'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings could be 'axed' by show executives to increase viewership

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings' position at the game show could be "axed" to increase viewership as there have been rumors recently that he might be replaced.

'Jeopardy!' producers are reportedly unsure if they would retain Jennings on the show after 'Wheel of Fortune's ratings have increased since Ryan Seacrest replaced Pat Sajak last month.

Meanwhile, Colin Jost is set to host 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!' Insiders believe Jost might replace Jennings as the host of the actual flagship, reported Daily Mail.

'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings might be axed to boost ratings

According to sources, the 50-year-old might be replaced as 'Jeopardy!' executives are reportedly taking note of the surge in 'Wheel of Fortune's ratings after Seacrest, 49, replaced longtime anchor Pat Sajak.

Jennings, who is regarded as the greatest of all-time (GOAT) competitor in the history of the show, began Season 41 as the sole host of 'Jeopardy!' after his former co-host Mayim Bialik was fired in December 2023.

Despite Jennings taking over as the show's only host ever since and building a following of fans, 'Jeopardy!' executives apparently are not fully on board with him, as per The Mirror.

This followed weeks after it was revealed that Jost might replace Jennings as the host of the actual flagship. Producers chose the 'Saturday Night Live' star to headline the 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!' spinoff game show series instead of Jennings.

This could affect Jennings's future in the original series, which has been around for decades. Seacrest's continued popularity on 'Wheel of Fortune' might persuade 'Jeopardy!' producers to invite a celebrity to increase 'Jeopardy!'s ratings.

However, insiders revealed that Jennings should not be concerned about his job security yet. "The only real reason to replace Ken is if the ratings took a nosedive, and that hasn't happened yet," they said.

Moreover, Jennings's position on the show is not entirely fixed because he does not have a long-term contract for the $4 million hosting post, as per the Mail.

The source added: "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," they said.

The source added that if 'Jeopardy!' producers had been satisfied with Jennings, they would have appointed him as the regular host of all special editions of the game, such as 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' but it has not happened yet.

Colin Jost has been announced as 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!'s host

Colin Jost is set to host the next 'Jeopardy!' spinoff called 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!' According to Variety, the show, which will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, began its production in August.

Sony Pictures Television's president of game shows, Suzanne Pete, said of Jost's position, "Colin's sharp wit and intelligence epitomize 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!'"

"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, head of marketing and content innovation at Amazon MGM studios, praised Jost as well.

She said, "We're thrilled to welcome the multi-talented Colin Jost as the host of 'Pop Culture Jeopardy!' Colin's wry affability and pop culture fluency make him uniquely qualified as the perfect host for this new iteration of the beloved franchise."

In August, a Sony representative told The Sun that it is not out of the question that Scarlett Johansson's 42-year-old husband might be the next host of the popular game show 'Jeopardy!'

Another internal source claimed that a shake-up is possible if 'Pop Culture Jeopardy' receives higher ratings than the original flagship.