanent replacements in the death of Alex Trebek.
Producers Needed ‘Keep Eligibility Open’
After a long selection period that saw the show’s former executive producer Mike Richards initially named as host before being let go from the show entirely, Jeopardy! Producers announced that Jennings and Bialik would be the hosts of the syndicated program throughout the season.
“I don’t think two hosts makes sense,” Mueller told The U.S. Sun. She feels producers should have dealt with the choice in an easier way. “Ken should do the syndicated show and Mayim the prime-time special tournaments. It will be interesting to see how the host duties are split, but that would have been more straightforward and made more sense.”
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Pam Mueller revealed that other former champions were interested in hosting the trivia game show but weren’t even considered because producers wanted to keep the option of having them appear as competitors in future special episodes open.
Mueller stated that there was an emphasis on “keep eligibility open”So alums such as herself and Brad Rutter, the legendary Brad Rutter, could play again since Jeopardy! rules state that hosts technically can’t compete. “I did hear that about somebody else [who was interested]”She said.
Pam Mueller Knows ‘Jeopardy!’
For those who don’t remember, Mueller first competed when she was a student at Loyola University. In the Volvo Cup, she won. Jeopardy!College Championship in 2000. Semi-finalist in the 2001 Tournament of Champions.
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Jennings is someone she also knows well. In 2019, she was asked to compete. Jeopardy!’sAll-Star Games, which is the only team-based competition so far. Ironically, her team was third. “Team Ken” “Team Brad.” Mueller’s team took home $100,000 while Jennings’s team won $1,000,000.
She spoke out about the anxiety Jennings felt when he started hosting. “Ken was super stressed out after Alex’s passing and when he started,” but she thinks he’s doing a great job in a tough situation. “Obviously, they want people who are recognizable and have good personality,”She added. “If they’d asked, I would have done it—it’s harder than it looks.”
Fans will have many opportunities to rate their performances, as both hosts will swap on the syndicated version. Additionally, Ken Jennings will host the Tournament of Champions and Second Chance Tournament. Mayim Bialik will host the primetime spinoff. Jennings will host both the Tournament of Champions, and the Second Chance Tournament. Bialik will host primetime’s spinoff. Celebrity Jeopardy! And the Jeopardy!National College Championships January 2023